[MarketPlace] How do small, independent motels stay in business?
By Janet Nguyen Makarand Mody, associate professor of hospitality marketing at Boston University, sheds light on how small, independent motels manage to stay afloat in an industry dominated by national chains. According to Mody, location is a key factor in their success, particularly for motels near highways or in areas with limited competition. These motels […]
[BU Today] Choosing between an Airbnb and a Hotel This Summer? Here Are Some Things to Consider
School of Hospitality Administration’s Makarand Mody weighs in on how to decide what’s best for you It’s official: now that summer is here, travel season has arrived. According to Statista, the average American takes two to three vacations a year. That adds up to some serious domestic spending: this year, the US travel industry is expected to generate […]
[The Washington Post] Strangers are temporarily swapping homes to save cash and live like locals
Almost 20 years after Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz famously traded houses in the romantic comedy “The Holiday,” real-life home swapping is catching on. Brianna Horn spent a leisurely three weeks vacationing in New York City in October 2022 — watching a Halloween dog parade, attending a friend’s movie premiere and seeing a Broadway play. […]
[AFAR] Airbnb Just Banned Security Cameras Inside Rentals
The new indoor-camera ban takes effect April 30, but it’s unclear how much will change under the updated privacy policy. For Meg St-Esprit, seeing cameras inside Airbnb vacation homes she has stayed at with her husband and their four kids “creeped me out.” The Pittsburgh-based writer says a newly implemented camera ban is smart, adding […]
[Morning Brew] Why Do the Biggest Hotel Chains Create So Many Different Brands?
When you’re planning a trip, it may seem like you’re wading through a sea of endless hotel options, but many of those hotel brands are hiding a secret – they’re owned by the same company. Why do hotel mega-chains spend so much time and money creating these different brands? We’ve got the answer. BU SHA […]
[New York Times] Will Hotels Finally Beat Rentals in the Lodging Tug of War?
In cities from New York to Vienna, new short-term-rental restrictions — designed to improve housing availability for residents — are poised to boost the bottom lines at hotels. In New York in November, shortly after Airbnb and the like were limited to stays of 30 days or longer, hotel occupancy was up 6 percent and […]
BU Today – Flying over the Holidays? Plan to Buckle Up for a Bumpy Ride
If you’re flying to see family or friends this holiday season, allow for a little flexibility—and a lot of grace, advises Makarand Mody, SHA associate professor of hospitality marketing. Professor Mody gave BU Today some expert tips to make it a smooth ride. Read More
Insider – New York City is enforcing a ‘de facto ban’ on Airbnb. Will travelers be better off without it?
Airbnb isn’t fun anymore and new rules only make it worse… New York City’s new requirement that a host is on-site will likely deter potential Airbnb customers, according to Makarand Mody, BU SHA associate professor of hospitality marketing. “Nobody wants a host in there,” professor Mody told Insider. “I think over time, as more entire […]
Airbnb’s Impact on NYC Hotels: Winners, Losers, and Dueling Forecasts of New Law
“You’d think a shrinking supply of short-term rentals would be a big boost to hotels. But it’s not at all clear how it will play out, and some will benefit more than others.” – Sean O’Neill New York City’s short-term rental regulations could slash up to 70% of Airbnb’s 23,000 active listings in the city after September […]
BU Today – The Pandemic Changed How We Eat, Travel, Tip. Now Things Are Changing Again
It wasn’t all COVID’s fault, but the pandemic profoundly changed how we eat, travel, and even tip—it upended the entire hospitality business. When the pandemic started in March 2020, hospitality, like a lot of other industries, all but stopped. People stayed home, didn’t travel for business or pleasure, and didn’t eat out. Workers were laid […]