Hospitality Industry Leader Andrea Foster Joins Electric Vehicle Charging Movement; Becomes Advisory Board Member for EVPassport
EVPassport, the EV charging hardware and software platform for forward-thinking companies who place high value on the satisfaction of their customers, guests, and tenants, today announced that hospitality industry leader Andrea Foster has joined its advisory board. As an industry visionary for the past 25 years, Foster believes that EV charging stations – and the way they seamlessly (or not so seamlessly) interface with EV drivers – will play an important role in both hotel guest and investor preference and satisfaction moving forward.
“Hospitality is about creating a home-away-from-home experience where guests’ needs are comfortably and conveniently satisfied,” said Foster. “As the auto industry continues to switch from gas-powered to electric vehicles, the needs of our hotel guests in drive-to and rental car-heavy markets will include EV charging. But the hospitality industry’s savvy guests will seek more than just a ‘charge-up’ transaction; they will want a frictionless experience that is fast, reliable, and equipped to interface with whichever technology they are carrying in their pocket. Going forward, both the availability and quality of EV charging will be a notable differentiator for hotels – and they need to be prepared with the right technology.”
“Further,” Foster continued, “ESG [Environmental, Social, and Governance] considerations are fast-emerging as key initiatives for companies across the globe, and are driving guest and investor preference. Specific to the hotel industry, meeting planners and individual business travelers in some large companies are being evaluated in part based on the carbon footprint of their meetings, events, and travel. Going forward, hotels where high-tech sustainability is woven into their service and amenity offerings will enjoy a competitive advantage.”
Auto executives are anticipating more than half of all auto sales will be electric by the year 2030, and with that comes the demand for more on-site charging options for hotel guests. However, as with any industry, not all product experiences provide the same level of quality, simplicity, and return on investment.
Foster believes that to retain guests and to attract new ones in today’s ESG-focused environment, EV charging will quickly evolve from a nice-to-have amenity to a must-have guest service. EVPassport supplies custom branded hardware that gives EV drivers (of all makes and models) the easiest charging experience possible, requiring no apps, fobs or cards – just a simple QR code scan.
“Having Andrea Foster on our advisory board makes us infinitely better at how we cater to the specific needs of our hospitality customers,” said Hooman Shahidi, co-founder and president of EVPassport. “Her industry knowledge and passion for innovation are what make her so successful at what she does, and we highly value her insights.”
Foster is currently Senior Vice President of Development for Marcus Hotels & Resorts, where she is responsible for marketing the company’s hotel management and ownership expertise, and identifying and securing co-GP acquisition and third-party management opportunities. Previously, Andrea was a Managing Director for CBRE Hotels, and held business development, marketing, and operational leadership roles for Miraval Resorts and both branded and independent full-service hotels. She is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, and has been a Cornell Hotel Society board committee chair and chapter president. Additionally, she is a recognized advocate for promoting women in hospitality industry leadership through her advisory roles with AHLA’s ForWard, Castell Project’s Castell@College, and She Has A Deal/Today’s Woman. She is a regular speaker at industry conferences and university hospitality programs and was named one of “30 Influential Women in Hospitality” in 2017 by Hotel Management Magazine, as well as one of hospitality’s most successful women by Lodging Magazine in 2016.