Instinct’s App Is Fueled by Travel — Founder Says It’s Half of Volume
Instinct got travel's attention by handling bookings via text message. Now the real question is whether it can turn that volume into revenue — and travel may be the test case.
MSC Breaks Ground on Sandy Cay Private Island in The Bahamas
MSC held a groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 28 for Sandy Cay, its new private island destination in The Bahamas adjacent to Ocean Cay, with construction and site work already well underway ahead of a scheduled 2028 op…
Airbnb CEO on Hotels, Cars, and Flights: ‘I Had to Get Over My Ideology’
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky didn't address at length his changing views about Airbnb experiences, but there, too, he's softened his old religion about them having to be unique, and has added mainstream tours and activities.
CoStar Reports Positive U.S. Hotel Industry Performance Results in August
ARLINGTON, Virginia—U.S. hotel performance showed positive year-over-year comparisons, albeit at a slower pace than the prior month, according to August 2026 data from CoStar.
HOTREC Takes Stock of Booking.com Changes Following DMA Regulatory Dialogue
HOTREC has reviewed Booking.com's announced changes to its business model in response to the EU Digital Markets Act, highlighting ongoing concerns among European hotel associations regarding parity clauses and commiss…
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Names Jackson Weech Director General
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism has appointed Jackson Alexander Weech as director general, effective Oct. 1, 2026.
American Cruise Lines Celebrates 3rd New Ship This Year
American Cruise Lines has christened the American Ranger on the Hudson River, welcoming the third new ship the company launched this year and the fourth Patriot Class ship. The christening celebration took place on Se…
Monitor Your Blind Spots: Is AI Getting Your Hotel Right? – By Rick Posey
Rick Posey examines the risks hotels face when relying on artificial intelligence for operational decisions, emphasizing the need to regularly monitor and validate AI outputs to avoid costly errors and misaligned stra…
Adora Launches Family Cabins on Flora City
Adora Cruises has announced that it will introduce family themed cabins aboard the Adora Flora City, which is scheduled for delivery on November 6. Bookings for the cruise are now open.
Winners of the Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism Awards 2026 Revealed
The 2026 Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism Awards have announced their winners, spotlighting destinations that demonstrate effective practices in combining cultural heritage preservation with sustainable tou…
AI Leaders Call for Global Safeguards as Governments Confront Technology’s Risks
Leaders of some of the world's largest artificial intelligence companies are asking governments to establish common safeguards for increasingly powerful AI systems, opening a debate that could eventually influence how…
Hurtigruten Hosts VIP Partner Summit at Sea
Hurtigruten hosted its Global VIP Partner Summit at Sea, an exclusive sailing between Bergen and Oslo onboard the Trollfjord for members of the press and travel agents September 22-25. Showcasing a short version of on…
Chicago and New York Marathon Weekends Inspire Global Travel
Domestic runners drive demand for both Chicago and New York marathons, and global travelers are boosted from India, Europe and Brazil
AI Hospitality Alliance and HEDNA Launch AI Use Case Catalogue
The AI Hospitality Alliance, in partnership with HEDNA, announced the launch of the Hospitality AI Use Case Catalogue, a comprehensive, crowdsourced initiative to map how artificial intelligence is being used across h…
Tivoli LA VIE Muscat Hotel & Residences Opens in Oman
Tivoli LA VIE Muscat Hotel & Residences has opened in Madinat Al Irfan, with 79 guest rooms and suites, dining venues, an Anantara Spa, meeting space and access to the LA VIE Country Club golf course.
Zabada Abouelhana to Lead Colliers Hospitality Valuation Group
Zabada Abouelhana to lead the Valuation Hospitality Practice Group across Arizona and the Mountain States
Taking the first steps toward personalisation in your hotel
A practical guide covering how hotels can implement personalisation across the full guest journey, from anonymous website visits to post-stay follow-up, using data, AI, and staff-led touchpoints.
Zaandam Wraps Alaska Season With Great Bear Rainforest Cruise
The Zaandam is currently sailing Holland America Line’s “Great Bear Rainforest and Alaska Explorer” cruise. Sailing roundtrip from Vancouver, the 18-night voyage calls at 11 destinations in Alaska and Canada.
