Expert Views (9)
View all Answers
Hotels Fail the Guest's Real AI Search Question, Infor Names Google and Anthropic as True PMS Rivals, Meyer Jabara's 24% Turnover Proves Culture Pays
Tuesday brought a pointed argument that hotels optimize for AI name searches while failing the category queries guests actually use to build shortlists, an Infor HITEC interview predicting hotels will build their own AI with Google and Anthropic as the real competitive threat, and Meyer Jabara Hotels' 24% turnover rate as a data point on what intentional leadership culture is worth. Accor's China push to 1,600 hotels, Vietnam's rise to Asia's top branded residences market, and a heavy properties day rounded out a content-rich session.
Beyond Installation: Why Remote Management and Field Services Are Critical to Self-Service Success in Hospitality
Kiosk.eu makes the case that remote management platforms and field services are as critical as hardware selection for keeping hotel self-check-in kiosks operational and guest-ready.
By Dipesh Bharambe, Digital Marketing Specialist, Kiosk Embedded Systems GmbH
Latest
HSMAI Europe to Co-Locate Commercial Strategy Forum Paris with EquipHotel Paris
HSMAI Europe's first Commercial Strategy Forum in Paris will be co-located with EquipHotel Paris on 5 November 2026, with HFTP also joining the event at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.
How Hotels Can Use Reviews to Book More Direct Group Business
Opinion piece argues hotels neglect review-gathering for group/MICE business, and outlines a practical SOP for capturing testimonials at peak emotional moments to win direct bookings.
By Cory Falter, Partner, Lure Agency
The Vineyard, Berkshire Re-Opens Its Doors in a New Era of Contemporary Countryside Luxury
Monogram Collective announces the re-opening of the highly anticipated third hotel to its portfolio, The Vineyard in Berkshire. Re-opening its doors at the end of 2026, following an extensive multi-million pound renovation, The Vineyard has been imbued with a renewed spirit under Monogram Collective, with a timeless invitation for guests to gather, savour, and celebrate. Transformed as a contemporary countryside retreat, the property enters a new era where revelry becomes ritual and every occasion is an opportunity to raise a glass.
Recent Appointments
View AllHotel Yearbook Article The Hotel Yearbook 2026 - Technology Edition
Why AI in Hospitality Is Really About Human Sustainability
Davide Bernasconi reframes the AI conversation in hospitality around a problem the industry rarely names directly: operational hypercomplexity. As hotels become more digitally interconnected, the cognitive load placed on staff has quietly become unsustainable — and the most important thing AI can do is not replace people, but give them their cognitive bandwidth back.
By Davide Bernasconi, Co-Founder & COO, Hoxell
IHCL Clocks 20 Signings and 11 Hotel Openings in Q1 FY2027
IHCL signed 20 hotels and opened 11 in Q1 FY2027, bringing its total portfolio to 645 hotels with a pipeline of 263, on track for its 700-hotel Accelerate 2030 target.
A GM’s perspective on guest feedback at national scale
G'day Group GM Louise Kipling shares how the 330-property Australian network transformed guest feedback from post-stay reporting into a real-time operational system, including mid-stay pulse checks and network-wide fixes driven by sentiment data.
Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts to Debut in Miami Beach in Partnership with Reuben Brothers Following the Transformation of a Landmark Oceanfront Property
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) and Reuben Brothers today jointly announced the signing of a management agreement to transform a premier Miami Beach hotel into Waldorf Astoria Miami Beach, marking the brand’s debut in the market. Owned by Reuben Brothers, the resort will undergo a meticulous renovation and repositioning ahead of its Winter 2027 planned relaunch, at which time it will be managed by Hilton.
Hilton Announces First Home2 Suites by Hilton Property in Spain
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the signing of Home2 Suites by Hilton Madrid Retiro, following a franchise agreement with Santander Asset Management. The property is expected to open in 2028 and will mark the brand debut of Home2 Suites by Hilton in Spain. This will be the brand’s second property across Europe upon opening, joining the recently debuted Home2 Suites by Hilton Dublin City Centre.
Supplier News
View allHow are Lighthouse's AI capabilities transforming hotel commercial strategy?
Lighthouse outlines how its AI platform moves beyond descriptive dashboards to prescriptive guidance, with Ernest and Revenue Agent turning real-time data into executable commercial decisions.
GCSTIMES Key Card as A First Touchpoint That Speaks for the Destination
Wooden key cards are positioned as a sensory branding tool that communicates destination identity, cultural values, and sustainability credentials at the first guest touchpoint.
Lodging Interactive Introduces CruVu™, a New Private Guest Recognition Service for Hotels and Restaurants
Lodging Interactive's CruVu captures private guest recognition by department or staff member, turning it into internal operational intelligence for hotel and restaurant managers to coach teams and improve service.
The Quiet Details That Shape a Hotel’s Spatial Identity
The article argues that a hotel's atmosphere is built through a unified design logic applied consistently across materials, finishes, and objects, down to items like a wooden key card.
Hotel Details That Elevate the Coolcation Experience
Hotels catering to coolcation travelers can strengthen guest experience through natural materials, locally inspired amenities, and operationally practical details like gear storage and flexible breakfast hours.
