Score Big During FIFA World Cup 2026: How Hotels Can Maximise Revenue with Mobile Ordering
Hotels in North America are gearing up for the FIFA World Cup 2026, expecting a surge in demand that could lift average daily rates by 20‑45% in key markets. IRIS is promoting mobile ordering and digital guest directories as tools to capture extra food‑and‑beverage revenue while easing operational strain. The technology lets guests order from smartphones, streamlines POS integration, and enables service in pop‑up venues without added staff. Smart upsells and real‑time menu controls further boost average order values during peak match periods.
Microsoft Agrees to Lease 700MW at Crusoe's Data Center in Abilene, Texas - Report
Microsoft has signed a lease for roughly 700 MW of data‑center capacity at Crusoe’s Abilene, Texas campus. The deal follows Oracle and OpenAI’s decision to scale back their planned 2 GW expansion at the site to 1.2 GW. With two buildings already operating,...
How Smart Buildings Improve Safety and Lift up Staff
Campus facilities teams are grappling with aging buildings and tighter staffing, prompting a shift toward smart building technology. By embedding IoT sensors and AI analytics, institutions gain real‑time visibility into HVAC, lighting, water and security systems. This data enables condition‑based...
Biophilic Acoustic Solutions for High-Ceiling Buildings: What Owners and FMs Should Know
High‑ceiling spaces suffer from echo and reverberation, prompting architects to turn to biophilic design for acoustic relief. Living walls, moss panels, and porous natural materials diffuse and absorb sound while boosting indoor air quality. Combining these green solutions with conventional...
Britain Responds to Iran War Energy Shock by Requiring Solar Panels and Heat Pumps in All New Homes
The UK government announced that, starting in 2028, every new home in England must be built with on‑site solar panels and low‑carbon heat pumps under the Future Homes Standard. The move is framed as a direct response to the energy...
Developer Krambu Looks to Build AI Data Center in Missoula County, Montana
Krambu is seeking approval to build an AI‑focused data center on the former Bonner Mill Industrial Park in Missoula County, Montana. The design features a closed‑loop heat‑capture system that can power aquaponics, hydroponics or greenhouse operations, and it plans to...
Fragmented Contract Management Fuels ‘Project Gremlins’ Risk
A recent Sypro poll of tier‑one contractors, consultants and owners reveals that only 19% of construction contracts are managed through a fully digital system, while 52% use a hybrid of digital tools and manual processes and 15% rely mainly on...
Actabl Launches Integration Connecting ProfitSword Budgets with Hotel Effectiveness to Streamline Hotel Portfolio Labor Planning
Actabl announced an integration that links ProfitSword labor budgets directly to Hotel Effectiveness labor‑planning tools, allowing financial targets to flow automatically into operational schedules. The connection eliminates the manual reconciliation that typically separates finance and operations, cutting hours of work...
The Most Innovative Architecture Companies of 2026
Fast Company’s 2026 Most Innovative Architecture Companies list showcases firms that blend design excellence with climate action, technology, and social impact. HKS earned top honors for Astra Tower, a 41‑story skyscraper in Salt Lake City that filters incoming air and...
PVT-Driven Tower Heat Pump for Building Retrofits
Chinese researchers demonstrated that coupling an energy‑tower heat pump with either an evaporator‑side boiler or a solar‑thermal system dramatically improves winter heating efficiency in commercial retrofits. The two configurations achieved the highest coefficients of performance—1.904 and 1.891—far surpassing the 1.595...
How Automation Is Changing Residential Construction and Outdoor Living Spaces
Automation is reshaping residential construction and outdoor‑living projects by integrating digital design tools, CNC cutting machines, and robotics. Homebuilders now use 3‑D modeling and automated fabrication to cut waste, speed timelines, and boost structural precision. Project‑management platforms and drones improve...
When Safety Tech Fails Underground: How to Improve Connectivity in Parking Garages
Facilities managers report frequent loss of cellular and Wi‑Fi signals in underground parking garages, jeopardizing emergency calls and security systems. The article explains why concrete and steel structures block radio frequencies and debunks myths that Wi‑Fi can replace cellular coverage....
