Alta blog

By Rakesh Patel - The global health crisis is complex, multi-dimensional, and alarming. For example, obesity has tripled worldwide since 1975, with over 650 million adults now classified as obese. Additionally, 500 million people globally are living with diabetes, and

By Rakesh Patel - “There are two kinds of forecasters: those who don’t know, and those who don’t know they don’t know”. John Kenneth Galbraith (Economist).

By Rakesh Patel - I have just navigated the heaving festive airport crowds on arrival at London Heathrow airport. According to many reports, it’s going to be a very merry Christmas in the travel and hospitality business.

By Rakesh Patel - How well is wellness doing? Nearly $9 trillion well, according to the latest research from the Global Wellness Institute, that forecasts this size of market by 2028, from $6.3 trillion in 2023. The sector now represents

By Rakesh Patel - It was a pleasure to share a panel on Hotel Investment Returns at HICAP SG. And always good to listen to and exchange thoughts with the hotel community in Asia-Pacific. A few sound bites: 2023/2024 was

By Rakesh Patel - The Federal Reserve kicked-off an easing cycle with a bumper 50bps cut this week. According to Fed Chair Jerome Powell, this is not the Fed hitting the panic button on the economy, and thus far markets

By Rakesh Patel - It was a pleasure to share a panel on sustainable tourism with Liz Ortiguera from the WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Council) and K. Oanh Ha from Bloomberg, at the Sustainable Business Summit in Singapore. 

By Rakesh Patel — You will have seen the rise of hotel interest in adding wellness and fitness elements into their product offering, given consumer demand and pressure to effectively utilise spare GFA. Does it make sense financially? Good to

By Rakesh Patel — It’s always great to exchange ideas and learn from others, at a good hotel conference. Here are some soundbites from the recent SEAHIS event in Bangkok.

By Rakesh Patel — We have gone from restricted travel to overtourism, in the space of two years. Local residents and organisations in travel destinations around the world, are back lobbying local governments against mass tourism.