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Hotels Hand AI to Everyone Except the Frontline, Why AI Agents Aren't Booking Rooms Yet, What Makes a Luxury Stay Worth the Price?
Tuesday brought a World Panel question on what makes a luxury stay worth the price, and three looks at where hotel AI is falling short: at the front line, in bookings and in training new managers.
Why People Stay: A Thanksgiving Reflection on Loyalty, Longevity, and Living Hospitality
Newport Hospitality Group CEO reflects on what drives long-term staff retention, citing 43% of corporate staff with 10+ years tenure and an average tenure of 11.8 years across its 37-person corporate team.
By Andrew Carey, Chief Executive Officer, Newport Hospitality Group
Latest
Escape to Himalayan Woodcroft, Sirmaur – IHCL SeleQtions
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India's largest hospitality company, today announces the opening of Himalayan Woodcroft, Sirmaur – IHCL SeleQtionsin Himachal Pradesh.
Preparing for the AI Knowledge Gap
AI efficiency gains risk hollowing out the foundational learning that develops skilled hotel managers, with three actionable steps proposed to rebuild onboarding, institutionalize apprenticeship, and capture veteran expertise.
By Lou J Trope
From Forecast to Delivery: The Operational Readiness Behind Hotel Growth
Occupancy forecasts only deliver full value when translated into verified operational plans, covering staffing, kitchen throughput, and peak-period workload across all departments.
Recent Appointments
View allGeneral Management
Christian Szabo has been appointed as General Manager at Baros Maldives
Operations & Strategy
Tatiana Ferreira has been appointed as President at The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Minor Hotels Enters Uzbekistan with the Signing of NH Hotel Tashkent
Minor Hotels, a global hospitality leader with more than 660 properties in operation and under development across 67 countries, announces the signing of a franchise agreement with EASYRENT PE for NH Hotel Tashkent, a 151-room hotel in Uzbekistan’s capital. Through its NH Hotels & Resorts brand, Minor Hotels will enter Uzbekistan, marking the group’s debut in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Central Asia.
The Future of European Tourism Is Already Here
Drawing on Booking.com's Destination Europe research with Statista, the piece argues that the EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy's "volume to value" shift must account for diverse stakeholder needs across travelers, hoteliers, and local communities.
By Peter Lochbihler, Global Director Public Affairs, Booking.com
IHG Hotels & Resorts celebrates 50 open voco hotels across Europe
IHG's voco brand has reached 50 open properties in Europe, with 26 more in the pipeline, six years after launching as the company's fastest-growing premium brand.
Paris Society Announces New Openings Across Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, and Abu Dhabi
Paris Society will open MŪN, ANZU Beach Club, Gigi Caffè, and Siga Siga across Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, and Abu Dhabi from late 2026 into early 2027.
Sugar House Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Brings Vermont Character to Sustainable Hospitality
Sugar House Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, has officially opened its doors in Greater Burlington, Vermont, bringing its distinctly local character to Tribute Portfolio's growing global family of independent hotels. As Marriott International's first property globally designed to achieve all-electric, net-zero energy operations and LEED Platinum certification, Sugar House Hotel brings sustainability and a sense of place together through geothermal and solar energy and Vermont-inspired design and artisanship.
Supplier News
View allTambourine Earns Top Honors for Hospitality Website Design at 2026 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards
Tambourine won four Travel Weekly Magellan Awards for website design, including Gold for Pier Sixty-Six, Ted Turner Reserves, and Old Edwards Hospitality Group.
Grevon and Indio Partner to Enable End-to-End AI Bookings for RV Parks and Campgrounds
Grevon and Indio are integrating to let RV park and campground guests inquire, check availability, and pay within a single AI conversation, without redirection to a separate booking engine.
OneJourney Named to PhocusWire’s Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2027
OneJourney's SwiftPay platform, which turns hotel supplier payments into cashback revenue via virtual cards and AI automation, earned a spot on PhocusWire's Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2027.
Folio named one of PhocusWire’s “Hot 25 Travel Startups” for 2027 Amid Rapid Expansion, Adoption and AI Innovation
Folio, a Durham-based hospitality finops platform founded in 2023, was named to PhocusWire's Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2027, with 1,000+ hotels and $1.5B in annual purchasing volume in its pipeline.
Six Senses Samui Deploys Cloud-Based POS to Support Guest-Centric Service and Operational Coordination
Six Senses Samui has deployed Shiji's Infrasys cloud POS across nine F&B and operational outlets, replacing fragmented systems with an integrated platform connecting finance, reservations, procurement, and workflows.
