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Expedia Acquires AI Travel Planner Layla, Hotel GMs Share What AI Actually Taught Them, Business Travel Hits Record $1.71 Trillion
Tuesday brought Expedia Group's acquisition of Layla, an AI-native conversational travel planning platform, to accelerate personalized trip discovery at scale, a World Panel viewpoint on what hotel GMs are genuinely learning from first-hand AI deployment, and GBTA's forecast putting global business travel spending at a record $1.71 trillion in 2026. Radisson's long-stay proposition launch, Pyramid Global on brand as AI's last defense, and a renovation-heavy properties day rounded out the session.
When Every Hotel Uses AI, Brand Becomes Everything
Evan Crawford of Pyramid Global Hospitality argues that as AI commoditizes hotel search and proposals, clear brand identity and genuine relationships become the primary competitive differentiators for hotel sales teams.
By Cory Falter, Partner, Lure Agency
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The Cashless Curbside Conundrum
A Canary Technologies survey found 70% of non-tippers would have tipped with a digital option, making NFC-enabled tipping a case for boosting valet earnings, morale, and retention.
By Doron Dreyer, Co-Founder and CEO, GratifID
Hotel Management Companies and AI: How To Implement AI Across a Multi-Property Portfolio
A strategic guide for hotel management companies on deploying AI across multi-property portfolios, addressing standardization, sequencing, and governance challenges that single-property operators never face.
By Are Morch, Digital Transformation Coach for Hotels, Are Morch, Digital Transformation Coach
523-Room Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards Completes Phase One of Multimillion-Dollar Renovation
Officials of the 523-room Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards today announced the completion of the first phase of a two-part, multi-million dollar, property-wide renovation. Phase one included fully upgrading and enhancing all guest rooms and the concierge level. Phase two, which will include upgrading the lobby, restaurant and meeting spaces, is expected to commence in Q1 2027. Operated by HEI Hotels & Resorts, a leading hospitality investment and management company, and owned by SC Baltimore Hotel LLC, a New York-based hotel development firm, the hotel has been redesigned to provide the latest technological features and amenities most requested by today’s business and leisure travelers.
Recent Appointments
View AllAHLA Foundation Unites Survivor Advocates, Government Experts, and Hotel Industry Leaders To Advance Lasting Solutions To Prevent Human Trafficking
The AHLA Foundation's NRFT Survivor Fund hit a $10M milestone, with nearly 30% more grants awarded in 2026 to 16 organizations nationwide combating human trafficking.
Expedia Group acquires Layla, accelerating its AI-powered trip planning and booking strategy
Expedia Group acquired Layla, an AI-native conversational travel planning platform founded in 2023, to accelerate personalized trip discovery and booking at scale.
Radisson Hotel Group launches global long-stay proposition to accelerate growth in fast-growing extended-stay segment
Radisson Hotel Group launches Long Stays by Radisson Hotels, a B2B extended-stay proposition with tiered pricing, standardized booking conditions, and aligned commissions targeting relocation firms, TMCs, and corporate buyers.
Grand Cayman Marriott Resort Unveils a New Chapter with Multi-Million-Dollar Investment and the Return of Its Beachfront
Grand Cayman Marriott Resort is entering a new chapter as it restores its beachfront and introduces a series of enhancements designed to elevate the guest experience along the island's most celebrated coastline.
Treasure Island Ti Las Vegas Hotel Officially Joins Handwritten Collection
Treasure Island TI Las Vegas Hotel – Handwritten Collection officially opens its doors this week under Handwritten Collection, a portfolio of bespoke hotels from Accor that celebrate authentic stories, passionate hosts and individuality. Inspired by the idea that every hotel has a unique story to tell, Handwritten Collection preserves the original character of each address while connecting it to Accor's global hospitality ecosystem. As part of the portfolio, the hotel now benefits from the company's global distribution platform and loyalty program, ALL Accor, while remaining true to the story that has defined the resort for more than three decades.
Supplier News
View allCloudbeds and Lighthouse Deepen Integration to Connect Business Intelligence and Distribution
Cloudbeds PMS data now flows directly into Lighthouse Performance and Lighthouse Distribution, automating pickup, pace, and channel reporting across single and multi-property portfolios.
Remington Hospitality Selects Innspire's AI-Powered Guest Journey Platform for its ONE | GT Hotel
Remington Hospitality deploys Innspire's AI Concierge, AI Task Manager, and branded mobile app at ONE | GT in Grand Cayman, integrating Oracle OPERA, Simphony POS, Alice, and OpenTable into a unified guest journey platform.
Hospitality Net Interview: Natalie Kimball on Why Hotels Can’t Outspend OTAs on AI, but Can Still Win on Experience
Shiji's Natalie Kimball argues that AI is accelerating OTAs' 25-year distribution advantage, and hotels must prioritize accurate content, connected distribution, and strong on-property experience to stay visible.
