Checking Out: What the Rise of the Sharing Economy Means for the Future of the Hotel Industry

Is it time for traditional hotels to check out? As one of the world's most established industries, the hotel sector has remained relatively unchanged and unchallenged for decades. Yet traditional hotels have recently come under increasing pressure on two major fronts: from disruptors in the sharing economy such as Airbnb, and by a rising wave of modern consumers who have become re-educated by social media and hotel comparison websites. Can this traditionally slow-moving sector reinvent itself or will it become increasingly marginalized? Is it time for traditional hotels to check out? Increasing numbers of hoteliers believe that traditional hotels are on the brink of a resurgence in popularity. Global hotel chains are catching up to modern trends – adding technologized curation and personalisation to their offerings. In Checking Out, Katherine Doggrell interviews key figures in the hotel industry and draws upon various case studies to explore the ways in which this traditionalist industry can remain relevant in the 21st century. The hotel 'experience' has been redefined, as guests now value fast Wi-Fi and mobile check-ins over room service and mini-fridges. Checking Out is an engaging investigation into the unprecedented challenges that face the hotel sector in the digital era and the strategies that are being employed by its leaders and innovators.

About the Author :
Katherine Doggrell is a financial journalist specialising in the global hotel investment community, and has written for publications as diverse as the Financial Times, Guardian, Q, Mojo and Business 2.0. She is the EMEA editor in chief at Questex Hospitality and contributes to UK/European trade bodies including HOSPA and the Institute of Hospitality. Katherine also speaks regularly at hotel investment conferences around the world. Katherine lives in Paris.

Review :
Katherine Doggrell analyses the struggles for market between hotels, the sharing economy and the online travel agents in a lively way. For us business folk who just use the beds but work in the many industries about to be disrupted by the impact of AI, FinTech, climate change or variants of the sharing economy, the lessons are numerous. An excellent analysis of why Airbnb and the sharing economy has made such inroads into the traditional hotel market. Katherine Doggrell delivers a punchy wake-up call to the chains who treat guests as a mere commodity. In the style of Brad Stone's The Everything Store, Checking Out provides readers with a well-researched and insightful deep-dive into the development of the sharing economy and in particular how it affects the hospitality sector. Doggrell's investigative style helps highlight issues and perspectives hitherto less visible, making this an essential read for anyone wanting to truly understand the future of the hotel sector. I really enjoyed reading this book, Katherine's writing style is wonderful, particularly the way she brings in humour into an insightful journey through the rise of the sharing economy and its impact on the hotel industry. Anyone who can bring references to Prince and Cricket whilst being informative at the same time gets my vote! Checking Out expertly analyses the threat of the sharing economy, and what the traditional hospitality sector can do to survive. I have always enjoyed Katherine's writing style, and she is one of the leading commentators on the hospitality and leisure sector. This book is a must-read for those linked to the industry who wish to remain ahead of the game - or for those that simply appreciate a good book!