Q: How's business?
A: Very good. We are seeing pricing power stronger than it's been since probably 2000. Most of the new supply (of hotel rooms) is coming in (limited) service brands.
We'll open about 23,000 rooms this year and, hopefully, between 25,000 and 30,000 rooms next year. We're redesigning our guest rooms in all of our hotels to be more contemporary.
A little cleaner in design - more functional. We're making major efforts to redesign our lobbies. The X Generation people can meet in little groups and take their BlackBerrys and computers down to the lobby if they want and sit there and work on them - have a cup of coffee, have a drink, meet with a couple of friends on a very much less formal basis than the old-style hotels.
Q: You've made it a priority to increase diversity among workers, suppliers and franchisees. Why?
A: If you look at the customers that we are serving, we need to better understand them, and so we are looking to get the best workforce and the best group of managers. In each of these areas, we have put in programs for development plans (and) mentoring for our managers and associates.
For our franchisees, we have been doing some things with financing plans looking at how they develop hotels.
External Source - For the complete article click here
Source - USATODAY
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