May 2018 Digital Issue

ACCESS
HAS
CHANGED
A LOT
BECAUSE
OF GPS
clubs like amenities that
both leisure and corporate
travellers are looking for.
So, we are starting to see
what kind of hotel they
want to build being a first
step in site selection.”
From there, a supplyand-demand
analysis will
determine if there’s enough
demand in the market
to support a new hotel
development, which would
typically be done through
a feasibility study. “One of
the top factors would be
who is going to be putting
their heads in the beds,”
says Sparrow. “In terms of
demand generators, they
would look at the local
business area, tourist attractions,
industrial parks,
universities, airports and
major throughways, in
terms of traffic.”
Rich Eichler, a Calgarybased
hotel-and-tourism
consultant, agrees that
proximity to demand
generators is key, along with
visibility, proximity to major
transportation quarters and
potential for growth in the
surrounding area of the
site. Eicher says number-5
on his list — access to the
site — would have been
much higher five or 10 years
ago. “Access has changed
a lot because of GPS,” he
says. “You might see a hotel
from a highway, decide to
go there, and then have
all kinds of difficult access.
With GPS giving precise
directions on how to get
there, guests don’t have to
worry about it as much.”
Visibility is also falling
further down the list
as consumers are using
mobile devices to map
their locations, says
Carrie Russell, partner
and managing director at
HVS’s Vancouver office.
“Visibility used to be really
important, especially for
a walk-in location or a
highway location,” she says.
“But, nowadays, people are
booking on their mobile
devices, punching the hotel
name into their GPS and
being guided by Google to
get there. So, it’s less important
to be visible or accessible
than it used to be.”
Along with the rise
of technology, changing
traveller demands may
necessitate a rethink of
the site-selection checklist.
Today, business and leisure
travellers alike are looking
to experience vibrant
neighbourhoods and
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brokerage, advisory, appraisal and valuation services across all asset types and geographies.
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