Today's Hotels Pulse
Business Travel to the U.S. Powered by Key International Hubs
A Business Traveller analysis maps the countries and cities that generate the most business travel to the United States, underscoring their impact on hotel demand.
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By the numbers: Airbnb leads $58M Series C in WeRoad
FHS Saudi Arabia Pre-Event Feature: Hospitality Investment Outlook
Saudi Arabia aims to add 358,000 hotel rooms ahead of major events, positioning the Kingdom as a hotspot for hospitality investment. The Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh showcased over 1,100 industry leaders and generated more than $1.6 billion in business opportunities, underscoring the market’s momentum. Executives highlighted mid‑scale and extended‑stay assets as the most attractive segments, while emphasizing asset‑light franchising as the preferred development model. Concerns remain about potential over‑supply and project timelines, prompting investors to seek resilient, technology‑enabled strategies aligned with Vision 2030.
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South Mediterranean Tourism Shows 59% Summer Dependence
A Data Appeal Mabrian report reveals that South Mediterranean destinations average a 59.1% Summer Dependence Rate, with Spain (52.8%) and Portugal (54.5%) showing the lowest reliance on peak‑season traffic. Greece (72.9%) and Croatia (79.1%) remain heavily summer‑dependent, though Greece is...
How Hospitality America Rewired Operations for a Digital Era
Hospitality America has replaced traditional binders with a real‑time operational ecosystem anchored by ProfitSword, giving leaders instant visibility across its Southeast portfolio. By integrating labor‑management tools like Actabl’s ProfitSword and Hotel Effectiveness, the company aligns staffing with demand, cutting several...
New South Wales’ Wine Region Will Welcome Its First Ground-Up Luxury Resort in More than 20 Years
Laval Hunter Valley, a 165‑acre luxury resort, will break ground in Pokolbin and open in late 2027, marking the first new‑build resort in the Hunter Valley in over two decades. The development features 65 pavilion‑style villas, a two‑storey Veraia Spa,...
Travel Reimagined: How AI and Biometrics Are Transforming Tourism in 2026
Artificial intelligence, biometrics and eSIM technology are reshaping travel in 2026, turning smartphones into the primary planning hub and delivering instant, personalized itineraries. AI-driven dynamic pricing and predictive maintenance boost airline and hotel profitability while reducing delays. Biometric checkpoints and...
Summer in the City Gets a Luxe Makeover at Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco
San Francisco’s historic Palace Hotel, part of the Luxury Collection, has launched a summer‑focused program that blends resort‑style amenities with city‑center convenience. Guests can enjoy Freezy Fridays with pool inflatables, Dive‑In Movie nights, and Aperol Spritz happy hours, while a “Summer...
MakeMyTrip Reports Gross Bookings of $10.4 Billion for FY26
MakeMyTrip announced FY 2026 gross bookings of $10.4 billion, a 10.4% constant‑currency increase year‑on‑year and the highest ever for the company. Full‑year revenue rose 10.7% to $1 billion, while adjusted operating profit reached $189 million. All verticals posted double‑digit margin growth, led by bus...
Which 36 Airlines Can You Book with Avios Points?
Head for Points confirms that Avios points can be used to book flights on 36 airlines, expanding the network beyond British Airways to include carriers such as Qatar Airways, Finnair, and Loganair. The latest additions are Philippine Airlines and Xiamen...
Own the Conversation. Own the Guest. Inside AI Hospitality Ingreation.
Agentic Hospitality is launching a ChatGPT‑based app that links hotel property systems directly to AI conversational interfaces, bypassing traditional OTA aggregators. The platform’s TravelOS MCP Server pulls real‑time availability, rates and inventory from the hotel’s CRS and PMS, delivering live,...
Rising Costs Drive U.S. Summer Travel to Six-Year Low, Deloitte Survey Finds
Deloitte’s 2026 Summer Travel Survey finds only 45% of Americans plan a summer vacation with paid lodging, the lowest share in six years, as rising costs deter travel. Those who do travel expect to spend an average of $4,069 on...
CAMO Hospitality Expands Into Sixth U.S. Market As Hotels Move to Reclaim F&B Revenue and Guest Data From Third-Party Platforms
CAMO Hospitality announced its entry into Portland, Oregon, marking its sixth U.S. market as the company now serves more than 60 hotel partners. The platform has posted over 200% year‑over‑year revenue growth and has already facilitated more than $10 million in...
