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Kenan Simmons of Small Luxury Hotels of the World on Independent Spirit, the Hilton Partnership, and the Resurgence of Boutique Luxury
SLH SVP Kenan Simmons discusses how the 700-property collective helps independent hoteliers reach global audiences, the economics of the Hilton partnership, and why boutique luxury is resurging rather than evolving.
Beyond the Summits: The Lasting Power of IHG’s Owners Assn.
The author, a former IHG Owners Association chair, makes the case for active owner participation in brand associations as a strategic business investment, not just an industry courtesy.
By Wayne West III, President, Newport Hospitality Group
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Hotel digital marketing - how to fill rooms and drive direct bookings
An explainer on hotel digital marketing tactics covering SEO, social media, email, and paid ads, with a CTA to download Access Hospitality's guide and referencing their 185% revenue uplift claim.
By Victoria Sparkes, Digital Content Writer for Hospitality, Access Hospitality
Phuket Enters a New Era of Growth as Billions in Investment Transform the Island's Property, Hospitality and Lifestyle Landscape
C9 Hotelworks research shows Phuket recorded 6.13M international arrivals in Jan-Sep 2026, with THB400B in tourism revenue and 5,517 hotel keys across 30 pipeline properties.
ITC Hotels Signs Management Agreement for 95 Key Storii Shantiniketan in West Bengal
ITC Hotels Limited has announced the signing of a management agreement for Storii Shantiniketan, a 95-key retreat under its fast-growing Storii by ITC Hotels brand. Located in the culturally significant town of Shantiniketan in West Bengal, the hotel is envisioned as an immersive destination that celebrates the region’s natural beauty, vibrant artistic heritage, literary significance, handicrafts, music, festivals, and enduring traditions.
Recent Appointments
View allWellness & Wellbeing
Dr Alexander Thaler has been appointed as Medical Director at Lanserhof Marbella
Hotel Equities Named Top-Performing Hotel Management Company Participating in the Dignity of Work Pledge Created by Procure Impact in Partnership with the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)
Hotel Equities surpassed 20,000 hours of employment for barrier-facing workers via Procure Impact purchases and has now pledged 50,000 more hours, topping all participating hotel management companies.
IHG brings global Holiday Inn brand strength to regional Australia with two new hotel signings
IHG signs two Holiday Inn properties in Tamworth, NSW and Rockhampton, QLD, delivering 190 rooms via refurbishment and new-build, both operated by La Vie Hotels Resorts.
Oakwood Flemington Melbourne breaks ground as The Ascott Limited’s Australian growth continues
The Ascott Limited is bringing Oakwood’s signature comforts of home to the doorstep of the Melbourne Cup, with a sod-turning ceremony marking the next step for its new 97-key apartment hotel near Flemington Racecourse.
European Business Travel Spending Forecast to Reach €404 Billion in 2026 As Europe-Originating Trip Volume Reaches 600 Million
Europe-originating business travel spending is forecast to reach €404B in 2026, with spending growing 10x faster than trip volume, signaling rising costs per trip across the region.
Fewer Calls, Better Service: Canary AI at The Pines Resort
The Pines Resort cut guest messaging response times from 45 to 2 minutes and automated high-volume phone inquiries after deploying Canary AI Voice, Webchat, and Guest Messaging.
Supplier News
View allULIV chooses Mews as it scales flex living hospitality across Mexico
Mexico City-based aparthotel operator ULIV, managing 1,000+ units, adopts Mews PMS, Channel Manager and RMS to support its growth to 3,000 units across Mexico and into the US.
RoomPriceGenie launches Portfolio Calendar to give hotel groups clearer control of revenue performance
RoomPriceGenie's Portfolio Calendar gives multi-property hotel groups a single dashboard view of occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, and pricing across all properties to streamline revenue oversight.
VDA Telkonet and Cloudbeds Announce Strategic Partnership to Connect Smart Room Automation with Cloud Hospitality Management
VDA Telkonet and Cloudbeds will integrate guestroom automation with Cloudbeds PMS to auto-trigger room settings at check-in, with commercial availability planned for Q1 2027.
Avalora Introduces Cross-Platform Guest Intelligence™
Avalora launched Cross-Platform Guest Intelligence (CPGI) at The Hospitality Show in Miami Beach, an AI platform that aggregates guest interaction data across hotel systems to surface revenue and service insights.
Realtime Reservation appoints Ricky Castoldi as Chief Sales Officer
Ricky Castoldi, formerly CSO at Cendyn, joins RTR to lead global sales following the company's acquisition of Spanish firm Stay.