10 critical hospitality challenges AI is transforming and why hotels can no longer ignore them
RateGain's VP APAC MENA outlines 10 AI use cases for hotels, from predictive pricing to 24/7 chat, as 70% of APAC travelers already use AI across the travel journey.
Fitzroy Island Resort Australia Achieves 50% Night Audit Efficiency Gain With Agilysys Hospitality Ecosystem
Fitzroy Island Resort replaced fragmented legacy software with the Agilysys cloud-native ecosystem, cutting night audit time by four hours per shift and enabling AR reports to be configured in under five minutes.
Laasie and Stayntouch Announce Strategic Integration to Power Next-Generation Hotel Loyalty Experiences
Laasie and Stayntouch have integrated their loyalty and cloud PMS platforms, giving hotels real-time profile sync, flexible reward options, and tools to boost direct bookings across 3,000+ properties.
Skáld Akureyri, Curio Collection by Hilton Opens to Guests
Skáld Akureyri, Curio Collection by Hilton, a new design-led hotel located on historic Hafnarstræti in the heart of Akureyri, officially opened its doors today in North Iceland. The property features 71 guest rooms and 15 serviced apartments, combining contemporary comfort with Icelandic literary heritage, Nordic design, and a distinct sense of place. Drawing inspiration from Iceland’s celebrated tradition of poets and storytellers – the meaning of skáld – the hotel’s design weaves literary references, handcrafted Nordic materials, and bespoke artwork through every space.
Hyatt Regency London Olympia opens at the heart of West London's £1.3 BN Landmark regeneration
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced the opening of Hyatt Regency London Olympia, located within the recently redeveloped £1.3bn Olympia destination. The opening marks the fifth Hyatt Regency hotel in London as the brand continues to expand in Europe’s most visited city[1] and across the U.K., unlocking more choices for World of Hyatt members.
IHG Hotels & Resorts Surpasses 200 Open Canadian Hotels with Plans for Future Growth
IHG now operates 200+ hotels in Canada with nearly 40 more in the pipeline, including first voco signings in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Niagara Falls, and a Garner debut in Alberta in 2027.
Kimpton El Castelar Polanco opens in historic Mexico City Architectural Landmark
Nestled in the Polanquito neighborhood of Mexico City, Kimpton El Castelar, the city’s newest boutique hotel and part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury and lifestyle portfolio, is now open at Emilio Castelar 107 Colonia Polanco. Just steps from Masarik Avenue, Auditorio Nacional, Chapultepec Castle and Arquelogical Museum, in the heart of Lincoln Park, the 34-room hotel brings new life to the Roel Building, originally opened in 1940 and designed by world renowned architect Francisco J. Serrano in the Mexican Art Nouveau period.
Hawkins Way Capital Announces Opening of Fourth Series by Marriott™ Hotel in the U.S. with FOUND Hotels, Chicago
Hawkins Way Capital, a fully vertically integrated real estate company with $3 billion of assets under management, announces the launch of the fourth hotel under the new Series by Marriott™ brand — FOUND Hotels, Chicago, marking the latest U.S. property to join the new brand. In tandem with the conversion, the hotel debuts several thoughtful enhancements designed to elevate both the guest and communal experience.
Accor Accelerates Ambitions in China: A Key Engine for Growth and Travel Innovation
Accor targets 1,600 hotels in Greater China within five to six years, up from 830 today, signing multiple luxury projects and expanding partnerships with Jin Jiang, H World, and Sunmei.
The Charleston Place Unveils Next Phase of $150 Million Reimagination with Newly Transformed Club Level and Pool Experience
The Charleston Place, a defining landmark in the heart of Charleston's historic district at the corners of King, Market and Meeting Streets, announces the completion of the next phase of its ongoing $150+ million reimagination, ushering in a renewed era for the beloved hotel and longtime gathering place for guests, locals, and visitors alike. Building on the property's transformation under BHC, this latest chapter introduces a newly reimagined Club Level, an elevated rooftop pool experience with garden bar, a redesigned arrival area, and newly refreshed guest rooms and suites.
ITC Hotels Signs Welcomhotel Mysuru, Karnataka: A New Address for Immersive Cultural and Leisure Experiences
ITC Hotels Limited today announced the signing of a management agreement for Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels Mysuru, a 99-key hotel in the culturally rich city of Mysuru, Karnataka. The signing marks another significant milestone in ITC Hotels’ growth strategy and further strengthens the presence of the Welcomhotel brand across key business and leisure destinations in South India.
Avani+ Lanexang Vientiane Hotel Opens in the Heart of the Lao Capital
Avani Hotels & Resorts has opened Avani+ Lanexang Vientiane Hotel, introducing the brand’s premium lifestyle hospitality to the Lao capital. Set on Fa Ngum Road, overlooking Chao Anouvong Park and the Mekong River, the 197-key hotel offers a fresh base for business trips, city breaks and riverside stays in Vientiane.
Minor Hotels Appointed by Shurooq to Manage Sharjah Collection, UAE
Minor Hotels will manage Shurooq's seven nature-led and heritage-inspired boutique properties across Sharjah, with plans to integrate them into its upper-upscale and luxury portfolio following investment and enhancements.