IHG Hotels & Resorts today announced the signing of Regent Ho Tram as part of a two-hotel agreement in Vietnam with long-term partner Meraki Land, a leading real estate developer. The signing further strengthens IHG's portfolio across the country's luxury segment.
WTTC's 2026 EIR data shows China's T&T sector grew 9.9% to $1.8 trillion in 2025, with 68M+ international arrivals and a projected doubling to $3.5 trillion by 2036.
Annual reports are widely regarded as one of the most reliable and granular sources of sustainability information in the hospitality sector, as they combine financial disclosures with detailed non-financial data on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. They provide firm-specific insights into areas such as carbon emissions, energy use, water management, labour practices, governance structures, and strategic priorities. Increasingly aligned with regulatory requirements (e.g., CSRD in Europe) and standardised frameworks, such as ESRS, GRI and IFRS, enable comparability while retaining industry-specific nuance. As such, they offer rich, contextualised evidence for assessing how hospitality firms embed sustainability in their business models, risk management, and long-term value creation. A key challenge is improving trustworthiness, and hotel-level vs corporate-level KPIs.
I think the age of AI makes reliable sustainability resources more important, not less. AI can be very useful for summarising, analysing energy or food-waste data, comparing options, and translating complex sustainability language into operational decisions. But it should not become the source of truth. For hoteliers, the most important shift is to move from “finding information” to verifying information and turning it into measurable action.
Annual reports are a key source of ESG information in hospitality, combining financial and non-financial data on sustainability performance. Increasing alignment with CSRD and frameworks like ESRS, GRI, IFRS improves comparability, though challenges remain around data reliability and aligning corporate- and hotel-level KPIs.At Hotelschool The Hague, the Business Resilience and ESG chair uses such data for applied research on resilience and sustainable transformation, combining document analysis and industry collaboration.
The Most Valuable Resources Are Still Human OnesFour years ago, the challenge was finding good information. Today it is filtering it.When it comes to accuracy, I keep returning to the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and UN Tourism.
I think the age of AI makes reliable sustainability resources more important, not less. AI can be extremely useful for summarising complex information, analysing hotel data, comparing options, and translating sustainability language into practical operational decisions.
CHICAGO – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) today announced the official opening of Hyatt Place Tianjin South Railway Station, the first Hyatt Place hotel in Tianjin. Its debut marks the continued expansion of the Hyatt Place brand across key cities in China, offering guests and World of Hyatt members more ways to stay in destinations that matter most to them.
InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort – part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury & lifestyle portfolio – continues to redefine Chennai’s beachfront experience, unveiling the final chapter of its transformation. Continuing the brand’s legacy as a pioneer of luxury hospitality for over 80 years, the reimagined InterContinental resort is now open with ocean-facing ballroom along with expansive beach lawns, new restaurants and bars, new luxury suites with plunge pools, with newly introduced sports pavilion along with scenic walking trails and meditation garden for mindful experiences.
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced an agreement with THE SANKEI BUILDING CO., LTD. and HASEKO Real Estate Development, Inc. to bring LXR Hotels & Resorts to Hakone Gora, Kanagawa. Scheduled to open in summer 2028, the hotel will be managed by Hilton and marks the first Hilton hotel in Hakone.
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the rebranding of the iconic Hotel Gajoen in Meguro, Tokyo, which will open under the LXR Hotels & Resorts brand by 2027. The signing marks the Tokyo debut of the brand, which has nearly 40 trading and pipeline properties globally. Owned by leading global investment firm Brookfield and managed by Hilton, the storied property will enter a new chapter that brings together nearly 100 years of history, extraordinary Japanese artistry, and LXR's deeply personalized approach to luxury hospitality.
The hotel is the company actually providing the room. If the price and conditions are the same, the AI agent should book directly with the hotel instead of through a middleman like Booking.com. Direct booking can give guests: better prices loyalty points and perks easier changes and cancellations more accurate information better customer support.
Google has already announced: they will not be the merchant of record and they're not even charging a transaction fee. Needless to say, this is a great precedent but it doesn't mean other AI platforms will follow this example.At the same time, there's nothing that prevents us from pushing AI platforms in the direction of a direct booking path integration.
I am firmly of the view that Google will eventually present all offers openly. Complementing that will be the savvier user who explicitly directs their preferred booking channel. If I am a Bonvoy member, I want to book at marriott.com to protect my loyalty assets.Right now, it's a question of structured supply.
Accor gathered 270+ franchise partners and owners in Sydney to discuss growth strategy, investment trends, AI-driven efficiencies, and loyalty, covering its 420+ Pacific properties.
The most significant impact might not be operational, but psychological. Why? Because it's the hotel industry's fault. Let me explain:For years, hotels have trained guests to treat bookings as placeholders: reserve today, decide later.
In my view, the Full Prepayment Model is not the future of hospitality. While full prepayment has been practiced for decades for charter vacations, extended beach vacations and unique experiences like safari tours, it’s definitely not user friendly as far as plain hotel bookings are concerned. Merchant bookings - fully prepaid bookings - at both Expedia and Booking now represent over 70% of the total gross bookings. Improved cash flow, controlling the price the customer pays, opportunities to bundle hotel stays with air, transportation and experiences are some of the reasons for the OTA preferences of the merchant model.
The biggest impact of full prepayment is that booking a hotel becomes a much bigger commitment for guests.Hotels benefit from fewer cancellations, better cash flow, and more predictable occupancy.But guests may book less often or take longer to decide because they must pay upfront.Trusted brands like Marriott International and Booking.com may benefit most, while smaller hotels could struggle more with guest trust.BNPL services may become very important because they make upfront payment feel more flexible and less risky.
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India's largest hospitality company, today announced the opening of Ginger Hyderabad, Genome Valley.
Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi reopens following a transformative redesign that ushers in a new era of quiet luxury. Beyond reimagined interiors, the reopening introduces more considered guest experiences and expanded concierge programming designed to foster a deeper, more personal connection to Tokyo.
WITT has certified five new properties across Vietnam, Indonesia, and Nepal, bringing its global total to nearly 200 as the Asia-Pacific wellness tourism market heads toward $204B by 2026.
Accor surpasses 150 franchise hotels in Australia and New Zealand, marking the Pacific as its largest and fastest-growing franchise network, with the greet brand set to launch in the region.
Marriott International has entered into a formal agreement with Well Smart Group and La Vie Hotels and Resorts to introduce the Le Méridien brand to Lindeman Island in Queensland's Whitsundays.
Jin Jiang International Hotels and Radisson Hotel Group announces the grand opening of Radisson Blu Hotel, Shanghai Eastern Hub , its upper upscale Radisson Blu brand’s flagship property in Shanghai, China, featuring 445 soundproofed guestrooms enhanced with intelligent lighting.
AHOCA launches its Asia Chapter in Hong Kong on May 26, bringing together US and Asian hotel owners and investors to foster cross-border ownership and capital partnerships.
Rosewood announced the development of Rosewood Tokyo, its first urban hotel in Japan and the next chapter of the brand’s growth in Asia Pacific. Set in the heart of Roppongi, the project will bring together culture, craftsmanship, and contemporary living through a distinctly Tokyo lens. A joint project with Mori Building Co., Ltd. and Sumitomo Realty & Development Co., Ltd., Rosewood Tokyo underscores the brand’s commitment to Japan following the debut of Rosewood Miyakojima in 2025.