The Ulysses Prize is UN Tourism’s highest academic honor, awarded to individuals whose work has significantly advanced the understanding and development of tourism through knowledge creation and its practical application. Since its establishment, the Prize has recognized the world’s foremost thinkers whose contributions have shaped the future of the sector.
The hospitality industry can leverage the gender characteristics of service robots to influence customers’ decisions, according to new research from a team in the Penn State School of Hospitality Management.
Forty years ago, Bruce White founded White Lodging in 1985 in Northwest Indiana with a single hotel and built the company into one of the largest and most respected hospitality companies in the United States. He passed away in 2023 from cancer, leaving behind a company that never knew anyone else at the helm.
First Hospitality, a national hotel operating, management, and development company, recognized its 2024 Inner Circle winners during a weeklong trip to Panama from March 15 – 21, 2025. Each year, First Hospitality’s Inner Circle Award recognizes the top-performing general managers across the company’s portfolio.
The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) in partnership with ALIS Caribbean and Latin America (ALIS CALA) presented Néstor J. Ruiz Doreste, Chief Operations Officer of IHP Hospitality with the prestigious ALIS CALA Rising Star Award.
Premier Inn Dubai International Aiport has been awarded Best Airport Hotel in the Middle East at the prestigious Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2025, in recognition of its seamless guest experience, prime location, and exceptional service tailored to meet the needs of today’s travellers.
Westgate Resorts announced today the completion of its agreement to purchase Bellevue, Washington-based Vacation Ownership Sales (VOS), which has the exclusive management, sales, and marketing rights of VI Resorts, North America's largest owner-controlled timeshare and vacation club.
Meyer Jabara Hotels has been chosen to operate the 104-room Hilton Garden Inn McAllen Airport. Located at 617 West Expressway 83, the hotel sits less than a mile from McAllen Miller International Airport, Rio Grande Regional Hospital, South Texas Health System, and downtown McAllen. This deal represents Meyer Jabara Hotels’ third managed hotel in Texas; the hotel ownership and third-party management group also oversees properties in Los Alamos and San Angelo.
InnVentures, a hotel management company specializing in premium select-service and extended stay hotels, announces today the addition of Residence Inn Seattle Northgate Station. The new hotel, developed by Simon, a global leader in premier shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations, continues a decades-long relationship between InnVentures and Residence Inn, and adds an important hospitality amenity to the burgeoning Northgate Station complex.
Today, Los Angeles Councilmembers John Lee and Traci Park joined dozens of hotel and hospitality professionals, local business leaders, and the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall to call on the City Council to reject an ordinance that will jeopardize jobs, lead to hotel closures, and decrease tax revenue into the city.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest independent hotel brand, is pleased to announce the addition of 19 new member properties to its global portfolio between January 1 and March 31, 2025. Ranging from a family-oriented coastal retreat on the shores of Taiwan to a Blueridge mountainside adventurer’s escape, each of these distinct properties will greet travelers with thoughtful personalized service and unique unforgettable experiences that define independent luxury hospitality.
The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) today issued the following statement applauding the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the bipartisan Hotel Fees Transparency Act of 2025, introduced by Representatives Young Kim (R-CA-40) and Kathy Castor (D-FL-14).
In a powerful statement reflecting on the necessity of integrity within global leadership, esteemed candidate Harry Theoharis emphasizes the urgent need for reform in UN Tourism amid rising concerns regarding the implications of a potential third term for the Secretary-General. Drawing inspiration from the profound words of Abraham Lincoln, who stated, Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power, Theoharis highlights the critical intersection of power, accountability, and institutional integrity in the context of contemporary global governance.
The QHotels Collection continues to put people at the heart of its success, announcing the stand-out individuals and teams who have helped shape the business over the past year.
Staypineapple Hotels Inc., a Pacific Northwest-based hospitality management and licensing company, most notably recognized for its management of the 10 Staypineapple hotels across the United States, announces that University Inn has been acquired by OneRE Apartment Fund LLC, a company affiliated with Onelin Capital Corporation, a U.S.-based multi-asset investment, real estate development and management firm.
Holiday Inn Chennai OMR IT Expressway is proud to announce that its General Manager, Mr. Divakar Shukla, has been recognized with two of the most prestigious honours in the hospitality industry, underscoring his outstanding leadership and dedication to excellence.
MMI Hotel Group (MMI), a leading operator of core, lifestyle, and destination hotels and resorts located primarily in the Southeast United States, has announced its assumption of management responsibilities for two Wyndham Hotels & Resorts® properties in Texas. This strategic expansion strengthens MMI’s growing footprint in the Texas market and further deepens its relationship with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts®, one of the world’s largest hotel franchisors.
Thompson Houston is pleased to receive the honor of “Best New Property,” designated during Hyatt’s 2025 Americas Owners Conference in February. Hyatt placed a spotlight on Thompson Houston for its striking design, unparalleled wellness offerings, and premier meeting spaces that offer a distinctive guest experience. The theme of the conference, Business is Personal, was reflected throughout the award presentations, which celebrated the deep relationships and personal commitments that drive success across Hyatt’s owner, operator, and developer community.
NEWH, Inc. (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality), the premier organization dedicated to scholarships, education, mentorship, and networking in the hospitality industry, is proud to announce the winners of three scholarships to be awarded during this year's HD Expo + Conference, from May 6-8, 2025 in Las Vegas.
A new report by UN Tourism and the World Tourism Alliance (WTA) highlights that targeted policies, regulatory frameworks and governance models are crucial to ensuring tourism benefits are shared by all community members, promoting social equity and inclusion. The report makes clear the multifaceted role of tourism in achieving this objective, through job creation, gender empowerment, community development, natural and cultural heritage conservation, sustainable environmental practices, education and infrastructure development.