Conrad New York Downtown executive explores how concierges have evolved from gatekeepers to cultural curators who architect personalized experiences.
HITEC 2026 drew 6,100+ professionals to San Antonio's Henry B. González Convention Center, featuring 400+ exhibitors across 85,000 sq ft and a strong focus on AI, cybersecurity, and digital guest engagement.
Antonio Picozzi argues that the thirty-year paradigm of search-driven hospitality marketing is collapsing and that generative AI is replacing the logic of discoverability with an entirely different logic: one where being understood matters more than being ranked, and where a hotel's digital identity is only as strong as its least consistent data source.
Hilton and the Hilton Global Foundation are donating 250 million Hilton Honors Points to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, with 10,000+ mentoring moments planned across six U.S. cities starting in the 2026-2027 school year.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Minneapolis Bloomington Edina proudly unveils a renewed and modernized guest experience following a multimillion-dollar renovation and a transition to a new name.
The pre-stay booking funnel has fundamentally shifted, and most hotel tech stacks are nowhere near ready for it. Alessio Re maps the three-layer challenge hotels now face - getting cited by AI systems, owning accurate and structured data, and having a vendor stack capable of converting agent-driven discovery into actual bookings - and argues that treating this as an SEO problem with new vocabulary will not get the industry far enough, fast enough.
The 39-key Bower Coronado becomes SLH's first member in Coronado, CA, gaining access to the SLH Club loyalty program and Hilton Honors booking integration.
The Standard Residences, Midtown Miami, the first-ever exclusively residential project from the iconic global brand, today announced its completion, marking the opening of the first new residential building in Midtown in nearly a decade. Developed by Rosso Development, in partnership with Hyatt, and Midtown Development, the 12-story pied-à-terre-style building arrives as a milestone in the continued evolution of one of Miami’s most walkable and vibrant destinations.
A tribute to hotel operations staff managing high-volume stays during FIFA World Cup 2026, highlighting the coordination required to serve thousands of traveling fans daily.
Otherwander Soho, a 566-pod digital hotel on Dean Street, chose Apaleo's open PMS after a 4.5-year tech evaluation, enabling keyless entry, online check-in, and a reception-free operating model.
Mews has been named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape for revenue management systems, recognizing its native PMS-RMS-BI integration built on its 2024 acquisition of Atomize.
Grevon launched at HITEC 2026 with Kore, an MCP-based connectivity layer powering AI booking, voice, and staff intelligence tools to drive direct revenue and reduce OTA dependence.
HTS and Cloudbeds host a June 24 webinar on new survey data showing 87% of travelers prioritize cancellation flexibility, with CFAR lifting booking intent among high-value guests to 79-85%.
Shiji's Daylight PMS now embeds task management directly into the housekeeping mobile app's room-level view, letting attendants handle cleaning and guest requests in one screen without switching between systems.
The 2026 chart argues that hotel distribution now starts before the booking journey, with AI assistants, maps, and social platforms shaping traveler decisions before any OTA or brand.com visit occurs.
A supplier-authored explainer on carbon credits and product carbon neutrality, promoting GCSTIMES low-carbon hotel amenity products certified under ISO 14068 principles.
