Marketbeat UK - H2 2025
UK hotel investment fell 23% to £4.9bn in 2025, with single-asset deals rising 37% while portfolio activity dropped due to financing constraints.
By Francesca Madden and Anastasia Cooper
Opinion Articles
Mastering Profiling, Personalisation and Targeting Needs More Than Data at Whittlebury Park
Bradley Spielman at Whittlebury Park shares strategies for marketing to diverse audiences including spa guests, golfers, motorsport fans, and corporate groups using data-driven personas.
By Ryan Haynes, Director/Lead Consultant, Hoteliers' Voice Podcast/ Haynes MarComs Ltd
A hotel juggling identity - marketing profiling, personalising and targeting for success
Bradley Spielman from Whittlebury Park explains how the hotel uses guest personas and targeted CRM data to market effectively across golf, spa, events, and motorsport audiences.
By Ryan Haynes, Director/Lead Consultant, Hoteliers' Voice Podcast/ Haynes MarComs Ltd
Why Labour Cost Pressures Are Outsmarting Hotel Planning - And What Smart Operators Are Doing Differently
Labour costs are rising 7-10% in 2025 while revenues lag behind, forcing hotels to shift from headcount-based planning to strategic workforce optimization models.
By Paritosh Kumar, Senior Vice President - Sales, Unifocus
Taormina Market Pulse 2026 - From the Grand Tour Heritage to a Global Luxury Destination
The report shows Taormina's hotel ADR exceeded €1,200 in 2025, up 80% since 2018, driven by luxury positioning and White Lotus exposure.
Technology, Trust, and Travel Trends: Hospitality Takeaways from FITUR 2026
Key hospitality technology trends from FITUR 2026 include integrated platforms, AI-driven personalization, guest feedback as revenue input, and collaboration over competition.
By Florencia Cueto Pedrotti, Director, Global Engagement & Sales Enablement, Shiji
A case for windowless rooms: mastering the art of the basics
Zedwell converts underused London buildings into windowless "cocoon" rooms focused on rest, with new capsule format offering £30 stays to capture spontaneous demand.
By Sarah Johnson, Senior Copywriter, Mews
ÖHV Congress 2026: Between AI Euphoria and Operational Reality
Austrian hoteliers at the ÖHV Congress revealed a gap between AI promises and operational reality, with bureaucracy and staff shortages hampering digital transformation efforts.
Lessons in seasonality from a hotel made of ice
Arctic SnowHotel in Rovaniemi operates just 3.5 months annually but maintains year-round profitability through strategic planning and technology that works in sub-zero temperatures.
By Sarah Johnson, Senior Copywriter, Mews
What does ‘family focused’ really mean in a hotel? A General Manager’s inside secrets
Byron Fiddler of Luxury Family Hotels shares operational strategies including pre-arrival guest contact, integrated childcare, family-inclusive spa access, and specialized dining arrangements.
By Ryan Haynes, Director/Lead Consultant, Hoteliers' Voice Podcast/ Haynes MarComs Ltd
What does ‘family focused’ really mean in a hotel? A General Manager’s inside secrets
A whimsical corridor of mushrooms. A painting of a floppy-eared dog dressed to the nines in military finery. An inclusive spa that favours family time over restrictive hours. A dog bath before you’ve even reached the lobby. I’ve only been exploring New Park Manor for five minutes, and already it’s clear there’s something a little bit different about this hotel.
By Ryan Haynes, Director/Lead Consultant, Hoteliers' Voice Podcast/ Haynes MarComs Ltd
What does ‘family focused’ really mean in a hotel? A General Manager’s inside secrets
A whimsical corridor of mushrooms. A painting of a floppy-eared dog dressed to the nines in military finery. An inclusive spa that favours family time over restrictive hours. A dog bath before you’ve even reached the lobby. I’ve only been exploring New Park Manor for five minutes, and already it’s clear there’s something a little bit different about this hotel.
By Ryan Haynes, Director/Lead Consultant, Hoteliers' Voice Podcast/ Haynes MarComs Ltd
What does ‘family focused’ really mean in a hotel? A General Manager’s inside secrets
Byron Fiddler of New Park Manor shares strategies for authentic family hospitality, from pre-arrival guest contact to inclusive spa access and child-friendly dining solutions.
By Ryan Haynes, Director/Lead Consultant, Hoteliers' Voice Podcast/ Haynes MarComs Ltd
More Than a Bed: How Hotels are Unlocking Social Impact
Hotels can repurpose unsold rooms for social causes like supporting unpaid carers, creating community value at minimal cost while strengthening ESG credentials.
By Charlotte Newman, CEO, Carefree
Very Important Pet: the dog-friendly stays boosting luxury hotel revenue
South Place Hotel's VIP pet strategy increased weekend dog bookings from zero to 3-5 rooms, driving higher guest spending and repeat business.
Hospitality as a force for good: lessons from a refugee
Syrian-Armenian refugee Armen Melkonian shares how hospitality principles guided his journey from war-torn Syria to hotel industry success in the Netherlands.
Beyond the Business Case: What Hotels Get Wrong About Neurodiversity Employment
Despite 40% of UK hotels having neuroinclusion policies, fewer than 15% of neurodivergent employees find accommodations effective, revealing a gap between corporate commitments and operational reality.
By Jayanti Jayanti, Senior Lecturer in Hospitality Management, University of West London
Between myth and experience: Monte Carlo's grand hotels as narrators of European luxury
The piece examines how three Monte Carlo hotels - Hôtel de Paris, Hermitage, and Metropole - each embody different narratives of European luxury through their architectural design and guest experiences.
By Xavier Reinaldo Virgili, Academic Researcher, Xavier Reinaldo Virgili
Travel affordability matters: how Booking.com helps consumers save and make informed choices
Booking.com responds to Dutch consumer legal action by citing Oxford Economics research showing OTAs saved travelers $69.4 billion in Europe between 2019-2021.
By Peter Lochbihler, Global Director Public Affairs, Booking.com
Blending Tradition and Innovation at The Belfry: A Conversation on the Future of Guest Experience
The Belfry's Senior Finance Director discusses how the iconic UK golf resort balances tradition with technology to create meaningful guest connections.
By Florencia Cueto Pedrotti, Director, Global Engagement & Sales Enablement, Shiji