Expedia and Booking is not a duopoly
Expedia and Booking is not a duopoly. I said this some weeks ago when I got a sneak peek at the OTA research data.
By Martin Soler, Partner, Soler & Associates
News
The Digital Race Reshaping Hospitality: Insights from Ulrich Pillau, Co-Founder & CEO of Apaleo
In this episode of Pillow Talk Sessions, Ulrich Pillau, Co-Founder and CEO of Apaleo, joins host Jessica Gillingham to explore how digital acceleration, AI integration, and platform openness are redefining what it means to operate in the hospitality space — and why legacy thinking may be the industry’s biggest risk.
Uli Pillau in conversation with Jessica Gillingham
What does ‘family focused’ really mean in a hotel? A General Manager’s inside secrets
A whimsical corridor of mushrooms. A painting of a floppy-eared dog dressed to the nines in military finery. An inclusive spa that favours family time over restrictive hours. A dog bath before you’ve even reached the lobby. I’ve only been exploring New Park Manor for five minutes, and already it’s clear there’s something a little bit different about this hotel.
By Ryan Haynes, Director/Lead Consultant, Hoteliers' Voice Podcast/ Haynes MarComs Ltd
What does ‘family focused’ really mean in a hotel? A General Manager’s inside secrets
A whimsical corridor of mushrooms. A painting of a floppy-eared dog dressed to the nines in military finery. An inclusive spa that favours family time over restrictive hours. A dog bath before you’ve even reached the lobby. I’ve only been exploring New Park Manor for five minutes, and already it’s clear there’s something a little bit different about this hotel.
By Ryan Haynes, Director/Lead Consultant, Hoteliers' Voice Podcast/ Haynes MarComs Ltd
ALL Accor unveils the 8 trends set to redefine experiential travel in 2026
Accor's study of 4,300 travelers across nine countries reveals eight emotion-driven travel trends for 2026, with 25% wanting searches to start with mood rather than destination.
HBX Group and Professors from NYU Analyze How Gen Z Travels: Experiences as a Priority, Technology as a Partner, and a Budget Dedicated to Leisure
The study of 1,200+ Gen Z travelers reveals they want transparent, authentic personalization that empowers choice rather than algorithmic decision-making.
How AI-Driven Search, Connected Media, and Real-Time Intelligence Will Drive Direct Bookings in 2026
Google's 2025 AI integration across Search, Ads, and Analytics requires hotels to merge organic and paid strategies with real-time content updates to compete for direct bookings against OTAs.
By Dhannesh Balaji, Solutions Architect, Milestone Inc.
Moving Past ROAS as Marketing KPI
The article argues hotels should replace ROAS with full-funnel metrics like market share and brand.com contribution to measure long-term marketing success.
By Stephanie Sparks Smith, CEO & Digital Matriarch, Cogwheel Marketing, Cogwheel Marketing & Analytics
The power of response: how Milan hotels can prepare for the Winter Olympic Games
Data shows Milan hotels respond to only 24-50% of reviews compared to 61.7% European average, with lessons from Paris 2024 Olympics highlighting pricing and reputation risks.
Lake.com Hits 40,000 Properties, Making Waterfront Getaways Easier to Find Worldwide
The specialized vacation rental platform grew from 30,000 to 40,000 properties this year, with Italy and Croatia leading at 10,000 listings each.
Very Important Pet: the dog-friendly stays boosting luxury hotel revenue
South Place Hotel's VIP pet strategy increased weekend dog bookings from zero to 3-5 rooms, driving higher guest spending and repeat business.
From Efficiency to Inspiration - Transforming Travel Agencies
The author argues hospitality brands should reinvent physical retail spaces by combining AI efficiency with human expertise to create premium, inspiring booking experiences.
By Pete Champion, Co-Founder and Managing Director, I-AM
Booking.com’s new review scoring explained: What hoteliers need to know in 2026
The new system weights recent reviews more heavily, allowing scores to fluctuate more frequently and recognize recent service improvements faster than the previous three-year average model.
My Top CX Predictions for 2026 and How to Make Them Come True
The author outlines 10 CX trends for 2026, emphasizing proactive service, AI integration, and treating employees like customers.
By Shep Hyken, Customer Service and Experience Expert, Keynote Speaker and Bestselling Author, Shepard Presentations, LLC.
You’re Not in Sales — You’re in Human Behavior Management
The author argues that successful hospitality salespeople focus on understanding customer emotions and behavior rather than traditional pitching tactics.
By Muhammad Tanveer, Author - The Sales Leadership Brief (Linkedin Newsletter), The Sales Leadership Brief
More reviews, more bookings: A complete guide to online reputation management for hotels
The guide outlines six steps for hotels to leverage reviews for bookings, from monitoring feedback to automating responses across platforms.
By Femke Nollet, Content Specialist, Lighthouse
Millennium Hotels & Resorts and IHCL Join Hands on a Global Loyalty Partnership
The partnership connects MyMillennium's 145+ hotels with Taj InnerCircle, offering members reciprocal 10% discounts across both global portfolios.
Millennium and IHCL
Winning over OTA guests with trust and convenience in the website and CRM
The article provides tactical strategies for reducing OTA dependence through website improvements and personalized CRM campaigns that build trust and convenience.
W Hotels Introduces a New Season of Hotel Tales: a Global Storytelling Series Spanning Music, Taste, Culture, and Connection
W Hotels launches Hotel Tales season two featuring celebrity collaborations at five properties across four continents, promoting newly transformed and opened locations.
Tambourine Partners with Ted Turner Reserves, Launches New Website Showcasing the Brand’s Conservation Mission
Tambourine creates new digital platform for Ted Turner's four New Mexico conservation properties spanning one million acres of preserved wilderness.