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Have Hotel Websites Become the Least Important Part of the Journey?, Expedia Adds 30+ AI Features as European Trust Lags, Boutique Hotels Win on Specificity at BLLA 2026
Thursday brought a World Panel viewpoint on whether hotel websites are now the least important part of the customer journey, Expedia's 30-plus AI features against Phocuswright's finding that fewer than one in four European travelers trust AI travel results, and Ariela Goharik Kiradjian's BLLA conference takeaways. Lodging Econometrics' record pipelines, Antalya's COP31 rates, and four property announcements rounded out the session.
The Human Resource Playbook for Competing With Alternative Stays
A structured HR playbook arguing that hotels' best defense against Airbnb is a purpose-built workforce: recruiting for empathy, rigorous onboarding, strong managers, and metrics tied to guest outcomes.
By Merrick P. Dresnin, Chief People Services Officer, Cote Hospitality
Latest
HOTEL THE MITSUI HAKONE Announces December 2026 Opening
Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd., and Mitsui Fudosan Resort Management Co., Ltd., today announce that HOTEL THE MITSUI HAKONE will open on December 15, 2026, in the renowned hot spring destination of Kowakudani, Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture. Debuting as Mitsui Fudosan Group's flagship luxury resort and the second property in the acclaimed HOTEL THE MITSUI collection following the success of HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO, the resort marks a significant expansion of the brand and a new chapter in its vision for luxury hospitality in Japan.
Why NFC door locks are replacing Bluetooth and key cards at hotels
ASSA ABLOY's Tess Mattisson explains why NFC wallet-based room keys outperform Bluetooth, and how the Mews-Vingcard integration delivers keyless check-in without requiring hotels to replace existing RFID locks.
Three Weeks to ROI With Canary at Das Aunhamer Suite & Spa
Das Aunhamer Suite & Spa in Bavaria recouped its full Canary Technologies platform cost within three weeks through mobile check-in, AI messaging, and dynamic upsell tools.
Recent Appointments
View allGeneral Management
Randy Regan has been appointed as General Manager at Hotel Kinsley
Operations & Strategy
Marco Gilardi has been appointed as Managing Director Hospitality at Starhotels Group
Finding your guests in the ChatGPT data
Analysis of OpenAI's Signals data reveals which markets and age groups use ChatGPT for information-seeking, with practical implications for hotels considering ChatGPT ad placements.
By Martin Soler, Partner, Soler & Associates
Capella Dubai to debut at Dubai Peninsula in 2030
Capella Hotel Group today announces Capella Dubai, set to open in 2030 on the Dubai Peninsula in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The 115-key hotel will include a collection of suites with private pools, culminating in a 600-square-metre Capella Suite conceived as a residential-style retreat. Developed by H&H and designed by world-renowned Denniston, the hotel will introduce Capella’s curated approach to hospitality to Dubai, with experiences shaped by the city’s culture and character.
How Much Does A Smile Cost
A hospitality consultant contrasts a neglectful limited-service hotel stay with an excellent lodge experience to argue that emotional connection, not systems or technology, drives guest loyalty and repeat revenue.
By Greg Chako
Latin America Hotel Construction Pipeline Reaches Record Highs as Early Planning Projects Climb 29% Year-Over-Year
LE's Q3 2026 report shows Latin America's hotel pipeline at 783 projects/114,148 rooms, with early planning up 29% YOY and record highs in luxury, upper upscale, and conversions.
Why We Rebuilt the Hotel Phone: Inside the SuitePad Phone Dock
SuitePad launches the Phone Dock, combining its in-room tablet, charging dock, and a physical phone handset into one unit, available in analog and IP versions to fit existing hotel infrastructure.
Dilara Develi, Marketing Manager, SuitePad GmbH
Supplier News
View allIDeaS Expands Strategic Relationship with Accor Through Selection of Optix Business Intelligence
Accor has selected IDeaS' Optix BI solution as a referenced tool for its 5,800+ hotels globally, extending the existing partnership where IDeaS already serves as Accor's revenue management system of record.
GuestCentric Boosts Hotel AI Search Visibility with 91% Faster Data Extraction
GuestCentric benchmark data from 800 hotel sites shows its platform enables AI systems to extract hotel data 91% faster, with AI-referred visitors converting at up to 11% vs. the 2% industry average.