Expedia Is Preparing for a Future Beyond Travel Websites
Expedia Group, a veteran of every major internet shift, now faces AI agents that could bypass traditional travel sites. Founder Rich Barton says AI will separate travel inspiration from transaction, forcing a new business model. After consolidating Orbitz, Travelocity and...
Grief Travel Booms to $4.5 B Market as Wellness Retreats Gain Traction
Travelers worldwide are increasingly booking grief‑focused wellness retreats, lifting the global grief‑travel market to an estimated $4.52 billion by 2029, up from $2.73 billion in 2022. The trend reflects a broader acceptance of mental‑health care and is reshaping the wellness tourism sector.
Fiji Airways Launches FlyWell Onboard Wellness Program
Fiji Airways introduced the FlyWell onboard wellness program, rolling out on June 1 for Business Class passengers on its long‑haul flights to San Francisco and Los Angeles. The initiative, developed with partners such as Firefly Recovery, Ra Optics and Magic Mind, offers wearable...
Baird Center CEO Marty Brooks Faces Possible Dismissal Over Controversial Downtown Hotel Push
Milwaukee’s Wisconsin Center District board is weighing termination of President and CEO Marty Brooks after his push for a 650‑room hotel to support the Baird Center. The move pits Brooks against board members who call the Hunden Partners study a...
All the Ways To Earn Hilton Honors Points via Credit Cards
American Express now offers four Hilton‑branded credit cards, each delivering sizable welcome bonuses ranging from 80,000 to 150,000 Hilton Honors points and tiered earn rates that favor Hilton stays, dining, and everyday purchases. The Hilton Honors Business Card adds $240...
Summer Staffing Is No Longer Seasonal: Why Hoteliers Need a New Playbook for Peak Travel Demand - By Brendan McCoy
Hotel operators are abandoning the traditional seasonal hiring model as year‑round labor shortages and faster‑moving candidates reshape the industry. Newport Hospitality Group reports that candidates now prioritize flexibility, transparent communication, and culture over simple compensation, forcing hotels to plan staffing...
Virgin Atlantic Partners with Kolet to Keep Passengers Connected Abroad
Virgin Atlantic has teamed up with travel eSIM provider Kolet to give passengers instant mobile data access abroad. The deal offers each traveler 1 GB of complimentary data for 48 hours, which can be purchased or activated via the airline’s app, booking...
Starhotels Collezione CEO Eyes New Regions, Resorts for Growth
Starhotels Collezione is launching its first resort, the Hermitage Hotel & Resort Forte dei Marmi, on May 28, featuring 59 rooms on a hectare of private parkland in Tuscany. Under CEO Elisabetta Fabri, the group posted a record €314.8 million (≈$340 million) revenue and €34.3 million (≈$37 million) net profit in 2024....
The Hotel Marketer's Playbook for Website Personalization That Converts - By Paige Lopez
Hotel marketers can lift direct‑booking conversion by personalizing website experiences based on five key visitor signals—timing, party composition, source, behavior/CRM data, and competitive pricing. Formats such as full‑screen layers, smart notes, inliners, and exit messages deliver the right offer at...
Cvent Announces the Top European Meeting Destinations, Hotels and Venues for 2026
Cvent unveiled its 2026 European rankings of top meeting destinations, hotels and UK venues, based on more than $20 billion of sourcing activity in 2025. London, Barcelona and Madrid held the top three spots, while Lisbon and Paris rounded out the...
Invisible Hospitality Is Here
The hotel sector is moving from isolated tech tools to fully integrated, AI‑driven ecosystems that make the guest experience virtually invisible. AI now personalizes room settings, offers, and services in real time while optimizing staffing, demand forecasting, and dynamic pricing....
BOS Launches Remote Terminal
Massport and infrastructure firm Landline have opened the Logan Airport Remote Terminal in Framingham, Massachusetts. The facility lets Delta and JetBlue passengers check in, drop luggage and clear TSA before being shuttled to a secure gate at Logan. By moving...
