As I sit here to write this, my calendar still says February, but already my mind is on June.
More specifically, my mind is wondering just where the hotel industry will be when we reconvene for the traditional mid-year check-in in midtown Manhattan, the conference now officially known as the NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum.
To give you, dear reader, a little peak into my psyche on this one: This is actually the last blog I'll be writing for a few months since I'll be spending an extended period of time on parental leave before coming right back in time for our beloved NYU conference.
I'm looking forward not only to the practical parenting concerns, but for the chance to take a step back and observe the industry from afar for the first time in a decade. What fresh insights and perspectives will this provide me? Who's to say?
But in general, I think this is a year where the trajectory of the industry could take more potential paths than usual. Will we be in the middle of the second great wave of leisure demand during this upcycle, further buoyed by stronger business transient and group demand? Will we be mired in some sort of macroeconomic slump driven by an ever more cautious consumer? Will it be more of the same and kicking the can down the road another six months while spewing the same tired platitudes about cautious optimism? Will the supervolcano under Yellowstone erupt and irrevocably change life as we know it?
Well, hopefully it's not that last one. Fingers crossed.
Last month at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit, I got a lot of hopeful messaging from a lot of different hotel executives. I also has more than a handful pointing out the headwinds of recent years have not and will not magically go away.
So hopefully the next time you see me check in here, both you and I have a much better idea on the trajectory we're headed. And hopefully there's more good news than bad.
Let me know what you think on LinkedIn or via email.
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