Page 116 - STRATEGY Magazine

SPECIAL INSIGHT: TOURISM LANDSCAPE
Top of Mind ...
“The hotel industry, in general, has been very slow to adapt to new technology. Look at the way we check in—it’s nearly the same as it was a century ago. If you compare the hotel
industry to the airline industry, you see that we haven’t
adapted to the digital world as quickly. The hotel industry
has woken up and is testing new services, but we’ve also
noticed that guests still like some human contact. We will
have to find the balance between human interaction/con-
nection and technology-facilitated transactions.”
—Thierry Guillot, Area Vice President and General Manager, Hyatt Regency México City
The most important areas in Mexico for tourism are Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, and Cancún. The dollar is stronger right now, so our country is attractive to for- eign travelers. We have had a very significant recovery in tourism. Occupation rates are high—in December of 2016, we were seeing 80 to 90 percent occupancy at the most popular locations.
—Victor M. Lachica Bravo, CEO & President, Cushman & Wakefield of Mexico
“If we manage to overcome the “Trump effect,” we should have another year of double-digit growth for tourism in Mexico. This should last for the next three or four years because the value
of hotels has not yet reached its peak. There is still a great deal of potential growth that needs to be exploited with both the international and domestic markets.”
—Julien Debarle, COO, Grupo Presidente
“Passengers want to be connected to work, friends, and family members at all times and we believe their entire travel experience should enable passengers to stay connected. One
of the ways to stay connected on the go is through mobile apps that help simplify the en- tire journey from shopping, purchasing, flying, and arrival—customers are equipped to view their flight status; purchase tickets; check-in and choose seats; view entertainment options; find the nearest airport lounges; book ground transportation and so much more.”
—Rolf Meyer, Managing Director of Sales, United Airlines
“Today’s hotel cus- tomers want more luxuries, even if they have to pay more. They are looking
for wellness, in the
form of spa and gym services, either onsite or nearby. They want a soothing space that lets you “get away from it
all.” They are seeking authenticity—in Mexico, guests want to live like Mexicans live, eat what Mexicans eat, understand our culture. And they’re looking for personalized service. They don’t want to be treated the same as everybody else, and they want to know that the hotel staff is there to meet their needs.”
—Regina Montes Senosiain, General Manager, Nima Local House Hotel
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