Sitting at the crossroads of tradition and AI: What lies ahead for hotel stars?
The Hotel Yearbook

Sitting at the crossroads of tradition and AI: What lies ahead for hotel stars?

Dr. Dimitris Koutoulas, tourism consultant and Assistant Professor of Tourism and Hotel Management, explores what lies ahead for traditional hotel star ratings in an AI-driven world. He explains why official classifications still matter alongside gu...

Koutoulas Consulting
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Hotel Yearbook
HYB article by Dr. Dimitris Koutoulas
23 January 2026Koutoulas ConsultingThe Hotel Yearbook 2026 - Annual Edition
Sitting at the crossroads of tradition and AI: What lies ahead for hotel stars?
AI Advantage: Reimagining Hospitality’s Commercial Future
The Hotel Yearbook

AI Advantage: Reimagining Hospitality’s Commercial Future

Brian Hicks, President and CEO at Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI), outlines how AI is rapidly moving from experimentation to real impact across hospitality’s commercial functions, driving measurable gains in revenue, ...

Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI)
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Sales & Marketing
Hotel Yearbook
HYB article by Brian Hicks
23 January 2026HSMAIThe Hotel Yearbook 2026 - Annual Edition
AI Advantage: Reimagining Hospitality’s Commercial Future
Opinion

Evergreen Content and the Long-Term ROI of Hotel Marketing

In hospitality marketing, it’s easy to get caught in a cycle of constant campaigns. You have seasonal promotions, last-minute offers, and time-sensitive announcements that disappear as quickly as they launch. While these efforts play an important ro...

Debbie Miller
Debbie Miller
Digital Marketing and Communications Professional and member of Cayuga Hospitality Consultants.
Cayuga Hospitality Consultants
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Sales & Marketing
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Content Marketing
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Debbie Miller
by Debbie Miller
22 January 2026Cayuga Hospitality ConsultantsSales & Marketing
Cayuga Hospitality Consultants
Room for More: How Hospitality is Redefining What ‘Welcome’ Really Means
Opinion

Room for More: How Hospitality is Redefining What ‘Welcome’ Really Means

The hospitality industry has always been about one thing: making people feel welcome. But in 2026, “welcome” looks a little different than it did even five years ago. Today, it’s not just about offering a comfortable bed and a continental breakfast—...

Prince A. Sanders
Prince A. Sanders
Hospitality Managing Director
Prince A. Sanders
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Sales & Marketing
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Prince A. Sanders
by Prince A. Sanders
21 January 2026Prince A. SandersSales & Marketing
Room for More: How Hospitality is Redefining What ‘Welcome’ Really Means
Asset Managers: This Is Why Your Hotel Sales Teams Don’t Close More Deals Despite Your Extensive Investments
Opinion

Asset Managers: This Is Why Your Hotel Sales Teams Don’t Close More Deals Despite Your Extensive Investments

You have approved every request for new sales automation systems, because salespeople report being overwhelmed with inbound leads. Now RFPs are responded to promptly, just like all those hotel technology salespeople said was the number one way to cl...

Doug Kennedy
Doug Kennedy
President of the Kennedy Training Network
Kennedy Training Network (KTN)
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Sales & Marketing
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Asset Management
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Doug Kennedy
by Doug Kennedy
21 January 2026Kennedy Training Network (KTN)Sales & Marketing
Asset Managers: This Is Why Your Hotel Sales Teams Don’t Close More Deals Despite Your Extensive Investments
Opinion

New Data Shows How Travelers Are Using AI to Plan and Book Trips, And It’s Not What You Think

The travel industry has spent years trading opinions about what AI will do to planning and booking. No more hypotheticals. New research by TakeUp, The Rise of AI Planned Travel in 2026, based on a survey of 300 US leisure travelers, shows the shift ...

Bobby Marhamat
Bobby Marhamat
CEO at TakeUp
TakeUp
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Chatbots, Robotics & AI
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Bobby Marhamat
by Bobby Marhamat
20 January 2026TakeUpSales & Marketing
TakeUp
Opinion

Optimise Your Hotel Website in 8 Easy Steps - FREE Checklist

As a hotelier, you know that first impressions matter. And in 2026, your website is your virtual front desk. But is it doing enough to convert visitors into paying guests? If your website isn’t optimised for speed, ease of use, and direct bookings, ...

Savina Karaivanova
Savina Karaivanova
Marketing & Product Strategist
Userguest
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Sales & Marketing
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Digital Marketing
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Savina Karaivanova
by Savina Karaivanova
20 January 2026UserguestSales & Marketing
Userguest
What Hotel Investors Need to Know About Agentic Hotel Distribution in 2026
Opinion

What Hotel Investors Need to Know About Agentic Hotel Distribution in 2026

Next week, hospitality industry leaders, including investors, owners, lenders, developers, management and brand executives and the like will travel to Los Angeles to attend ALIS, the world’s leading and most influential hotel investment conference. ...

Brad Brewer
Brad Brewer
Chief AI Officer, Agentic Hospitality, and Founder, Brewer Digital Marketing
Agentic Hospitality
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Events & Conferences
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Real Estate & Investment
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Chatbots, Robotics & AI
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Brad Brewer
by Brad Brewer
20 January 2026Agentic HospitalitySales & Marketing
What Hotel Investors Need to Know About Agentic Hotel Distribution in 2026