If your hotel is still using an outdated Comp Set—or worse, none at all—you’re flying blind. The right Comp Set is more than just a list of nearby hotels. It’s a strategic tool that helps you maximize revenue, control costs, and stay ahead of the competition.
The growth and vital role of the Asia Pacific region in the future of global business travel was clearly demonstrated by the strong turnout, engagement and insights from the GBTA APAC Conference 2025 held at the Raffles City Convention Centre in Singapore from May 27-28. Hosted by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the premier trade association and “voice” of the global business travel industry and co-located for the third year with the WERC® Regional Summit, the event brought together over 950 industry professionals including corporate travel managers (268), travel suppliers, and other industry partners along with nearly 50 exhibiting companies and sponsors.
Marriott International, Inc. today celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Amsterdam Marriott Hotel, the company's first hotel in Europe and outside of North America.
Travel remains a constant on people's minds, and as the seasons shift toward summer, enthusiasm for exploration endures—even amidst macroeconomic uncertainties. New data from leading digital travel platform Booking.com reveals that this summer is shaping up to be a season of big travel plans, longer trips, and meaningful escapes. Optimism is high: 77% of global leisure travelers feel excited about exploring the world in the months ahead, and nearly half (48%) expect to spend more on travel than in 2024.* From sun-soaked coastlines to vibrant cities and cultural discoveries, this summer’s trending destinations offer something for every kind of traveler, from Egypt’s coral reefs to Tokyo’s lively streets and southern Spain’s golden beaches.
Everyone would love to host megastars like her: when pop icon Taylor Swift performed in Singapore last year, not only did the US singer captivate 300,000 fans at six sold-out concerts, but she caused a stir in international relations as well. Other countries in the region were less than amused that the city state had apparently negotiated an exclusive contract with the artist, which meant that Swift only performed in Singapore while other destinations in Southeast Asia were left empty-handed. The controversy showed how important major events have now become for tourism in the region. According to analysts’ estimates, the six concerts generated an additional 370 million US dollars in revenue for the city state. Asian holidaymakers are now more willing than ever to visit other countries for attractive events, and to accept high air fares and accommodation costs. The main drivers of this trend are travellers from the People's Republic of China. In the run-up to the Swift concerts, Chinese demand for hotel bookings in Singapore increased by about 400 per cent.
Hard Rock International announces its majority acquisition of Globe Entertainment and Media Corp (GEM)—one of the world's largest private archives of music, celebrity and film photography assets from the past century with over 15 million images and rare, iconic collectibles.
Accor, a global leader in hospitality, and the Fórum de Empresas e Direitos LGBTI+ (LGBTI+ Business and Rights Forum), a business movement that brings together large companies around 10 Commitments to the promotion of LGBTI+ human rights, promoted the event “Together for the Eradication of LGBTI+ phobia” on Friday, May 16, in São Paulo. Led by TchaKa Drag Queen, and held on the eve of the International Day to Combat LGBTI+ phobia, May 17, the meeting brought together public authorities, representatives of large companies, experts and civil society organizations to discuss concrete paths towards more diverse, safe and welcoming environments.
UN Tourism, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO) are joining efforts to strengthen the connection between agrifood systems and tourism across seven Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The Hotel Marketing Association (HMA) has officially unveiled the shortlist for its prestigious 30th annual Hotel Marketing Awards – marking a major milestone in championing marketing excellence across UK hospitality.
The 2025 Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Africa Awards will honour three exceptional individuals whose leadership, vision, and integrity have profoundly shaped the hospitality industry in Africa and beyond. David Green, CEO of the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, will be recognised with the FHS Outstanding Contribution to Hospitality Award; William E. Heinecke, Founder and Chairman of Minor Hotels, will receive the FHS Leadership Award and Hala Matar Choufany, President of HVS Middle East, Africa & South Asia, will be presented with the FHS Excellence Award.
