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IHG Launches AI Search Across 7,000+ Hotels, WTTC Shifts Tourism Success from Arrivals to Resident Satisfaction, Canada's Pipeline Hits a Record 345 Projects
Wednesday closed July with IHG launching AI conversational search in beta across its 7,000-plus hotels with agentic booking features planned next, WTTC's seven principles redefining destination success around resident wellbeing rather than visitor volumes, and Lodging Econometrics reporting Canada's hotel construction pipeline at an all-time record of 345 projects. Budapest's 15% RevPAR surge, Booking.com's APAC happiness index, and openings from Cincinnati to Majorca rounded out the session.
You Think the Management Contract Is About the Fee. It's About 133 Provisions, and the Fee Isn't the One That Hurts You
A 50-year hotel consultant breaks down the 133 provisions owners should negotiate in a management contract, arguing the base fee is the least impactful term while buyout rights, revenue definitions, and vendor rebates cause far greater financial damage.
By Stephen Rushmore, Hotel Valuation Expert and Founder of HVS, Hotel Valuation Software
Latest
AXIS Architecture + Design advances its East Coast hospitality presence with the transformation of the historic Hotel Viking
AXIS Architecture + Design completed a centennial renovation of the 1926 Hotel Viking in Newport, RI, restoring historic Gilded Age character while adding modern luxury elements across public spaces, exterior, and courtyard.
Admiral Hotel Copenhagen Completes Multi-Year Transformation
Admiral Hotel Copenhagen has unveiled a new outdoor pool and relaxation area, marking the completion of the $20 million investment that has elevated one of Copenhagen's most iconic waterfront hotels. Occupying a restored 1787 warehouse overlooking Copenhagen Harbor, Amalienborg Palace, and the Royal Danish Opera House, the landmark property has undergone a carefully phased renewal between January 2024 and July 2026.
Radisson Hotel Group’s Creator Hub wins global awards as nano creator platform reshapes travel marketing
Radisson's nano-creator platform now spans 400+ hotels in 64 countries, claiming 22x higher conversion than macro-influencers and winning multiple industry awards since launch.
Recent Appointments
View AllWellness & Wellbeing
Zita Alexander has been appointed as Spa Director at Henderson Beach Resort
Sales & Marketing
Anna Fedou has been promoted to Chief Commercial Officer at Beaumier
AHLA Foundation Expands No Room for Trafficking Initiative Through New Partnership with Hotels Canada
The AHLA Foundation and Hotels Canada formalized a cross-border MOU to align anti-trafficking programs, expand employee training, and grow the NRFT Advisory Council with new appointments from Red Roof and Accor.
Valor Hospitality enters the Mississippi market with strategic partnership
Valor Hospitality takes over management of 8 Mississippi hotels (685 rooms) for Bellamare Development, becoming the preferred operating partner for Bellamare's full-service hospitality projects across the Americas.
The Courtyard by Marriott Carolina Beach Oceanfront, North Carolina Completes Major Renovation
Crestline Hotels & Resorts, LLC has announced the completion of an extensive renovation of the Courtyard by Marriott Carolina Beach Oceanfront, North Carolina. Guests are welcomed at the redesigned front desk into a completely refreshed lobby and living area with conversational seating artfully arranged for socializing or enjoying the new 65-inch TVs. For more privacy or workspace, there is booth seating featuring 32-inch TVs. New furnishings, artwork, flooring, wall coverings, and a Print Station complete the welcome experience.
How to tell if you’re ready to upgrade from basic rate shopping to a complete pricing platform
Lighthouse's guide walks revenue managers through six workflow symptoms that signal a rate-shopping-only tool is limiting performance, and explains how its AI pricing platform adds demand forecasting up to 365 days out.
By Jonathan Gough, Content Team Lead, Lighthouse
IHCL Signs Ginger Sindhudurg in Maharashtra
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) , India’s largest hospitality company, today announced the signing of a Ginger in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, a conversion of a standalone hotel, with plans to expand its inventory to 50 keys.
Supplier News
View allTravelAI acquires the iconic travel brand, Sonder, and relaunches Sonder.com
TravelAI acquired Sonder's brand and trademarks from Canadian bankruptcy estates for a court-approved price, relaunching Sonder.com as an AI-powered curated guide to urban stays.
Shelf Discovery: Is Retail the Next Frontier for Guest Experience?
Skyscanner data shows 39% of travellers visit local grocery stores while travelling, prompting hotels to rethink neighbourhood engagement through curated food maps, minibar localisation, and guided market walks.
roommaster Launches AI Guest Management to Bring 24/7 Guest Communication to Independent Hotels
roommaster's new Linq platform deploys an AI agent across web chat, WhatsApp, and email to handle guest inquiries 24/7, drive commission-free direct bookings, and unify all conversations in a single inbox for independent hotels.
