Skift Take
Good early morning from Skift. It’s Tuesday, April 5, in New York City City. Here’s what you require to know about business of travel today.
Rashaad Jorden
Today’s edition of Skift’s day-to-day podcast discusses why Hertz Rental Automobiles’ new CEO is positioning faith in the electrical car, why the luxury hotel experience is doing not have, and what visitors truly desire from hotel physical fitness, post-pandemic.
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Episode Notes Hertz’s new CEO Stephen Scherr faces the challenge of guiding a business that left insolvency last June. But Scherr is bullish about its future as it continues to make inroads in the booming electrical cars and truck rental market, reports Business Travel Editor Matthew Parsons.
Scherr, who took over as CEO in late February after functioning as Goldman Sachs’ chief financial officer, stated in an exclusive interview with Skift that he was drawn in to Hertz because of its tradition and its opportunities for development. He’s currently struck the ground running as the business revealed on Monday it ordered as much as 65,000 electrical vehicles from Swedish vehicle maker Polestar. Hertz had previously ordered 100,000 Tesla vehicles in late October as part of its effort to produce a fleet of electrical cars.
Parsons writes that Hertz will see a massive demand for such vehicles from corporations aiming to hit sustainability objectives. Hertz will also provide the electrical cars to ride-hailing firms such as Uber and Lyft.
Next, On Experience Columnist Colin Nagy looks into a problem facing the high-end hospitality industry. What is it? The sector, he composes, is losing its appeal as brand names are significantly not measuring up to their storied reputations.
Nagy thinks a major reason high-end hotels have lost their mystique is due to the absence of long time hospitality employees whom he described as the backbone of such homes. The best of them, who Nagy composes were committed to the craft of hospitality, lost their tasks during the pandemic, and haven’t been restored.
However Nagy adds, as high-end customers are re-evaluating where they spend their money, upstart luxury hotels and brand names have a valuable chance to draw in new customers. He contacts those properties to find methods to distinguish themselves from storied rivals that aren’t pressing anything of worth to prospective visitors.
We end today taking a look at a favorite facility numerous guests see count on throughout a hotel stay– the health club. Factor Carley Thornell reports a shift in workout habits is driving homes to reimagine the principle of a hotel gym.
Although Thornell writes that hotel health clubs aren’t going away anytime soon, hotels are examining how much area to reserve for them as workout practices alter. Some companies are making it easier for visitors to exercise in more condensed spaces, such as Hilton’s 5 Feet to Fitness program, that includes 11 pieces of physical fitness equipment and other gym accessories in a visitor’s private area.