Aimbridge takes over management of the 456-key Westin Cincinnati and is named future operator of the 700-key Cincinnati Downtown Marriott, a $828M Convention District development set to open after its July 2026 groundbreaking.
Concord Hospitality adds 12+ hotels and restaurants to its management portfolio, including properties in Washington D.C., New Jersey, and North Carolina under Hilton, Marriott, and independent flags.
Today, The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón officially unveils its fully reimagined resort, inviting guests and the local community to experience the next chapter of this iconic retreat. Spearheaded by Parker Torres Design, the multi-million-dollar transformation debuts a refreshed lobby, residential-style accommodations, an elevated Club Lounge, Swaying Palm event space, and three new culinary concepts: Palmera, Fenrose, and Café Fenrose. The redesign refines a lush resort rooted in classic leisure and recreation, serving as the inland counterpart to its beachfront sister property.
Ask Alibaba, Not Google.200 million. That's how many AI-native orders ran through Alibaba's Qwen app during Spring Festival alone. Fliggy's AI-driven bookings jumped 800% year-over-year in that same window, with attraction-ticket conversion now matching OTAs that have run for two decades.
Google's agentic booking will flourish if its conversational AI collapses hours of travel research into simple, secure Google Pay transactions backed by major hotel and OTA partners. However, it will fizzle if consumer anxiety over high-cost bookings prevents users from trusting an AI agent without traditional visual validation, or if strict global regulations like the EU's DMA permanently limit its market footprint.
I believe “this time is different.” Both “Book on Google” and agentic booking are not MoR and instead route bookings to the end service providers (OTA or direct). So clearly, the question is why would travelers be comfortable “submitting” bookings directly to AI, but not BoG?With BoG, Google tried to close the loop and become a semi-transactional layer.
GBTA Foundation named 50 honorees across five categories for the 2026 WINiT program, representing 36 companies, 16 countries, with recognition at the GBTA WINiT Summit in Dallas on Oct. 27.
Red Roof's annual brand conference outlined upgrades to Red Roof PLUS+, a revamped RediRewards loyalty program, AI-powered digital platform, LED lighting rollout, and expansion into Canada and the western US.
AAHOA successfully lobbied California Governor Newsom to veto AB 2721, a bill that would have required hotels to publicly disclose when federal immigration agencies had reservations at their properties.
FIU's Chaplin School of Hospitality Tourism Management launches the FIU Cruise Excellence Center, backed by a CEO-level advisory board, to drive cruise industry research, talent pipelines, and executive education from Miami.
Hotel Indigo Raleigh, part of the IHG Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio, is now open and accepting reservations, marking the revitalization of one of downtown Raleigh’s most recognizable landmarks following a $36 million renovation. Located in the distinctive round tower on Hillsborough Street, the 204-room boutique hotel introduces a fresh hospitality experience deeply ingrained in the local neighborhood, with mid-century-modern design, locally inspired details, and sweeping views of the city skyline.
SCP, a 10-property wellness-focused boutique hotel brand, has launched a Regulation CF public investment campaign targeting $300M in equity to grow beyond 2,000 rooms.
Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE: HGV), the premier vacation ownership and experiences company, today opened Ka Haku, a Hilton Club. Located in the heart of Waikiki, Ka Haku is the company’s 14th resort in the state and the first Hilton Club-branded property in Hawaii, a distinction reserved for a boutique, highly curated ownership experience. The property offers 205 studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom suites with ocean, mountain and city views, along with an arrival and departure lounge, a state-of-the-art fitness center, pool and bar.
Recap of the Destination AI Summit in Washington D.C., where hoteliers, owners, and tech leaders discussed AI's role in automating back-office functions, redefining hotel jobs, and reshaping booking distribution.
AAHOA's 5th HerOwnership Conference in Nashville gathered women hotel owners for sessions on operations, financing, AI, and portfolio growth, with keynote from South Asian Trailblazers founder Simi Shah.
Choice Hotels CHRO Patrick Cimerola will retire at end of 2026 after 25 years; a successor search is underway and he will serve as special advisor during the transition.
U.S. hotel performance for the week of 20-26 September 2026 showed RevPAR up 14.2% year over year, boosted by a favorable Rosh Hashanah calendar shift.
AHLA welcomes Keith Sonderling as U.S. Secretary of Labor, citing shared priorities including H-2B visa reform and joint-employer standards affecting hotel franchisees and small business owners.
Today, Hilton (NYSE: HLT) announced the opening of Hale Hōkūala Kauaʻi, Curio Collection by Hilton, a 210-room lifestyle resort. Marking Curio Collection by Hilton’s debut in Hawaiʻi, the property brings the brand’s focus on individually remarkable hotels and memorable stays to one of the world’s most sought-after island destinations. Overlooking Nāwiliwili Bay and neighboring Kalapakī Beach, Hale Hōkūala introduces travelers to the island through contemporary design, destination-driven dining, cultural programming and outdoor recreation.
MMGY's 2026 Portrait of American Travelers Fall Edition finds expected leisure spending rose to $5,655 with widening generational gaps: Boomers plan to spend 4x more than Gen Z travelers.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a global luxury brand part of Accor, has today announced reservations from November 2nd are now live, ahead of its much-anticipated opening. As Fairmont’s newest property, Fairmont New Orleans will be the brand’s 19th property in the USA. Located in New Orleans’ Central Business District, just steps from the French Quarter and Ceasars Superdome, the hotel’s opening marks the much-anticipated grand return of the iconic luxury brand to the Crescent City following two decades.
Over the years, I’ve seen that the most successful technology partnerships rarely start with technology. They start with a clear understanding that change is needed and a shared vision for where the organization wants to go. The hotel groups that get the greatest value from technology are usually those that are willing to challenge the status quo and bring the right people together to make informed decisions.Equally important is leadership.
This resonates deeply after decades in hospitality technology. The strongest outcomes come from genuine partnerships—not merely contracts.As a P&L owner, I’ve seen that distinction from both sides. Some clients generate meaningful revenue but create a disproportionate drain on resources or dominate a roadmap in ways that do not serve the broader customer community.
In my experience running a boutique technology firm, choosing the right client matters as much as the client choosing the right vendor. Our scarcest resource is not scale. It is attention.The clients we go the extra mile for are clear about the problem they are solving, give us the real decision-makers, decide with discipline, and treat the relationship as a partnership rather than a transaction.