Hotel Yearbook Articles

The Wellness-Hospitality Axis: Prepare to Pivot

It is no secret that wellness and lifestyle have made their way into and established their value through the upper-upscale and luxury hospitality segments. In some cases, this has trickled down into extended stay and economy lodging markets. The momentum and demand for wellness programs has fast-tracked new programs that not only serve market and growth, but also create distinction, enhance market positioning, and mitigate risk while optimizing the performance of the business, amid wide and evermoving change. Some of these may be obvious, and many of these may not be popular, but nonetheless, I felt they were worth sharing.

By Mia Mackman, Owner and Principal, MACKMAN|ES

Technology alone can't solve all of travel's sustainability challenges

While there is a lot of attention right now on AI and the role it will play in shaping the future of travel, technology has long been a key driver of growth for the travel and tourism industry. Can it now make our sector more sustainable? 

By Danielle D'Silva, Director of Sustainability, Booking.com

10 Hospitality Trends Transforming the Digital Guest¶Journey

Guests have high expectations of their hotel stays. Seamless, self-service, hassle-free experiences have become a must-have — and the savviest hotels meet these demands with technology. Providing exceptional services to your guests in person remains the bedrock of hospitality, but a stellar digital guest experience is now a cornerstone of the modern hotel stay.

By Bryan Michalis, VP of Marketing, Canary Technologies

10 Reasons Why Upgrading Your PMS is a Must in 2025

The hospitality industry isn’t slowing down, and outdated PMS solutions are dragging hotels behind. Clunky, slow, and vulnerable to cyber threats, legacy systems can no longer keep up. If your property still relies on an aging PMS, here’s why 2025 is the year to upgrade—ranked from most to least urgent.

By Ryan King, Senior Vice President for the Americas, Shiji

Smart and Sustainable: Transformative Technologies and Innovation in Hospitality

The hospitality industry stands at a critical crossroads: sustainability has moved from a peripheral concern to a strategic and operational imperative. As hoteliers grapple with reducing carbon footprints, embracing circularity, and combating waste, many remain stalled by data inconsistencies and limited resources. Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides a path forward—not merely for reporting but for driving real-time operational improvements. This article explores four AI-powered sustainability solutions—carbon calculators, circular supply chain management, and waste optimization technologies—that can help hotel leaders achieve measurable impacts.

By Carlos Martin-Rios, Associate Professor of Management, EHL

8 Guest Communication Trends: What’s Ahead for 2025

Delivering a memorable guest experience has always been the foundation of success in the hospitality industry. But how can hoteliers stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital era? With guest expectations shifting and technology advancing, leveraging innovative tools has become essential for creating effective, meaningful communication.

By Tiago Araújo, Co-founder and CEO, HiJiffy

Emerging dynamics in hospitality in 2025: A future around digital identity

Hospitality has always been about creating unforgettable experiences, where every detail matters—from the warmth of a welcome to the comfort of a room. Today, those details increasingly include digital touchpoints that connect guests seamlessly to the services and spaces they enjoy.

By Pedro Torres, CEO and Co-Founder, Youverse

Smart technology and behaviour change for water conservation in hotels

Water scarcity is a growing challenge, particularly in tourism hotspots where guests consume far more water than residents. While technology—such as smart shower timers and leak detectors—can help, its effectiveness depends on guest behavior. Our study, conducted across hotels in Denmark, Spain, and the UK, tested real-time eco-feedback devices in showers and found they reduced water use by 25.79%, saving an average of 10 litres per shower. Guests responded best to selfless, high-effort messaging, demonstrating that combining technology with behavioral science can drive meaningful conservation. As water becomes an increasingly critical resource, hotels must embrace smart solutions that balance sustainability with guest experience.

By Xavier Font and Pablo Pereira-Doel

Merchandising Trends to Watch in 2025: Elevating the Guest Experience

As the hospitality industry focuses on maximizing revenue and personalizing guest experiences, AI and data security are becoming indispensable tools. For years, online retailers have successfully used AI-driven merchandising, and now hotels can follow suit to provide tailored offers beyond the guest room. With the application of AI and machine learning, hoteliers can engage guests coherently throughout the reservation life cycle, improve operations, and boost revenue, marking a shift from generic offers to personalized experiences.

By Jason Bryant, Vice President Strategic Growth Initiative, Oracle Hospitality

7 Actionable Revenue Management Trends for 2025

We’ve been big proponents of breaking down silos and building alignment among commercial teams, and really that thinking should be expanded to include marketing. By tapping into the sophisticated granular demand forecasting capabilities of advanced revenue management systems, hoteliers stand to benefit from better timed and tailored marketing campaigns and promotional efforts that ultimately drive better business.

