Hotel Connectivity Is Now the Entry Condition for AI Distribution, Simone Puorto Says Hotels Don't Need More Software, Spain Eclipse Bookings Up 76%
Friday closed the week with hospitality.today's argument that hotel connectivity has stopped being neutral infrastructure and become the entry condition for AI-driven distribution, Simone Puorto on the Cloudbeds podcast arguing the hotel industry is drowning in software it doesn't need, and SiteMinder data showing Spain hotel bookings up 76% ahead of August's total solar eclipse. Duetto on RevPAR as a vanity metric, Faraway Hotels debuting in two markets at once, and a bumper properties day closed the session.
10 signs your hotel needs F&B mobile ordering now - and the solutions to fix them
IRIS outlines 10 operational and revenue warning signs that indicate a hotel's F&B setup needs mobile ordering, from order errors and slow service to multi-property brand inconsistency.
Latest
HVS Webinar: How Will Hotel Operating Models Evolve and Change?
Senior leaders from HVS, Hyatt, LR Hotels, Westmont, and Aareal Bank discuss how hotel operating models must blend flexible contract structures, AI-driven distribution, and human-centred experiences to succeed by 2030.
The Financial Blind Spot in Vacation Rental Management
A vacation rental operator argues the industry lacks a unified financial standard, proposing an "Owner-Adjusted Performance Report" that consolidates both management company and property owner costs into a single net return view.
Your Apartment Brings Design-Led Living to Earl's Court with Latest London Launch
Your Apartment is proud to announce the opening of its latest London property: a collection of design-led serviced apartments at 59 Longridge Road, Earl's Court, in the heart of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Recent Appointments
View AllAlex Cooper has been appointed as Hotel Manager at Hotel Café Royal
Sally Russell has been appointed as General Manager at Burgh Island Hotel
Simone Puorto: The hotel industry does not need more software
Hospitality futurist Simone Puorto argues hotels suffer from tech overload and should prioritize fewer, better-connected systems over adding more software layers.
Radisson Collection Debuts in Chengdu, Opening a New Chapter of Exceptional Hospitality in Southwest China
Jin Jiang International Hotels and Radisson Hotel Group announce the grand opening of Radisson Collection Hotel, Hi-Tech Zone Chengdu, the brand's flagship debut in Southwest China. Marking a significant milestone in Radisson Collection's regional expansion, the hotel is located within the Cloud Yunduan Tower of the Business & Innovation Centre for China-Europe Cooperation (CCEC), offering a refined blend of contemporary European sophistication and the rich cultural heritage of Sichuan. Guided by the brand philosophy of "Welcome to the Exceptional," the hotel is designed to serve global business travelers, international organization representatives and discerning guests seeking a stay defined by art, culture and a strong sense of place.
How Cloudbeds and X Hospitality are helping The Blue Hotel redefine Australian hospitality
X Hospitality used Cloudbeds' open API to build a front desk-free, mobile-first operation at The Blue Hotel Bondi, a model now replicated across 40+ staff and multiple properties in Australia.
Syracuse Revisited: Micron Project, Youth Sports, and a Changing Hotel Market
Syracuse's lodging market faces a 43% drop in downtown room inventory since 2024 while the $100B Micron semiconductor project and youth sports investment drive new demand and developer interest.
The World's Top Hotel Brands Are Quietly Building a $40,000 Cruise Category
GTC 2026 booking data shows hotel brand voyages averaging $40,000 now represent 5% of cruise bookings, driven by land-based brand loyalists cruising for the first time.
Supplier News
View allShiji releases Q2 2026 Guest Experience Benchmark: Global satisfaction continues to rise as hotels respond faster and engage guests more effectively
Global GRI reached 87.3% in Q2 2026, up 0.4pp year-over-year, with management response rates at 67.2% and average response time down to 3.7 days, per Shiji's latest benchmark.
SiteMinder: Total solar eclipse drives up to 76% growth in bookings for Spain’s hotels
SiteMinder data shows hotel bookings in Spanish eclipse-path regions up to 76% year-over-year ahead of the August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse, with ADRs rising as much as 85%.
Farm Charm in Practice: Three Examples of How Hotels Interpret the Trend
Three hotels, Southall Farm Inn, Conrad Koh Samui, and Fowlescombe Farm, show how the "Farm Charm" trend translates into operations via on-site agriculture, seasonal activities, and farm-to-table dining.
