Mid-Year Lodging Forecast 2012
While the U.S. economy is proving resilient, the volatile situation in Europe which has been exacerbated by Spain and Greece added headwinds to an already strained recovery. This European recession and slower global growth have weakened the U.S.
economic outlook.
The U.S. labor market has improved, but the rate of improvement reflects only a partial recovery. Consumer confidence remains below “healthy” levels and the recovery has left many households and some industries behind. These persistent factors, along with recent trends led to a downgrade to the U.S. Lodging Forecasts earlier this year. These were presented by the usual prognosticators, but they seem to be wrong. (more…)
5 Hotel Digital Marketing Trends to Adopt Before the End of 2012
San Diego, CA July 13, 2012 – Turning a hotel’s online lookers into bookers was the topic of discussion at a recent event hosted by hotel management firm R. A. Rauch & Associates at the Hilton Garden Inn San Diego/Del Mar. At the event, RAR president Robert Rauch teamed up with Adam Brownstein, co-founder of Buuteeq, to share online marketing insights and trends to about 50 tourism professionals.Buuteeq is a digital marketing system for boutique hotels that boasts a portfolio of more than 3,200 hotels around the world. (more…)
San Diego Metro: Men Who Rock 2012: Robert Rauch
from San Diego Metro magazine (July 14, 2012):
“Robert A. Rauch is president of R. A. Rauch & Associates Inc., a firm that specializes in hotel management. Hotels under Rauch’s management include the El Cordova in Coronado, Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn in Carmel Valley and the Pantai in La Jolla. Rauch has long been active in convention and visitors bureau activities, having been a member of the boards of both San Diego North Convention and Visitors Bureau and the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau. He holds a B.A. degree in hotel administration from Western International University and an M.S. in tourism administration from Arizona State University. He publishes Hospital Innsights at hotelguru.com and is a certified hotel administrator.”
East Coast REIT to purchase Westin at Emerald Plaza
from the San Diego Daily Transcript (July 10, 2012):
Hotel developer and consultant Robert Rauch said while the prices for well-located and well-cared-for hotels should climb by about 30 percent
between now and 2016, the Westin might not command as high a price as Reay believes.
“If you remember, the Pan Pacific (the original hotel flag when Emerald Plaza was completed at the beginning of the 1990s) struggled at this location,” Rauch said. “It doesn’t have the waterfront and has never been able to keep its occupancy as high as it might like.
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Event: Digital Marketing in 2012 and Beyond
Whether they used a smart phone, tablet or laptop – a big portion of your guests had their first encounter and experience with your hotel not in person, but online. In this digital age, a hotel’s success now revolves around the stories they tell and the impressions they make in this highly competitive, virtual marketplace. (more…)
5 trends shaping the hotel industry
from Hotel News Now (June 25, 2012):
…Approximately 20% of all travel was booked on mobile devices during 2011; two years ago that number was nearly zero, according to Robert Rauch, president of San Diego-based R.A. Rauch & Associates hotel consulting. Within the next three years, 80% of all bookings will be made via mobile devices, he said, citing information from Google. “The pace has already been huge. It’s akin to zero to 60 in 4.3 seconds,” Rauch said…
Read more…
Military Ranks High for Generating Hospitality Business
from the San Diego Business Journal (May 28, 2012):
…Hotels, for instance, cater to business travelers who come to San Diego County to meet locally with defense contractors, the military and other government agencies, and travel tied to military bases plays a role in tourism efforts.
“Anything that impacts military spending could have a massive impact if it reduces the number of people who have to come to San Diego,” said Robert Rauch, president of locally based hospitality consulting firm R.A. Rauch & Associates Inc.
…Rauch noted that a large number of military and government personnel, as well as civilian contractors working for the military in areas like ship-building and information technology, visit the San Diego region regularly. Many work for the military on a project basis, and their local stays are for extended terms — several weeks or months.
In addition to spending directly at hotels — at the government-approved rate of $133 nightly for the San Diego market — those contractors visit local restaurants, stores and tourist venues during their stays.
Rauch owns two Hilton-branded hotels in Carmel Valley and operates other local properties on behalf of clients. While he doesn’t see major hits coming in 2013, he said he is wary about potential future federal cuts down the road that could curtail local defense contracting and impact the ripple business it creates.
Hotels Endure Despite Fire
from Lodging magazine (5/23/2012):
“Developers and hoteliers that take on building projects are often faced with setbacks and problems along the way, but few have had to go through what Robert Rauch, president of R. A. Rauch & Associates, went through five years ago.”
Hiring Picture Is Bright at Local Hotels
from the San Diego Business Journal, April 16, 2012:
Robert Rauch, president of San Diego consulting firm R.A. Rauch & Associates, said the local hospitality industry was cutting jobs in 2009, then moved into a phase in 2010 where it didn’t do a lot of replacements when job vacancies occurred. “We didn’t do much new hiring at all in 2010,” said Rauch, whose company owns two Hilton-branded Carmel Valley hotels and also manages two local properties. The local industry began filling vacancies in 2011, and is now in a job growth phase. Rauch said the four local hotels he oversees will likely add around six workers for the coming summer season, but the competitive climate has forced hoteliers to move well beyond hiring for positions like housekeeping, food service and registration. He said many of today’s openings call for tech-savvy workers who know about mobile technology, social media and multichannel marketing. “These jobs are increasingly sophisticated and require certain technical knowledge,” Rauch said.
Reports: US hotel market stronger; slower start for SD County
from the San Diego Daily Transcript, March 22, 2012:
…”San Diego hotel consultant and developer Robert Rauch, who had been upbeat about recent improvements in occupancy and RevPAR, said he would feel better if the numbers had been stronger in January and February.