AO, a leading full-service architecture and landscape design firm, has completed Element Mission Valley, a 150-key hotel developed for Driftwood Capital. The project marks the first Element by Westin Marriott property in San Diego County, introducing a brand centered on wellness and comfort. It also builds on AO’s extensive hospitality experience across California, with portfolios spanning leading brands such as Marriott and Hilton. “The central design challenge at Element Mission Valley was defining a unique identity and arrival experience for the new hotel while ensuring it felt connected to the existing property. Through close collaboration with our partners, we created a design that not only integrates effortlessly, but also reflects the authentic character of San Diego and aligns with a global brand,” said Bruce Greenfield, partner at AO. “We’re excited to see that vision come to life in a way that enhances both the guest experience and the overall destination.” The seven-story, 98,000-square-foot hotel is located minutes from Downtown San Diego and Mission Bay, with convenient access to Interstate 8. AO’s design is anchored by a choreographed arrival sequence, including a palm-lined drive, a dedicated drop-off zone, and a welcoming lobby plaza. The firm also incorporated expansive glazing, layered landscaping, and a raised exterior patio serving the lobby bar create a social environment. A six-story sculptural wood gateway frames the entry façade as well to establish a strong sense of place. A palette of neutral tones and wood textures draw from the surrounding coastal landscape, fostering a calm, residential atmosphere for guests. The project’s wood framing and use of natural materials helped it comply with California’s Title 24 energy standards. Element Mission Valley is designed to offer a residential-style experience, allowing guests to feel at home while traveling. The property features a range of accommodations—including guest rooms, studios, one-bedroom suites, and conference suites—suited for both short- and extended-stay visitors. Amenity spaces are thoughtfully designed to support wellness and flexibility. Its fitness center incorporates industrial tones, promoting focus and energy, while a 5,300-square-foot conference and ballroom space supports workforce development and special events. Strategically positioned near the arrival zone, the ballroom opens directly to a shared outdoor breakout area. This plaza connects to the existing Marriott Mission Valley ballroom, creating a flexible communal patio that extends event space while buffering the two properties. The development also provides a seamless pedestrian connection between the hotels, allowing guests to access shared amenities, including the pool deck and on-site dining. Partners on the project include general contractor, R.D. Olson Construction; structural engineer, Ficcadenti Waggoner and Castle; civil engineer, Kimley-Horn; MEP Engineer, RTM Engineering; and interior design by Linda Snyder Associates. Other notable hospitality projects within AO’s portfolio include The Inn at the Mission in San Juan Capistrano, Le Meridien Pasadena, and DSRT Surf in Palm Desert. R.D. Olson Construction also recently completed several projects across California including Appellation Healdsburg and AC Hotel Pasadena. The hotel is located at 8757 Rio San Diego Drive, San Diego, California
Hyatt and Hall Structured Finance have launched a dedicated loan program for Hyatt Studios newbuild projects, offering developers higher leverage and faster capital access than conventional lending structures.
U.S. hotels posted a 7.0% RevPAR gain for the week of June 7-13, 2026, with NYC leading Top 25 Markets driven by NBA Finals and World Cup activity.
Giuseppe Italiano examines the pre-stay journey through the lens of behavioral economics and philosophy, arguing that algorithms have become the primary architects of traveler choice — nudging, filtering, and framing decisions in ways most guests never consciously register. The danger, he contends, is not that machines are making choices for us, but that we are gradually losing the discernment to notice, or care.
Memphis is investing over $23.7B in Downtown revitalization, including a $230M convention center renovation, a $130M Peabody overhaul, and a city-acquired former Sheraton being rebranded as a Marriott by 2029.
UMusic Hotel & Private Residences Austin was introduced today, setting a new standard for culturally immersive hospitality and modern residential living. The five-star destination will feature 150 guest rooms and 600 private residences, combining innovative design, aesthetically beautiful architecture, environmental sensitivity and the performing arts in Austin.
BWH Hotels launches a dedicated upscale and luxury global sales division with nine regional leaders covering the US, Canada, and Europe to target high-yield corporate travel sectors.
Crescent Hotels & Resorts takes over management of the 202-room Kimpton Hotel Monaco Baltimore, a Beaux-Arts landmark that completed a full renovation in 2025.
Sonesta International Hotels Corporation (Sonesta) today announced the opening of Sonesta Select Houston IAH Greenspoint. Located at 300 United Leuva Circle in Houston, Texas, the 126-room, interior-corridor property is owned and operated by franchisee Jorge Romo.
Design Hotels adds 16 Palisociety properties across 9 U.S. cities, totaling 1,000+ keys, marking the largest single portfolio addition in Design Hotels' history.
W San Francisco, an electric urban oasis located in the heart of San Francisco’s cultural Yerba Buena District, today announced the forthcoming transformation of its iconic Living Room, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the hotel’s signature social and cultural gathering space. Designed by HBA Architects, the renovation, which will take place throughout summer 2026 and debut this fall, arrives alongside an energetic lineup of seasonal programming designed to celebrate music, nightlife, creativity and community in Downtown San Francisco.
Ian Millar argues that AI has already taken control of the pre-stay guest journey and that the hospitality industry's most urgent challenge is not technological adoption but the development of genuine AI literacy among its leaders. Rather than treating AI as an IT concern, Millar makes the case that understanding data, prompting systems, exercising critical judgment, and maintaining human oversight are now core leadership competencies. The hotels that will thrive are not those with the most automation, but those with the organizational discipline, shared accountability, and cultural mindset to teach machines well and know when to override them.