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Neil Gallagher of Soneva on Bare Luxury, Just What Matters, and the Evolution of Ultra-Luxury in the Maldives
Soneva CEO Neil Gallagher outlines the "Bare Luxury" repositioning following KSL Capital's 2025 majority stake acquisition, covering service philosophy, expansion into Africa and ski markets, and a shift from SOPs to emotional intelligence.
When Hotels Become Storytellers: Two Journeys Through the Legacies of South India
Two South Indian hotels, the Royal Orchid Metropole in Mysore and Hoysala Village in Hassan, illustrate how embedding living local ritual and dynastic history into the guest experience creates meaning that outlasts any amenity.
By Taran Patel and Chirag Patel
Latest
Radisson Hotel Group’s global career festival returns with a focus on career mobility and AI in hospitality
Career Fest 2026, taking place throughout October across 100+ countries, builds on a 2025 edition with 12,000+ registrations, focusing on career mobility, AI skills, and leadership development for Radisson's 75,000+ employees.
Minor Hotels Signs Avani+ Hanoi in the Vietnamese Capital
Minor Hotels, a leading global hotel owner and operator, has signed a management agreement with Trading Construction Works Organization to operate Avani+ Hanoi, a 310-key hotel in Hanoi’s Bach Mai Ward.
Kempinski Residences brings the Good Life to Waterfront Living with The Creek Dubai in partnership with Swiss Property
Kempinski Group, Europe’s oldest luxury hospitality company, today announced the launch of Kempinski Residences The Creek, featuring 279 luxury apartments surrounded by natural landscapes, offering a serene lifestyle complemented by premium amenities and exquisite services.
Recent Appointments
View AllOperations & Strategy
Michel Albahari has been appointed as Director of Operations at Solmar Hotels & Resorts
Outset Collection by Hilton Set for EMEA Debut
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the signing of a franchise agreement with Arte Hoteles for the first Outset Collection by Hilton property in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Expected to open later this year, Casa Verbena Madrid, Outset Collection by Hilton, will bring the brand’s soulful approach to independent hospitality to the heart of Spain’s capital, offering travellers a stay shaped by local story and individuality.
Colliers U.S. Hospitality Brand Performance Comparison Report - H1 2026
Colliers' H1 2026 U.S. report shows luxury and upper-upscale brands posting 4–8% RevPAR gains while midscale and economy segments remain under pressure from budget travelers and excess supply.
Meriwether Companies Debuts Multimillion-Dollar Transformation of La Valle Coastal Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California
Meriwether Companies, a U.S. private resort real estate development firm, announces the transformation completion of La Valle Coastal Club, the 225-acre private club and resort in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., ushering in a new era for the landmark property formerly known as Morgan Run.
Cambridge House, Auberge Collection, A New Landmark in the Heart of London, is Now Accepting Reservations
Reuben Brothers and Auberge Collection, the award-winning portfolio of one-of-a-kind luxury hotels, resorts, and residences, is pleased to announce that Cambridge House, Auberge Collection is now accepting bookings ahead of its 1st February 2027 opening.
Under Canvas to Open First New Mexico Camp in Santa Fe in 2027
Today, Under Canvas, the leader in upscale, outdoor hospitality, announced that Under Canvas Santa Fe will open in April of 2027, marking the brand’s first location in New Mexico and its 18th property within the portfolio. Set across 640 acres of rolling high desert outside Santa Fe, the new camp offers a richly immersive way to experience the region—blending the city’s celebrated art, culture and cuisine with sweeping landscapes, outdoor adventure and vast open skies. The debut of Under Canvas Santa Fe also marks several firsts for the brand: the introduction of saunas, a dedicated event tent and cabins alongside its signature canvas tents – all designed to complement the high-desert landscape and elevate the guest experience.
Supplier News
View allApaleo and IDeaS Announce Expanded Integration With Advanced Revenue Controls
The expanded integration connects Apaleo's API-first PMS with IDeaS' AI-powered platform, automating two-way data flows for pricing, forecasting, overbooking, LOS, and LRV decisions in real time.
IDeaS and Apaleo GmbH
Shakira’s Madrid residency drives hotel bookings up 15% and prices up 20%
SiteMinder data shows Shakira's 12-night Madrid residency has pushed hotel bookings up 14.8% and ADR to €339, a 19.7% increase, with domestic bookings surging 65% year over year.
Stayntouch Earns Hotel Tech Report’s Highest Level of Global Customer Support Certification
Stayntouch achieved a perfect 34/34 score for Level 4 Global Customer Support Certification from Hotel Tech Report, covering 24/7 multilingual support, onboarding, and NPS tracking.
IDS Next Celebrates Over 25 Years of Partnership with ITC Hotels
IDS Next marks 25+ years powering ITC Hotels' operations with its cloud-native, AI-enabled ERP platform covering front and back-end, wellness, and sales and catering functions.