Swiss SupernatureHotel Concept SNUUG Launches Digital Platform Ahead of 2026 Debut with Influence Society
Influence Society has built a digital platform for SNUUG, a Swiss low-impact hotel concept opening in 2026, featuring sustainably manufactured suites hosted by local landowners in natural settings.
Inn-Flow Introduces Advanced Enhancements to Its Labor Management Platform That Simplify Compliance for Hotel Operators
Inn-Flow's updated Labor Management platform automates blended overtime, Pay-Per-Room wages, and multi-state compliance including California and Colorado regulations for hotel operators.
TrustYou Strengthens APAC Team with Two Senior Client-Facing Hires
TrustYou appoints Elly Ji as Senior Director of Sales and Jonathan Abel as Director of Key Account Management to expand its APAC team as it scales its hospitality AI platform across the region.
From Access Credential to Brand Experience
GCSTIMES promotes engraved wooden key cards as a branded touchpoint that communicates sustainability and emotional connection from the first moment of guest check-in.
Thynk Appoints Chief Sales Officer and Attracts Industry Leaders Across Hospitality and Venues
Thynk promotes Ilaria Marinoni to CSO and hires three senior commercial leaders to drive expansion across hospitality and venues markets in North America and Europe.
Introducing the Pinnacle, Jamaica – Montego Bay’s New Luxury Lifestyle Estate
The Pinnacle Jamaica is an exclusive luxury residential lifestyle estate developed by LCH Developments and Ennismore, a joint venture with Accor, offering a unique living experience that is both architecturally distinctive and authentically rooted.
Global Business Travel Spending to Hit Record $1.71 Trillion in 2026, While Trips Reach 1.84 Billion, Says GBTA Forecast
GBTA's 2026 BTI report projects global business travel spending will hit $1.71 trillion, with trip volume growing just 1.3% versus 7.2% spending growth, reflecting rising transportation costs.
White Lodging Breaks Ground on New Autograph Collection® Hotel in Charlotte’s South End
White Lodging will break ground this month on a new Autograph Collection® hotel in Charlotte’s South End neighborhood, marking the company’s fifth Autograph property in its national portfolio of more than 60 hotels. Situated at South Tryon Street and Bland Street – at the heart of Charlotte’s fastest-growing mixed-use corridors – the project is the first full-service lifestyle hotel in South End and underscores White Lodging’s long-term commitment to Charlotte as a priority growth market.
Hilton Brings Canopy Hotels to South East Asia with Canopy Bangkok Sukhumvit
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) has opened Canopy Bangkok Sukhumvit, marking the debut of its lifestyle brand, Canopy Hotels, in South East Asia. Set in Bangkok’s vibrant Asoke neighborhood, the hotel brings together public spaces by award-winning interior design studio AvroKO, four distinctive dining concepts and city-curated experiences that reflect Bangkok’s layered character and creative energy. The opening represents another milestone in Hilton’s expanding lifestyle portfolio across Asia Pacific.
Your Next Guest Is Asking ChatGPT, Not Google; Is Your Hotel in the Answer?
A 2026 Amadeus report found 69% of travelers trust AI summaries enough to book without further research, making AI discoverability the top demand strategy cited by hotel GMs.
Five Hotels Take Half of All AI Recommendations, Agentic Booking Has No Commission Answer, Hyatt Q2 RevPAR Up 5.9%
Monday opened August with Americas Great Resorts' single-day audit finding five hotels capturing half of all AI recommendation slots across six US luxury markets, a demolished Miami hotel still being recommended 108 days after implosion, and a sharp analysis of agentic booking's unresolved commission question across three competing models. Hyatt Q2 results showed RevPAR up 5.9%, Greek hotel revenue up 10.1%, and Wynn Palace securing approval for a USD 900M-plus Macau expansion.
GBTA Foundation Recognizes Changemakers and Raises Support for the Next Generation of Business Travel Talent
The GBTA Foundation's inaugural Gala at Chicago's Field Museum honored leaders in sustainable and inclusive business travel, raised $83,250 for student career scholarships, and announced 2026 Impact Award winners.
Investing in staff for profitable gains
A roundtable podcast covering staff wellbeing, career development, and regional collaboration in Kent hospitality, featuring voices from Champneys Eastwell Manor, HOSPA, and Hospitality Action.
Ryan Haynes, Director/Lead Consultant, Hoteliers' Voice Podcast/ Haynes MarComs Ltd
Five Hotels Take Half the Answers. One Recommendation Went to a Demolished Building.
A single-day audit of 824 AI hotel recommendations across six US luxury markets found just 23 properties captured half of all slots, and a demolished Miami hotel was still being recommended 108 days after implosion.
By Andrew Paul, Managing Director, Americas Great Resorts