Nevis Tourism Launches ‘Spring Into Summer’ Travel Deals
Nevis Tourism Authority unveiled the “Spring Into Summer” campaign, offering a suite of hotel promotions to stimulate summer travel to the island. Discounts range from 15‑30% off, free nights, resort credits and meal perks across properties such as Four Seasons...
Thailand Cuts Visa-Free Stay Period for More than 90 Countries Including UK
Thailand announced it will end the 60‑day visa‑free stay for citizens of 93 countries, shifting to a country‑by‑country system that often limits visits to 30 days. The change, driven by security concerns and a confusing exemption matrix, will take effect...
Sacramento Council Eyes $1M Hotel Tax to Fund Natomas Youth Sports
Sacramento Councilmember Lisa Kaplan is pushing a slight hike to the North Natomas hotel tax that could generate $800,000‑$1 million a year. The revenue would fund ten new soccer fields and other youth‑sports amenities, positioning the area as a recession‑proof tourism...
Sapphire and Freedom Cardholders Can Now Earn an Additional 10 Points per Dollar Spent with Paze
Chase has added a limited‑time perk for Sapphire and Freedom cardholders: an extra 10 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar when paying through the Paze checkout service, capped at $1,500 of spend each month. The benefit is automatically available to Sapphire...
Hot Off The Press – May 2026
The May 2026 issue of Hotel Business spotlights Sonesta International Hotels' co‑CEOs Keith Pierce and Jeff Leer as they unveil an aggressive growth roadmap. It also features Meyer Jabara Hotels' AI‑driven efficiency push and Hospitality Hued's initiative to advance Black...
Viking Introduces an Electric Motor Coach for Guest Transportation in Vienna
Viking has launched its first fully electric motor coach in Vienna, seating up to 49 passengers and dedicated exclusively to its cruise guests. The bus joins Viking’s existing shore‑excursion fleet and signals the start of a broader rollout of electric...
How Luxury Hotels Can Package Experiences Which Sell Direct
Luxury travelers now seek stories, experiences, and moments rather than just a room, forcing independent hotels to rethink their direct‑booking strategies. The most effective approach puts curated experiences—wellness retreats, culinary events, local immersion—front and centre, with rooms positioned as a...
U.S. Air Force Selects IHG, Centinel to Run Lodging
The Department of the Air Force has awarded a 50‑year contract to IHG Hotels & Resorts and Centinel Public Partnerships to own, develop, and manage on‑base lodging across U.S. Air Force installations. Centinel will serve as the property owner, developer...
Four Seasons Welcomes First Guests to Red Sea Joint‑Venture Resort on Shura Island
Four Seasons Resort & Residences Red Sea on Shura Island welcomed its inaugural guests on May 20, the first joint‑venture property for the brand in the Red Sea. The opening, announced by Red Sea Global, signals a strategic push into...
Chef Vicky Cheng Opens Estuary, First French Fine‑Dining Restaurant at Galaxy Macau
Chef Vicky Cheng opened Estuary, his inaugural French restaurant, at Galaxy Macau on May 29, 2026. The venue blends French technique with regional seafood, marking a milestone for the resort and the Greater Bay Area’s fine‑dining market.
Spacruzzi Floating Spa Boosts Occupancy and ADR at Georgia Lakefront Luxury Rental
Veronica, owner of Lake Forest Shores on Lake Oconee, reports that adding the Spacruzzi floating spa has made her property significantly busier than rivals, raising occupancy and average daily rate. Founder Alex Kanwetz says the amenity reflects a broader industry...
Atlanta Is Considering Ditching the TSA For a Private Screening Company at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
Atlanta’s City Council approved a 90‑day feasibility study to determine whether Hartsfield‑Jackson International Airport could replace TSA agents with a private security firm under the federal Screening Partnership Program (SPP). The move follows a recent shutdown‑induced staffing shortfall that left...
ORHMA to Host Its Fifth OHC
The Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA) will host its fifth Ontario Hospitality Conference (OHC) on October 19‑20, 2026 at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel & Suites in Richmond Hill. The two‑day event aims to support, develop, and connect hospitality...
Waldorf Astoria Doha Lusail Launches Ultra‑Luxury ‘Serenity Pool’ with L’Occitane Partnership
Waldorf Astoria Lusail Doha has opened the Serenity Pool, an adult‑only, ultra‑luxury oasis designed for high‑net‑worth guests. The pool is branded by French beauty house L’Occitane en Provence and will run a month‑long takeover from May 13 to June 13,...
