Can Access Credentials Inspire Local Discovery?
GCSTIMES explores how hotel key cards, designed with local food-inspired graphics and FSC-certified materials, can serve as guest touchpoints that encourage neighbourhood exploration.
Supplier News
Cloudbeds Launches OTA Ads to Seamlessly Manage OTA Campaigns within the Platform
Cloudbeds' new OTA Ads feature lets hoteliers launch and manage Expedia TravelAds campaigns directly within the Cloudbeds platform, consolidating paid OTA visibility alongside metasearch, retargeting, and reputation tools.
Webinar on July 29: The AI Visibility Flywheel - How Brands Get Featured in AI Search
Milestone's July 29 webinar covers how brands can improve discovery in AI-powered search engines, including entity building, content authority, and a practical visibility roadmap.
Kollective Completes Initial Data Collection for the Boutique Hotel AI Index
Kollective's Boutique Hotel AI Index analyzed 28,600 AI-generated responses across ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Overviews, and Copilot to reveal how these platforms recommend boutique hotels across 100 destinations.
Cvent Announces Denver as Host City for Cvent CONNECT 2027
Cvent CONNECT 2027 will be held April 5–8 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, announced at the 2026 edition in Nashville, which drew nearly 5,000 in-person attendees.
Lodging Interactive Launches Celebrations Hub and Drives Untapped Social Event Revenue
Lodging Interactive's Celebrations Hub connects social media content to dedicated landing pages and lead capture forms, targeting smaller milestone events like reunions, showers, and parties that hotels often overlook.
Lodging Interactive Launches Commingle360, an End-to-End Reputation Management Service Combining On-Site Guest Feedback with Public Review Response Management
Lodging Interactive's Commingle360 combines on-site QR-based guest feedback and employee recognition via CruVu with human-written public review responses across 140+ platforms.
Hotel Image Standards Vary Across Distribution Channels and What Hoteliers Need to Know
Image dimensions, aspect ratios, file formats, and gallery structures differ by platform, creating inconsistent brand presentation and conversion risk for hotels managing content across OTAs and other channels.
Check-out is where the real marketing begins
A practical guide arguing that post-checkout is the highest-ROI marketing window, outlining a 5-stage framework using CRM automation, personalization, and retention strategy to drive repeat bookings.
Pests Like Bed Bugs Rank Ahead of Cleanliness, Staff and Value as Travellers' #1 Hotel Booking Concern, Phocuswright Research Confirms
Phocuswright survey of 1,082 travellers across the US, UK and France finds bed bug safety outranks cleanliness, value and staff friendliness as the top hotel booking concern, with 79-84% preferring a certified 4-star over an uncertified 5-star.
Valpas and Phocuswright
GCSTIMES Key Card as A First Touchpoint That Speaks for the Destination
Wooden key cards are positioned as a sensory branding tool that communicates destination identity, cultural values, and sustainability credentials at the first guest touchpoint.
Lodging Interactive Introduces CruVu™, a New Private Guest Recognition Service for Hotels and Restaurants
Lodging Interactive's CruVu captures private guest recognition by department or staff member, turning it into internal operational intelligence for hotel and restaurant managers to coach teams and improve service.
Unlocking the City with GCSTIMES Wooden Key Card: Where Screen Stories Become Real Journeys
GCSTIMES promotes a wooden key card shaped like a cat's head featuring cityscape designs that doubles as a 3D fridge magnet, framed around the "set-jetting" travel trend.
Lighthouse and Bowerbird Technologies give hotels the first end-to-end solution to rate parity
Lighthouse and Bowerbird Technologies have combined AI-powered rate parity monitoring with copyright enforcement, with a Radisson Hotel Group pilot showing 25% parity loss reduction and 20% improvement in parity meet rates.
Set-Jetting and Hospitality: How Hotels Are Adapting to Screen-Inspired Travel
Hotels are capitalizing on screen-inspired travel through three strategies: leveraging filming-location status, curating set-related guest itineraries, and maintaining long-term cinematic identity.
Set-Jetting: The Travel Trend Turning Screen Dreams into Real Journeys
Expedia data shows 53% of travelers are interested in screen-inspired travel, with 81% of Gen Z and Millennials citing TV and film as influences, creating packaging and marketing opportunities for hotels.
What a Wooden Key Card Witnesses During the World Cup
GCSTIMES promotes its wooden cat-shaped hotel key card, designed to double as a fridge magnet and serve as a branded keepsake guests take home after their stay.
Webinar (June 24th 11am ET): Why Hotel Flexibility Is No Longer a Nice-to-Have for Guests
HTS and Cloudbeds host a June 24 webinar on new survey data showing 87% of travelers prioritize cancellation flexibility, with CFAR lifting booking intent among high-value guests to 79-85%.
Hotel Distribution Technology Chart 2026: Why Visibility Is Becoming the New Distribution Strategy
The 2026 chart argues that hotel distribution now starts before the booking journey, with AI assistants, maps, and social platforms shaping traveler decisions before any OTA or brand.com visit occurs.