Dear Insider,
A single topic this week dominates the majority of this edition: Benchmarking! In the flurry of congresses and conferences of recent weeks, we've all gone home with our heads full of figures. And at least at some point the thought is bound to cross everyone's mind that the only statistics capable of being trusted at all are the ones you fiddle yourself. The secrecy of large bench markers like Deloitte London and MKG Paris, on the other hand, only generates further mistrust: Transparency doesn't seem to be a priority for the supposed market leaders. Competitor The Bench in London showed itself to be much more willing to share in its expertise and the small and new providers are always forthcoming.
Exactly how credible the benchmark systems are, dear Insider, has to be decided by you and you alone. And if at the end, all of this still leaves a bitter aftertaste, you can still place hopes in the new and fresh now springing up both internationally as well as nationally to once again bring new life to the scene. Competition even here breeds more business. I'm sure that we'll come back to the topic after this introduction and will take a closer look at its application and success in practice. If today you can already point to any weaknesses of benchmarking - don't hesitate to write to us! The button "E-Mail to the author" is to be found at the bottom of each article.
Because the topic of benchmarking is become increasingly important, the largest part of this week's edition is dedicated to exactly this. The introduction should be a little more than just quick and painless, the articles you find should also allow you to delve a little deeper into the themes and problems. I hope this fits with your expectations?
On Monday the announced sale of the Four Seasons chain was even worth a "Breaking News" article for the midnight hour. Read today Atef Mankarios' impression from the USA. The former Chairman of Rosewood Hotels and from St. Regis works today as consultant for luxury hotels and luxury investors and hits the nail on the head when he says: "Perhaps one day we'll once again have hoteliers that lead hotel companies!"
I hope that this week too, we meet the demands of your media benchmark..
Yours, Maria Puetz-Willems
Editor-in-Chief
Benchmark remarks? maria@hospitalityInside.com