Websites kick sand in the face of "agentic AI"
In a word, no.
View by Fergus Boyd, Hospitality Consultant, HFTP
Asia Pacific - Latest
Veriu Group unveils extensive refurbishment of Punthill Essendon and Punthill Williamstown
The $1.6 million investment across 98 total keys included new furniture, upgraded technology, and improved connectivity over nine weeks.
Expert Views (18)
Fergus Boyd, Hospitality Consultant, HFTP
In a word, no. Websites were designed to entice humans to view, discover, consider, buy. They are heavy with images, HTML, JavaScript, etc. to entice us in and encourage us to dwell. APIs were invented for M2M, machine to machine, transactions.
Juanjo Rodriguez, Founder, The Hotels Network
Agents will be everywhere, but behind the scenes. Booking agents are a short-term solution; using AI to simulate human behavior is like asking for a faster horse. Agents that behave as people, visiting websites and simulating human behavior (clicking on links, filling forms) are an incredible technological feat, but are a poor solution to most real-word problems: - Agents are very slow, because they have to replicate user paths built for humans- They fail often, because every website they visit is differentThe future will be MCP- and API-based, with agents interacting with those MCP/API.
Ian Millar, Senior Lecturer Hospitality Technology, EHL
Crystal ball time. 5 to 10 years i think we will quite similar to where we are today. the slow pace of change will not change and traditional tech stacks will still be around. lack of motivation to change, contracts and low investment will hinder the change.
Capstone Hotel Management and Marsden Group Merge to Form New Zealand's Largest Independent Hotel Platform
The merger creates a 45-property platform with 2,500+ rooms, combining Capstone's management expertise with Marsden's capital to compete with international operators.
IHG signs Crowne Plaza Resort in Sohna, Gurgaon NCR
The 150-room resort will target wedding celebrations and corporate events, opening Q1 2029 in the National Capital Region.
Mr. Lalit Singh Muktawat Signs Ramada Resort by Wyndham in Kota, Rajasthan
The 200-room riverfront resort will open in March 2029, targeting corporate and leisure travelers in Kota's growing educational and industrial market.
Hotel Yearbook Article The Hotel Yearbook 2026 - Sustainability Edition
Luxury Hospitality as a Regenerative Way of Life
Yasemin Oruc argues that luxury hospitality is uniquely positioned to lead a shift from “doing less harm” to regenerative, net-positive impact, treating hospitality as a living system embedded in people and place. This article explores how regenerative hospitality turns experiences into co-created, transformative journeys that support personal well-being while restoring ecosystems and communities. Luxury hotels, with their resources and cultural influence, can act as pioneers and prototypes for this regenerative way of life.
By Yasemin Oruc, Senior Lecturer Hospitality Marketing & Innovation and Research Fellow City Hospitality, Hotelschool The Hague; President, EMEA, CHRIE, Hotelschool The Hague
Hotel Yearbook Article The Hotel Yearbook 2026 - Sustainability Edition
The Regenerative Compass: A Moral Guide for Hospitality Leaders
Jonathan Normand frames regeneration as the only viable path for hospitality in a world of ecological overshoot and collapsing trust, arguing that sustainability alone is no longer enough. It introduces the 7C Leadership Compass as a practical, deeply human guide for leaders who want to align business success with the long-term wellbeing of people, places, and the planet, and positions Moral Ambition plus cross-industry coalitions as the engine of real, regenerative change.
By Jonathan Normand, CEO & Founder, B Lab Switzerland
Hotel Yearbook Article The Hotel Yearbook 2026 - Sustainability Edition
A Mindset Shift for Resilience and Prosperity in Hospitality
Maribel Esparcia Pérez argues that hospitality asset management must move beyond extractive, short-term models toward regenerative, resilient systems that account for climate risk, ecosystem health, and community wellbeing. Using examples like Casa Leonardo and Coron Natural Farms, she shows how regenerative practices can protect asset value, strengthen local resilience, and align with emerging financial and regulatory frameworks.
By Maribel Esparcia Pérez, COO, Honest Operations
Grand Central Hotel Private Limited Announces Opening of Ramada by Wyndham Itahari Pashupati Marg
Grand Central Hotel Private Limited, a leading hotel development and investment company in Nepal, today announced the opening of Ramada by Wyndham Itahari Pashupati Marg, bringing internationally recognised hospitality standards to one of eastern Nepal’s fastest-growing commercial hubs.
