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Agents Will Decide Where Bookings Land, U.S. Forecast Raised Again, Europe's Small Hotels Are Falling Behind
Tuesday brought the sharpest formulation yet of the agentic booking question: when an AI agent completes a reservation, who actually controls where it goes? U.S. hotel forecasts were upgraded for the second time in a week. And Booking.com's European Accommodation Barometer revealed a growing gap between large chains and small independents that is widening, not narrowing.
Pre-HITEC Webinar: What Every Hotel Technology Consultant Needs to Know About Digital Tipping in 2026
GratifID will host a pre-HITEC 2026 webinar on June 10 for hotel tech consultants, covering NFC vs. QR-based digital tipping platforms ahead of its TIPMO product launch in San Antonio.
By Doron Dreyer, Co-Founder and CEO, GratifID
Latest
U.S. hotel results for week ending 23 May
U.S. hotel industry posted RevPAR growth of 4.6% for the week of 17-23 May 2026, with Tampa leading Top 25 Markets on all three key metrics, boosted by SOF Week.
The Gym Is the Front Door: Christopher Norton on Equinox Hotels
Equinox Hotels CEO Christopher Norton shares how he built a hotel brand around health pillars including fitness, nutrition, recovery, and sleep, pulling 1,500 locals daily through a 60,000 sq ft gym.
Closet-cationers: Latest Booking.com Research Reveals Majority of LGBTQ+ Travelers Conceal Their Identity When Traveling
Booking.com survey of 13,300+ LGBTQ+ travelers across 19 countries finds only 31% are out when traveling, with 40% willing to hide their identity to visit a bucket-list destination.
Recent Appointments
View AllExpedia Group Unveils New Global Research Showing Traveler Demand for Full Trip Planning
A Harris Poll survey of 2,500 travelers across 10 markets finds 77% likely to book multiple trip elements on one platform, with Expedia Group expanding its Rapid API ecosystem to capture demand.
You track your Google rank every week. Why aren't you tracking your AI rank?
As AI assistants reshape how travelers research hotels, most properties lack tools to track whether or how they appear in AI responses, ceding bookings and brand narrative to OTAs.
By Paige Lopez, Content marketer, Lighthouse
A Frankfurt Legend Redefined; Taj Hessischer Hof Opens Its Doors
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India's largest hospitality company, today announced the debut of Taj Hessischer Hof Frankfurt, marking the brand's entry into Continental Europe.
FHS Saudi Arabia celebrates entrepreneurship as Startup Den returns for 2026 edition
FHS Saudi Arabia's Startup Den returns for 2026, with six finalists pitching live for prizes including FHS World access and curated meetings with VCs and investors.
How Meeting Planners Are Using AI to Source Venues
AI is now filtering hotel shortlists before planners ever contact a sales team, meaning hotels with vague, detail-poor websites are being silently excluded from consideration.
By Cory Falter, Partner, Lure Agency
Supplier News
View allPricepoint Raises $6.6M Seed Round to Build the Future of Hotel Revenue Management
Pricepoint secured $6.6M in seed funding led by Brightspark Ventures to scale its AI-native hotel pricing platform, which automates rate execution in real time rather than generating manual recommendations.
Cloudbeds Unveils Major Platform Upgrades Across Revenue, Operations, Data Intelligence, and AI Capabilities
Cloudbeds' Spring Release 2026 adds group sales tools, a rebuilt calendar for 4,000+ room properties, USALI-aligned accounting, enhanced reporting, and a conversational AI interface called Ask Signals.
Folio and meez Partner to Give Hospitality Operators Greater Visibility Into Food Costs and Menu Profitability
Folio and meez integrate their procurement and recipe platforms to give hotel F&B operators real-time visibility into food costs, recipe margins, and purchasing decisions in a single workflow.
HotelRunner Reappointed to Booking.com’s Connectivity Commercial Advisory Board for the 2026-2028 Term
HotelRunner's Riza Kaynak joins the Booking.com Connectivity Commercial Advisory Board for a second consecutive term, as the company also holds Premier Plus Connectivity Partner status among 600+ providers.
RDP to Showcase Expanded Owner-Centric PMS at HITEC
RDP will demo its expanded PMS ecosystem at HITEC San Antonio (June 15-18), featuring new payment tools, owner portal upgrades, and integrations with Ascent360, Pulse, and DocuSign.
