Guest Experience Benchmark Report Q2 2026 Overview
Global GRI hit a record 87.3% in Q2 2026, with 3-star hotels improving fastest, Asia leading regionally, and review response speed emerging as a core reputation driver.
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What Horst Schulze Understood About Excellence That Every Hotel Investing in AI Needs to Hear
Drawing on Horst Schulze's service philosophy at Ritz-Carlton and Capella, the piece argues hotels abandon AI too early by measuring the wrong outcomes on the wrong timeline.
By Are Morch, Digital Transformation Coach for Hotels, Are Morch, Digital Transformation Coach
Why a Hotel Market Analysis Is the Heart of Every Hotel Appraisal: A Repeatable, Step-by-Step Method for Doing One Right
The article argues that segment-level competitive indices, not penetration rates, are the correct method for allocating hotel demand in appraisals, and presents a full replicable protocol for doing so.
By Stephen Rushmore, Hotel Valuation Expert and Founder of HVS, Hotel Valuation Software
U.S. Remains World's Largest Travel & Tourism Market But WTTC Warns That the Country is at a Crossroads
WTTC research shows U.S. tourism GDP grew only 0.9% in 2025 while Asia Pacific led globally at 8.2%, with international visitor spending declining 4.6%.
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
EEA Partners with Con-ServeTM ESG data intelligence platform
The partnership will enable hospitality businesses to access ISO-compliant sustainability data and industry benchmarking for ESG compliance.
Choosing the Right Brand: When To Partner and When To Go Independent
The guide examines franchise costs versus performance benefits, using a Tucson case study where dropping a weak brand and going independent improved performance from 75% to 100% fair share.
By Bob Rauch, President of RAR Hospitality, R.A. Rauch & Associates, Inc.