Sales & Marketing
Business Travel’s Future Takes Center Stage at GBTA Convention 2025 With Powerful Insights, Strategic Learnings and Meaningful Connections
Against the backdrop of an evolving global landscape and economy, the Global Business Travel Association's 2025 Convention convened 5,375 business travel professionals from 52 countries in Denver for three transformative days of innovation, insight, and industry-defining dialogue. As the world’s largest gathering of the global business travel community, the event showcased the sector’s strategic importance and a collective vision for managing growth, navigating uncertainty, and optimizing technologies.
Hall‑of‑Fame Speaker Named as Friday Keynote for 2026 NEWH Leadership Conference
NEWH, Inc. (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality), the premier organization dedicated to scholarships, education, mentorship, and networking in the hospitality industry, has named Victoria Labalme, internationally renowned speaker, performing artist, and communication strategist, as keynote speaker of its biennial NEWH Leadership Conference, March 26-28, 2026 at the Westin Washington, D.C. Downtown.
From AI to the Open Road: MMGY’s Summer Survey Captures How Americans Are Traveling Amid Global Headwinds
New research from MMGY reveals that American travelers remain deeply committed to leisure travel, even as economic headwinds and global uncertainty shape their choices. According to the 2025 “Summer Edition” of Portrait of American Travelers®, U.S. travelers are increasingly hitting the road, turning to artificial intelligence for planning support and embracing evolving definitions of luxury, lifestyle and wellness.
How AutoCamp grew loyalty and revenue by focusing on direct bookings
AutoCamp is redefining outdoor hospitality with design-forward accommodations in iconic natural destinations across the U.S. With eight locations — from Yosemite and Zion to the Catskills and Asheville — AutoCamp blends the adventure of camping with the comfort and style of a boutique hotel. In addition to signature Airstreams and modern cabins, the brand has expanded access to the outdoors through a sister brand, Field Station, an indoor hotel-meets-basecamp concept for van lifers and road trippers. Over the past decade, AutoCamp has welcomed tens of thousands of guests and earned praise from Oprah Magazine, Vogue, Bloomberg, Food & Wine, and more.
The Luxury Collection and Michael McGregor Channel the Essence of Three Cities in an Artful New Limited-Edition Collaboration
The Luxury Collection, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, today announces a partnership with Michael McGregor, the Los Angeles-based artist celebrated for his striking and vibrant depictions of everyday life. In his first collaboration with a global hotel brand, McGregor has partnered with The Luxury Collection to create a bespoke series of original drawings that celebrate the local charm and culture of three of the portfolio’s most esteemed North American properties: Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco; Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Minneapolis; and Perry Lane Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Savannah. This exclusive collaboration reinforces the brand’s commitment to providing guests with immersive experiences that capture the soul and cultural vibrancy of each destination, seen through the unique lens of global creatives.
Record 72.2 Million Americans Expected to Travel Domestically July 4th Week
AAA projects 72.2 million people will travel at least 50 miles or more from home over the Independence Day holiday period from Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6. This year’s domestic travel forecast is an increase of 1.7 million travelers compared to last year and 7 million more than in 2019. AAA’s Independence Day forecast includes two weekends instead of one to better reflect the flow of holiday travelers.
IPW 2025 Delivers Clear Message: U.S. Must Be Ready to Welcome the World
U.S. Travel Association concluded IPW 2025 in Chicago last week, wrapping up a powerful conference that drew more than 5,000 delegates from 64 countries and generated momentum for the next three years of international inbound travel to the United States.
Hospitality Professionals Invited to Hotel General Managers Panel
HSMAI Washington DC Chapter today invited Washington metropolitan area hospitality professionals to register for its Hotel General Managers Panel, to be held June 26 at The Westin DC Downtown.