Dr. Michael Toedt, Founder and CEO of dailypoint, receives the Lifetime Achievement Award by the University of Applied Sciences in Munich
Dr. Michael Toedt, founder and CEO of dailypoint, receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from Munich's University of Applied Sciences for decades of teaching, industry leadership, and academic contribution.
Pudu Robotics and Shenzhen CTID Co. Ltd Launch the World's First Full-Scenario Robot-Serviced Hotel Project
Pudu Robotics and Shenzhen CTID will build the world's first full-scenario robot-serviced hotel on the West Artificial Island of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, with trial operations slated for late 2026.
Stayntouch and ampliphi Launch Integration To Drive RevPAR Growth and Automate Revenue Management for Hotels
ampliphi's AI-powered RMS now integrates directly with Stayntouch PMS, pushing automated rate updates in real time and saving independent and mid-market hotels 6+ hours per week in manual pricing work.
What Strong Product Management Looks Like in Hospitality Tech
Hospitality tech product leaders Jennifer and Natalie outline how strong product management bridges frontline operations and leadership through data, storytelling, and lifecycle-aware prioritization.
Natalie Kimball in conversation with Jennifer Mays
AHLA Announces New Board Leadership Team, Taps Davidson Hospitality Group CEO & President Thom Geshay as Chair
AHLA names Davidson Hospitality Group CEO Thom Geshay as Board Chair, effective July 1, 2026, succeeding Marriott's Liam Brown who retires after nearly four decades.
Hyatt Place Tianjin South Railway Station Celebrates Official Opening
CHICAGO – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) today announced the official opening of Hyatt Place Tianjin South Railway Station, the first Hyatt Place hotel in Tianjin. Its debut marks the continued expansion of the Hyatt Place brand across key cities in China, offering guests and World of Hyatt members more ways to stay in destinations that matter most to them.
A New Chapter by the Sea Unfolds at InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort
InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort – part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury & lifestyle portfolio – continues to redefine Chennai’s beachfront experience, unveiling the final chapter of its transformation. Continuing the brand’s legacy as a pioneer of luxury hospitality for over 80 years, the reimagined InterContinental resort is now open with ocean-facing ballroom along with expansive beach lawns, new restaurants and bars, new luxury suites with plunge pools, with newly introduced sports pavilion along with scenic walking trails and meditation garden for mindful experiences.
When Numbers Aren't Enough: Accor Deputy CEO Jean-Jacques Morin on Leadership
Accor Deputy CEO Jean-Jacques Morin, speaking at EHL HumanX in Lausanne, argues that human relationships trump data in hospitality and that AI should augment, not replace, the people behind the brand.
Doug Kennedy’s Next Staff Training Webcast: Reservations Sales: Maximizing Rates & Overcoming Objections
Doug Kennedy's free 40-minute webcast on June 19 trains reservations staff to quote dynamic rates, handle objections, and prevent bookings from shifting to OTAs.
Ruby Hotels to Shine in the Big Apple with Second U.S. Signing
Ruby Hotels, an urban lifestyle hotel brand and part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ (IHG) leading premium portfolio, will introduce its signature blend of character, charm and efficient design to New York City. The soon-to-convert Ruby New York City marks the second U.S. signing for the brand in only a few months, alongside a forthcoming Chicago hotel – both projected to open in 2027.
International tourism up 2% in Q1 2026 amid growing uncertainty
UN Tourism reports 307 million international arrivals in Q1 2026, up 2%, but the Middle East conflict is expected to cut full-year growth by 1-2 percentage points below the initial 3-4% forecast.
2026 European Accommodation Barometer: Challenges, Concerns & Diverging Outlooks Despite Ongoing Optimism
Booking.com's 2026 Barometer, surveying 1,240 European accommodation executives across 24 markets, finds broad optimism but a growing performance and preparedness gap between large chains and small independents.
Head of Travel Research at Morgan Stanley on How the K-Shaped Economy Is Reshaping Hospitality Investment Opportunities
Morgan Stanley's Stephen Grambling breaks down how the K-shaped economy, AI, brand proliferation, and macro factors like inflation are reshaping hotel stock valuations and REIT investment strategies.
Sloan Dean in conversation with Stephen Grambling