Prism’s Motel 6 Bet: Ritesh Agarwal’s IPO Setup and the Budget Hotel Comeback
Prism, the rebranded OYO, has acquired Motel 6 to spearhead a technology‑driven overhaul of budget hotels. The company is concentrating on economy and extended‑stay segments in both India and the United States, launching the Studio 6 brand for U.S. properties. CEO Ritesh Agarwal is...
Learn Successful Building Enclosure Retrofit Strategies Used by This Year’s IIBEC Consulting Award Winners
The International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC) presented its third‑year Excellence in Building Enclosure Consulting (EBEC) Awards at the 2026 conference in Sacramento, honoring four projects across roofing, waterproofing, exterior walls, and overall enclosure. Winners showcased roof‑recovery strategies that...
Use of Smart Data in Homebuying “Could Generate £14bn for UK”
The UK Department for Business and Trade estimates that applying smart‑data to home‑buying could generate roughly $17.5 bn over 15 years, making property the sector with the highest net social value and GDP impact among five use cases studied. An authorised...
New York City’s Data Center Opportunity May Lie on the ‘Edge’: Panel
A New York Build 2026 panel warned that the city’s aging electrical grid and strict environmental regulations could block traditional hyperscale data‑center projects, even as AI‑driven demand surges nationwide. Panelists argued the realistic path forward lies in smaller, edge‑focused facilities and vertical designs...
18 Best Facilities Management Software Features in 2026
Facilities management software buyers are moving beyond basic feature lists, evaluating platforms on usability, analytics, integration, and vendor partnership. IDC’s SaaS Path Survey gathered feedback from roughly 2,900 organizations, rating vendors across 18 satisfaction metrics that span product capabilities, vendor...
Lake.com Introduces Tiered Membership Model to Expand Distribution and Revenue Control for Vacation Rental Hosts
Lake.com unveiled two subscription‑based membership tiers—Premium and Portfolio—offering zero‑commission bookings, direct‑booking tools, and enhanced marketing visibility. Hosts can still use the standard 10% commission model, but the new annual plans cost $499 and $3,999 respectively, eliminating fees and adding featured...
Fortifying Campus Infrastructure: Why Reliable In-Building Communications Is Now a Facility Priority
Universities are recognizing in‑building wireless systems as a critical facility priority to eliminate communication dead zones that jeopardize safety and daily operations. Facility managers now oversee Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) that boost both public‑safety radio and cellular signals across diverse...
Land Search Company Prophetic Expands Its Technology
Prophetic, an AI‑native land acquisition platform, has launched SearchAI Intentions, a new capability that lets developers search for parcels based on their intended use rather than interpreting zoning codes. The feature expands the platform’s repertoire to over 120 development types,...
Microsoft Looks to Buy 57.8 Additional Acres in Gaines Township, Michigan
Microsoft plans to acquire an additional 57.8 acres north of its existing 356‑acre campus in Gaines Township, Michigan, to expand a planned hyperscale data center. The parcel, part of a former Steelcase wood‑plant, awaits rezoning approval, with the purchase to...
Propertymark Invites Members to Join Agent Advisory Board
Propertymark, together with REACH UK, is launching an Agent Advisory Board for member agents, with its inaugural session on 13 May 2026 in Westminster. The board serves as a working forum where agents gain early access to the 2026 REACH UK cohort...
Sawdust May Be Put to Use in Flame-Stopping Building Panels
Scientists at ETH Zurich and partner institutions have created fire‑resistant building panels by binding spruce sawdust with struvite crystals, using a watermelon‑seed enzyme to control mineral growth. The resulting slabs are stronger in compression than raw spruce timber and match...
National Partnership to Provide Technical Assistance for School HVAC Upgrades to Boost Health, Resilience
Three leading nonprofits—Center for Green Schools, National Center on School Infrastructure, and New Buildings Institute—have launched the HVAC Change Lab to accelerate heating, ventilation, and air‑conditioning upgrades in U.S. schools. The initiative will pilot a coordinated technical‑assistance network for 12‑15...
