The Guest Data OTAs Send You Comes With a Countdown, World Panel Weighs the Human-Free Hotel, Luxury RevPAR Runs 15.9% Ahead
Tuesday brought a forensic look at what a hotel actually receives about an OTA guest: an alias email that stops working seven days after checkout at Booking.com, a 45-day window at Expedia, and a virtual card that dies within a year, while the agentic commerce standard published by Stripe, OpenAI and Meta passes the buyer's real name, email and phone to whoever sells the room. The World Panel asked whether the fully human-free hotel is a genuine evolution or a self-fulfilling prophecy, and H1 profitability data showed luxury RevPAR up 15.9% on rate and volume together while economy ADR fell 9.3%. IHCL agreed to absorb Oriental Hotels, and STR lifted its 2026 US RevPAR forecast to 4.4% as budgeting season opens.
It’s not about the booking – it's about everything that came before it.
Data from the Travel Dreams 2026 report, covering 500 hoteliers and 6,000 travelers, shows shortlists form before the booking page, making AI visibility and early-journey presence the top priority for 2026.
By Javier Campo, SVP, EMEA, Hospitality, Amadeus Hospitality
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Why most hotel guest directories are outdated and how to improve them
Digital guest directories, accessible via QR code without an app, reduce front desk load, enable real-time promotions, and drive ancillary revenue across dining, spa, and local experiences.
By Kate Fuller, Head of Marketing, IRIS
Inside and Out: Hampton Inn by Hilton South Plainfield-Piscataway Reveals it's All New Look
Buffalo Lodging Associates, LLC is pleased to announce the completion of a major renovation at the Hampton Inn by Hilton South Plainfield-Piscataway, a 5-story, 107-room hotel located at 205 New World Way in South Plainfield, New Jersey. The renovation has greatly enhanced both the guest rooms and public spaces, bringing a fresh, modern design that blends vibrant colors with practical functionality. Notable improvements include a redesigned lobby with contemporary hues, new furniture, updated flooring, and fresh wall treatments. The exterior also received a facelift, with a complete repainting and new patio furniture. The fitness center offers new state-of-the-art equipment and updated flooring. In addition, all guest rooms have been fully remodeled, showcasing updated bathrooms, fixtures, tile, carpeting, furniture, bedding, and artwork.
Signia Hilton Introduces ‘Signia Restore,’ Setting a New Standard for Elevated Fitness and Wellness in Hospitality
Signia Restore launches at Signia Hilton Indianapolis in January 2027, offering AI-assisted bodywork, infrared therapy, Peloton bikes, and a wellness concierge, with planned rollout to select global properties.
Recent Appointments
View AllBuilding a Hotel Food & Beverage Budget that Performs
An eight-step framework for hotel F&B leaders building 2027 budgets, covering revenue planning, labor deployment, food and beverage cost control, capital investment, and contingency planning.
By Guy Reinbold, Corporate Director of Food and Beverage, Meyer Jabara
Beyond One-Size-Fits-All: How PMS Technology Supports Multi-Property Hotel Groups
Maestro PMS argues that multi-property hotel groups should standardize data, reporting, and controls at the portfolio level while preserving property-level flexibility for workflows and guest experience.
By Lisa Jane Wheaton, Senior Project Strategist, Maestro
International Housekeepers Week in September Puts Digital Tipping in the Spotlight
Ahead of International Housekeepers Week, the article makes the case for digital tipping platforms as a year-round financial and workforce tool, citing 35% of hoteliers planning to add digital tipping in 2026.
By Doron Dreyer, Co-Founder and CEO, GratifID
How the Improved Forecast Should Shape Your 2027 Budget
STR raised its 2026 U.S. RevPAR forecast to 4.4% growth, and this piece explains how hoteliers should translate national trends into property-level 2027 budgets by aligning financial and demand forecasts.
By Rob Lawrence, CEO, Otelier
Predicting AI is futile, preparing isn’t
A strategic case for why hotels should prioritize open APIs, data accessibility, and AI-ready PMS flexibility over chasing today's best AI features.
By Martin Soler, Partner, Soler & Associates
Supplier News
View allDesert Wellness: From Blue Therapy to Beige
The "beige therapy" trend reframes desert destinations as wellness propositions built around silence, darkness, and vastness rather than conventional spa-and-golf resort amenities.
HotelKey Accelerates Self-Check-In Kiosk Deployments Following Standout Success in Initial Properties
HotelKey is scaling its self-check-in kiosk across U.S. properties, with NSR Hotel Group adopting it across 20+ G6 locations, citing 2,000+ annual labor hours saved per property.
