RISE ABOVE! Infor, Influence, and Punk Rock

In an interview, Hemingway allegedly said that to write about life, first you must live it. And, as usual, the guy had a point. Writing isn’t about sitting in a room, sipping a Super Venti Flat White (which should be considered a criminal offense, right up there with playing padel or reggaeton music—but that’s just me being me), and waiting for inspiration to smack you. It’s about getting out there, taking action, and occasionally waking up in a place you have zero recollection of arriving at. Papa Hem? He lived it: bullfights, wars, safaris, and more booze than our fragile corporate livers could ever hope to endure. Me? Not quite. I’ve never written under falling bombs or while dodging horns in a corrida, but I have my own stories.

Whitebridge EMEA Hotels Monitor, Issue 35

In January, we hosted our 20th New Year Hotel Investment Summit in London and many thanks to those who attended and helped us celebrate 20 years of data and fun. The full time score for our London Luxury Hotel piece in the last EMEA Monitor was further RevPAR growth across 2024, despite all the new supply. Well done everyone and long may it continue and London continue to evolve and consolidate its position as one of the world’s most popular destinations for international travelers. Viva the third runway?

The Valentine’s Dilemma: Romance vs. Reality

Ah, Valentine’s Day—the time when the world is supposed to be a blur of romance, chocolate, and heart-shaped everything. Hotels, especially, like to paint this picture of couples strolling in, hand-in-hand, gazing into each other’s eyes over a three-course candlelit dinner, followed by slow dances in the moonlight. Everything is perfect, right? Well… not quite.