From Search Box to Travel Advisor: IHG’s Kim Smith on the Next Phase of AI Booking
IHG's SVP of Digital Direct Channels explains the Google-powered conversational search beta on IHG.com, its personalization roadmap, and how hotels must restructure content to remain discoverable in an AI-driven booking era.
Global Hospitality Industry Review - First Half of 2026
H1 2026 global hotel performance shows continued RevPAR growth at 3–4% for major chains, but occupancy has plateaued in most markets, while the Middle East saw declines of up to 43%.
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The Countdown Begins to Stamford Place’s September Opening, Singapore’s Newest Lifestyle Destination in City Hall
This September, a familiar landmark in Singapore's Civic District will begin a new chapter as Stamford Place, a vibrant mixed-use destination that blends living, working, dining, and social connection under one roof. Bringing together APT., a new boutique serviced apartment, hospitality-inspired workspaces by The Great Room by Industrious, and a carefully curated mix of dining, retail and art.
The Global Hotel Construction Pipeline Reaches a Record High Project Count as LE Debuts 2028 New Hotel Openings Forecast at Q2 2026 Close
The Q2 2026 LE report shows the global pipeline hitting a record 15,976 projects and 2.4M rooms, with India up 36% and the first-ever 2028 openings forecast of 2,499 hotels.
Maya Hotels Opens 124-Room Hilton Garden Inn Steele Creek Charlotte in North Carolina
Today Maya Hotels announced the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Steele Creek Charlotte, a new 124-room hotel at 4936 Trojan Drive in Steele Creek, positioned at the gateway to the River District and directly adjacent to Charlotte Premium Outlets. The opening comes as Steele Creek continues to evolve into one of Charlotte’s most dynamic communities, with significant residential, commercial, retail and recreational investment reshaping the area. The nearby River District, a major master-planned community along the Catawba River, is bringing new homes, businesses and amenities to the area and further strengthening Steele Creek as a destination within Charlotte. Located immediately off I-485, Hilton Garden Inn Steele Creek provides convenient access to I-77 and I-85 and is approximately 8 miles from Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Charlotte Premium Outlets sits directly adjacent to the hotel, with more than 100 stores and nearby dining options, while Lake Wylie, McDowell Nature Preserve, RiverGate and Carowinds Amusement Park are all within a short drive. The hotel was designed with a range of travelers in mind, bringing together 124 guest rooms, first-floor meeting and event space, the Garden Grille and Bar, an expanded gym with dedicated cardio, strength and functional training zones, an outdoor pool and additional dining, gathering and event spaces on the top floor.The hotel’s first floor features 3,787 square feet of meeting and event space across five meeting rooms, providing flexible settings for business meetings, group functions, celebrations and social events. The first floor also features the Garden Grille and Bar, offering guests dining and beverage options within the hotel. Guests will also have access to a 1,129-square-foot gym featuring dedicated cardio, strength and functional training zones. The space offers six cardio options, including two treadmills, an elliptical, ClimbMill, rower and Peloton bike, with select cardio equipment featuring attached TVs. The strength area includes a full 5-to-75-pound dumbbell set, adjustable bench, Smith machine, leg press and multi press, while a dedicated functional training area includes Connexus Edge and a Functional Trainer. Water, towels and wipes are available throughout the gym, giving guests the equipment and amenities to maintain their routines while traveling. An outdoor pool provides another place for guests to relax and spend time together. The hotel will also be home to Dear Charlotte, a standalone bar, restaurant and event space located on the top floor of the hotel. Dear Charlotte will serve craft cocktails, artisan pizzas and shareable plates in a garden-inspired setting, creating a new destination for dining and celebrations in Steele Creek. The venue is expected to open in late fall 2026. Hilton Garden Inn Steele Creek Charlotte is part of Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton’s global brand serving business and leisure travelers with modern accommodations, amenities, social spaces, meeting areas and dining experiences. The brand has more than 1,100 hotels across 65 countries and territories. The hotel project will create more than 50 new jobs in Charlotte across hotel operations, food and beverage, guest services and other areas. Reservations for Hilton Garden Inn Steele Creek Charlotte are currently being accepted. Guests are invited to visit the hotel website for current offers and booking information. For meeting and event inquiries, contact [email protected]. A grand opening celebration will be held at a later date, with additional details to be announced.
