Alfred Pisani, who founded Corinthia with a Malta restaurant in 1962, received the WTTC Icon Award at the Council's 26th Global Summit for his lifetime contribution to hospitality and tourism.
Essendi, a leading hotel owner and operator in Europe's economy and midscale segments, inaugurates Novotel Madrid Feria & Airport. The result of an asset management strategy initiated several years ago, this major transformation combines commercial repositioning, operational optimisation and improvements in environmental and social performance to enhance the attractiveness, competitiveness and value creation potential of two neighbouring hotel properties.
Sofitel, a pioneer of French luxury hospitality, part of the world-leading hospitality group Accor, and Odien Group, a leading real estate and asset management company in Central and Eastern Europe, are pleased to announce the signing of Sofitel Kaštela, a new luxury beachfront resort scheduled to open in 2029.
A new opening for IHG’s first collection brand, in partnership with Harilela Hotels
UN Secretary-General Guterres visited UN Tourism HQ in Madrid, the first such visit by a sitting UN chief since 2007, reaffirming tourism's role in sustainability and developing economies.
Imagine climate change as a cost. Currently, this cost is about $200 per ton of CO2. As we know, the cost is not internalised - as society, we subsidise the polluters; and the more you pollute, the more you free ride on society.
Yes, climate damage has a cost and someone is paying for it — just not the ones causing it. But as an industry, we need to be honest about what we are and what we do well: we care about guests. We make people feel welcome. Adding a line item to the bill that guests do not fully understand, or that creates a sense of guilt, is not aligned with what hospitality stands for.That does not mean we should avoid financial accountability.
The Landmark Collection consolidated purchasing across three London hotels via PurchasePlus, gaining spend visibility, automating invoices, and improving supplier negotiation to protect margins.
Mews Director of Product Adam Britton explains how the PMS's new Guest Messaging and Automations features consolidate multi-channel guest comms and use AI to route tasks, trigger personalized messages, and manage loyalty without a points program.
HotelRunner sponsors Phocuswright Conference 2026 in Fort Lauderdale, bringing platform data on demand and distribution trends alongside its Autonomous Supply Program and B2A economy positioning.
Inn-Flow's AP Agent automates invoice extraction, vendor matching, GL coding and tax allocation within its hotel accounting platform, reducing manual data entry for hotel finance teams.
Miami Beach's 29-room Shepley Hotel achieved a 27% direct booking increase and cut housekeeping scheduling from 3 hours to 45 minutes after upgrading to roommaster's Premium Booking Engine tier.
Hapi and dailypoint have partnered to streamline hotel tech integrations, letting dailypoint access real-time guest data from systems like SevenRooms without building each connection independently.
Research shows 90% of hotel leaders report AI improves routine tasks, yet only 15% see frontline gains, with academic data finding 90%+ of frontline tasks face moderate-to-severe automation constraints.
roommaster names Pawel Brzeminski as CEO to lead an AI-first platform rebuild, targeting independent hotels with integrated PMS, booking engine, channel manager, and guest engagement tools.
Vingcard and Hudini deployed Wallet Key technology across three Orascom Hotels in El Gouna, Egypt, marking the first rollout of the solution in the MENA hospitality market.
UrVenue expands its Stripe integration to add digital wallets, local currency pricing, and AI-driven payment optimization for resort and casino operators without per-property implementation.
Value-conscious travellers will soon be able to look Lord Nelson in the eye by staying at a major new hotel that will soon be opening just metres from Trafalgar Square.
Paris hit a record monthly ADR of EUR474.64 in October 2026, up 13.5% year-over-year, with Fashion Week driving single-night ADR above EUR600 for the first time since the 2024 Olympics.
London hotels hit a record October RevPAR of GBP178.81, up 5.5% year-over-year, with occupancy at its highest since 2019, driven by the BFI Film Festival.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of Vienna House by Wyndham Istanbul Bahçelievler, introducing the Vienna House brand to Türkiye for the first time and expanding Wyndham's portfolio in the country to 12 brands. The opening further strengthens Wyndham's leadership in Türkiye, where it is the largest international hotel franchisor in the country by number of hotels, with approximately 140 properties operating under Wyndham brands.