Comfort Inn & Suites Orlando North Completes Major Renovation, Delivering a Fresh Experience for Today’s Traveler
Newport Hospitality Group is proud to announce the completion of a full-scale renovation at the Comfort Inn & Suites Orlando North in Sanford, Florida. Managed by Newport and owned by André Hickman, President of I-4 Properties, Inc., the project brings meaningful upgrades that reflect the evolving needs of today’s business and leisure travelers.
Sonesta International Hotels Corporation Partners with Thynk to Support its Global Sales Organization
Thynk, the leading Hospitality Commercial Platform powered by Salesforce®, today announced that Sonesta International Hotels Corporation, one of the fastest-growing hotel companies globally, with over 100,000 guest rooms across nine countries, has selected Thynk to modernize and elevate its Global Sales Organization (GSO). By leveraging Thynk’s cutting-edge sales automation solutions, Sonesta will empower Global Sales Professionals to deliver enhanced performance, personalized customer interactions, and more efficient operations.
Shade Hotels Debuts Vibrant Rebrand and Renovations Across Its Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach Properties
Shade Hotels, the beloved coastal duo from South Bay hotelier Michael Zislis, is unveiling a new era for its Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach locations. The full-scale refresh across both properties includes vibrant new guest room designs, revamped restaurant menus, playful rooftop programming, and a stylish new identity reflecting the brand’s distinctly breezy, SoCal spirit. With the relaunch comes a new name for each hotel: Shade at the Beach (Manhattan Beach) and Shade at the Marina (Redondo Beach). The redesigns elevate the signature Shade experience while staying rooted in the laid-back luxury that’s made the brand a South Bay favorite for nearly two decades.
Re-Imagining Hospitality: Hilton Anaheim's Approach to Modern Hotel Marketing
In today’s competitive hospitality landscape, effective marketing is essential for positioning a hotel as a premier destination. At Hilton Anaheim, one of Southern California’s largest and most iconic properties, we embraced a strategic approach that blends digital innovation, personalized guest engagement, and community-driven partnerships to stand out in the market.
What Hotels Could Learn from Monks
Somewhere along I-94, just less than two hours northwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul, amid Minnesota’s rolling farmlands, spread across twenty-six acres of land adjacent to Lake Sagatagan, sits St. John’s Abbey.
Hunting and Gathering: A New Mindset for Hotel Sales Amid Industry Uncertainty
The hotel industry is navigating through a storm of uncertainty. Travel demand, both domestic and international, is showing worrying signs of decline due to economic uncertainties, shifting tariffs, and operational disruptions from aging airport infrastructure. The knock-on effects are clear—government and mid-sized businesses are cutting back on meetings, consumers are delaying vacations, and international visitation is expected to drop significantly this summer.
Lighting the Path
Leadership isn’t something you find in a textbook—it’s forged through shared experiences, honest conversations, and the quiet understanding that we are all in this together. At Newport Hospitality Group, we believe deeply in this truth. And nowhere was that more evident than at our recent Leadership Retreat in Wintergreen, Virginia.
Marketing's Evolution: The Revenue-Generating Power of Community in the Connection Economy
Why industry leaders are moving from the traditional marketing playbook in the new community era.
Remington Hospitality Honors Excellence in Management
Remington Hospitality, a visionary leader in hotel management, recently honored its leadership teams, general managers, and directors of sales at the annual Thrive Leadership Conference, held March 11-14 at the Houston Marriott Sugar Land. This highly anticipated event brings together top talent to celebrate team achievements, reflecting Remington Hospitality’s steadfast commitment to fostering an environment where passionate professionals thrive.
Calling All ‘Tattourists’: Kimpton Teams Up with Tiny Zaps for Exclusive Tattoo Pop-Up Series
ATLANTA – Kimpton, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts' Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio, announces a new partnership with Tiny Zaps, an emerging and innovative tattoo studio specializing in tiny tattoos, to bring the rising trend of “tattourism” – celebrating and commemorating travel with meaningful tattoos – directly to guests at select Kimpton hotels.