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View AllHotel Indigo Opens at Huntsville, Alabama’s MidCity District
Hotel Indigo, the boutique brand within IHG Hotels & Resorts known for reflecting the character of the neighborhoods it calls home, is now open at MidCity District, the $2.2 billion mixed-use district transforming the center of Huntsville. The 112-room hotel, at 940 Nunnuhsae Park Drive NW, adds a boutique-hospitality anchor to a walkable district already home to the Orion Amphitheater, the only Trader Joe’s in the market, the first REI in Alabama and a growing roster of chef-driven restaurants.
Intercontinental Tahiti Resort & Spa Unveils Renovated Premium Rooms and Suites
InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa, set along Tahiti’s beautiful lagoon, is pleased to unveil newly renovated premium rooms and suites. Marking an exciting new chapter for the resort, the refreshed accommodations bring a renewed sense of space and contemporary Polynesian elegance to some of the resort’s most sought-after accommodations.
Introducing CASA METT Sitges, a New Way to Experience the Mediterranean
Sunset Hospitality Group's new five-star boutique hotel, CASA METT Sitges, officially opened its doors on 1 August, set to become one of the leading lifestyle destinations on the Catalan coast. Located just steps from the sea and a few minutes from Sitges' historic center, the property offers a fresh approach to hospitality, where design, gastronomy, wellness and social experiences come together effortlessly.
1898 Expands Its Brand Portfolio with the Launch of 1898 Porter’s House
Award-winning Belgian hospitality brand 1898 has announced the launch of 1898 Porter’s house, opening 1st September 2026 - a magnificent waterfront heritage retreat in the historic heart of Ghent.Threaded with cinematic canals and dotted with medieval towers, Ghent is a city where history meets modern life. Cobblestone streets open onto hidden courtyards, bustling cafés, artisan shops and galleries, while the river mirrors the city’s timeless charm - inviting visitors to explore, linger, and soak in its magical atmosphere.Designed to feel like a gracious heritage townhouse, 1898 Porter’s house offers stylish but luxurious accommodation in the heart of the city. Rooms or suites can be booked individually, or for a more private stay, the entire property - sleeping up to 10 guests - can be reserved exclusively. Additional offerings include bespoke butler service, VIP concierge arrangements and private chef experiences upon request. Two of the suites feature sweeping softly lit terraces - perfect for sunset drinks. Indulge in outdoor contrast therapy with deep copper bathtubs, infra-red sauna, ice showers and views over the heart of Ghent’s vibrant medieval port - the perfect wellness retreat.
BLLA Declares Hospitality Has Entered the Age of Wonder
BLLA has themed its 17th Boutique Hotel Owners Conference around the "Age of Wonder," scheduled for October 19-20 at Westlake Village Inn in Southern California.
Supplier News
View allForest Bathing and the Luxury Hospitality Experience
Forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) is gaining traction in luxury hotels as a low-investment, high-perceived-value wellness offering that can be personalized into premium, bookable experiences.
Groove Ensures Hotel Partners Keep NFL Sunday Ticket Access with DIRECTV and EverPass Agreement
Groove Technology Solutions will continue distributing NFL Sunday Ticket to hotel partners via a new multi-year DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS and EverPass Media agreement, effective the 2026 NFL season.
Actabl and Reeco Launch Innovative Partnership to Bring Forecast Intelligence into AI-Powered Hotel Procurement
Actabl's ProfitSword forecasting platform now integrates with Reeco's AI-powered procure-to-pay system, letting hotels automatically flag purchasing overruns against live forecasts before orders are placed.
Birmingham hotel bookings race ahead for European Athletics Championships
Birmingham hotels saw 62.5% more room nights and a 60.1% ADR spike for European Athletics Championships week, with guests booking 169 days ahead vs. 58 days in 2025.
