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Booking Is Building a Machine to Wholesale Your Rooms at Scale, Hotel Satisfaction Hits 30-Year High, Urban Cowboy Built Four Hotels with Zero Marketing
Wednesday brought hospitality.today's warning that Booking Holdings is unifying its B2B wholesale operation to resell hotel net-rate inventory across bank apps, airline checkouts, and loyalty portals at scale, JD Power's 30th annual study finding North America hotel guest satisfaction at a 30-year high of 665 out of 1,000, and Urban Cowboy founders on 12 years of growth with no marketing spend. Revinate's HITEC booth conversation, the Sunshine Protection Act's impact on hotel operations, and a record-breaking properties day rounded out the session.
Beyond RevPAR: Why the Hotel Performance Dashboard Is Expanding
The article argues that Occupancy, ADR, and RevPAR are no longer sufficient, calling for dashboards that also track TRevPAR, ESG metrics, employee engagement, and real-time AI-driven analytics.
By Dr Ajay Khatter, Senior Lecturer in Hospitality Management, William Angliss Institute
Latest
How Europe’s Accommodation Sector Is Tackling Seasonality
The European Accommodation Barometer finds hoteliers are combining dynamic pricing, OTA partnerships, and event-driven strategies to reduce reliance on July-August, when 31% of all EU tourism nights are concentrated.
By Peter Lochbihler, Global Director Public Affairs, Booking.com
Revinate thinks the AI trusts your guests more than your brand
We didn't go to HITEC 2026 for the demos. We went for the conversations. We sat down with exhibitors right there on the show floor. No script, no prepared questions, just one starting point: tell us what you do, in plain language. This is where it went with Frank Trampert, Chief Revenue Officer at Revinate.
As AI Reshapes Hospitality, Authentic Human Connection Remains the Ultimate Differentiator
The author argues that AI should handle back-office tasks to free hotel staff for authentic guest interactions, positioning human connection as the hardest-to-replicate competitive differentiator.
By Brendan Cronin, Visiting Professor, Les Roches
Recent Appointments
View AllWhy is Selling Leisure so Hard?
The global leisure economy is projected to grow from $5.5T to $9.57T, but operators face structural sales challenges rooted in consumer psychology, optional spending, and infinite competition.
By Jeremy McCarthy, CEO & Founder, Leisure Alchemy
Planters Inn Embarks on Landmark Renovation Honoring Charleston’s Enduring Legacy
Planters Inn, one of Charleston’s most iconic historic hotels, today announced a property-wide renovation that will reimagine the storied property for the first time in decades. Set to be completed in January 2027, the multi-phase project will encompass all guestrooms and suites, public spaces, and the acclaimed Peninsula Grill, ushering in a new era for the 182-year-old landmark.
Supercity Aparthotels opens Micklegate in York: a new standard for flexible city stays
Supercity Aparthotels has opened its ninth property, Micklegate, in the heart of York city centre.
What Great Musicians Can Teach Us About Customer Service
Using a music analogy, Shep Hyken maps five customer journey phases from uncertainty to amazement, arguing consistent experiences turn first-time buyers into loyal fans.
By Shep Hyken, Customer Service and Experience Expert, Keynote Speaker and Bestselling Author, Shepard Presentations, LLC.
Aleph Hospitality Expands Portfolio with Management Contract for Crowne Plaza Multan
Aleph Hospitality, the largest independent hotel management company in the Middle East and Africa, has signed a hotel management agreement with Serene Tower PVT Ltd for the Crowne Plaza Multan in Pakistan, reinforcing the company’s strategy of expanding its global footprint across rapidly growing travel markets.
Supplier News
View allOracle OPERA Cloud Central Implements Additional Systems to Further Loews Hotels Delivery of Exceptional Guest Experiences
Loews Hotels is expanding its Oracle technology stack with OPERA Cloud Distribution and Loyalty modules, giving properties a unified platform for rates, inventory, guest recognition, and direct booking incentives.
Slow Down, Check In, Reconnect: The Rise of Farm Charm
Expedia's Unpack '26 report finds 84% of travelers want farm-adjacent stays, prompting hotels to rethink guest experiences around slow travel, local sourcing, and on-site nature activities.
Positron and SONIFI Partner to Modernize Guestroom Network at Buena Vista Suites Orlando
Positron's GAM solution converted existing coaxial cabling into a Gigabit Ethernet network at Buena Vista Suites Orlando, completing the full-property upgrade in one week with no room downtime.
Understanding the EUDR: Supporting Sustainable and Responsible Hospitality
GCSTIMES outlines how the EU Deforestation Regulation affects hospitality supply chains, focusing on wood and paper products, and highlights FSC certification as a key compliance tool.
