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
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Are Hotel Budgets Working Against Revenue Optimization?, Pertlink Puts a Meter on AI Costs Per Guest, Martin Soler Changes His Mind on AI Agents
Thursday brought a World Panel question on whether budgets and incentive plans work against total profitability, and a free playbook on what AI really costs a hotel per guest ahead of 2027 budgets.
Club Med Opens Reservations for St. Croix Resort, Marking Its Return to U.S. Shores in November 2027
Club Med, the pioneer of the all-inclusive vacation concept, has officially opened reservations for Club Med St. Croix, a new premium all-inclusive resort scheduled to welcome guests on November 12, 2027. Located along Davis Bay in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where rainforest-covered hills meet the Caribbean Sea, the property marks the brand's return to U.S. shores and will become its second Exclusive Collection resort in North America. Designed for guests ages 12 and older, the all-suite retreat offers a Caribbean getaway without a passport for U.S. citizens traveling directly from the United States.
Adeera and HSMAI MEA Join Forces to Develop the Next Generation of Hospitality Commercial Leaders
Adeera Hospitality and HSMAI MEA will offer sales, marketing and revenue staff four professional certifications including CHSL, CHDM, CRME and CHBA, supported by expert-led review courses.
Recent Appointments
View allA New Chapter Unfolds on Calistoga’s Ridgeline
Reservations are now open for stays beginning April 15, 2027, at Rosewood Calistoga, a new 118-acre cultivated hillside estate set along Calistoga's forested ridgeline in Napa Valley. Marking a significant milestone in Rosewood's continued growth across the Americas, the estate offers a distinct perspective on wine country, pairing the seclusion of a hillside retreat with close ties to a town shaped by volcanic hot springs and generations of winemaking.
Relying on AI is rotting your brain. But here’s what you can do about it
A psychologist warns that over-reliance on AI tools like Meta's Muse may deplete cognitive function, citing documented risks to brain chemistry, mental health, and neurological skills.
Paathz Officially Launches: Hospitality Hiring Infrastructure Goes Live Across Asia and Europe
Paathz, a hospitality-specific hiring platform, has launched fully across Southeast Asia (Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines) and Europe (Switzerland, Spain), with 50,000+ candidates and 1,100+ properties onboard.
Success story: The Coaching Inn Group
Access Hospitality details its 20-year partnership with the 43-property Coaching Inn Group, covering PMS, procurement, Wi-Fi marketing, and table management under a unified account model.
Brand Conversions Reach a Record-High Project Total in China’s Hotel Construction Pipeline at Q3 2026
China's pipeline holds 3,507 projects and 621,201 rooms at Q3 2026, with brand conversions hitting record highs and over 1,000 new hotels forecast to open by year-end.
Supplier News
View allNorth Beach Village Resorts brings nine boutique hotels together on Cloudbeds’ unified platform
North Beach Village Resorts deployed Cloudbeds across nine Fort Lauderdale boutique hotels, consolidating PMS, channel management, operations and payments into one platform for a 390-key collection.
Customer Alliance and Cloudbeds Partner to Elevate Guest Experience and Automated Reputation Management for Global Hoteliers
Customer Alliance integrates with Cloudbeds PMS to automate post-stay surveys, review collection on Google and TripAdvisor, and real-time feedback alerts via the Cloudbeds Marketplace.
Inn-Flow Appoints Lokesh Seth as CEO to Accelerate Growth and AI-Powered Innovation in Hospitality
Inn-Flow names Lokesh Seth as CEO to drive growth and AI development; founder John Erhart moves to Executive Chairman, staying involved with customers and operators.
IDeaS 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.
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.
Crestline 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.
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.