Turning Sunlight into Progress: GCSTIMES Rooftop Solar PV Project
GCSTIMES has completed a rooftop solar PV installation at its headquarters, expected to generate 351 kWh of clean electricity daily, equivalent to the annual consumption of 43 households.
Innspire Announces Integration with Toast to Power Mobile F&B Ordering for Hotel Guests
Innspire joins the Toast Partner Ecosystem to connect its digital guest platform with Toast POS, enabling branded mobile F&B ordering across in-room, poolside, and other on-property hotel venues.
Why Physical Key Cards Still Matter in a Mobile-First Hotel World
The article argues physical key cards remain essential alongside digital keys due to shared-room access challenges, arrival friction, and their role as a tangible brand touchpoint.
Al Khoory Hotels selects Shiji’s Daylight PMS and Infrasys POS to power guest-centric hospitality across its portfolio
Al Khoory Hotels adopts Shiji's Daylight PMS, Infrasys Cloud POS, and Reviewpro Reputation to unify guest data and operations across its UAE portfolio on a single cloud-based platform.
IHG's Kim Smith on How Hotels Must Rebuild Content for AI, ChatGPT Ads Launch Across Europe Next Week, Stripe's $7B OpenRouter Buy Creates AI Cost Opacity
Wednesday brought IHG's SVP of Digital Direct Channels on why hotels must restructure content for AI-driven discovery and what Google-powered conversational search on IHG.com is already showing, hospitality.today's warning that ChatGPT Ads launch across 31 European countries next week but hotels can't buy them directly yet, and Pertlink on how Stripe's reported $7B acquisition of OpenRouter creates a vertically integrated AI billing stack that makes model routing costs opaque. Birmingham's 62.5% event-demand surge, Homo Hackabilis on social engineering attacks, and eight property announcements rounded out the session.
Hotels don't need more data, they need direction
Cendyn argues hotels are drowning in data but lack direction, and positions AI-enabled actionable intelligence as the shift from reporting to decision support across its CRM, Knowland, and Wayfinder products.
Reimagining meetings: The next generation of event spaces at Hotel Arts Barcelona
Hotel Arts Barcelona unveils the next chapter of its transformation with the reimagining of more than 3,500 sqm of meetings and events spaces. Anchored in ‘The Irresistible Composition’, a harmonious blend of art and culture, wellness and vitality, and elevated culinary and bar experiences, Hotel Arts Barcelona embraces the beautiful contradictions that define the city.
Why the first 10 seconds make or break a guest’s stay
Malcolm Hotel GM Andrew Shepherd shares how reading body language in the first 10 seconds, leveraging guest data, and investing in 154 staff housing units drives exceptional guest experiences.
PATA Announces New Executive Board Members
PATA has expanded its Executive Board with five new members from Hawaii, Singapore, Maldives, Saudi Arabia, and Nepal, representing both public tourism bodies and private travel companies.
We’re Not Happy Until You’re Not Happy – Revisited
Customers build their opinion of a brand through cumulative service interactions, not slogans, making every touchpoint a de facto brand promise that marketing alone cannot override.
Hotel Cross-Selling Strategy: Why Better Data Comes First
A podcast-based reflection on hotel cross-selling argues that data quality and guest qualification matter more than offer volume, with guest profiles and selective automation enabling more meaningful interactions.
Homo Hackabilis: Why Hack a Server When You Can Just Call a Human?
A hospitality consultant recounts four near-identical cyberattacks on clients, all exploiting staff via phone-based impersonation rather than technical exploits.
Meliá Aurea Nha Trang: The Art of Living by the Ocean Arrives on Vietnam's Coast
Meliá Hotels International continues its expansion in Vietnam with the opening of Meliá Aurea Nha Trang, a new upper-upscale oceanfront retreat opened on 12 August 2026 and brings Mediterranean soul, Spanish warm service to one of the country’s most captivating coastal destinations. Set beside its sister property, Gran Meliá’s all‑villa hideaway Villa Le Corail, the new resort from Europe second largest hotel group brings a more accessible expression of the Meliá lifestyle to central Vietnam, complete with the little details that make a stay feel special.