By Scott Dahl
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Kenan Simmons of Small Luxury Hotels of the World on Independent Spirit, the Hilton Partnership, and the Resurgence of Boutique Luxury
SLH SVP Kenan Simmons discusses how the 700-property collective helps independent hoteliers reach global audiences, the economics of the Hilton partnership, and why boutique luxury is resurging rather than evolving.
I think I was wrong about Agents
A hospitality marketing professional argues that AI agents represent a step-change beyond generative AI, enabling autonomous task execution like running ad campaigns end-to-end, with hotel-specific use cases explored.
By Martin Soler, Partner, Soler & Associates
Latest
GBTA + VDR Europe Conference 2026 in Partnership with ABTA Draws Record Attendance as European Business Travel Spending Grows
Europe-originating business travel spending is forecast to reach €404 billion in 2026, up 7%, as nearly 1,400 professionals gathered in Vienna for the GBTA + VDR Europe Conference 2026.
HITEC Paris 2026: The Rise of AI Agents and the Value of Being Human
Panelists at HITEC Paris 2026 debated AI intermediation risk, data ownership, and whether efficiency gains from automation are being used to improve hospitality or simply reduce headcount.
HFTP Announces 2026–2027 Global Executive Committee and Board of Directors
HFTP's incoming 2026–2027 Global Board spans finance, technology, and operations professionals from organizations including Accor, Sonesta, Belmond, Cisco, and West Virginia University.
Recent Appointments
View allCrestline Selected to Manage Aloft by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown
Crestline Hotels & Resorts will manage the 128-room Aloft by Marriott in Indianapolis, adding it to its Essential Collection portfolio.
Salt Lake City Marriott University Park Completes $12 Million Property-Wide Renovation
Salt Lake City Marriott University Park has completed a $12 million property-wide renovation, introducing updates throughout the hotel’s guestrooms, public spaces, dining outlets, fitness center and meeting and event venues. Owned by Highline Hospitality Partners and managed by StepStone Hospitality, the renovation marks a significant investment in the property and its position within Salt Lake City’s growing hospitality market.
New AHLA Report Says AI Is Giving Hotel Teams More Time for What Matters Most: Guests
AHLA and Actabl report finds 90% of hotel respondents say AI speeds up routine work, with staffing-to-demand alignment improving and turnover declining through H1 2026.
JW Marriott Fiji Resort & Spa Planned for 2027 Debut on Denarau Island
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) has signed an agreement with Dubbo Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF), to introduce JW Marriott to Fiji with JW Marriott Fiji Resort & Spa. Located on Denarau Island, the property is slated to feature 282 keys and is expected to open in Q1 2027, with reservations anticipated to open in December 2026.
Fort George Belize Joins Autograph Collection Ahead of Major Waterfront Expansion
Fort George Belize, Autograph Collection, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s distinctive portfolio of independent hotels, announces its debut as a landmark waterfront retreat in the historic Fort George neighborhood. Celebrated for its individual character and story, the hotel enters a new chapter that honors its longstanding connection to Belize City while inviting travelers to experience the destination’s history, culture, and Caribbean spirit through a refreshed and distinctly local hospitality experience.
Supplier News
View allIDeaS to Convene Third Resorts Revenue Council as Resort Operators Accelerate Commercial Strategy Evolution
IDeaS will host its third Resorts Revenue Council on Feb. 10, 2027, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, gathering resort commercial leaders to shape future innovation in resort revenue management software.
What Happens When Hotel Automation Only Half Works?
Using late checkout as a case study, this piece examines why hotel automation must propagate decisions across all affected teams and systems, not just update a single field in the PMS.
For-Sight joins Net Affinity and Smarthotel to strengthen guest engagement and create a more personalised hotel booking journey
Hotel Tech Group acquires For-Sight, adding CRM and CDP capabilities to its portfolio alongside Net Affinity and Smarthotel to offer a connected guest journey from booking to post-stay.
Driving integrated excellence: Shiji Daylight PMS enhances Manila's premier integrated resort experience
New Coast Hotel Manila adopted Shiji's Daylight PMS to complement its existing Infrasys POS, creating a unified single-vendor technology platform across all resort operations in the Philippines.
