Sales & Marketing News - Hospitality Net

January 15

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

United Kingdom

Press Release

January 14

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.

Accor

Supplier News

January 13

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.

HBX Group

Opinion Article

January 12

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.

California

Opinion Article

January 12

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

Supplier News

January 12

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.

Shiji

Milan, Italy

Supplier News

January 12

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.

Lake.com

Ad Guide

The next-gen metrics that move hotel P&L

Hotel tech has changed what's possible – and measurable. RevPAR and ADR aren't enough; discover the metrics that really matter.

Mews

Ad Tambourine One

All you need is one.

Some call it a website with a booking engine built in. Some call it a booking engine with a website built in. We call it One.

Tambourine

Opinion Article

January 8

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.

By Tom Brown, Principal Copywriter, Mews

London, United Kingdom

Opinion Article

January 6

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

Supplier News

January 6

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.

Shiji

Opinion Article

January 5

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.

Opinion Article

December 26, 2025

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

Ad Tambourine One

All you need is one.

Some call it a website with a booking engine built in. Some call it a booking engine with a website built in. We call it One.

Tambourine

Explainer

December 23, 2025

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

Press Release

December 23, 2025

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

HN Original

Opinion Article

December 23, 2025

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.

By Adam Mogelonsky, Partner, Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited

Press Release

December 22, 2025

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.