SiteMinder: World’s largest research on hotel guests reveals a more purposeful traveller in 2027
SiteMinder's survey of 12,000+ travellers across 14 markets finds 2027 guests will travel more cautiously, with solo travel rising, AI adoption growing, and memorable experiences overtaking loyalty perks.
Hotel marketing stops after booking. Guest spending doesn’t.
At-visions pitches Adtronaut as a unified hotel ad platform connecting room TVs, signage, WiFi, and post-stay email to convert ancillary revenue opportunities into actual sales.
Dayuse Launches Daypass in the U.S: Turning Hotel Pools, Cabanas and Spas into Daytime Revenue
Dayuse launches its Daypass product in the U.S., letting hotels monetize pools, spas and cabanas to non-overnight guests, with partner hotels earning up to $300K annually in daytime revenue.
The “Cultural Concierge”: How Literature of Place Redefines Guest Hospitality
The article argues that boutique and luxury hotels can deepen guest loyalty by curating locally relevant literature as a "Cultural Concierge," turning physical spaces into immersive, story-driven destinations.
By Aki Obarrio
FERGUS Group Expands with the launch of FERGUS Bamboo Alcudia in Mallorca
FERGUS Group, a hotel repositioning specialist owned by Mallorcan entrepreneur Pep Cañellas, has reached 40 hotels in its portfolio with the addition of FERGUS Bamboo Alcudia, a four-star, 208-room property in Puerto de Alcudia, Mallorca. This new milestone reflects the progress of the group’s growth strategy and consolidates its track record as a specialist in the management and repositioning of hotel assets. The addition has been formalised through a management agreement with an investment company focused on the Spanish and Mediterranean markets, following the latter’s acquisition of the former TBH Bamboo Alcudia.
ZEL Makes Its Mexico Debut with ZEL Cozumel, Bringing Rafael Nadal and Meliá Hotels International’s Active and Social Wellbeing Lifestyle to the Mexican Caribbean
Meliá Hotels International and Rafael Nadal announce the grand opening of ZEL Cozumel, the brand’s first resort in Mexico, as part of their joint venture. Located on Santa Pilar Beach, the resort brings ZEL’s Mediterranean-inspired lifestyle and signature approach to active and social wellbeing. Blending the brand’s vibrant, welcoming energy with Cozumel’s relaxed island rhythm, ZEL Cozumel invites guests to connect through movement, shared experiences and the destination’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.
Thompson Seville Opens Its Doors in the Heart of Andalusia
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced the opening of Thompson Seville, a 101-room hotel set within the landmark La Gavidia building on Plaza de la Concordia in the heart of Seville's historic center. The opening brings the Thompson Hotels brand to Andalusia for the first time and marks its second hotel in Spain, following Thompson Madrid.
HVS Egypt Hospitality Investment Pulse 2026
HVS Middle East Africa and FHS Egypt assess Egypt's 2026 hospitality investment climate, noting that demand is proven and investor sentiment is largely formed, with capital access now the key barrier.
By Hala Matar Choufany, President - HVS Middle East, Africa and South Asia, Dubai, HVS
Minor Hotels to Debut in Singapore with Avani Singapore Hotel in 2027
Minor Hotels, a leading global hotel owner and operator, has announced Avani Singapore Hotel, a 200-key lifestyle hotel set to open in Q2 2027. The opening will mark Minor Hotels’ debut in Singapore, bringing the Avani brand to 24 Peck Seah Street in the Tanjong Pagar district.
Travail Hospitality acquires Hilton Dublin Airport and names Valor Hospitality as management partner
Travail Hospitality acquired the 179-key Hilton Dublin Airport, appointing Valor Hospitality as operator, with a multi-million-Euro refurb and rebrand to IHG's voco brand planned for 2027.
Hilton to Debut in Canberra with Signing of Hilton Canberra Manuka
Hilton (Nasdaq: HLT) today announced the signing of Hilton Canberra Manuka, a 184-room hotel expected to open in early 2027. Located at 15–17 Franklin Street, Manuka in Canberra’s established Manuka precinct, the hotel will introduce the flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand to Australia’s national capital. Operating under a franchise agreement with ICC Development Group.
HVS Asia Pacific Hospitality Newsletter - Week Ending 6 November 2026
Five Asia Pacific deals covered: QT Singapore sold for SGD260M+, Josun acquires Yeosu resort, Westmont buys YOTEL Tokyo Ginza from Frasers, iRENT secures investment, and East Kazakhstan upgrades tourism infrastructure.