Apaleo appoints Connor Neeson to lead growth across the UK & Ireland
Apaleo names Connor Neeson as Country Lead for UK and Ireland, targeting operators still reliant on legacy PMS as pressure mounts to modernise technology infrastructure.
Grevon joins AI Hospitality Alliance as a founding partner
Grevon joins the AI Hospitality Alliance as a founding partner, contributing to technical standards and direct-booking workstreams as AI reshapes hotel distribution and guest ownership.
TTI Technologies Named The North American Hospitality Preferred Provider for ePRINTit™ Mobile Printing Solutions
TTI Technologies becomes ePRINTit's exclusive North American hotel provider, offering properties a secure, QR-code-based mobile printing platform that reduces front desk load and guest friction.
Shiji and FPG transform hospitality dining with AI-Powered performance integration between Infrasys POS and CheckMax
Shiji's Infrasys POS now integrates with FPG's CheckMax to deliver AI coaching and real-time sales analytics, targeting a 5–15% increase in incremental revenue per guest for hotel restaurants.
Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica Unveils New Enhancements to Elevate the Guest Experience
Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica is elevating the guest experience with a comprehensive enhancement project set to debut in late 2026. Reflecting the evolving needs of modern travellers, the design-driven evolution thoughtfully elevates how guests stay, dine, and gather across the resort.
lyf Chinatown Singapore Officially Opens with Community-Driven Experiences Rooted in the District's Heritage
The Ascott Limited (Ascott) has officially opened lyf Chinatown Singapore, its fifth lyf-branded property in the country. Bridging old and new, the 90-key property spans a row of conserved shophouses and a new build, honouring the area's heritage and its long-standing ties to the Chulia community while delivering lyf's signature experience-led social living. Through curated local collaborations, community-led recommendations and cultural touchpoints spanning all five senses, lyf Chinatown Singapore serves as a placemaker that connects guests with the district's living culture.
Destination By Hyatt brand debuts in Uzbekistan with the opening of Beldersoy Resort and SPA
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today celebrated the opening of Beldersoy Resort and SPA, which blends a wellness focus and authentic Uzbek heritage with warm hospitality standards. As the first premium mountain resort and the first Destination by Hyatt branded property in Uzbekistan, the opening reflects a significant milestone for the brand in one of the world’s fastest-growing tourist destinations.[1]
Hacienda del Mar, member of The Meliá Collection, celebrates its grand opening with an evening inspired by the endless summers of the Mediterranean
Hacienda del Mar, member of The Meliá Collection, the latest addition to Meliá Hotels International’s exclusive collection of singular hotels, celebrated its official opening with an evening inspired by the Mediterranean lifestyle, bringing together nearly 300 guests, including well-known figures from the social and lifestyle scene such as Pepe Barroso, Helen Lindes and Jaydy Michel.
IHG Hotels & Resorts Expands Its Upper Luxury Presence in Greater China with the signing of Regent Chengdu
IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement with Newhope Real Estate to introduce the Regent brand to Chengdu, marking the brand’s debut in the city and further solidifying IHG’s luxury footprint across Greater China’s premier urban destinations.
Six Senses AMAALA opens between desert cliffs, lagoon waters, and the Red Sea coast
Six Senses AMAALA opens in July 2026, bringing the Six Senses way of life to a second remarkable setting in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, following Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea.
IHG Hotels & Resorts and Grupo Presidente Advance Development of the New InterContinental Presidente Mexico City Miyana
IHG Hotels & Resorts, in partnership with Grupo Presidente, continues to advance the development of InterContinental Presidente Mexico City Miyana, with its opening scheduled for the second half of 2026. This upcoming hotel will expand the presence of IHG's iconic luxury flagship brand in Mexico and further strengthen its luxury and lifestyle offering in one of the capital's most dynamic business and commercial districts.
Hospitality Leadership Isn't About Having More Skills, It's About Having the Right Ones
EHL's new Hospitality Leadership Skills Report, based on 40 years of research and interviews with 22 senior executives, identifies 30 sub-skills across four domains, with self-leadership as the non-negotiable foundation.
By Bianca Lüthy and Dr. Sowon Kim
Book the Restaurant, Then the Room: OpenTable Reveals the 2026 Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in America
OpenTable's 2026 Top 100 Hotel Restaurants list coincides with data showing hotel restaurant bookings by travelers up 13% YoY, plus an upgraded AI Concierge tool now live on its homepage.
Price the Signal, Not the Story
Using the England vs. Argentina narrative as a lens, the piece argues hoteliers must price from live booking data and pickup curves, not gut feel, reputation, or the story a date seems to tell.
By André Santos, Director of Hospitality Solutions EMEA, Duetto