‘Think Fast’ Are the Comfort Inn JFK’s Bywords

New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport is one of the world’s busiest, drawing nearly 27 million passengers in 2022. In July this year alone, 42,200 flights took off or landed. Many travelers who arrive before or after their flights stay overnight in one of M&R’s hotels.

Anup Chauhan, general manager of the Comfort Inn JFK Airport – just one mile from the airport –  said its 24-hour-a-day operation presents unique challenges, and the many variables that affect airport operations cause room demand to fluctuate on short to no notice.

“Unannounced demand can come at any time,” he said. “Airline delays and cancellations can create a need for hotel rooms without notice.

“Travelers need to stay somewhere, especially if it’s late at night. In this sense, business can fall in your lap and, with it, more flexibility to drive revenue. But with this good fortune comes the responsibility to provide first-rate service.”

Unlike other types of hotels that depend heavily on either business or leisure guests, airport properties see both. Consequently, Anup said, managers stay focused on meeting and surpassing very different guest expectations, even for single-night stays.

Revenue management likewise is particularly challenging in this fast-moving environment, he said. “We try to stay on top of weather alerts and factor in local market demands when making revenue decisions. When it comes to pricing, we want to be competitive, but not leave money on the table.”