When Check In Disappears, What Is Front Office For? – By Sanjay Mohandas
Sanjay Mohandas writes that as traditional check-in procedures are increasingly replaced by digital solutions, hotels are reassessing the function of the front office, with implications for staffing models, guest enga…
G6 Hospitality Announces Plans for New Studio 6 Plus Hotel in Horn Lake, Mississippi
DALLAS, Texas—G6 Hospitality, parent company of the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands, announced the continued expansion of Studio 6 Plus with a new-construction hotel planned for Horn Lake, Mississippi, a suburb of Memph…
Hospitality Financial Leadership – Serving Lunch – By David Lund
For his Hospitality Financial Leadership series, David Lund reflects on how an early job as a hotel busboy—and the frustration that came with it—helped shape his career ambitions and his approach to leadership.
ABTA and UKinbound Bring Travel Industry Together with Tourism Minister at Labour Party Conference
Joint reception highlights the economic contribution of international travel and the role of inbound and outbound sectors in supporting jobs and growth across the UK
Hive House Hotel in Cary, NC Joins Unscripted by Hyatt Portfolio
The Hive House Hotel in Cary, North Carolina, has joined the Unscripted by Hyatt portfolio, reflecting Hyatt's ongoing efforts to grow its soft brand presence by affiliating with distinctive independent hotels.
IHG Hotels & Resorts Introduces Newest Brand Noted Collection to Tokyo
IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a 207-key conversion hotel in Shinjuku and an 81-key new-build hotel in Ginza under its Noted Collection brand.
Hyatt Regency Jiaxing Nanhu Opens in South Lake District
Hyatt has opened the Hyatt Regency Jiaxing Nanhu in the South Lake District, marking the brand's continued growth in China's secondary city markets and expanding its presence in the Yangtze River Delta region.
How L Catterton Quietly Became One of Travel’s Most Interesting Investors
LVMH’s connection gets the attention, but L Catterton’s travel story is really about a $40 billion consumer-investment machine putting more capital behind how people spend their time and discretionary income.
Gen Z Coffee Study Finds Convenience Trumps Sustainability
A new study involving young coffee drinkers in Slovenia found that while they welcome the idea of sustainability in their coffee, factors such as convenience, price and routine are more...
Princess Launches AI-Powered Cruise Planning App
Princess Cruises has launched a native app in ChatGPT, making it easier for guests to plan their cruises. By tagging @princesscruises and adding the Princess plugin to their ChatGPT account, guests can explore cruises…
Who Wants to Go to the Punk Show at the Dumpling Shop?
3rd Space is turning unconventional locations into concert venues, from an underground show at a dim sum lounge to an electronic set at a midtown Manhattan heliport.
Accor’s Nicolas Maynard on Closing AI’s Industrialization Gap
Industrializing AI across European markets is the hard part at Accor. Its AI chief bets on autonomous agents anyway, though he warns they meet far more friction in the enterprise.
You Set the Rate. Booking Sets the Price. Royal Caribbean Acquires Sandals for $3B. 109 Hotel AI Use Cases Now Catalogued.
Monday opened with hospitality.today identifying how Booking.com's merchant model lets it set guest-facing prices below what hotels load, effectively removing hotel pricing control for an estimated one in five indepen…
Naman Hotels sells Staybridge Suites in North Charleston
Marcus & Millichap brokers sale Read More The post Naman Hotels sells Staybridge Suites in North Charleston appeared first on hotelbusiness.com.
Hilton Garden Inn Frederick Begins Renovation
WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia—Newport Hospitality Group announced that Hilton Garden Inn Frederick has begun an extensive renovation designed to reimagine the guest experience. Owned by Roch Capital, the property-wide tran…
Global business travel optimism ‘rebounds’: GBTA
Business travel professionals have an overall better sentiment about the industry now compared to earlier this year, despite ongoing geopolitical and cost concerns.
The Existential Threat Facing THC Drinks Brands
A federal ban on hemp-derived THC products is set to go into effect in December. Will it wipe out a $1.1 billion industry?
The risks of impulse and flash sales sites
Revenue consultant Jon Siberry of Z Hotels and Sarova Hotels outlines when flash sales help fill distressed inventory versus when they cannibalize direct bookings and erode ADR.
Soul Community Planet launches public investment campaign
Opens its doors to everyday investors for the first time Read More The post Soul Community Planet launches public investment campaign appeared first on hotelbusiness.com.
Bangkok Floods Disrupt Airports, Spare the Hotels — For Now
Bangkok’s floods strained airport operations, not hotel demand. The next risk is Golden Week, when rain could complicate travel for a surge of Chinese visitors.
Emerging Travel Group Partners with Rippla to Bring Influencer Marketing to Travel Brands
ETG integrates Rippla's network of 10,000+ influencers into its Marketing Hub, offering travel and hospitality brands barter-based collaborations with creators across Europe and the Middle East.
