Holiday Inn Kenilworth deployed Eccobell's AI voice agent, cutting reception calls by over 80% in the first week, with upsell commissions now exceeding the technology's cost.
Accor Deputy CEO Jean-Jacques Morin, speaking at EHL HumanX in Lausanne, argues that human relationships trump data in hospitality and that AI should augment, not replace, the people behind the brand.
Equinox Hotels CEO Christopher Norton shares how he built a hotel brand around health pillars including fitness, nutrition, recovery, and sleep, pulling 1,500 locals daily through a 60,000 sq ft gym.
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India's largest hospitality company, today announced the debut of Taj Hessischer Hof Frankfurt, marking the brand's entry into Continental Europe.
Native by Numa is pleased to announce the upcoming opening of Native Fulham Broadway, a new aparthotel set to open this summer. Located at 284–288 North End Road, London, SW6 1NH, the property marks the brand’s first presence in the Fulham area and a further step in its continued expansion across London.
Redefining the modern city stay from £70 per night, Otherwander opens in Soho, London.
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.
Revinate's Dylan Cole and De L'Europe Amsterdam's Robert-Jan Woltering argue that luxury hotels risk brand erosion through cost-cutting, and should prioritize top-line revenue growth across all profit centers.
Radisson Hotel Group welcomes The Gonville Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals, to its portfolio — a distinctive and charming upscale property located in the historic city of Cambridge, featuring 92 bedrooms, each with its own unique and contemporary design. The hotel is a valued addition to the growing Radisson Individuals portfolio and further strengthens its presence in key destinations across the United Kingdom.
Radisson Hotel Group announces the opening of Paradise Resort Evia, a member of Radisson Individuals, a 322-room beachfront resort in Eretria on the island of Evia, Greece. The resort marks the brand's first resort in Greece and strengthens Radisson Hotel Group's growing presence across Mediterranean leisure destinations. Located under two hours from Athens by road, the resort combines direct Aegean beachfront access, extensive wellness and sports facilities, five dining and bar venues, and flexible meetings and events spaces in one of Greece's most accessible island destinations.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, the global luxury brand and part of the world-leading hospitality group Accor, has today announced reservations are now live, ahead of its much-coveted 10th July 2026 opening. Fairmont's newest property - Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere - will be the brand's fourth hotel in the UK alongside: The Savoy, A Fairmont Hotel, Fairmont Windsor Park and Fairmont St Andrews.
Nestled on the slopes of the Berici hills, Hotel Villa Michelangelo Vicenza – Starhotels Collezione has long been a peaceful retreat for travelers seeking authentic hospitality just minutes from the historic center of Vicenza. Today, following an ambitious renovation of all rooms and suites, the property introduces a refreshed visual identity rooted in the value of Italian craftsmanship and a concept of luxury defined by subtle yet unforgettable details. The restyling was led by interior designer Carlotta Oddone, whose vision is built on a few key principles: uniqueness, a renewed concept of luxury in high-end hospitality, and the celebration of the “invisible details” of fine craftsmanship - elements that quietly transform each space into a lived experience. Originally built in the 18th century as a Palladian-style country residence for the Tomi family, a long-established local family, the villa passed through several noble owners before becoming a hotel in the late 1970s. Today, with its exposed beam ceilings, traditional Venetian terrazzo floors, and a five-hectare park dotted with centuries-old trees and olive groves, the property embodies the spirit of a living historic home - at the heart of Starhotels Collezione philosophy. The redesign draws inspiration from the surrounding Vicenza landscape, balancing two distinct visual themes: the organic, evocative nature of floral motifs and the structured rhythm of geometric stripes, which introduce a contemporary edge. Each of the 52 rooms and suites has been conceived as a unique space, while maintaining a cohesive color palette: each room is entirely one of a kind. Colors and custom-designed textiles play a central narrative role. Fabrics, specially printed on velvet from Oddone’s Rosemarie and Stripes collections, are used across furnishings and serve as a unifying thread throughout the project in its various colorways. Headboards, lamps, seating, and trims share recognizable forms and moods, yet are expressed through ever-changing combinations and tones. In line with Starhotels’ philosophy, the renovation places strong emphasis on local craftsmanship, bringing together artisans from Vicenza with trusted Piedmont-based makers as part of the Group’s contemporary patronage project La Grande Bellezza – The Dream Factory. Tappezzeria Bruscato, located just a short distance from the hotel, handled the production and installation of curtains and headboards, while Vicenza-based artist Giorgio Bertoldo created the wall decorations. Select original furnishings from the villa have also been restored and reintegrated, reinforcing a sense of continuity with the property’s history.
Davy and Jill reflect on Mews Unfold 2026 in Amsterdam, weighing AI's promise to free staff for human connection against the industry's oldest unsolved frustration: recognising returning guests at check-in.
Budapest's hosting of the UEFA Champions League Final is examined through the lens of sports tourism strategy, with the 2024 London final generating €91M in GVA and 77,000 international visitors as a benchmark.
MILAN, Italy – Hilton today announced the signing of an agreement with ELE Spa for Spark by Hilton Milan Linate Airport, marking the debut of the Spark by Hilton brand in Italy. The 118-room hotel is due to open to guests later this year. Spark by Hilton will become Hilton’s 11th brand trading or pipeline in Italy and will mark its entry into the premium economy segment.
MGallery Hotel Collection, a distinguished portfolio of storied hotels within the Accor Group, invites guests to a new Grecian retreat, Kove Hotel & Spa Mykonos - MGallery Collection. This opening signifies MGallery Collection's commitment to offering intimate sanctuaries in the world's most captivating destinations, providing a strategic foothold in Mykonos' thriving luxury market. The property reveals a more intimate side of Mykonos, offering a sun-soaked private beach and the quiet rhythm of the Cyclades.
ETC re-elected Miguel Sanz as President and named Arnar Már Ólafsson as Vice President at its General Meeting in Montenegro, while welcoming Booking.com, Feratel, GetYourGuide, and Skyscanner as associate members.
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.
IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, announces the signing of Canary Riverside Plaza, Vignette Collection by IHG – the brand’s first property in London and second in the UK&I. Developed in partnership with Yianis Group, the signing also marks IHG’s debut in Canary Wharf, one of London’s most established and well-connected business districts.
Orea Hotels CEO Gorjan Lazarov shares how the Czech group grew direct bookings from near zero to 60% of revenue by combining brand investment, data infrastructure, and technology-driven guest experience.