The author argues hotels have misunderstood their core challenge: controlling guest introductions, not just optimizing marketing channels or technology solutions.
Sleeping Bear Hotels reduced OTA bookings from 60% through operational streamlining, strategic partnerships, and direct booking focus.
German guests can now earn PAYBACK points instead of IHG points when staying at participating hotels, redeemable across retail partners.
The author argues that AI-powered booking connectors fail because they expect travelers to manage technical complexity rather than simplifying it.
TikTok is beta-testing hotel metasearch cards that appear in user feeds, redirecting to OTAs like Expedia and Booking.com for reservations.
The 11 PentaHotels properties across three countries will convert to Holiday Inn, voco and Garner brands by H1 2027, adding 1,808 rooms to IHG's European portfolio.
The guide examines how AI and social media have transformed guest expectations, with direct bookings gaining ground over OTAs as hotels focus on seamless tech-enabled personalization.
Hotels are using AI-driven personalization and behavioral targeting to convert summer website traffic into direct bookings rather than relying on generic seasonal offers.
The event in Mexico City features four AI training sessions covering search optimization, automation, tool selection, and no-code development for hotel teams.
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.
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.
Elite Hotels CMO argues hotels should invest in brand building to drive pricing power and direct bookings instead of cutting marketing spend.
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.
Spanish hotel group achieved 15% higher conversions and 27% revenue per click increase using centralized metasearch campaigns across Google, Kayak, and Tripadvisor.
Bartnick argues modern hotel distribution resembles casual dating rather than committed relationships, with guests constantly comparing options across multiple platforms.
SiteMinder expands Demand Plus and Channels Plus to connect 53,000 hotels with AI platforms like ChatGPT, partnering with DirectBooker as inaugural AI demand partner.
The article provides strategies for hotels to capture the growing bleisure market through website optimization, flexible amenities, and AI-driven personalization.
Tambourine One integrates native personalization directly into hotel websites, eliminating disruptive third-party pop-ups while reducing technology costs.
The guide covers how strategic room classification and attribute-based selling can boost ADR and revenue through targeted pricing, from traditional categories to wellness and pet-friendly rooms.
Minor Hotels partners with Google Cloud, Salesforce, OneTrust and Deloitte to build an AI-powered platform connecting 640+ properties by 2026.