Starbucks Closing 250 Stores, Remodeling Hundreds More
Starbucks is closing approximately 250 coffeehouses across North America, marking the second major round of store closures under CEO Brian Niccol as the coffee giant continues reshaping its sprawling retail...
Faster Dinners, Bigger Ships: How Carnival Is Adjusting to New Passenger Habits
Carnival Cruise Line is sitting out the premium push that's reshaping airlines and hotels, betting instead on drive-to affordability and multigenerational families.
From classroom to career: Building hospitality’s next generation
Newport Hotel Group's Whitney Altizer writes about the company's internship program Read More The post From classroom to career: Building hospitality’s next generation appeared first on hotelbusiness.com.
Demand for European travel increased this summer, despite pricing pressure and geopolitical disruption
RateGain and Sojern data shows European hotel and flight bookings rose in summer 2026, with ADR up 4-6%, Spain leading destinations, and Turkey absorbing Middle East travel diverted by ongoing conflict.
What are the six pillars of a modern hotel commercial strategy?
A practical guide to unifying hotel sales, marketing, revenue management and distribution under six pillars: predict, price, distribute, analyze, benchmark and drive direct.
Carnival Teams Participate in Coastal Cleanups Across its Fleet
Carnival Cruise Line announced that, in recognition of International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 19, it brought ship and shoreside team members and community partners together for a coastal cleanup initiative spa…
Yah Yah Yah Pours Middle Eastern Flavor Into RTD Coffee
Among a sea of new entries in the ready-to-drink latte category, a new Denver-based brand called Yah Yah Yah is introducing Middle Eastern-inspired flavors. The Yah Yah Yah name comes...
Why Hotel Cost-Cutting Alone Won’t Protect Your Property’s Value
When margins tighten in hospitality, the playbook is familiar: cut labor, defer capital, trim sales and marketing, and ask the remaining team to do more with less. Some of those cuts remove genuine waste, and the hote…
Blue Dream Star Becomes Third Ship to Leave Mailand China in 2026
The Blue Dream Star became the third ship to leave mainland China this year after being reportedly sold to Turkish owners. Last operated by Blue Dream Cruises, the 836-passenger ship spent several years sailing from p…
Cunard Completes Final Cruise in Alaska
The Queen Elizabeth recently completed Cunard’s last cruise to Alaska, concluding the company’s summer deployment in the region. Sailing roundtrip from Seattle, the vessel offered a seven-night cruise that also vi…
Hilton’s New Brand Blueprint Could Cut Energy Bills Up To 40%
Home2 Suites clean energy prototype is a zero-emissions design — but it’s voluntary. Hilton’s sustainability chief Jean Garris Hand is hoping that high energy bills will encourage uptake.
Carnival Jubilee Now Sailing to the Bahamas from Galveston
The Carnival Jubilee is now offering new itineraries to the Bahamas from its homeport in Galveston, Texas. After nearly three years sailing exclusively to the Western Caribbean, the Carnival Cruise Line ship offered i…
Royal Caribbean Group and Sandals Resorts Announce Landmark Partnership to Accelerate Their Leading Vacation Experiences
Royal Caribbean Group will acquire a 50% equity stake in Sandals and Beaches Resorts for approximately $3 billion, with the deal expected to close in early 2027 pending regulatory approvals.
Virgin Updates 2027 Alaska Program; Swaps Ports
Virgin Voyages is adjusting the itineraries for its 2027 deployment in Alaska and on the Pacific coast, according to a statement sent to travel advisors. Returning to the region for a second summer season, the company…
Anantara Siam Bangkok unveils landmark transformation
Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel embarks on a transformative new chapter following a comprehensive USD$50 million enhancement. For more than four […] The post Anantara Siam Bangkok unveils landmark transformation appeare…
Failure of Leadership Made a Hotel Sales Cold Call Exercise in Futility
An industry sales trainer recounts a hotel cold outreach attempt that failed due to poor leadership support, using it to highlight what managers must do to improve sales effectiveness.
Ambassador Builds European Platform With Ambella
Ambassador Cruise Line said its acquisition of the Oceania Sirena is the next step in its strategy to become a leading cruise line in Europe. According to a press release, the vessel will allow the company to serve a…
The hidden complexity behind hotel payments – and how Mews is changing things
Mews has obtained an Electronic Money Institution license in the Netherlands, enabling its subsidiary to hold funds and build embedded financial infrastructure tailored to hotel payment complexity.
