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Built around the guest, not the room: Harman Singh Narula joins The Boardroom Reboot
Canary Technologies co-founder Harman Singh Narula discusses building a guest-centric hotel tech stack, the company's origin story, and AI's impact on hotel roles and operations.
The Neuroscience of Natural Materials: Why Wood, Stone and Patina Outperform Synthetic Finishes in Guest Perception
Opinion piece argues natural materials like wood, stone and aged metals shape guest perception more effectively than synthetic finishes by triggering positive neurological and emotional responses.
By Peter Chambers, Associate Editor, Renovated
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Country Inn Hotels & Resorts makes its debut in Delhi NCR with the launch of Country Inn Smart Stays, Gurgaon on the Golf Course Road
Country Inn Hotels & Resorts, the flagship brand of Espire Hospitality Limited, one of India’s fastest-growing hospitality companies, has announced the opening of Country Inn Smart Stays, Gurgaon, marking the brand’s first hotel in the Delhi NCR region and further expanding its presence in India’s key business and commercial markets.
HVS Asia Pacific Hospitality Newsletter - Week Ending 4 September 2026
Five deals across Australia, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Japan totaling hundreds of millions in transaction value, covering acquisitions, a mixed-use luxury development, and a value-add repositioning play.
TRUNK(HOTEL) Expands Beyond Tokyo To Launch TRUNK(HOTEL) SAPPORO in Hokkaido in September 2027
Luxury boutique hotel brand, TRUNK(HOTEL) announced today its first expansion outside its Tokyo home base, TRUNK(HOTEL) SAPPORO, opening on September 17, 2027 in central Sapporo’s Odori district. Featuring 107 guest rooms among 18 stories, the brand’s fourth and largest hotel will carry through its signature emphasis on honoring the city’s history, culture, people, nature, and cuisine, and reinterpreting these elements into an unparalleled guest experience exclusive to this destination.
Recent Appointments
View AllThe Westin Cleveland Downtown Completes Full Renovation as Landmark Hotel Marks 50 Years
The Westin Cleveland Downtown announced the completion of a full hotel renovation, marking a major milestone in the property’s evolution as it celebrates over 50 years in downtown Cleveland. Blending the legacy of a longtime city landmark with a fresh new design vision, the transformation introduces fully renovated guestrooms, suites and meeting spaces, ushering in what can best be described as the rebirth of a Cleveland legend.
New Hampshire's Courtyard by Marriott Hanover Lebanon Unveils Comprehensive Renovation
Courtyard by Marriott Hanover Lebanon, located at 10 Morgan Drive in Lebanon, New Hampshire, has completed a comprehensive, full-property renovation designed to deliver a refreshed and contemporary guest experience while maintaining the convenience, functionality and service travelers expect from Courtyard by Marriott.
RIU Hotels & Resorts Debuts in Thailand with the Opening of the 5-Star Hotel Riu Palace Phuket
RIU Hotels & Resorts marks a new international milestone with the opening of Hotel Riu Palace Phuket, a sophisticated 5-star, 504-room establishment located on the beachfront of Mai Khao Beach, adjacent to Sirinat National Park, featuring 24-Hour All-Inclusive service and the premium Elite Club by RIU concept.
More Than Half of Canadian Business Travellers Say They Have a Different Personality at Work, According to New Hotels.com Report
A Hotels.com survey of 1,000 Canadian business travellers finds free breakfast is the top hotel perk, 53% adopt a different work personality on trips, and September is the busiest travel month.
Why Hospitality Schools Need Virtual Prototyping to Prepare Digitally Work-Ready Graduates
Lecturers at Hotelschool The Hague argue hospitality schools must embed VR simulations, AI prototyping, and Makerspace environments into curricula to close graduates' digital skills gap.
Supplier News
View allBeyond Transactions: Why Payments Are Becoming the Backbone of Modern Hospitality
FreedomPay's SVP Kevin Carson argues hotel groups must shift from fragmented payment systems to integrated commerce platforms to improve resilience, staff productivity, and cross-property consistency.
Not every lost group deserves a follow-up email
The piece argues that sales teams should use meeting intelligence platforms to prioritize re-engagement with lost group accounts based on actual booking activity, not generic outreach schedules.
roommaster Reveals Its Reimagined Hotel Platform at Independent Hotel Show Miami 2026
roommaster will demo its rebuilt cloud-native PMS at Booth 419 and present a session on Revenue Per Available Guest (RevPAG) for independent hoteliers on September 16 in Miami Beach.