Multi-Location QSR’s AI Search Invisibility Problem
A new Uberall report finds that 83% of multi‑location quick‑service restaurants (QSRs) are invisible to AI‑driven search answers, even though 86% have a Google presence. AI search selects only a few brands per query, using structured location data, reviews, photos,...
MEL to Invest International Passenger Tax Into Border Processing
Melbourne Airport announced plans to work with the Australian Federal Government to invest the additional tax collected from international travellers into upgrades for border processing facilities and technology. In April 2026, international passenger numbers fell 7.1% year‑on‑year, with seat capacity...
First Look: Fouquet’s Mykonos
The Lucien Barrière Group has opened Fouquet’s Mykonos, marking its first foray into the Greek market. Situated on Paraga Beach, the resort features 61 suites and three private villas designed with Cycladic influences by Kydoniatis Architects and interiors by Divercity...
Oliver Schwartz Leads as GM at Parmelia Hilton Perth
Oliver Schwartz has been appointed General Manager of the Parmelia Hilton Perth, succeeding his role as hotel manager at DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne Flinders Street. He arrives with 17 years of Hilton experience, including senior operational and commercial positions in Beijing and luxury hotels...
Anime Tourism Surges 195% in Asia, Driving $34.9B Media Boom
Trip.com data shows a 195% year‑on‑year increase in searches for anime‑related travel across Asia and a 697% surge in international ticket sales for AnimeJapan 2026. The trend is reshaping tourism, prompting retailers like Japan’s Animate to expand into the Philippines...
Accor+ Explorer Launches in UAE, Adding 60 Hotels and a $249 Premium Membership
Accor announced that its ALL Accor+ Explorer loyalty programme will be available in the United Arab Emirates from 19 May 2026, covering more than 60 hotels in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The rollout introduces a $249 annual fee – about 10% higher than...
MakeMyTrip Ltd (MMYT) Q4 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
MakeMyTrip reported Q4 FY2026 adjusted operating profit of $50.7 million, crossing the $50 million threshold for the first time, and adjusted net profit of $51.4 million with EPS up 33% year‑over‑year. Domestic air market share rose to just over 31% while air ticketing...
Caribbean Tourism Leaders Gather for Marketplace 2026
Last week the Caribbean Travel Marketplace (CTM) convened over 500 delegates from the Caribbean, North America, Europe and Latin America at the American University of Antigua. The event featured a Sandals Grande Antigua forum on investment, air connectivity and sustainability,...
Priority Pass Reveals Its 2026 Excellence Awards
Priority Pass announced the winners of its 2026 Excellence Awards, drawing on more than 700,000 member ratings. Escape Lounges at Portland International Airport (PDX) captured the Global Lounge of the Year honor, praised for its contemporary design and strong regional...
How to Reduce OTA Dependency Using AI: A Guide for Independent Hotels
Independent hotels rely on OTAs for 63.4% of bookings, paying 15‑25% commissions and facing double‑rate cancellations. AI is emerging as a direct‑booking catalyst, with travel assistants already handling 3‑5% of reservations and projected to reach 10‑15% by 2028. By optimizing...
Six Senses Joins UN Initiative to Cut Food Waste in Hotels by 50% by 2030
Six Senses has signed on to the United Nations Environment Programme and UN World Tourism Organization’s Recipe of Change program, committing its 27 properties to help halve global food waste by 2030. The partnership showcases the brand’s long‑standing sustainability practices,...
Minister Bartlett Outlines Jamaica’s Bold Aviation Expansion, $5 Billion Room Investment and CTO Air Connectivity Summit at CHTA 2026
Jamaica’s tourism minister announced a $5 billion hotel‑room expansion, new direct airline routes to Montego Bay and a Caribbean Tourism Organization Air Connectivity Summit slated for February 2027. The island welcomed over one million visitors in Q1 2026, generating roughly $956 million in...
World of Hyatt Raises Award Costs up to 67%
Book Now: World Of Hyatt Updates Award Chart, Costs Increase By Up To 67% https://t.co/KyzoFMGisW