Hilton Garden Inn Sunnyvale Certified as Silicon Valley’s First Neuro-Ready Hotel
A new partnership between Hilton Garden Inn Sunnyvale and Friendly Accessibility is making travel more inclusive for neurodivergent hotel guests.
Press Releases
Beyond Compliance: The Business Case for Accessible Events
In today’s global business landscape, creating events that are truly accessible isn’t just a matter of checking a box. It’s a fundamental business imperative. By intentionally designing experiences that welcome everyone, organizations can unlock new opportunities, drive deeper engagement, and build a reputation as an industry leader. For event planners, this means shifting from a mindset of basic compliance to one of proactive inclusion.
HFTP Announces 2025 CHAE of the Year Award Recipient: Rebecca Bennett, CHAE
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is proud to announce Rebecca Bennett, CHAE, as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Certified Hospitality Accountant Executive (CHAE®) of the Year Award.
Chalet Hotels Unveils ‘Lakshya’ – A Strategic Talent Development Program for Future Leaders
Chalet Hotels Limited, a leading owner, developer, and asset manager of high-end hotels in India, has announced the launch of ‘Lakshya – Aim. Lead. Achieve.’, a 15-month Management Trainee Program that aims at creating a strong leadership pipeline for the evolving hospitality sector. It is designed to attract and groom high-potential talent, offering a rigorous, multi-stage development experience that combines cross-functional learning, leadership exposure, and operational training across Chalet’s premium hotel and corporate portfolio.
Hospitality America’s PEACH Con 2025 Charts the Future of Hospitality Leadership
GREENVILLE, S.C.— As hospitality faces labor shortages, shifting guest expectations, and technology disruption, Hospitality America’s PEACH Con 2025 brought together more than 50 hotel leaders, corporate partners, and industry experts to address the trends redefining the guest experience. With the theme “Navigating New Frontiers; Where Trailblazers Thrive,” the three-day leadership conference equipped attendees with strategies to strengthen performance today while preparing for hospitality’s future.
HSMAI Foundation Publishes Special Report on AI’s Impact in Hospitality Talent Management
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Foundation has released a special report, “AI-Powered Workforce: Hospitality’s Next Evolution,” examining how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming talent management for hotel sales, marketing, and revenue management teams. The first installment of the Foundation’s ongoing quarterly talent insights series, the report offers practical guidance for hospitality leaders on embedding AI into professional development, recruitment, and retention strategies.
CDR Joins the World Travel & Tourism Council as Global Member
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is pleased to welcome CDR, a global Talent Advisory firm specialising in luxury hospitality and destination real estate, as its newest Global Member.
WTTC and CDR Global
Joy Barlow Named General Manager of the Historic Colony House Motor Lodge in Roanoke, Virginia
The Colony House Motor Lodge, one of Roanoke’s most distinctive mid-century modern landmarks, announced the appointment of Joy Barlow as general manager. Barlow will oversee all operations at the 67-room boutique property, which officially reopened in August 2025 following a multi-million-dollar restoration that preserved its iconic Googie-style architecture while introducing modern hospitality amenities.
Launching Its Visionary Hotel Jobs Program INNclusivity Brings Opportunity to Intellectually Diverse Adults: Major Benefits to Partner Hotels
ORLANDO - INNclusivity, a visionary, innovative approach to hotel training and hiring, is transforming the lives of adults with developmental disabilities and providing exceptional benefits to participating hotels. A rapidly expanding non-profit organization, unique to the hospitality industry, INNclusivity provides this often-neglected group with opportunities that offer gainful employment, newfound capabilities and a place in the workforce, while setting goals for a more secure and productive future. Founded by veteran hospitality executive Mike Schugt, INNclusivity partners with vocational schools and local hotels to identify potential workers, provide training and find suitable jobs within the hospitality industry. INNclusivity has expanded from its Orlando headquarters where four properties are part of the program, to hotels in Atlanta, New Orleans, Pittsburgh and San Francisco. In Fall, 2025, the organization will take its singular concept to Europe, expanding to Germany.