Mews gives hotels three new ways to capture revenue at every stage of the guest journey
Mews has launched Recurring Payments, Multicurrency expansion to the US and Canada, and Accounts Receivable to help hotels automate billing and capture more revenue across the guest journey.
Oracle OPERA Cloud Central Implements Additional Systems to Further Loews Hotels Delivery of Exceptional Guest Experiences
Loews Hotels is expanding its Oracle technology stack with OPERA Cloud Distribution and Loyalty modules, giving properties a unified platform for rates, inventory, guest recognition, and direct booking incentives.
Slow Down, Check In, Reconnect: The Rise of Farm Charm
Expedia's Unpack '26 report finds 84% of travelers want farm-adjacent stays, prompting hotels to rethink guest experiences around slow travel, local sourcing, and on-site nature activities.
Positron and SONIFI Partner to Modernize Guestroom Network at Buena Vista Suites Orlando
Positron's GAM solution converted existing coaxial cabling into a Gigabit Ethernet network at Buena Vista Suites Orlando, completing the full-property upgrade in one week with no room downtime.
Understanding the EUDR: Supporting Sustainable and Responsible Hospitality
GCSTIMES outlines how the EU Deforestation Regulation affects hospitality supply chains, focusing on wood and paper products, and highlights FSC certification as a key compliance tool.
Courtyard Dayton Beavercreek Celebrates Successful Renovation with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Commonwealth Hotels, a Covington, Kentucky-based hotel management company, proudly celebrates the completion of Courtyard Dayton Beavercreek's comprehensive hotel renovation with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by community leaders, business partners, hotel ownership, associates, and guests.
Beyond the Script: Rethinking Hospitality Education
The author argues that hospitality training must move beyond SOPs to incorporate applied psychology, equipping teams with tools to understand human behavior, manage emotions, and adapt in real time.
Frasers Hospitality expands into historic Jiangnan with Fraser Residence Wuzhen
Frasers Hospitality, a business unit of Frasers Property, announced the soft opening of Fraser Residence Wuzhen. Located in the heart of the historic 1,300-year-old water town dating from the Tang Dynasty, the property marks Frasers Hospitality’s first entry into one of China’s renowned cultural and tourism destination. Anchored within the Yangtze River Delta, approximately 78 kilometres from Hangzhou and 125 kilometres from Shanghai, the opening further strengthens its presence in China, extending its footprint beyond key urban centres into the country’s distinctive heritage destinations.
La Vie Hotels & Resorts signs landmark agreement to Manage the Gold Coast's First Westin Hotel
La Vie Hotels & Resorts will operate the 138-key Westin Gold Coast, a new-build mixed-use development by M Property expected to open in late 2029, marking Westin's first property on the Gold Coast.
The Foley Collection Debuts with the Addition of New Brasada Ranch Acquisition
Foley Entertainment Group's hospitality division today unveils The Foley Collection, a new united portfolio identity that brings together its distinctive collection of luxury hotels, private homes, restaurants, wedding and event venues, and destination experiences. Marking the first major milestone under its new identity, the company also announced the acquisition of Brasada Ranch, the award-winning 1,800-acre luxury destination resort and residential community near Bend, Oregon.
When AI Serves the Guest, Hospitality Wins
A luxury hotel GM with 20+ years of experience argues AI amplifies rather than replaces hospitality professionals, citing Hilton's AI Planner, Be My Eyes partnership, and operational forecasting as real-world examples.
Faraway Hotels Brings Boutique Mountain Hospitality to Jackson Hole
Blue Flag Capital, in partnership with in-house management company Collared Martin Hospitality, has announced the opening of Faraway Jackson Hole, expanding the Faraway Hotels brand beyond New England for the first time and bringing its distinctive approach to storytelling, design, and hospitality to the American West.
Faraway Hotels Debuts in the Hamptons with Opening of Faraway Sag Harbor
Blue Flag Capital, in partnership with in-house management company Collared Martin Hospitality, has announced the opening of Faraway Sag Harbor, expanding the Faraway Hotels brand beyond New England for the first time and bringing its distinctive approach to storytelling, design, and hospitality to the Hamptons waterfront.
Win the Match That Counts
The final installment of an 8-part series argues that RevPAR is a vanity metric, urging hoteliers to measure profit kept after acquisition costs and total guest spend instead.
Hotel connectivity stopped being plumbing
Expedia Group and RateHawk published research the same week recasting hotel connectivity from neutral infrastructure into the entry condition for AI-driven, platform-controlled distribution.