Nelsen Architects Launches Nomad Hospitality Interiors, Expanding Luxury Hospitality Design Platform with Early Projects Throughout US
Nelsen Architects has launched Nomad Hospitality Interiors, a new independent luxury interiors studio led by Heather Chilton-Gantt, with early projects including the La Posada de Santa Fe renovation.
Hotels are putting AI agents to work in live operations, with Apaleo MCP Server use up 70%
Apaleo reports 70% growth in MCP Server usage between July and September 2026, with hotels deploying AI agents for tasks like bulk reservation changes, forecasting, and rate management.
AI-Powered Guest Engagement Linked to Higher Hotel Revenue, Better Personalization and Happier Guests, Study of 10+ Million Interactions Finds
Canary Technologies releases a study of 10+ million hotel guest interactions, linking AI-powered engagement to higher revenue, improved personalization, and guest satisfaction.
HotelPartner adds profit with brand refresh
HotelPartner rebrands to HotelPartner Revenue Profit Management and launches a new service-light platform tier in Europe for consultants and smaller hotel groups.
Closing the Loop in Guest Experience Management
A fireside session at the 2026 Quest Guest Experience Leadership Workshop highlights how hotels must connect feedback systems to operational workflows, assigning ownership and verifying outcomes to prevent problems rather than react to them.
The fastest hotel replies don't win the most bookings. How you answer does.
A study of 2M emails across 48 hotels finds reply speed is a poor predictor of bookings, while complete, action-oriented responses and follow-ups drive conversion rates up to 58%.
Fall 2026 Product Release: Expedia Group launches AI-powered tools and services to simplify the entire trip, from planning and booking to payment and support
Expedia Group's Fall 2026 release adds 30+ AI-powered features across Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo, including natural language search, AI comparison tools, a voice agent, and flexible payment options.
COP31 Antalya creates a climate for high-end accommodation
Lighthouse data shows COP31 will push Antalya hotel rates to annual highs, with five-star properties pricing 108% above their yearly average while short-term rentals see minimal uplift.
By Joe Hanly, Writer and Content Creator, Lighthouse
New Phocuswright research: European travelers more willing to share passport details than browsing history
Phocuswright survey of 1,554 European leisure travelers finds passport storage more accepted than browsing history use, with fewer than 1 in 4 trusting AI-generated travel results.
IHCL and Adani Airports Sign Multi-Hotel Agreement for Eight Hotels Across Four Cities
IHCL and Adani Airport Holdings sign an operating agreement for 8 hotels across Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Guwahati, bringing IHCL to 25 airport hotels in India.
GBTA Foundation Marks WINiT’s Growing Global Impact at 2026 Summit
The 2026 WINiT Summit drew 200+ professionals to Fort Worth, TX, highlighting 1,300+ members across five chapters and a new CTM-partnered study on women's safety in business travel.
BLLA's 2026 Boutique Hotel Owners Conference Sets the Agenda for the Future of Independent Hospitality
BLLA's 2026 Boutique Hotel Owners Conference drew international owners and operators to Westlake Village, covering guest experience, F&B sourcing, retail strategy, and AI visibility for independent hotels.
New press stays platform set to connect hotels with vetted journalists and influencers
PressStays.com, launched by Pic PR, connects hotels with vetted journalists and influencers for press stays at £299/month, with 50+ hotels and 500 media members already signed up.
Hilton Named No. 1 Best Workplace for Women in the U.S. for Eighth Consecutive Year, Celebrates 11 Years on Prestigious List
Hilton tops Fortune and Great Place to Work's U.S. Best Workplaces for Women list for the eighth straight year, citing caregiving, fertility, wellness and coaching programs as key drivers.
IHG Hotels & Resorts Introduces Ruby to Thailand, Marking the Brand’s Asia Pacific Entry
IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading hotel companies, has today announced the debut of Ruby in Thailand with the signing of a new Ruby hotel in Bangkok. The signing marks Ruby's first hotel in Asia Pacific since joining the IHG portfolio and represents another milestone in IHG's continued expansion across one of Southeast Asia's key priority markets.
IHG Hotels & Resorts signs first Garner hotel in Uzbekistan
IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, announces the signing of Garner Hotel Tashkent, set to be the first Garner hotel in Uzbekistan. The 100-room hotel will be developed in partnership with Silk Road Inn LLC, expanding IHG’s presence in Uzbekistan and introducing Garner’s flexible, value-driven proposition to the region.