CoStar, Tourism Economics upgrade U.S. hotel growth forecast
CoStar and Tourism Economics raised their 2026-27 U.S. hotel outlook at the Hotel Data Conference, lifting RevPAR by 1.6 ppts and ADR by 1.1 ppts, with GOPPAR forecast to rise 4% in 2026.
Press Releases
GBTA Convention 2026 Unites the Global Business Travel Industry to Connect, Learn, Innovate and Shape the Sector's Future
GBTA Convention 2026 drew 5,500+ attendees from 47 countries at McCormick Place, with the newly released BTI forecasting record global business travel spend of $1.71 trillion in 2026.
Zambia Luxury Lodge Collection Launches, Uniting Four of the Country's Leading Luxury Safari Lodges Under One Owner-Led Brand
ZLLC unites Chichele Presidential, Puku Ridge, Lolebezi and Lolelunga under direct owner management from January 2027, with new US and UK sales representation and an active rewilding program including Zambia's first captive-bred lion reintroduction.
Doug Kennedy’s Next Staff Training Webcast: Technification Is Causing Commoditization: Stand Out Through Humanification
Doug Kennedy's free August 21 webcast covers how over-automation risks brand commoditization, and trains frontline and leadership teams to balance tech with human connection.
Over $1 Trillion Investment in Travel & Tourism Signals a Vote of Confidence in the Sector's Future
WTTC's 2025 EIR Global Trends Report finds Travel & Tourism investment surpassed $1 trillion, up 8.5% year-on-year, with the sector contributing a record $11.6 trillion to world GDP.
Middle East Travel & Tourism Faces Temporary Headwinds But Remains the World's Strongest Long-Term Growth Story
WTTC forecasts a 14.5% contraction in Middle East tourism GDP in 2026 due to conflict, but projects 6.3% annual growth through 2036, making it the world's fastest-growing tourism region.
Kempinski Becomes Munich's Ultimate Insider
Kempinski launches E.R.A.s (Experience Real Access) at Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Munich, offering guests exclusive city access via Local Insiders and a dedicated Resident Curator role.
United Hospitality Management Accelerates India Expansion with Three New Hotel Signings with IHG Hotels & Resorts
UHM signs three IHG-branded hotels in India totalling 182 keys, bringing its India portfolio to 24 properties as it targets 100+ hotels across the country.
Forbes Travel Guide Expands; Mandarin Oriental Headlines Inaugural Debut Collection
Forbes Travel Guide launches Debut and Curated discovery collections, with Mandarin Oriental's 14 upcoming hotels headlining the first Debut group; profiles are sponsored and not Star-Rated.
Elong Hotel Technology Group Sets New Milestone for China's Food Sustainability with Comprehensive Cage-free Eggs and Plant-Based Commitments
Elong Hotel Technology Group, operating 3,000+ hotels across China, commits to 100% cage-free egg sourcing by 2030 and expanded plant-based menus across its breakfast and F&B operations.
First Hospitality Assumes Management of Five New Lifestyle Properties in Five New Markets
First Hospitality adds five lifestyle properties across Sedona, Santa Barbara, Green Bay, Elkhart, and St. Louis, entering five new markets under Marriott and Hilton brand flags.
Introducing Chapitre Six: A collection of design-led French boutique hotels
Chapitre Six, a French boutique collection founded by Nicolas Saltiel, spans Paris, the Riviera, Barbizon and Megève, with two new properties planned for Courchevel (Dec 2026) and Cannes (Summer 2027).
China: 1,100+ New Hotel Openings Forecast for 2026; Hotel Conversions Hit Record High
China's Q2 2026 pipeline holds 3,588 projects and 632,256 rooms, with 1,131 new hotel openings forecast by year-end and conversions hitting a record 245 projects.
Driftwood Capital Observes Hotel Credit Outgrowing the Private Credit Label
Driftwood Capital's white paper argues hotel credit is materially distinct from corporate direct lending, citing a 0.18 correlation, lower CRE charge-off rates, and 76% on-time CMBS loan repayment through 2020-2025.
Sands China as World's First Integrated Tourism and Leisure Enterprise to Achieve ISO 14001:2026 Certification for Environmental Management
Sands China becomes the world's first hospitality and integrated resort operator to earn ISO 14001:2026 certification, covering all properties and backed by a 61% Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction since 2018.
Hard Rock Cafe and Coca-Cola® Launch Hard Rock Rising Global Music Competition for Emerging Artists
Hard Rock Cafe and Coca-Cola are co-hosting a global music competition across 34 countries and 64 cafes, with the grand prize including a Coke Studio recording session, $10,000, and a performance at Hard Rock Orlando.
Select Registry Announces Nominee Finalists for the 2026 Craft Lodging Awards
Select Registry named finalists across 11 award categories for the 2026 Craft Lodging Awards, with winners to be announced at the National Meeting Conference on November 10, 2026 in Ponte Vedra, Florida.
Las Vegas Sands Donates $450,000 to The WASH Foundation
Las Vegas Sands' $450,000 donation to The WASH Foundation brings total contributions to $6.5M since 2014, funding hygiene kits, water conservation grants in Macao and Singapore, and capacity-building programs.
AHLA Foundation Unites Survivor Advocates, Government Experts, and Hotel Industry Leaders To Advance Lasting Solutions To Prevent Human Trafficking
The AHLA Foundation's NRFT Survivor Fund hit a $10M milestone, with nearly 30% more grants awarded in 2026 to 16 organizations nationwide combating human trafficking.
Expedia Group acquires Layla, accelerating its AI-powered trip planning and booking strategy
Expedia Group acquired Layla, an AI-native conversational travel planning platform founded in 2023, to accelerate personalized trip discovery and booking at scale.