Opinion Articles

Why 2026 will reshape hospitality and leisure dealmaking

After several years of post-pandemic reset, the hospitality and leisure dealmaking sector is settling into a new rhythm. Growth is no longer about adding scale alone, but about how well companies can connect experiences, customer data and loyalty across their portfolios. The assets attracting the most interest are those designed to work together.

Why Automation is the Ally of Hotel Staff, and Not Their Replacement

Hotels across regions are under pressure to operate efficiently despite persistent labor shortages, cost inflation, and global instability. In the US, political tensions, evolving immigration policies, and a slowdown in international tourism have added pressure to the labor market. These challenges have been compounded by the recent government shutdown, which has led the FAA to reduce flight capacity at several major airports, creating further uncertainty for travel and hospitality operations.

How Hoteliers are Moving from Green Screens to Guided Insights

Hotel tech looks simple from the lobby; but as we know, behind the front desk it’s anything but. Recently, Otelier’s Distinguished Architect  Lex Raleigh sat down with SnapLogic CMO Dayle Hall to explain why hospitality’s data problem is unlike any other – and how progressive hoteliers are solving it with a mix of pragmatic integrations. Below is a recap of the conversation focused on how innovative hoteliers have already turned to automation, including AI that actually answers questions to help you drive real-life demand.

The Lodging Conference 2025: HVS Takeaways

HVS was pleased to sponsor this fall’s pinnacle event for our industry, a highly-attended and hopeful Lodging Conference, despite the challenges currently facing our industry. HVS President, Rod Clough, MAI, CRE, MRICS, helped open the conference during the Speed Stats session, followed by a presentation later that day. Neil Flavin, COO of HVS Asset Management & Advisory, also participated on a panel. Our suite was bustling with meetings all week, held by leaders from the HVS Design, Executive Search, Brokerage & Advisory, Asset Management & Advisory, and Consulting & Valuation divisions.