Otel AI Releases New Product Video: The AI That Gives You Your Morning Back
Otel AI's platform connects PMS, RMS, POS, and other hotel systems to automate reporting and run AI agents, with customers reporting 20+ hours saved weekly and RevPAR gains of 8.6% at The Alex Dublin.
Wooden Key Cards: From Access Credentials to Skillcation Markers
Hotels can reframe wooden keycards as collectible markers of skill-based guest experiences, linking tangible objects to workshops like pottery, weaving, or tea to deepen guest connection and encourage return visits.
OTAs already speak the language of AI discovery, and most hotel marketers don't
Hotel marketers are falling behind OTAs in AI search fluency, risking direct bookings as AI assistants increasingly surface inaccurate or OTA-sourced property information.
The Importance of the PMS User Experience
Poor PMS usability creates hidden operational costs, including supervisor interventions, data errors, and wasted staff time, that never appear in a technology budget.
Waldorf Astoria Bangkok elevates luxury guest experiences with IRIS digital ordering and guest directory
Waldorf Astoria Bangkok has deployed IRIS digital ordering and a Hilton-approved guest directory across all 171 guestrooms, integrating with Oracle MICROS POS to streamline in-room dining and reduce printed materials.
Hotel & Spa Amoria La Baule, a member of Radisson Individuals, introduces a boutique seaside escape on France's Atlantic coast
Hotel & Spa Amoria La Baule, a member of Radisson Individuals, is a 43-room boutique lifestyle hotel overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on La Baule's iconic seafront promenade. Combining contemporary elegance with the relaxed charm of one of France's most celebrated seaside destinations, the hotel offers ocean-inspired accommodation, an intimate wellness spa and welcoming social spaces just moments from the beach, boutique shopping and local dining. The opening further strengthens Radisson Hotel Group's presence in France while expanding the Radisson Individuals collection with a distinctive coastal destination.
Three major Radisson Blu hotels in Norway achieve Verified Net Zero status
Radisson Hotel Group has certified three Norwegian Radisson Blu hotels as Verified Net Zero, bringing its total to four in Norway, as part of a goal to reach 100 verified net zero hotels by 2030.
Warsaw Market Pulse 2026 – The WAW Factor
Warsaw's hotel market reached near-decade-high occupancy of ~80% and a nominal RevPAR record in 2025, outperforming CEE-6 peers despite leading the region in new room supply growth since 2016.
General Services Administration Raises FY2027 Per Diem Rates
GSA will raise the standard continental U.S. lodging per diem to $113/day starting Oct. 1, 2026, a $3 increase, while meal allowances hold at $68/day.
Xi Zhe Wuxi, Curio Collection by Hilton Opens, Bringing Century‑Old Jiangnan Story to Life
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the opening of Xi Zhe Wuxi, Curio Collection by Hilton, marking Curio Collection by Hilton’s first property in Jiangsu Province. Comprising a historic residence alongside a newly constructed building, the hotel’s design embraces the coexistence of past and present, creating an urban retreat that blends historical heritage with contemporary comfort. Located within Wuxi Center 66, the hotel has been developed by Hang Lung Properties and is managed by Hilton.
U.S. hotel results for week ending 29 August
U.S. hotels posted their 20th straight week of year-over-year gains, with RevPAR up 1.7% to $100.69; San Francisco led Top 25 Markets on Pokémon World Championships demand.
Hospitality managers carry the weight of workplace wellbeing as work takes toll on their own mental health
Hospitality Action's annual survey finds 65% of hospitality managers link mental health issues to work, yet most lack formal training to support their teams or themselves.
Catch Me If You Can
A piece referencing Frank Abagnale, the famous impostor, as a lens for commentary relevant to the hospitality industry.
By David Lund, The Hotel Financial Coach, David Lund
Sallés Hotels × Dayuse: Turning Empty Daytime Hours into Pure-Margin Revenue
Sallés Hotels deployed Dayuse across six Spanish properties on a commission-only model, generating hundreds of extra bookings monthly from local leisure guests and international transit travellers with no added staff or overnight booking impact.
Beyond the Welcome Mat: The 2026 Playbook for Attracting and Retaining Top Hotel Talent
A 2026 talent strategy guide for hoteliers outlining five pillars: competitive pay, employee experience, career development, technology, and employer branding to win the hospitality talent war.
By Nasir Zahir