Ehab Mehany, General Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Cherry Hill Philadelphia
In an interview with Invest:, Ehab Mehany, general manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Cherry Hill Philadelphia, discussed the hotel’s prime location, which he said is ideal to attract guests from the surrounding major cities. In addition, he talked about hosting events on an international scale, and how upgrading amenities has provided the hotel with an even sharper competitive edge.
How would you describe the South New Jersey business environment, and what makes the area an attractive location for tourism?
In South New Jersey, we share a border with Philadelphia, which has many corporate and leisure visitors. Rowing is a main feature of tourism activity, and we have one rowing site in Philadelphia and another nearby in South New Jersey. Philadelphia will experience good traffic in 2025. We are hosting World Cup matches in 2025 and the World Cup in 2026, which will attract many people to the area. The region has also been hosting many expos and conferences that are all driving business to our market.
How does the Hotel’s proximity to the Philadelphia International Airport play into attracting guests?
Our hotel has a large conference center that hosts various types of business events. We provide a space for ComicCons and horror movie conventions, in addition to weddings, sporting events, high school proms, and other social events. There is a great deal of segmentation in our area, and our hotel leverages its proximity to airports in Philadelphia, Newark, and Atlantic City to attract guests. We have over 400 rooms and almost 55,000 square feet of meeting space, making us one of the largest hotels in the region.
In addition to the casino industry, what other industries are thriving in South New Jersey?
Subaru is a major driver of growth, and its headquarters are located here. Campbell Soup, trucking and transportation companies, Lockheed Martin, and private and higher education all attract business to our area.
What significant developments are underway in the region that will affect the hospitality sector?
In our area, development is underway on Highway 70 as well as the construction of new high-rise buildings. Philadelphia’s conferences and sporting events, as well as new projects at Lockheed Martin, have spurred significant growth for South New Jersey, and there is an incredible amount of potential for growth in our region.
Are there any pressures on the tourism industry that are affecting the region?
There have not been many issues with regulations; however, we used to bring in over a million dollars annually through international travelers, and we still have not returned to those pre-pandemic numbers. We previously had a huge market, but we do not see this anymore. Today’s revenues are 10% of what they used to be. Prior to COVID, the tourist flow would be constant from Sunday through Thursday; now, the major flow only takes place on the weekends. Remote work affects this aspect of the economy, and Donald Trump’s idea of bringing workers back to the office will reactivate the cash flow in our region, especially in the tourism industry.
What measures or initiatives is the DoubleTree implementing to attract guests and ensure year-long demand and occupancy?
We are finishing a $12 million renovation, which is around 60% complete. Our rooms have been completely updated with new bedding, televisions from which guests can control the room temperature and lighting, new carpet, and updated bathrooms. Renovated hallways and new technologies like mobile room service and capabilities for streaming services are also part of the renovation. Part of the technological upgrades have involved a service wherein the guest can text the front desk instead of calling or leaving their room as well as mobile check-in and check-out. These renovations will be complete soon, and the technological component will be unveiled over the next two to three years. There is an abundant amount of developing technology available to enhance the guest experience.
What is your outlook for DoubleTree and the hotel industry as a whole in New Jersey for the next two to three years?
I am curious to see how AI and robotics will evolve to have a more pervasive presence with customer service operations like cleaning, phone service, and check-in procedures.
For the next few years, we are hoping for a strong economy because costs are still quite high in our industry. We are looking to offset increasing costs in labor and supplies, which have doubled, as well as increasing taxes. These have all contributed to smaller profits. We hope for increased demand as people continue to travel. Tourists are still traveling, mainly on Saturdays and Sundays, and we are looking to expand tourism back into the full week. It is imperative to have a high, driving revenue to offset inflation and the high cost of labor.
