Despite operational pressures intensifying worldwide, guest satisfaction climbs again
Global guest satisfaction rose to 86.7% despite record tourist arrivals, with 3-star and 4-star hotels driving growth while luxury segment gains slowed.
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When Hospitality Goes Overboard
Restaurants rely on satisfied customers for repeat visits, leading many to continuously raise their service standards to meet and exceed customers’ expectations. However, service quality that is too high can backfire, with behaviours such as kneeling and excessive politeness arousing suspicion and discomfort in diners. Filling a research gap and providing practical guidance for restaurant managers and operators, Dr Yuchen Xu and Professor Catherine Cheung of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), working with two co-authors, offer a novel theoretical lens for examining how customers respond to such “over-service” in restaurants.
Three Things to Watch for Los Angeles Hospitality in 2026
Los Angeles occupancy remains below pre pandemic levels due to entertainment strikes, soft leisure demand, weak international travel, and 2025 wildfire disruptions. However, the region’s diverse economy positions it for recovery, aided by the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Entertainment production and international air travel are expected to stabilize, while ADR should grow.
By Kirsten Smiley, Senior Vice President, Southern California Region Director, HVS Los Angeles, HVS
U.S. hotels report first full-year occupancy, RevPAR declines since 2020
CoStar data shows 2025 marked the first year since 2020 with declining occupancy (-1.2%) and RevPAR (-0.3%), though ADR grew 0.9% nationally.
AHLA welcomes new members to Executive Committee, Board of Directors
Marriott's Liam Brown will chair the 2026 board before retiring, with Davidson's Thom Geshay set to succeed him mid-year.
IHG Owners Association Announces 2026 Global Board of Directors, Led by Chair Prakash Maggan
Prakash Maggan of Rainmaker Hospitality will chair the association's global board, bringing experience from growing his family business from 8 to 29 hotels.
HEI Assumes Management of a Portfolio of Four Marriott-Branded Hotels in Orlando, Florida
HEI takes over management of 1,590 rooms across four Marriott-branded properties near Disney, including a Sheraton undergoing renovation.
Hotel Equities Expands Caribbean & Latin America (CALA) Capabilities With Open Hotels and In-Market Operating Platform
Hotel Equities now operates five properties across the Caribbean and Latin America with 12 more in development, led by President Juan Corvinos.
How SilverBirch Hotels & Resorts Streamlined Financial Operations with Fairmas
SilverBirch replaced error-prone Excel spreadsheets with Fairmas software, achieving improved forecast accuracy and faster scenario modeling across its Canadian hotel portfolio.
Noelle Nashville Amplifies Guest Experience with Marshall Speakers
Marshall speakers are now installed in all guest rooms via Safemark distribution, extending the hotel's music-focused brand identity.
Optimise Your Hotel Website in 8 Easy Steps - FREE Checklist
Free checklist covers eight optimization areas including website performance, booking journey, and SEO to help hotels increase direct bookings.
By Savina Karaivanova, Marketing & Product Strategist, Userguest
Minor Hotels Sharpens Growth Agenda for 2026
Minor Hotels signed 40 new contracts in 2025 and expects 25 more in Q1 2026, with 87% of pipeline now asset-light including planned REIT launch.
Meliá Hotels International Announces Nine New Openings across Malta and Gozo
The expansion includes properties across four Meliá brands through a partnership with Agius Group, targeting luxury travel growth in the Mediterranean destination.
Dubai Holding expands European hospitality portfolio with acquisition in Mallorca
The acquisition expands Dubai Holding's ownership portfolio to 34 hotels and strengthens Jumeirah's European presence alongside properties in London, Capri, and Geneva.
HVS Europe Hotel Transactions Bulletin - Week Ending 16 January 2026
Weekly roundup covers eight major European hotel transactions totaling over £400 million, led by Criterion's £220 million St Giles London acquisition.
From design to operations, connecting the full hotel lifecycle
Hotel & Shop Plus 2026 will feature 80+ exhibitors showcasing building materials, smart hotel tech, and design solutions for the full hotel lifecycle at Shanghai's New International Expo Centre March 31-April 3.
What Hotel Investors Need to Know About Agentic Hotel Distribution in 2026
By 2026, AI-native distribution systems that autonomously decide pricing and channel strategy will become essential infrastructure, directly impacting hotel asset valuations and cash flow predictability.
By Brad Brewer, Chief AI Officer, Agentic Hospitality
Download the New Free Guide: “The 2026 Hotel Operations Blueprint” released by roommaster
roommaster's free guide outlines strategies for modernizing front desk operations, automating housekeeping, and using AI for revenue decisions.
Quicktext Becomes Quinta
Quicktext rebrands to Quinta and launches Q-Channel and Q-Share solutions to help hotels distribute structured data across AI platforms like ChatGPT.
Cloudbeds partners with Jumbonline to expand global distribution for hotels
The integration connects hotels to 2,500+ travel agents and 3,000+ wholesale clients through automated inventory synchronization.