By Klaus Kohlmayr, Chief Evangelist and Development Officer, IDeaS

Sustainability without borders

In today's hospitality industry, hotels face mounting pressure to align their operations with global sustainability goals, local legislation, industry standards, and stakeholder expectations. The complexity of sustainability compliance stems from the multitude of regulations, certifications, and frameworks that require thorough analysis and a clear understanding of their interconnections. Adding to this challenge, compliance must be data-driven, with a solid audit trail substantiated by robust methodologies.

By Alina Arnelle, Chief Sustainability Officer, BeCause

Data management trends to transform your hotel in 2025

Here’s a fantasy. What if data management was a towering giant with long, reaching arms — wrapping around all of your data? What would be in the clutches of those big arms? In other words, what will data management include in the year 2025?

By Karen Stephens, Chief Marketing Officer, Revinate, Inc.

7 Ways AI is Transforming Personalization¶in 2025

The personal touch has long been at the heart of what defines hospitality. However, delivering personalization at scale is now critical to not only differentiate from the competition, but also meet the demands of today’s discerning guests. Hotels that don't adapt risk falling behind, and therefore increasingly need to leverage AI to understand guest preferences, anticipate needs, and tailor every interaction.

By Sergio Serra, CTO, GuestCentric Systems

Fragmentation to Transformation: Sustainability Data and the Future of Hospitality

Sustainability has become a defining priority across the travel and hospitality industries, driven by increasing consumer awareness and urgent global climate concerns.

As hotels and hospitality providers strive to reduce their environmental impact, data has emerged as a powerful tool to guide decision-making, improve efficiency, and meet evolving sustainability goals.

The ability to collect, analyze, and act upon sustainability data is no longer optional but essential for businesses looking to remain competitive in an era in which travelers demand transparency and ac countability.

By Agnes Pierce, Global Head of Sustainability, Hospitality, Amadeus Hospitality

Is Simone Puorto the John Titor of Hospitality? 10 Predictions That Might Prove It

The hospitality and tech industries are navigating a liminal space where the boundaries between human and artificial are increasingly blurred. Generative AI, hyper-personalization, and digital workers are not merely disrupting established norms but challenging the foundational frameworks that define them. This is not just the era of automation; it represents an ontological shift, compelling us to rethink the essence of hospitality.

By Simone Puorto, Head of Emerging Trends and Strategic Innovation, Hospitality Net

Top 10 Trends in Property Management Technology for 2025

Property management systems (PMS) are evolving at an unprecedented pace, driven both by technological advancements and changing guest expectations. It’s now more important than ever for hospitality businesses to adopt solutions that best align with these shifts. Here are the top 10 trends redefining property management technology in 2025.

By Ruth Whitehead, Chief Operating Officer (COO), eviivo

Smart Ways Technology Can Support Sustainable Operations in Your Hotel

At The Sustainable Restaurant Association, our mission is to accelerate positive change across the global hospitality industry, building a sector that is environmentally restorative and socially just. In this article, we explore how technology can support hotels, restaurants and other foodservice businesses on this journey.

By Juliane Caillouette Noble, Managing Director, The Sustainable Restaurant Association

Top 10 CRS Technology Trends Revolutionising Hospitality in 2025

The hospitality industry is undergoing a major technological revolution. As a vital part of that transformation, Central Reservation Systems (CRS) technology is evolving to meet the increasingly complex guest demands. Here are the top trends set to redefine CRS technology in 2025, along with actionable tips for hoteliers to capitalise on them.

By Binu Mathews, Director & CEO, IDS NEXT

2025’s Top 10 Actionable Trends Shaping Boutique Hospitality

Boutique hotels are known for pushing boundaries, setting trends, and creating memorable experiences that larger brands struggle to replicate. In 2025, this spirit of innovation is driving major shifts in guest experience, technology, and operations. BLLA’s (Boutique & Luxury Lodging Association) board members, some of the most respected voices in the industry, weigh in on what’s next.

By Frances Kiradjian, Founder/CEO, BLLA

The Future of Hospitality Is Waste-Free—But Technology Alone Won’t Get Us There

The hospitality industry is at a tipping point. Costs are rising, sustainability commitments are under greater scrutiny, and hotel operators are being held to higher standards by regulators, corporate clients, and guests alike.

By Marc Zornes, Founder & CEO, Winnow Solutions, Winnow Solutions Limited