WTTC President Gloria Guevara outlined eight global strategic priorities at WTM London's Ministers' Summit, citing the sector's $11.6T GDP contribution and forecasting $11.9T in 2026.
An analysis of how Spanish hotels facing 270 new properties in the pipeline can protect net margins by cutting OTA dependency, with real unit economics showing 30%+ revenue lost per third-party booking.
Minor Hotels, a global hospitality leader with more than 660 properties in operation and under development across 67 countries, announces the signing of a franchise agreement with EASYRENT PE for NH Hotel Tashkent, a 151-room hotel in Uzbekistan’s capital. Through its NH Hotels & Resorts brand, Minor Hotels will enter Uzbekistan, marking the group’s debut in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Central Asia.
IHG's voco brand has reached 50 open properties in Europe, with 26 more in the pipeline, six years after launching as the company's fastest-growing premium brand.
FERGUS Group, a hotel repositioning specialist owned by Mallorcan entrepreneur Pep Cañellas, has reached 40 hotels in its portfolio with the addition of FERGUS Bamboo Alcudia, a four-star, 208-room property in Puerto de Alcudia, Mallorca. This new milestone reflects the progress of the group’s growth strategy and consolidates its track record as a specialist in the management and repositioning of hotel assets. The addition has been formalised through a management agreement with an investment company focused on the Spanish and Mediterranean markets, following the latter’s acquisition of the former TBH Bamboo Alcudia.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced the opening of Thompson Seville, a 101-room hotel set within the landmark La Gavidia building on Plaza de la Concordia in the heart of Seville's historic center. The opening brings the Thompson Hotels brand to Andalusia for the first time and marks its second hotel in Spain, following Thompson Madrid.
For me, value is about more than the room rate—it’s about whether guests leave feeling they were part of something uniquely Hard Rock. When I see guests energized by the music, the atmosphere, and the genuine connections our team creates, I know we delivered an experience worth the investment.
Luxury hospitality is not defined by extravagance, expensive interiors, or an abundance of amenities. True luxury lies in the quality of the experience and the value it creates for every guest.Guests choosing a luxury stay expect more than beautiful surroundings.
I fully agree with Barbara’s perspective (as ex-Kempinski too). In luxury hospitality, more does not necessarily mean better. True luxury is not defined by the number of amenities or services we offer, but by how well we understand what each guest values and how naturally we deliver it.
In the heart of Milan, overlooking Piazza Fontana and just a few steps from the Duomo, Rosa Grand Milano – Starhotels Collezione unveils its newly refurbished public spaces, from the lobby and reception to the Grand Lounge & Bar, designed to enhance the guest experience and strengthen its connection with the city. Combining contemporary design, comfort and a welcoming social atmosphere, the project reflects Milan’s identity through spaces designed for every stage of a guest’s stay.The refurbishment goes beyond aesthetics, expressing an approach to hospitality in which spaces, services and people come together to shape the experience. Deeply rooted in Milan, Rosa Grand captures the city’s energy through interiors that cater to a variety of needs, welcoming both hotel guests and those who choose it as a meeting place in the city.The lobby and reception now offer a brighter, more contemporary atmosphere. Warm tones and carefully selected materials are complemented by gold, a longstanding feature of Rosa Grand’s decorative identity, now reinterpreted through contemporary details, reflections and a renewed focus on lighting.Light plays a central role in the redesigned interiors, defining architectural forms, bringing out the qualities of the materials and creating an atmosphere that shifts throughout the day. The new layout balances elegance with informality, offering a more open, relaxed and comfortable welcome.The project reflects the dialogue between hospitality and design culture that distinguishes the Starhotels Group, celebrating Italian design through a selection of furniture and accessories from some of its most recognised names, including Molteni and Artemest.This vision also finds expression in La Grande Bellezza – The Dream Factory, Starhotels’ contemporary patronage initiative dedicated to supporting and championing exceptional Italian craftsmanship.The concierge desk is also an integral part of this new experience, serving as both a point of reference for guests and a gateway to the city. Drawing on the expertise of the hotel’s concierges – all members of Les Clefs d’Or, the prestigious international association of hotel concierges – guests can discover a more authentic side of Milan through tailored recommendations, itineraries and a carefully curated selection of places to visit.