Business Travel News - December 15, 2008 - (Page 16)

LODGING Chains Reluctant To Follow Marriott On International E-Folio BY AMON COHEN AND MICHAEL B. BAKER Multinational travel managers are urging hotel chains to follow Marriott’s lead in providing e-folio data at properties outside North America, although hoteliers said they still need to be persuaded it would be a worthwhile investment. Marriott in October told Business Travel News it could have up to 300 hotels overseas offering enhanced data by the end of 2010 (BTNonline, Oct. 14). The Marriott properties outside North America that tel companies in providing e-folio data in Europe is growing but that to date it is largely dialogue that has not translated into action. One likely reason is that hotels remain to be convinced they will achieve a return on their investment in providing e-folio data, principally through improving relationships with their largest corporate clients. “It is laborious and expensive,” Marriott program director for lodging finance Randy Jones said. “If our corporate clients truly want this, they need to be vocal about it. If there is more adoption by global clients within the United States, that will speak far louder volumes than simply saying they want it.” Marriott currently provides e-folio data from 2,800 hotels in North America to more than 1,000 corporate clients. Jill Cady, vice president of worldwide sales strategy for InterContinental Hotels Group, said the variety of data privacy laws in Europe also presents a challenge. IHG provides e-folio data in the United States but ERIC WONG not internationally. ical mass of hotels in its preferred “We have the capabilities to go program was supplying information broader,” Cady said. “When we get to that standard, said John Guarneri, to a point at which there’s a signifi- vice president and global supply cant number of companies that want manager for travel. The company it internationally, then we will work also is keen to see folio data exportthrough the various data privacy ed beyond North America. laws to help fulfill that.” Philips, which is in the process of Most other major sourcing an expense Access BTN’s 2008 hotel companies—in- U.S. Hotel Chain Survey management system, cluding Carlson Hotels see btnonline.com/hotelsurvey sees the potential benWorldwide, Choice Hoefits of an itemized fotels International, Starwood Hotels lio data feed. “If we can get that kind & Resorts and Hilton Hotels Corp.— of level-three data, it would make already provide U.S. e-folio data life a lot easier for employees,” through agreements with corporate Guarneri said. “They wouldn’t have cards. Others, including Global Hy- to break out the data because it att Corp., have indicated that is a would already be there. That would route they are pursuing (BTNon- be the winner in our company.” line, Sept. 24, 2007). IHG’s Cady Philips senior sourcing specialist said interest in and use of the data for hotel and group meetings Rohas continually risen but at a slow, man Asboth said: “This is definitely steady pace. something we would like to see, and Philips International is poised to we have been requesting it for a include level-three data in its quar- while. We would like to have folio terly reporting in the United States data globally because it would supfor the first time because it has not port our negotiation discussions.” been satisfied until now that a crit■ mbaker@btnonline.com ■ PHILIPS’ JOHN GUARNERI Looking for level-three data hope to provide folios use an updated version of Micros-Fidelio’s Opera property management system. That tool can produce feeds containing level-three data, which break out room charges and applicable taxes, food and beverage categories, including room service and hotel restaurants, business services, parking and ground transportation. Micros-Fidelio vice president for marketing Louise Casamento said hotels typically are not yet using the feeds to provide clients with folio data. “More hotels are asking for the appropriate feeds, but not necessarily to create folios,” according to Casamento. “They could be taking them for a multitude of reasons, such as statistical reporting.” U.K.-based Visa Commercial vice president David Harrison said that interest among card issuers and ho- Industry Vet Eric Danziger Returns To Head Wyndham Wyndham Hotel Group has wooed lodging industry growth that attracted me to Wyndham Worldwide and veteran Eric Danziger, a leader from the company’s the hotel group,” Danziger said in a statement. “The formative years, to return as its new chief executive. breadth and diversity of the business model and portDanziger, who has more than 30 years of hotel indus- folio of world-renowned brands is exciting, and I am retry experience, took over as Wyndally looking forward to being part of ham Hotel Group president and the high-energy and innovative leadCEO on Dec. 1. He served as the ership team.” company’s president in 1990, when Danziger stepped into the role vait was a small hotel company that cated by Steven Rudnitsky, who left he helped grow to 100 hotels. Wyndham in September (BTNonDanziger also served as president line, Sept. 3), and then became and CEO of Starwood Lodging, CEO of Dolce Hotels and Resorts which grew from 11 hotels to 1,600 (see story, page 21). Worldwide hotels worldwide during his tenure, chairman and CEO Stephen Holmes and worked for Carlson Hotels served as CEO in the interim. Worldwide. “Eric’s proven leadership skills, More recently, Danziger had hands-on operations experience and moved from hospitality to e-comability to diversify and grow busimerce as the CEO of two online nesses make him the ideal candidate companies: home services shopping to lead our hotel business and create site WhiteFence and online real esand maintain strong relationships WYNDHAM’S ERIC DANZIGER tate company ZipRealty. with our franchisees and owners,” Drawn by breadth of model, portfolio “It was the people and the comHolmes said in a statement. —Michael B. Baker pany’s focus on execution and 16 Monday, December 15, 2008 www.BTNonline.com Business Travel News http://www.btnonline.com/hotelsurvey http://www.BTNonline.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Business Travel News - December 15, 2008

Business Travel News - December 15, 2008
Contents
Inside Track
Profiles In Travel Mgmt
Forum
Aviation
Lodging
Ground Transportation
Travel Management
Meetings Today
Washington Wire

Business Travel News - December 15, 2008