IDS NEXT and ITC Hotels
Hapi and Upgrade Partner to Help Hotels Deploy Modern Payment Options at Scale with Flex Pay
Hapi and Upgrade's Flex Pay integration automates BNPL payment processing across reservation systems and PMS platforms, already live across thousands of hotels and billed as the first above-property payment automation in a global hotel chain.
Outdoor travel stays strong in 2026 as AI enters trip planning
RMS survey of 1,500 campers across the US, UK, Australia and NZ finds 66% plan to camp more in 2026, with online search now the top discovery channel and AI tools used by 14% for trip research.
Otel Launches Otel Academy, a Webinar Series that Cuts Through the AI Noise for Hotels.
Otel AI launches a free webinar series for hoteliers, with the first 41-minute episode featuring former Accor Group CTO Floor Bleeker on building a practical AI strategy.
Cloudbeds launches RMS with deeper hotel intelligence built on unified data
Cloudbeds launches a native RMS powered by its Signals unified data layer, combining competitor rates, booking pace, and channel behavior with automated rate execution via its PMS.
Banyan Group Unveils Ubuyu, a Banyan Tree Escape, Marking Its First-Ever Safari Experience and Second Banyan Tree Escape Worldwide
Banyan Group ("Banyan Tree Holdings Limited" or the "Group" – SGX: B58), an independent global hospitality company, unveils its first safari experience with Ubuyu, a Banyan Tree Escape, an intimate safari retreat deep in the heart of Tanzania's Ruaha National Park. Now open to guests, Ubuyu offers travellers a rare opportunity to experience one of East Africa's most untouched wilderness areas, celebrated for its raw beauty and remarkable biodiversity.
Regent Hotels & Resorts to debut in French Polynesia with signing of Regent Bora Bora
IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has signed an agreement with long-standing partner Pacific Beachcomber to transform InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa into Regent Bora Bora. The resort closed on 1 June 2026 for extensive renovations and, following a significant transformation, will reopen as Regent Bora Bora in late 2027. The resort will mark Regent Hotels & Resorts’ debut in French Polynesia, one of the world’s most celebrated island destinations.
NoMad Hilton Singapore Plans for Late 2026 Opening
Bookings are now live for NoMad Hilton Singapore, which is set to open in late 2026, marking the brand’s debut in Asia Pacific. Positioned to meet growing demand for elevated, experience-driven stays, the hotel will reflect NoMad’s refined yet eclectic vision of luxury hospitality, with a focus on sophisticated design, world-class dining, and immersive cultural programming.
The Opening of Jayasom Wellness Resort Advancing AMAALA’s Wellness Vision
Red Sea Global (RSG), the regenerative tourism developer, has opened Jayasom Wellness Resort AMAALA, bringing a distinctive holistic health offering to the destination.
TOURISE Unveils 2027 Summit Under the Theme “Alliances That Move the World”
TOURISE 2027 Summit will convene global tourism, technology, and investment leaders in Riyadh on March 23-25, 2027, under the theme "Alliances That Move the World," building on $113B in portfolio investments announced at its 2025 inaugural event.
Global Hospitality Industry Review - First Half of 2026
A half-year review arguing the industry has moved past recovery into a tougher competitive phase, where AI, selectivity, labor costs, and sustainability are redefining how hotels grow.
7 budget priorities to turn your hotel F&B from amenity to main revenue driver in 2027
IRIS outlines seven mobile ordering strategies hotels can budget for in 2027 to convert F&B from a guest amenity into a profit centre, citing 20-40% increases in average transaction value among clients.
By Kate Fuller, Head of Marketing, IRIS
ALIS and Shatterproof to Honor Barry Sternlicht with ALIS Lifetime Achievement Award and Shatterproof Hospitality Hero Award at ALIS 2027
Barry Sternlicht, founder of Starwood Capital Group and creator of W Hotels and St. Regis expansions, will receive dual honors at ALIS 2027 in Los Angeles on January 25, 2027.
Soneva's Neil Gallagher on Bare Luxury and What Stays When the SOPs Go, dormakaba Acquires Alliants, EU AI Act Is Now Changing What Hotels Can Show
Wednesday brought the Boardroom Reboot's conversation with Soneva CEO Neil Gallagher on Bare Luxury, emotional intelligence over service scripts, and expansion into Africa and ski markets following KSL Capital's 2025 stake, dormakaba's acquisition of UK-based guest experience platform Alliants to merge physical access with digital engagement, and Influence Society's breakdown of the EU AI Act Article 50 obligations now in force for hotels using AI-generated visuals, chatbots, and video. Shakira's Madrid residency pushing ADR 20%, Cloudbeds' native RMS launch, and 12 property announcements rounded out the session.
How Hotels Source Linens and Amenities in Bulk: A Practical Guide for Operations and Procurement Managers
A practical guide for procurement and operations managers covering linen thread count specs by property tier, amenity kit decisions, par stock formulas, and supplier evaluation criteria for US hotels.
By Camilo Sosa, E-commerce Manager, Hotel Items (A & S Suppliers, Inc.)