By Max Starkov
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U.S. Hotel Construction Down 15 Months Running, Europe Posts €27 Billion Investment Year, Hotels Empty Six Hours a Day at Full Cost
CoStar reports U.S. hotel construction has now declined for 15 consecutive months, with 136,990 rooms under construction and luxury leading the percentage growth at 4.5%. European hotel investment jumped 23% to €27 billion in FY 2025, while RevPAR grew just 2% and occupancy remained 1.5 points below 2019 levels.
Every Robot was Kung-Fu Fighting!
Commentary on how China's humanoid combat robots are advancing AI capabilities that could soon revolutionize hotel service operations.
By Mark Fancourt, Co-Founder & Principal Consultant, TRAVHOTECH
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AHLA Statement on Ending of the DHS Shutdown
AHLA condemns the record-long government shutdown that forced TSA workers to work without pay and disrupted hotel bookings across the travel industry.
LXR Hotels & Resorts Signs Gajoen Tokyo, Bringing a Storied Luxury Address to the Market in 2027
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the rebranding of the iconic Hotel Gajoen in Meguro, Tokyo, which will open as Gajoen Tokyo, LXR Hotels & Resorts in 2027. The signing marks the Tokyo debut of the brand, which has nearly 40 trading and pipeline properties globally. Owned by leading global investment firm Brookfield and managed by Hilton, the storied property will enter a new chapter that brings together nearly 100 years of history, extraordinary Japanese artistry, and LXR’s deeply personalized approach to luxury hospitality.
Kimpton Ashbel New York – Park Avenue opens in Historic Midtown Manhattan Landmark
Kimpton Ashbel New York - Park Avenue, a boutique luxury hotel in Midtown Manhattan and part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury and lifestyle portfolio, is now open at 70 Park Avenue, welcoming guests to a reimagined Beaux-Arts landmark along one of Manhattan’s most storied avenues. Just steps from Grand Central Terminal and Bryant Park, the hotel brings new life to the historic building originally constructed in 1928 as the Doral Park Avenue Hotel, introducing a residential approach to hospitality inspired by the character and charm of a classic Manhattan townhouse.
Recent Appointments
View AllW Hotels Continues Its Italian Expansion with the Debut of W Sardinia – Poltu Quatu
W Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, today announces the official opening of W Sardinia – Poltu Quatu, following a preview in 2025. Set along one of the Mediterranean’s most striking islands, the new opening brings the brand’s design-driven, culture-forward perspective to Sardinia, building on the brand’s dynamic growth in Italy alongside W Rome and W Florence.
Accor and Uber Announce Multi-market Loyalty Partnership
The partnership launches in seven markets including France, Germany, and UAE, allowing ALL Accor members to earn points on Uber rides and deliveries.
RBH Hospitality Management Bolsters Extended-Stay Portfolio with Double Staybridge Suites Signing
RBH now manages over 2,500 keys across 19 IHG UK properties, strengthening its position in the growing extended-stay segment.
Ensemble Assumes Management of Hotel Nia, Autograph Collection in Menlo Park, California
Ensemble takes over operations of the 250-room Silicon Valley hotel it developed in 2018, expanding its managed portfolio to 15 properties generating $250M annually.
Three MICHELIN Keys? Tips for hotels aiming for luxury experiences
De L'Europe Amsterdam's GM shares insights on achieving MICHELIN three-key status through local identity, empowered teams, and visible leadership.
Supplier News
View allMews unifies operations and fuels growth for Llano Real Estate Group’s portfolio
Llano Real Estate Group deployed Mews across nine Texas properties including hotels, RV parks and short-term rentals to centralize operations and automate group booking processes.
Six Forces Reshaping Independent Hotels in 2026, Including AI Discovery, Margin Pressure, and the Connectivity Imperative
Cloudbeds' report shows independent hotel RevPAR fell 5.4% in 2025 while OTA share rose to 63.4%, with AI discovery and margin pressure defining competitive advantage going forward.
3C Hotels Selects Shiji Full Stack Technology to Drive Growth in Colombia and Strengthen Presence in Latin America
3C Hotels will implement Shiji's platform across eight properties starting May 2026 to support expansion from nine to 15 hotels by 2027.