Call for Contributions: The HOTEL Yearbook 2026 – Converging Forces: The Future is Hybrid by Design
The HOTEL Yearbook invites forward-thinking hospitality leaders, analysts, consultants, and innovators from around the world to contribute to its highly anticipated 2026 Annual Edition, themed: "Converging Forces – The Future is Hybrid by Design."
Empower your team to deliver exceptional guest experiences!
Property leaders! Don’t miss the chance for your team to learn from Gil Mulders, Founder of The Talent Network and expert in customer-centric leadership, and with hands-on experience in renowned hotel brands such as Hilton and Crowne Plaza. An excellent coach, he previously served as Head of Learning, Europe, at IHG Hotels & Resorts. He will provide your team with the tools they need to deliver exceptional service.
Hilton Cares Scholarship Program Unlocks Doors of Opportunity, Empowering Lifelong Learning and Career Growth
As the world’s best hospitality workplace, Hilton is constantly searching for new ways to support the growth and advancement of its team members around the world. Hilton Cares, launched in partnership with the Hilton Global Foundation and Scholarship America, is a scholarship program for the 2025-2026 academic year designed to create opportunities for growth and advancement for current and aspiring students. Hilton is proud to award scholarships to 63 community members and 27 Hilton team members. The program was launched to recognize Hilton’s achievement as the No. 1 world’s best workplace in the world in 2023.
Hospitality Action and Montgomery Group unite to expand industry wellbeing messaging
Leading UK charity Hospitality Action has announced a strategic partnership with Montgomery Group, the country’s longest-running independent events organiser.
Hospitality industry urges passage of state legislation requiring human trafficking training
Today, state legislators and leaders from the hospitality industry convened to urge passage of House Bill 1286, which would require short-term rental operators—in addition to hotels and other lodging establishments—across Pennsylvania to provide human trafficking awareness training to employees. The legislation, introduced by State Representative Regina Young (D-HD185) and co-sponsored by Representatives Robert Leadbeter, Eric Nelson, and Tarik Khan, is currently pending before the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Mutual benefits of hotels hiring individuals with intellectual disabilities
Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities can fill needed jobs in the hotel industry when provided support and resources from businesses, according to new research by a team of faculty and doctoral students in the Penn State School of Hospitality Management.
Hotel Equities Announces the Planned Retirement of Founder Fred Cerrone after 36 Years of Transformative Leadership
Hotel Equities (HE), a best-in-class hospitality operator and developer, announced today that its Founder, Fred Cerrone, has decided to retire effective November 22, 2025, concluding an extraordinary 58-year career in the hospitality industry. As Founder and Chairman Emeritus, he remains an enduring influence and guiding presence for the firm.
MEININGER: Accommodation Partner of ESN
European hotel group MEININGER Hotels and the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) have entered into a strategic partnership to jointly promote international student mobility. ESNcard holders now receive exclusive discounts when booking through the official MEININGER website, giving them access to affordable short-term accommodation across all group properties. MEININGER currently operates 36 hotels in 26 European cities, with additional openings in the pipeline.
Henri Giscard d'Estaing leaves Club Med: A major change for Fosun
Henri Giscard d'Estaing, Chairman of Club Med since 2002, has been ousted from his position at the head of the group by Fosun, its Chinese shareholder since 2015.
Egyptian Hotels Association Signs Strategic Partnership with Sommet Education to Empower Egyptian Hospitality Talent
The Egyptian Hotels Association (EHA) is investing in a skilled workforce to boost Egypt's hotel sector, announcing a major two-years partnership with Sommet Education, world leader in hospitality education. This agreement, including Sommet Education renowned Glion Institute of Higher Education and Les Roches, was signed in the presence of H.E. the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy.
Marriott International Announces Retirement of Leeny Oberg, Chief Financial Officer and EVP, Development, in 2026
Marriott International (Nasdaq: MAR) today announced that after 26 years with the company, Leeny Oberg, Marriott’s Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Development, has decided to retire effective March 31, 2026. Two long-time Marriott veterans have been named her successors. Next year, Jen Mason will become the company’s Chief Financial Officer and Shawn Hill will take on the role of Chief Development Officer.