Bespoke Hotels partners with Aven Hospitality to strengthen reservations and distribution across its UK portfolio
Bespoke Hotels selects Aven Hospitality's SynXis CRS, booking engine, GDS distribution, and digital marketing tools across its 58-property, 3,350-room UK portfolio.
GCSTIMES Brings Space Identity and Hotel Credential Innovation to EquipHotel Paris 2026
GCSTIMES presents its Open Lock Modernization concept at EquipHotel Paris 2026, offering hotels a third path to upgrade digital access layers without replacing functional physical lock infrastructure.
Emerging Travel Group Expands ETG Marketing Hub with Hundreds of Advertising Channels
ETG Marketing Hub expands to hundreds of advertising channels including social, CTV, DOOH and audio, using ETG's first-party travel data to help hotels, airlines and tourism boards reach targeted audiences.
Have Hospitality Trade Shows Gone the Way of the Dodo?, Hotels Choose a Role in Guest Wellbeing, GEO and the Restaurant That Isn't Recommended
Tuesday brought a World Panel question on what role hotels play in guest wellbeing, and a hospitality technology veteran asking whether the exhibit hall still matters when buyers research vendors with AI.
Coming 5 November: Tokenomics in Hospitality, a free Pertlink playbook, published in partnership with Hospitality Net
Pertlink's free 30-page playbook on AI tokenomics for hotels, covering cost tracking per guest across AI touchpoints, launches on Hospitality Net on 5 November.
Proof, not promises: Updated guide helps tourism and events industry navigate new EU greenwashing rules
ETC, GDS-Movement and NECSTouR updated their practical guide on the EU EmpCo Directive, helping destinations, DMOs and event organisers make credible, evidence-based sustainability claims.
American Hotel & Lodging Association Names 2026 General Managers of the Year at The Hospitality Show
AHLA recognized eight hotel general managers across six categories at The Hospitality Show in Miami Beach, including two newly introduced awards for rising stars and community ambassadors.
Mandarin Oriental Introduces Restaurants, Bars & Experiences
Mandarin Oriental rebrands its F&B function as "Restaurants, Bars & Experiences," appointing James Norman to lead Europe and Americas operations, with 33 Michelin stars across its portfolio.
Bossa House Miami Beach Brings Brazilian-Inspired Hospitality to Mid-Beach
Bossa House Miami Beach, a new 97-room boutique hotel and Florida’s first property in IHG’s Vignette Collection, is slated to open in January 2027 in a restored art deco landmark in Miami Beach’s Mid-Beach neighborhood.
Amàre Cancún, Curio by Hilton Opens, Bringing an Iconic Mediterranean Brand to the Americas
Amàre Cancún Adults Only All-Inclusive Resort, Curio by Hilton opened on October 31, bringing the Amàre brand’s signature Mediterranean lifestyle to the Mexican Caribbean and the Americas for the first time. The 429-suite beachfront resort makes its debut in Cancún’s Hotel Zone, combining Amàre’s design-forward, culture-led approach with Hilton’s renowned hospitality and the ease of an all-inclusive stay. Owned and operated by Fuerte Group, this is the family-owned Spanish hotel group’s first hotel outside Spain, the brand’s first all-inclusive and the first Curio Collection by Hilton property in Cancún.
Impression Isla Mujeres Joins The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Bringing its Distinctive Connection to a Curated Set of Luxury Hotels
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced that Impression Isla Mujeres, a 123-suite, adults-only, all-inclusive resort on the southern tip of Isla Mujeres, Mexico, has joined The Unbound Collection by Hyatt.
Leonardo Hotels expands to Schwerin
Leonardo Hotels is continuing to expand its presence in Germany. Following the acquisition of a former IntercityHotel, the company is now set to launch for the very first time in Schwerin, the state capital of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The hotel will initially operate under the white label name of Hotel Schwerin City Center by Leonardo Hotels whilst extensive renovation works are undertaken. All rooms and bathrooms are being updated together with the corridors and public areas in order to create the tried and tested Leonardo Hotels look and feel. An air conditioning system is also being installed. Once the programme of works has been completed, the property will be integrated into the Leonardo brand portfolio as the Leonardo Schwerin City Center.
Have Hospitality Trade Shows Gone the Way of the Dodo?
A hospitality technology veteran argues that large exhibit-hall trade shows are declining as AI-driven vendor research changes buyer behavior, and that customer events and focused conferences offer better ROI.
By Jason Floyd, Accomplished Technology Leader, Floyd Hospitality Resources