Core Principles Behind Scalable Hotel Digital Transformation
The article outlines how hotel groups should prioritize operational alignment, cloud infrastructure, and API connectivity over isolated technology investments for scalable growth.
Designing for Peak Flow: How Event-Themed Wooden Key Cards Support Ski Resort Operations
Ski resorts use custom wooden key cards with event branding to streamline front desk operations during high-volume periods while creating consistent guest touchpoints.
Cloudbeds Partners with Dingus to Unify Hotel Distribution and Drive Revenue Growth
The partnership combines Cloudbeds' PMS with Dingus' distribution expertise, particularly strong in Spain and Latin America markets.
HBX Group reveals how the travel industry is adapting to volatility at MarketHub Europe
Survey of travel professionals reveals technology fragmentation and cost pressures as top barriers, with 40% citing volatility as their biggest challenge.
Commemorating Anniversaries: The Strategic Utility of Wooden Key Cards
Wooden key cards with custom anniversary engravings provide hotels a professional tool to enhance guest recognition while supporting brand positioning and sustainability goals.
European Hotels Q1 2026: Olympics Mask Mature-Market Fatigue
Italy's Olympic surge obscured underlying weakness across major European markets, with the UK showing concerning pricing power erosion.
Banyan Tree Mayakoba Unveils a New Era of Private Villa Living Following a Nearly $100 Million Transformation
Banyan Tree Mayakoba announces the completion of its multi-phased, property-wide renovation, marking the culmination of a five-year, vision-led evolution and nearly $100 million invested into enhancing the resort experience. More than a transformation of physical spaces, this milestone signals a new era of private villa living — one that deepens the resort's legacy of intentional luxury, privacy, and connection to the natural world.
Hotel Cala Di Volpe Celebrates Reopens
Hotel Cala di Volpe reopened its doors on April 16, inviting guests to experience Sardinia at its most enchanting—mild temperatures, breathtaking views, and a sense of effortless elegance. Along Sardinia’s storied coastline, many of the region's most alluring hotels follow the rhythms of the island - shuttering in winter and opening again each spring when the light shifts and the sea turns that impossible shade of green.
HSMAI 2026 Commercial Strategy Conference Coming to San Antonio, Texas
The two-day event at Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center features keynotes, 28 breakout sessions, and pre/post workshops for hospitality commercial professionals.
Hotel pipeline activity up globally, except in the Americas
CoStar data shows Asia Pacific leads with 982,629 rooms under contract, while Americas declined 5.3% to 878,114 rooms.
Uber is in the hotel business now, thanks in part to AI
Uber partners with Expedia to offer hotel booking through its app, using AI tools that reportedly cut feature development time from a year to six months.
HVS U.S. Market Pulse: April 2026
U.S. hotels posted 4.5% RevPAR gains through April 2026, with luxury leading growth and cap rates averaging 8.3% as transaction activity slowly improves.
By Rodney Clough, President - HVS Americas, Denver, HVS
Construction set to begin at $150m Crowne Plaza Maroochydore Sunshine Coast development
Construction is set to commence at the $150 million Crowne Plaza Maroochydore Sunshine Coast, a major new hotel development set to play a key role in meeting the Sunshine Coast’s growing accommodation demand ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
AI & Recruiting: Why Human Judgment Still Determines Hiring Success
The article argues that while AI improves recruiting efficiency, human recruiters remain essential for evaluating nuance, culture fit, and soft skills that determine hiring success.
By Zoe Connolly, Founder and CEO, Hospitality Spotlight
''If You Can’t Be Replaced, You Can’t Be Promoted'' — The Leadership Trap Most High Performers Don’t See
A sales director's frustration reveals why being indispensable in your current role can actually prevent career advancement in hospitality.
By Muhammad Tanveer, Author - The Sales Leadership Brief (Linkedin Newsletter), The Sales Leadership Brief
You Are Asking the Wrong Question When You Hire a Hotel Marketing Agency
Hotels should diagnose which layer of the demand stack their problem exists in before selecting a marketing agency, as most agencies solve downstream problems while hotels often need upstream demand origin solutions.
By Andrew Paul, Managing Director, Americas Great Resorts