2026 SiteMinder Partner Awards honour the innovators putting AI to work for hotels
SiteMinder's 2026 Partner Awards, held in London, recognised 12 companies turning AI into measurable hotel results, with GuestCentric's Melissa AI lifting direct booking value by 38% across 300+ properties.
ULIV chooses Mews as it scales flex living hospitality across Mexico
Mexico City-based aparthotel operator ULIV, managing 1,000+ units, adopts Mews PMS, Channel Manager and RMS to support its growth to 3,000 units across Mexico and into the US.
RoomPriceGenie launches Portfolio Calendar to give hotel groups clearer control of revenue performance
RoomPriceGenie's Portfolio Calendar gives multi-property hotel groups a single dashboard view of occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, and pricing across all properties to streamline revenue oversight.
VDA Telkonet and Cloudbeds Announce Strategic Partnership to Connect Smart Room Automation with Cloud Hospitality Management
VDA Telkonet and Cloudbeds will integrate guestroom automation with Cloudbeds PMS to auto-trigger room settings at check-in, with commercial availability planned for Q1 2027.
AI Questions Every Hotelier Should Be Asking
A report from The Hospitality Show covers AI panel insights and expo floor vendor offerings, closing with five due-diligence questions hoteliers should ask before adopting any AI tool.
By Robert Firpo-Cappello, Vice President, Communications, HFTP
EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy adopted against background of increasing resilience and reducing seasonality
ETC's Q3/2026 report shows European arrivals up 3%, with smaller destinations leading growth, while geopolitical risks and rising costs cloud the winter outlook.
Hotel Kämp, Reborn: Finland's Grand Hotel Completes a Historic Three-Year Renovation
A storied icon, reborn. Hotel Kämp, Helsinki’s grand dame, enters a new era today as it completes a three-year transformation. The renewed Hotel Kämp honors its rich heritage while embracing a new generation of dining, well-being, design, and hospitality.
Own BFCM: The ultimate holiday preparation guide | a Revinate webinar
Revinate webinar covering hotel BFCM campaign strategy, including email deliverability, guest segmentation, voice channel performance ($34M+ in bookings), and automated lead nurture.
Karen Stephens in conversation with Bailey Yeats
What is GEO? What it means for independent hotels
A practical guide explaining Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) for independent hotels, covering how AI assistants select properties to recommend and four key signals hoteliers can optimize.
By Femke Nollet, Content Specialist, Lighthouse
Clarks Udaipur Opens Its Doors
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India's largest hospitality company, today announced the opening of Clarks Udaipur.
Record Early Planning and Upscale Growth Drive Asia Pacific, excluding China, Pipeline in Q3 2026
APEC's hotel construction pipeline hits record highs of 2,684 projects and 473,560 rooms in Q3 2026, with India leading at 43% of total projects and new announcements up 44% year over year.
Hilton Caribbean Footprint Tops 100 Open and Planned Hotels
Hilton surpasses 100 open and planned hotels in the Caribbean, with new openings in Puerto Rico and pipeline projects spanning 10+ markets through 2030.
Dusit Opens ASAI Yangon Sule, Bringing Its Locally Inspired Lifestyle Brand to Downtown Yangon
Dusit Hotels and Resorts, the hotel arm of Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has officially opened ASAI Yangon Sule, a contemporary lifestyle hotel that puts travellers close to the flavours, culture, and everyday rhythms of downtown Yangon. The hotel is now welcoming guests under Dusit’s management.
The Strand Hotel Yangon Joins Dusit Collection, Bringing 125 Years of Heritage Under Dusit’s Management
Dusit Hotels and Resorts, the hotel arm of Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has officially opened The Strand Hotel Yangon – Dusit Collection in Yangon, Myanmar. The celebrated historic landmark has joined Dusit’s luxury Dusit Collection brand and is now welcoming guests under Dusit’s management.
Aethos Lisbon: A Hotel and Members’ Club Built Around a Restored Villa
Aethos today announces Aethos Lisbon, opening in June 2027 in Estefânia, one of central Lisbon’s most authentic neighbourhoods. The 60-key, five-star property set within peaceful gardens is the fullest expression yet of Aethos’s hybrid model, bringing a boutique hotel and a members’ club together in one destination, with access to the property and its extensive programming reserved for members and hotel guests. Aethos Lisbon follows the members’ club Aethos opened in Anjos in summer 2025 and builds on the community that has grown around it in the city.