KKR has sold 16 Four Points Flex by Sheraton hotels across 11 Japanese cities to an unnamed global institutional investor, following a renovation and repositioning program launched after its 2024 acquisition from Unizo Holdings.
MGM Resorts' Board reaffirms its standalone strategy after People Incorporated withdrew its acquisition proposal, citing Las Vegas leadership, regional properties, BetMGM, and MGM Osaka as key value drivers.
Newport Hospitality Group and owner Roch Capital are renovating all areas of the Hilton Garden Inn Frederick, with completion expected in early spring 2027, drawing design inspiration from the region's history, agriculture, and winery culture.
Conrad Hotels expands its 1/3/5 program globally, offering concierge-curated one-, three-, and five-hour cultural experiences across properties on five continents.
Canada's hotels posted August 2026 RevPAR of CAD216.31, up 6.9% year-over-year, with Toronto and Montreal leading major markets on the back of major events.
Only 7% of 343 audited hotel PMS vendors publish fully self-serve API documentation, with composite scores ranging from 80.0 (Mews) to 26.3 (Oracle OPERA 5) across 18 scored profiles.
CBRE reports Asia Pacific hotel investment hit $8B in H1 2026, up 21% YoY, led by Japan, Mainland China, and Korea, with ADRs at historic highs and new supply growth near 1% annually.
Accor's AI concierge, trained on 1M+ pilot conversations, now covers 11 languages across 5 platforms including WhatsApp and iMessage, with a parallel AI tool for hotel staff also launching.
Jesús Parrilla, former CEO of Explora Hotels, launches Experiential Hospitality Group, a multi-brand company focused on remote and urban-edge destinations designed around guests' emotional state on arrival.
Aroundtown signed 20-year leases with Leonardo Hotels for two Berlin Alexanderplatz properties totaling 624 rooms, rebranded from the former H2 and H4 hotels.
A four-party study finds 54% of travelers already use AI for trip planning, yet only 22% of DMOs offer AI capabilities, with 72% of DMO leaders warning that laggards risk irrelevance within two years.
My Place Hotels relaunched Trend by My Place at its 2026 Miami convention as a three-tier franchise platform targeting independent owners and conversion candidates seeking national distribution without heavy capital requirements.
HVS data shows 200,000 rooms worth $90B in the GCC and North Africa pipeline, with Saudi Arabia leading at 110,000 rooms and over 55% of supply due by 2030.
Minor Hotels and Grupo Petra signed two agreements in Madrid: a strategic partnership to develop NH, NH Collection, and Tivoli hotels across Paraguay, plus a management contract for a 116-room NH hotel in Asunción due in late 2029.
IHG signs a two-hotel franchise deal in Malaysia, introducing the Garner brand and its franchise model to the country, with properties in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau opening between 2027 and 2029.
MMGY's 2026 survey of 2,518 North American travelers finds U.S. international spend dropping to $11,808 while Canadian spend rises to $8,800, with safety now outranking cost as the top travel barrier.
AAHOA members held hundreds of Capitol Hill meetings during their 2026 National Leadership Advocacy Conference, pushing for expanded SBA loan limits, franchise protections, and credit card competition reform.
Simone Puorto's "Humans-as-Luxury" thesis argues that as AI automates hospitality operations, genuine human interaction will become scarce, economically valuable, and a defining luxury differentiator.
Stonebridge takes over management of the 282-room Courtyard and Element by Marriott Atlanta Midtown, with plans to grow F&B revenue and leverage 11,000 sq ft of event space.
Minor Hotels' nhow brand launches a certified gaming and esports ecosystem across 8 European properties, with Gaming Rooms, Studios, and portable Gaming Suitcases, and further expansion planned for 2027.