Vrbo announces 2026 top vacation rentals of the year
The fifth annual awards recognize 50+ standout vacation rentals across multiple countries, all earning 'Loved by Guests' status from the top 10% of properties.
News
HCN to Spotlight the Future of Hotel Commerce Media at POSSIBLE Miami 2026; CEO Kevin Bidner to Present on the Industry’s Next Ad Frontier
HCN's commerce media network transforms hotel room tablets into advertising platforms, claiming 90%+ engagement rates and targeting affluent travelers when they're most receptive.
Direct Booking Summit 2026: Dedicated AI Training Sessions Added to Agenda
The event in Mexico City features four AI training sessions covering search optimization, automation, tool selection, and no-code development for hotel teams.
Loyalty — Gone in 60 Seconds
Argues that guest loyalty is determined in the first 60 seconds of arrival through human connection, not technology or loyalty programs.
By Terence Ronson, Founder & Managing Director, Pertlink Limited
Global Hotel Alliance Research Reveals Loyalty Programmes Drive Hotel Choice as Demand for Transformative Travel Rises
Survey of 9,000 travelers shows 87% prefer hotels with global loyalty programs, with generosity valued over novelty and 71% wanting lifestyle benefits beyond core rewards.
Instagram is Driving Demand. Now it's Time to Drive Direct Bookings
The article provides five strategies to convert Instagram interest into direct bookings, emphasizing the need to treat Instagram as part of the booking system rather than standalone marketing.
By Alexandra Duque, Junior Digital Marketing Account Executive, GuestCentric Systems
Why hotel branding is the most underused revenue strategy in hospitality
Elite Hotels CMO argues hotels should invest in brand building to drive pricing power and direct bookings instead of cutting marketing spend.
Dylan Cole, Managing Director EMEA, Revinate, Inc.
TRIBE Launches Global Vinyl Club
Accor's TRIBE Hotels partners with Record Store Day to install vinyl listening stations across properties, with an exclusive 1,000-copy LP release in 2026.
Hotel Brands are Aggregators
Analysis reveals top 6 hotel groups control 84% of organic traffic, with Marriott generating 76 million monthly visits versus median group's under 1 million.
By Martin Soler, Partner, Soler & Associates
The New Economics of Visibility
Research shows 81% of travelers trust media outlets more than other channels, yet hotel executives still prioritize paid search despite the AI-driven shift in discovery.
By Nick Slavin, CEO and Co-Founder, Curacity
Abba Hotels boosted conversions 15% with Cendyn DMP metasearch campaigns
Spanish hotel group achieved 15% higher conversions and 27% revenue per click increase using centralized metasearch campaigns across Google, Kayak, and Tripadvisor.
Is hospitality distribution the modern RM swingers club?!?
Bartnick argues modern hotel distribution resembles casual dating rather than committed relationships, with guests constantly comparing options across multiple platforms.
By Fabian Bartnick, Founder, Infinito
A CX Lesson from Spider-Man
Research shows 79% of customers value personalization and 63% will pay more for it, but companies must use AI-powered data responsibly to avoid the "creepiness factor."
By Shep Hyken, Customer Service and Experience Expert, Keynote Speaker and Bestselling Author, Shepard Presentations, LLC.
Spin Into Memory: Meet GCSTIMES Panda Keychain
GCSTIMES' plant-based leather panda keychain features dual-sided design with customizable elements for seasonal themes and property branding.
The $100K Mistake Hospitality Vendors Keep Making (Hint: It's Not Marketing Spend)
The article outlines how hospitality vendors lose deals by lacking online social proof despite heavy outbound spending, offering a 90-day framework to fix it.
By Susan Tucker, Partner & COO, The Lure Agency, Lure Agency
The rise of "bleisure" travel and what it means for your hotel website
The article provides strategies for hotels to capture the growing bleisure market through website optimization, flexible amenities, and AI-driven personalization.
By Paige Lopez, Content marketer, Lighthouse
What’s Past Is Prologue: The Sales Challenges Hospitality Still Hasn’t Solved
Sales challenges like weak prospecting, poor follow-up, and team alignment issues persist unchanged since 1999, requiring human-centered coaching solutions beyond AI.
By Gary Hernbroth, Founder, Training for Winners
Rethinking value creation in travel through the perspective of Mauricio Prieto
eDreams co-founder argues travel companies overinvest in features while underinvesting in reducing customer risk and executing after acquisition.
How Luxury Hotels Are Expanding Into Yachts and Airlines To Grow Their Brands
Luxury hotel brands like Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, and Aman are launching yacht and private jet services to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive market.
By Nikolas Skrivanos, Contributor, HFTP
The Two Problems in the Travel Value Chain We Never Solved
The article argues group travel and vacation packages remain structurally inefficient despite two decades of innovation in hotel room distribution.