FCS Solutions Launches FCS1 IRGS to Connect Guest Requests Directly with Hotel Operations
FCS1 IRGS is a browser-based, no-app solution letting hotel guests request services via QR code, routing each request directly to operational teams to reduce missed requests amid staffing pressures.
If Guests Pay for Access, Shouldn't the Access Credential Show It?
The article argues that premium-tier hotel access credentials like key cards should reflect the value hierarchy guests pay for, using materials and design to reinforce exclusivity at every touchpoint.
BirchStreet Appoints Christopher Haydon as Chief Executive Officer
Christopher Haydon, former President of SAP Procurement Solutions, takes the CEO role at BirchStreet as the hospitality procurement platform expands its AI capabilities.
Inn-Flow Appoints Jon Coley as Senior Vice President and Head of Sales to Spearhead Hospitality Market Expansion Opportunities
Inn-Flow names Jon Coley, a 20-year SaaS sales veteran, as SVP and Head of Sales to drive growth of its AI-enabled accounting, labor management, and procurement platform for hotels.
HotelIQ expands Decision Cloud connectivity with direct Shiji Daylight PMS integration
HotelIQ connects Decision Cloud directly to Shiji's Daylight PMS, enabling shared customers to centralize reservation data and eliminate manual exports for commercial planning and performance reporting.
Wyndham Garden Phuket Kamala Deploys Shiji’s Infrasys POS Across 3 Outlets in Resort Dining Operations
Wyndham Garden Phuket Kamala has deployed Shiji's Infrasys cloud POS across 3 F&B outlets, centralizing menu management and transaction processing at the Kamala Beach resort.
ITC Hotels Signs Storii Havelock, Expands Presence in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands
ITC Hotels Limited today announced the signing of a management agreement for a 22-key boutique retreat in Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island), one of India's most captivating island getaways under Storii by ITC Hotels brand. Surrounded by pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, tropical landscapes and rich marine biodiversity, Storii Havelock is envisioned as an intimate retreat that embraces the natural beauty and laid-back charm of the Andaman Islands.
Luxury hotel and residences set to bring the highly personal Park Hyatt approach to hospitality to Portugal’s Alentejo coast
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) and Portuguese real estate developer Coporgest today announced that affiliates of the companies have entered into agreements for the development, branding and operation of Park Hyatt Comporta and Park Hyatt Comporta Residences, expected to open in 2029.
Hilton Grand Vacations Announces Oceanfront Property in Myrtle Beach
Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE:HGV), the premier vacation ownership and experiences company, announces Ocean Reserve, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club. This new oceanfront resort will be HGV’s fourth property in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and its eighth property in the state. Positioned adjacent to Ocean 22, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club, Ocean Reserve will offer an elevated resort experience featuring thoughtfully designed accommodations, premium amenities and unparalleled access to one of the East Coast’s most popular beach destinations.
The Pricing-Power Divide: Why Luxury Is Leading the US Hotel Recovery
US H1 data shows luxury hotels grew RevPAR 15.9% by capturing both rate and volume gains, while economy hotels grew occupancy but saw ADR fall 9.3%, producing a RevPAR decline.
By Sarah McCay Tams, Head of Editorial, Actabl
Guests Don’t Want Your Playlist (They Want the Feeling They Can Take Home)
Sonic identity is framed as a portable, shareable brand asset, with research showing distinct hotel music boosts guest favorability and F&B revenue when programmed intentionally across dayparts.
By Sébastien Felix and Clay Bassford
Lemon Tree Hotels Strengthens Its Gujarat Presence with the Opening of Lemon Tree Hotel, Bharuch
Lemon Tree Hotels Limited, one of India’s largest hotel chains, has announced the opening of Lemon Tree Hotel, Bharuch, marking the Group’s 12th operational hotel in Gujarat. With 20 hotels in the pipeline, it underlines the company’s long-term focus on the state as a strategically important market for its growth.
IHCL and Oriental Hotels Limited Announce Merger
IHCL will absorb associate company OHL via an all-stock deal at 25 IHCL shares per 117 OHL shares, folding in seven hotels and 825 rooms, with completion targeted in H2 FY2028.
Cruises, National Parks, and European Cities Popular Among Labor Day Travelers
AAA booking data shows Alaska cruises, National Parks, and European cities topping Labor Day 2025 demand, with domestic airfares up 20% for top destinations while international flights fell 4%.
Who Is Tourism For?
The author challenges the industry's growth-at-all-costs mindset, arguing destinations must measure resident benefit alongside visitor volume and establish a transparent social contract for tourism.
Everything the OTA sends you about your guest expires
OTA-provided guest emails, phone numbers, and virtual cards all expire within days or weeks, leaving hotels with no reachable guest list — and AI booking agents are set to repeat the same pattern.
By Markus Busch, Editor/Publisher, hospitality.today