OneJourney Expands Reach into European Markets with Managed Payment Services Partnership in Ireland
OneJourney partners with Dublin-based Managed Payment Services to expand its SwiftPay embedded payments platform across Ireland and the UK hospitality and travel markets.
Newbury Guest House: How a Historic Boston Brownstone Outgrew Its Chain Competitors With roommaster
Boston's Newbury Guest House used roommaster's cloud PMS, direct booking engine, and AI-powered revenue management to compete with major hotel chains after a 2020 acquisition.
HCN and Artography Transforming Hotel Guestrooms into Interactive Art Galleries
HCN and Artography will integrate a 200,000+ licensed artwork collection into HCN's in-room tablets at four- and five-star hotels across the US and Canada, letting guests browse and buy art for home delivery.
Recycled Fibres: Giving Materials a Second Life
GCSTIMES outlines the growing role of recycled fibres from agricultural residues and textiles as a complement to FSC-certified wood pulp, helping hospitality procurement teams make more sustainable sourcing decisions.
Glasgow Marriott’s playbook for boosting room service revenue by 24% with IRIS mobile dining
Glasgow Marriott deployed IRIS Mobile Ordering and Digital Guest Directory, achieving 24% revenue growth and 23% order volume increase, with 80% of room service orders now placed digitally.
Premier Inn heads to Hunstanton on the North Norfolk coast
Premier Inn, the UK’s largest hotel brand, has confirmed it is coming to Hunstanton.
The One Thing Most Companies Fail To Do After Receiving Customer Feedback
Research shows 65% of customers never hear back after completing a survey, but a hotel case study demonstrates how closing the feedback loop with action and personalized follow-up drives trust and loyalty.
By Shep Hyken, Customer Service and Experience Expert, Keynote Speaker and Bestselling Author, Shepard Presentations, LLC.
WTTC Unveils Seven Principles to Help Destinations Turn Tourism Growth into Shared Prosperity
WTTC's new policy brief sets out seven principles for destination stewardship, shifting the measure of tourism success from visitor arrivals to resident satisfaction, economic distribution, and long-term resilience.
In Canada, Lodging Econometrics Reports Record-High Total Construction Pipeline Projects, at Q2 2026, and Announces New Hotel Openings for 2028 Forecast
Canada's hotel construction pipeline hit a record 345 projects and 47,874 rooms in Q2 2026, up 4% YOY, with LE forecasting 46 new hotels and 5,281 rooms to open in 2028.
Booking.com Travel Happiness Index: APAC travellers remain resilient, intentional and joy-led amid uncertainty
Booking.com's inaugural Travel Happiness Index, surveying 10,136 travellers across 10 APAC markets, finds 98% associate travel with positive emotions and 90% will adapt plans rather than cancel when disruptions occur.
Bringing a struggling hotel back to life
Kings Court Hotel owner Harpreet Singh shares how he revived a struggling UK property by prioritising operational basics, a full team overhaul, and repositioning the hotel pub as a local destination.
Ryan Haynes, Director/Lead Consultant, Hoteliers' Voice Podcast/ Haynes MarComs Ltd
Cape Sounio Unveils Extensive Resort-Wide Transformation, Marking a New Era on the Athens Riviera
Grecotel, Greece’s leading family-owned hospitality group, announces the completion of an extensive resort-wide restoration, revealing an entirely reimagined Cape Sounio, the Riviera sister to the much-celebrated, multi-award-winning city hotel The Dolli in Athens. Set upon a living archaeological site on the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula on the Athens Riviera, guests at Cape Sounio have the unique opportunity to stay in a destination where ancient heritage, untouched nature and contemporary luxury exist in perfect harmony.
Cincinnati’s Fidelity Hotel Now Open, Ushering in a New Era of Design-Driven Hospitality in the Queen City
Marking its continued expansion in Ohio, today New Waterloo unveils Cincinnati’s Fidelity Hotel, in the heart of downtown’s Fountain District. The 165-room lifestyle property reflects the company’s community-first ethos while setting a new benchmark for quietly sophisticated, design-led hospitality inspired by the spirit of Cincinnati.
H1 2026 Hungarian Hospitality Market: Strong Fundamentals Continue to Support Growth
Budapest led CEE-6 capitals in occupancy in H1 2026 with RevPAR near €90 (up 15% YoY), but rate growth lags peers, GOP growth is uneven, and investment activity is picking up post-elections.
By Zoltan Szabo and Nicolas Horky
New Branded Residences meet Hospitality Demand in Majorca
The Balearic Islands registered over 19 million tourists last year but Majorca remains the hot favourite with holidaymakers. Previous data* suggests the island sees 29 visitors for every resident, which underlines the requirement for dedicated tourist accommodation and continues to pique the interest from savvy property investors.