Hotel Front Desk Software: Key Features, Benefits, and 12 Systems to Consider
Hotel front‑desk software is shifting from manual, siloed tools to cloud‑based platforms that integrate reservations, payments, housekeeping, and guest messaging through open APIs. The article outlines the core functions of a modern property management system, highlights seven tangible benefits such...
Battery Energy Storage Systems Are Transforming Facility Resilience
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are evolving from idle backup assets into active tools that cut electricity costs and boost facility resilience. By charging during low‑price periods and discharging at peak demand, BESS enables daily peak‑shaving and supports microgrid configurations...
A New Modular Wall System From CO Adaptive Seeks to Make Passive House Retrofits Faster, Cheaper, and More Accessible
CO Adaptive unveiled “The Block,” a modular wall system built from salvaged lumber to deliver Passive‑House‑level performance. The prefabricated, interior‑mounted panels create an airtight thermal envelope without altering historic façades, cutting retrofit time and expense. A prototype installed on Governors...
Former Newspaper Building in Kansas City Eyed for 20-Story Data Center Development
Revitalization Unlimited, a Miami‑based historic‑preservation fund, plans to replace the 1900‑era Western Newspaper Union building in Kansas City with a 20‑story, 30 MW data center. The 142,085 sq ft tower would feature natural‑gas fuel cells and ground‑floor retail, demolishing the existing 29,990 sq ft structure....
Reserv by Tambourine Unveils Reserv Encore Multi-Property to Revolutionize Hotel Portfolio Bookings
Tambourine launched Reserv Encore Multi-Property, a new booking engine that lets guests compare and reserve rooms across multiple hotels on a single page. The tool targets hotel clusters, mega‑resorts and collections, offering a unified link, advanced filters and conversion‑focused messaging....
Could an EV Charger Be the Key to Increasing Your Bookings?
Hospitality operators are increasingly adding electric‑vehicle (EV) charging stations as a differentiating amenity, mirroring the evolution of Wi‑Fi and complimentary breakfast. Recent surveys show that EV‑ready hotels attract more bookings, especially from the growing segment of eco‑conscious travelers. Property owners...
Looking Ahead: KNX Board Outlines Vision for Smarter Buildings
At its recent General Assembly, the KNX Association elected a 17‑member board and unveiled a strategic roadmap centered on IoT, AI‑driven energy management, and Cyber Resilience Act compliance. Board members highlighted simplifying the ETS commissioning tool, expanding open‑standard interoperability, and...
Would You Trust It? AI Tool to Assist Landlord Compliance
Rent Fix Legals has launched RentFix.ai, an AI‑driven legal platform designed to help UK landlords comply with the upcoming Renters’ Rights Act. Powered by Anthropic’s Claude model and trained on more than 100,000 UK legal documents, the tool claims 99.7%...
Mydeposits and Reposit Join Forces
mydeposits has partnered with Reposit to let letting agents manage both traditional tenancy deposits and Reposit’s fee‑based alternative on a single platform. The integration combines mydeposits’ government‑authorised protection scheme with Reposit’s model where tenants pay a one‑week‑rent fee and landlords...
AvidXchange Expands AppFolio Partnership with Embedded AP Automation Solution for Property Management
AvidXchange has launched an embedded accounts‑payable‑as‑a‑service (APaaS) solution for the AppFolio Property Manager platform, now listed in the AppFolio Stack Marketplace. The integration lets property‑management teams initiate and approve supplier payments directly within AppFolio, eliminating the need for separate finance...
The Real Cost of Space: What Your Facilities Data Isn’t Telling Your Leadership Team
Many companies believe they understand facility costs, but data gaps mask true space inefficiencies. JLL research shows executives estimate 65‑70% utilization while actual office use is only 30‑40%, creating hidden financial losses. An Integrated Workplace Management System (IWMS) consolidates utilization,...
As NYC Energy Code Enforcement Begins, Operators Face Decision on Pathway
New York City’s 2025 Energy Conservation Code enforcement begins March 30, making compliance mandatory for new construction and major renovations before a certificate of occupancy is issued. The code introduces stricter air‑tightness limits, mandatory duct‑leak testing, backup electric heating, and demand‑response...