Semester at Sea CEO Lays Out Plans for the Ambella
Semester at Sea will move its turnaround port from Bremerhaven to IJmuiden, near Amsterdam, when it switches to the Ambella in 2028. The Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE) also said it intends to bring much of it…
Safemark Unveils the CG15 and CG17: Glass-Front Luxury In-Room Safes Designed for Modern Hospitality
Safemark launches the CG15 and CG17 glass-front in-room safes, offering two laptop sizes, customizable branding, and a five-year warranty with a $10,000 forced-entry guarantee.
Without the right tech backbone, AI won’t deliver for hotel chains
Growing hotel chains in APAC, the Middle East, and Africa are deploying AI before establishing the unified cloud infrastructure and data foundations needed to scale results across full portfolios.
AI voice platform ääni integrates with Mews for phone bookings
Reading Time: 2 minutesUK: Conversational AI platform ääni has integrated its revenue optimisation software with Mews. The post AI voice platform ääni integrates with Mews for phone bookings appeared first on Bout…
A MORE SELECTIVE ERA FOR HOSPITALITY INVESTMENT
Top hospitality investors share views ahead of FHS World 2026 in Dubai, citing cost inflation, geopolitical risk, and selective conviction as defining the current investment climate.
HVS Asia Pacific Hospitality Newsletter – Week Ending 25 September 2026
Three Asia-Pacific hospitality deals covered: GIC buys 16 Japanese hotels from KKR for JPY200B, Pebblestone bids KRW500B for Seoul's Hyde Park Myeongdong, and Shorea Capital acquires Hong Kong's Pemberton for conversion.
1 Hotel Austin, the first Texas property from 1 Hotels, has opened its doors.
1 Hotel Austin, the first Texas property from 1 Hotels, has opened its doors. Set within the 74-story Waterline – […] The post 1 Hotels debuts in Texas appeared first on Sleeper.
A hospitality veteran recounts his early career as a busboy in the Canadian Rockies, tracing how a moment of frustration sparked a decades-long rise to controller and beyond.
A hospitality veteran recounts his early career as a busboy in the Canadian Rockies, tracing how a moment of frustration sparked a decades-long rise to controller and beyond.
Hugging My Face: When AI Agents Go Rogue — A Hospitality Wake-Up Call
Rogue AI agents breaching government and platform systems in 2026 signal a direct risk for hotels deploying AI concierge, booking, and RMS tools with inadequately scoped API access and guest data.
The Psychology of Scarcity: How Luxury Brands Engineer Desire
An analysis of how luxury brands use scarcity, exclusivity, and psychological triggers like loss aversion to engineer desire, using Hermès, Rolex, and Amex Centurion as case studies.
Delivering Sustainable Value in a Shifting Hospitality Market
WATG-authored opinion argues that rising costs and shifting guest values require developers to prioritize place-based design, experiential investment, and operational efficiency over capital-heavy luxury.
Three Top Trends from IHIF NYU 2026 on Disciplined Hotel Capital
US hotel transaction volume hit $5.6B in Q1 2026 (+14.4% YoY), AI is moving from pilots to operational infrastructure, and branded residences are now a core development financing tool.
The 50 Best Bars 2026: here are the venues ranked 51st–100th
Even before announcing The World’s 50 Best Bars, the organisation published an extended ranking of venues placed 51–100. This year’s selection highlights the strength of the European bar scene, features 13 new e…
Tayēr + Elementary won’t be returning this year. The London bar will remain closed following the fire
The reopening of one of London’s most distinctive bars has been postponed. Tayēr + Elementary, which was closed by a fire in May, will not reopen its doors this year.
The GastroMach Summit brought together the catering industry, technology and business. Nearly 1,000 professionals attended
Gastronomy, technology, design and investment came together for two days in Voděrádky, near Prague. The GastroMach Summit 2026 attracted nearly 1,000 industry professionals and featured talks, masterclasses, live co…
Slowpour expands venue and team
Carey Hanlon and Caitlin Waugh of New Wave Hospitality Group are to expand the footprint of Slowpour in Liverpool, doubling the size of the venue.
Cleartrip Enters India’s Fragmented Holiday Package Market
Cleartrip is going after the messy middle of Indian travel - the holiday package, a high-value market that remains largely offline even as flights and hotels have moved online.
Century Cruises Sets August 2027 Rhine Debut for New Century Diamond
Century Cruises has announced the Century Diamond, the second vessel in its new generation of river ships in Europe, with the ship’s inaugural voyage scheduled for August 2027. The announcement follows the inaugural…