Tourism can offer unforgettable experiences, but it comes with increasing environmental costs. As sustainability takes centre stage in the industry, an emerging focus is on how travellers themselves can make a difference through pro-environmental behaviour (PEB). To date, however, the interplay of personal and cultural values in shaping such behaviour remains underexplored. Seeking to fill this gap, Professor Dori Davari and Professor Seongseop (Sam) Kim of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), working with a co-author, targeted Chinese millennials, a major consumer group known for valuing luxury and self-expression while showing growing environmental concern. This demographic offered a unique lens through which to investigate the influence of values on tourists’ PEB, yielding guidance for fostering sustainable tourism practices amongst one of the world’s most influential populations.
Accor, a world-leading hospitality group, has announced the development of a new digital meetings & events ecosystem to maximize the ongoing expansion and support of its multi-billion-dollar meetings & events business. The new platform will unite over 5,600 Accor hotels and resorts worldwide, featuring an inventory of 2.5 million sqm of event space and 800,000+ guestrooms – providing an easy, self-serve option for clients to view and book event space, guestrooms, and sales & catering services, while augmenting the continued support of on-site hotel teams. The integration of sales & catering will be a key advantage for meeting planners and business clients, as well as the link to Accor’s loyalty program ALL Accor, for the opportunity to earn and access rewarding membership benefits.
Expedia Group's latest research reveals significant shifts in how travelers plan and book travel compared to previous years, including a surge in social media influence and the impact of trust. Drawing on insights from over 11,000 consumers across 11 global markets, the 2025 Traveler Value Index offers a valuable roadmap for travel brands seeking to meet evolving expectations.
Eight Continents Hotels & Resorts has officially launched its ultra-luxury brand, Legacy Hotels, at The Great India Travel Bazaar 2025. Showcased among global travel leaders, the new vertical is set to redefine aristocratic hospitality by transforming royal residences into immersive, world-class palace stays for the discerning traveler.
World-renowned luxury hospitality brand, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, today reveals its new global brand campaign, Fairmont Presents ”Make Special Happen”. Paying homage to the brand’s centurion heritage as host to some of the world’s most storied celebrations and history-making moments, as well as its legacy with the silver screen, the creative tells the story of the build-up to a grand celebration, capturing how Fairmont colleagues and guests come together to “Make Special Happen”. The resulting campaign is Fairmont at its most captivating, elevating the art of making every moment a celebration.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest independent hotel brand representing more than 600 hotels across 80 countries, today released its first Luxury Travel Report — a comprehensive luxury consumer trends study developed in partnership with The Harris Poll. The findings affirm that the desire for travel remains robust, with luxury travelers planning an average of eight leisure trips this year — including three international journeys — and over half expecting to spend more on travel than in 2024.
Former hostage negotiator Sandy Hein, Negotiation Instructor and Coach, The Black Swan Group, knows a thing or two about high-stakes communication. At HSMAI’s Commercial Strategy Week, she’ll show hospitality leaders how to apply those same skills in negotiations, team collaboration, and commercial strategy.
From 10 to 13 November 2025, hospitality professionals, educators, and researchers from around the world will gather in The Hague as Hotelschool The Hague hosts the EuroCHRIE 2025 Conference. The annual event, organised by the European Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (EuroCHRIE), is one of the most influential events in hospitality and tourism education.
On 29 April, RIU Hotels & Resorts celebrated its 20th Anniversary Gala, which commemorated the opening of its first hotel in Cape Verde on Sal Island in 2005: the Riu Funana. The ceremony was presided over by His Excellency Dr Ulisses Correia e Silva, Prime Minister of Cape Verde, along with other distinguished members of his government, and by Félix Casado, member of the RIU Board of Directors and Chief Operating Officer in Cape Verde. The Gala aimed to reflect the importance of Cape Verde for RIU, as well as to highlight the work of the past 20 years and the great link they have with the local community. For this, RIU presented 35 awards to its most renowned collaborators, suppliers and local organisations in the country.
Earlier today, on stage at the Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia taking place at the Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah in Riyadh this week, the winners of the 2025 FHS Awards were announced.