Real Estate’s AI Challenge Isn’t Technology—It’s Communication
Columbia University has launched an Artificial Intelligence in Real Estate course aimed at creating professionals who can translate between real‑estate expertise and AI technology. The article argues that the primary barrier to AI adoption in commercial real estate is a...
On-Site with ICON: A Closer Look at 3D-Printed Homes
ICON, a 3D‑printing construction firm, is completing a 12‑home neighborhood in Austin’s Mueller district in partnership with large builder Lennar. The gantry‑style printer extrudes a proprietary on‑site concrete mix, allowing simultaneous installation of structural ties, openings, and reinforcement while the...
Government Mandates and Smart Infrastructure Planning Are Driving Growth of BIM Software Market
The building information modeling (BIM) software market is projected to grow from $7.1 billion in 2024 to $16.5 billion by 2033, reflecting a 10 percent CAGR. Government mandates for BIM‑enabled workflows and the surge in smart‑infrastructure projects are the primary growth engines. Architecture,...
Palantir and Moder Partner to Transform Mortgage Industry
Palantir Technologies and Moder announced a strategic partnership to co‑develop an AI‑powered mortgage operations platform, with Freedom Mortgage as the first pilot customer. The solution uses Palantir’s Ontology to translate regulatory guidelines into configurable, testable, auditable rules that integrate with...
Promise of AI-Driven Efficiencies Draws Investors to Hotels, C&W Reports
European hotel investors remain bullish for 2026, driven by AI‑enabled cost efficiencies, according to Cushman & Wakefield. 58% plan to allocate more capital than in 2025, and 54% intend to be net buyers, while only 7% expect to sell. AI is...
Balcony Solar Bill Gains Momentum in Illinois
Illinois’ Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee approved a plug‑in solar bill that would let homeowners install up to 1,200‑watt “balcony solar” systems without interconnection agreements or fees. The legislation also bans HOA or landlord restrictions on units of 391 watts...
Zoopla Updates Boost Housebuilder Leads
Zoopla reported a 21% year‑on‑year increase in new‑home searches, driving a 53% jump in leads delivered to housebuilders in 2025. The platform introduced map‑view listings and enhanced contact capture on virtual tours, making new‑build developments more discoverable. Search activity for...
First UK Region to Pilot New Model for Delivering Homes at Scale
Liverpool has been chosen as the first pilot site for the £85 million Industrialising and Digitalising Construction Challenge, a national programme aimed at boosting construction productivity. The initiative will test standardised components, digital coordination and manufacturing‑led processes on two social‑housing projects,...
Top-Down Construction, Mass Timber, and Nanotechnology Reshape Building
At a ULI Austin breakfast, industry leaders highlighted four emerging building methods—top‑down construction, mass‑timber framing, nanotechnology‑enhanced concrete, and modular prefab. Top‑down builds the roof and floors close to ground before lifting the stack, improving safety and eliminating interior columns. Mass...
Mamdani Launches Program for Homeowners to Plan and Finance ADUs
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the Plus One ADU program to simplify creation of accessory dwelling units in New York City. The initiative provides an ADU guidebook, an online application portal, and a library of pre‑approved plans managed by the Department...
Telehouse Parent KDDI Acquires Office Site in London's Docklands Zoned for Data Center Expansion - Report
KDDI, the Japanese telecom group behind Telehouse, has agreed to buy the Republic campus in Tower Hamlets for roughly £250 million. The 483,000‑sq‑ft office site carries planning consent for a 376,000‑sq‑ft, 30 MW multi‑story data centre, directly adjacent to Telehouse’s existing Docklands...
Invisible Infrastructure: Why Your Building’s Digital Experience Is Key to Ensuring Occupier Trust
The office market is moving beyond flashy amenities toward seamless, invisible digital infrastructure that underpins tenant trust. Multi‑tenant buildings face a "paradox" where legacy, siloed systems create friction at entry, connectivity, and booking points. Operators who replace fragmented tech with...
What Happens when You Use ChatGPT to Sell Your Home?
A South Florida homeowner, Robert Levine, sold his house using ChatGPT for marketing copy, pricing guidance, and document drafting, claiming cost savings. Real‑estate brokers and loan officers cautioned that AI cannot replace the nuanced negotiation and emotional intelligence of licensed...