Hilton Grand Vacations Continues International Expansion with Opening of First Resort in Kyoto, Japan
Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE: HGV), the premier vacation ownership and experiences company, announces the opening of Tradimo Kyoto Gojo, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club. The elegantly reimagined resort opens as the company’s third property in Japan and first in Kyoto.
Hotel Yearbook Article The Hotel Yearbook 2026 - Sustainability Edition
What Regeneration Asks of Hospitality
O’Shannon Burns argues that regeneration in hospitality is not a new label for sustainability or a framework to “roll out,” but an emergent, place-based practice grounded in relationships between people, land, culture, and more-than-human life. Drawing on global regenerative futures research, the article outlines four key orientations and challenges hospitality leaders to move from aspirational impact language toward honest accountability and structural change.
By O'Shannon Burns, Founder, Aurora Collective and Program Director, Cornell University, Aurora Collective
Hotel Yearbook Article The Hotel Yearbook 2026 - Sustainability Edition
Green sprouts of hope in the regeneration question
Starting from her own skepticism, Dr Natasha Montesalvo explores where regenerative tourism is already moving from rhetoric to reality, highlighting destinations and hotels that build regeneration into governance, design, and operations from day one. Through examples like Red Sea Global, Capella Ubud, Maroma and TTNQ’s Reforest partnership, she shows that measurable positive impact on ecosystems and communities is possible – but only when strong policy, thoughtful design, and long-term performance tracking replace vague “do good” intentions.
By Natasha Montesalvo, Director of Research and Policy and Principal Consultant – Destinations, Strategy and Insights, EarthCheck
What’s Wrong with Philippine Tourism - and What Needs to Be Done
The analysis identifies execution gaps, fragmented coordination, and lack of commercial leadership as core barriers limiting Philippine tourism's performance relative to regional competitors.
By Terence Ronson, Founder & Managing Director, Pertlink Limited
Corinthia Hotels, ShiLong Industry Co and Geminus Group Announce Partnership to Launch Corinthia in Chengdu
The 150-room luxury hotel will anchor a 225m mixed-use tower in Chengdu's high-tech district, opening in 2032 with RMB 4.0 billion total investment.
Hotel Yearbook Article The Hotel Yearbook 2026 - Sustainability Edition
Where Will You Place Your First Needle?
Using Camiguin Island in the Philippines as a living laboratory, Mahe Besson explores regenerative tourism through the metaphor of acupuncture: small, precise interventions that unlock a destination’s own capacity to heal. Rather than rebuilding systems from scratch, she argues for carefully chosen “acupuncture points” such as teaching resorts, youth ocean programs, and co-created (un)Summits that let local ecosystems and communities regain their flow.
By Mahé Besson, Project manager, 7Generations
Radisson Hotel Group Expands its Fiji Portfolio with the Signing of Mana Island Resort & Spa Fiji, a member of Radisson Individuals
Radisson Hotel Group is pleased to announce the signing of Mana Island Resort & Spa Fiji, a member of Radisson Individuals, marking a significant milestone in the Group’s South Pacific expansion and reinforcing its growing presence in Fiji’s resort market.
Hotel Yearbook Article The Hotel Yearbook 2026 - Sustainability Edition
Values over value: adding to place rather than extracting from it
David Leventhal challenges tourism’s “growth is always good” mindset, arguing that low-density, values-driven, regenerative hospitality can deliver both better guest experiences and stronger profitability. He explains how Playa Viva optimises resources, rebuilds degraded landscapes, involves local communities, and experiments with inclusive pricing models, while also tackling tough questions on aviation emissions, greenwashing, and how to scale without becoming extractive.
By Willy Legrand and David Leventhal
Hotel Yearbook Article The Hotel Yearbook 2026 - Sustainability Edition
When Hospitality shapes places, not just stays
Regenerative hospitality reframes hotels from standalone assets into locally embedded infrastructures that strengthen ecosystems, communities, and destination resilience. Diane Binder argues that the real shift is from “doing less harm” to actively serving place – with independent and franchised hotels acting as catalysts for land restoration, cultural vitality, and shared prosperity, supported by new governance, measurement, and blended finance models.
By Diane Binder, Founder & CEO, Regenopolis
Motto by Hilton to Debut in Australia with Sydney CBD Property
The 152-room property will open in late 2027 on York Street, marking Hilton's seventh brand in Australia and first Motto location.