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Shaping hospitality’s future: Emerging trends and 2025 predictions

As we begin the new year, we’re excited to showcase Hotel Business’s Green Book, which features in-depth reports from sectors throughout the industry. Eleanor Waddell, VP of Strategic Growth and Business Development at Avendra International, offers her insights in an exclusive interview.

Eleanor shares her predictions on industry trends, the potential impact of additional trade tariffs, and what this year has in store, including:

Trends in hospitality:

Sustainability: Growing demand for eco-friendly products and diverse suppliers, including M/WBEs.
Cultural integration: Increased emphasis on reflecting local culture in design, menus, and guest experiences.
Wellness: Rising focus on wellness-driven products and services to meet traveler expectations.

Tariff impact:

Economic uncertainty: Tariffs could increase costs, disrupt supply chains, and cause market hesitation.
Preparedness: Companies need to identify alternative product sources to mitigate risks.

2025 Outlook:

AI in hospitality: Growing adoption of AI technologies to enhance operational efficiency.
Sustainability in design: Continued emphasis on sustainable practices in development and operations.
Redefining luxury: Evolving luxury concepts influencing design and guest offerings.
Wellness integration: Expanding wellness features to attract guests and drive revenue.

Explore Hotel Business’s 2025 Green Book for the latest industry insights.

Click here to read the full article

FAQs

What is the most effective way to reduce labor shortages in hospitality?

The most effective way to reduce labor shortages is to optimize workflows—eliminating unnecessary steps, standardizing processes, and using technology or automation to simplify tasks. This reduces reliance on additional staffing while maintaining service levels.

How can hotels reduce labor costs without impacting guest experience?

Hotels can reduce labor costs by using smart equipment, automating repetitive tasks, and shifting work to off-peak hours. These changes improve efficiency and consistency while allowing staff to focus on guest-facing interactions.

What role does technology play in hospitality labor management?

Technology, especially sensor-based (IoT) solutions, helps monitor operations in real time, prevent equipment failures, optimize cleaning schedules, and reduce manual work. This improves productivity and lowers operational costs.