Author: Admin

SAN FRANCISCO (September 10, 2025) — Canary Technologies, the award-winning global leader in hotel guest management technology, today announced more than 3X year-over-year growth in digital tips to hotel staff, with nearly 70% of gratuities going to housekeepers.

There is nothing cheap about loyalty. I wrote those words years ago while evoking Ryan Bingham and his manic pilgrimage through miles and tiers, and I still believe them today. Because the true loyalty currency is not plastic or points. Loyalty is, instead, measured in attention, presence, memory, and the feeling of being recognized.

Travel is one of my greatest joys in life – each journey leaves me energized and inspired. I love the human touch: being greeted by hotel staff, chatting with someone who can answer questions, and feeling genuinely welcomed. But when I travel for business, efficiency is everything. I’m often moving fast, focused solely on getting to my room and connecting to Wi-Fi as quickly as possible.

Mandarin Oriental is delighted to announce the opening of its first hotel in Austria, Mandarin Oriental, Vienna, on 20 October 2025. Located in the city’s prestigious First District on peaceful Riemergasse, the hotel is ideally situated for exploring one of Europe’s foremost centres for music, culture and the arts. Comprised of 138 elegantly designed rooms and suites, exceptional dining concepts, and a signature The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Vienna features a striking design that links the city’s historic grandeur and artistic innovation with The Group’s philosophy of understated luxury and legendary service.

The AHLA Foundation today announced partnerships with the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (ICHRIE) and the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA) designed to strengthen opportunities for young people seeking professions in the industry. Building on the Foundation’s legacy of scholarship support for hospitality students, these strategic alliances represent an evolution of the Foundation’s talent pipeline mission—bridging the gap between higher education institutions and industry workforce needs.

1 Hotels, the mission-driven luxury lifestyle hotel brand founded by hospitality visionary Barry Sternlicht, is proud to announce the official opening of 1 Hotel Copenhagen, a transformative reimagining of the historic Skt. Petri. Copenhagen is one of the world’s most forward-thinking cities and a beacon of sustainability. So it makes sense that 1 Hotels—a purpose-driven brand built around sustainable travel—chose the city for its first location in continental Europe.

Forbes Travel Guide (“FTG”), the global authority on luxury hospitality, today announced The Edge List 2025, honoring 20 hotels, resorts and cruises that redefine the boundaries of travel, providing access to remote, awe-inspiring destinations while delivering uncompromising comfort and elevated experiences.

I recently wrote about the Reality Rule in my Forbes column. Apparently, I hit on a topic that resonated with the Forbes readers, which prompted me to write a version for our subscribers to The Shepard Letter.

The launch of TikTok Go, in partnership with Booking.com, is a moment hoteliers cannot ignore. TikTok users can now book hotels directly within the app, enabling content creators to earn commissions when their followers make reservations. It is not just another marketing channel; it is a blueprint for the future of hospitality distribution. We covered the topic some years ago, but at the time, we were explaining how social commerce in China has become a new direct booking channel. It appears that TikTok is adopting an OTA-first approach, rather than basing it on the Chinese model.

Set to open in summer 2026, Eha is a new wellness retreat on Estonia’s unspoilt Hiiumaa Island, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Here, guests embark on a journey of renewal, guided by a philosophy deeply rooted in nature and the rhythm of the seasons. Encircled by the Baltic Sea and steeped in centuries of local tradition, Hiiumaa is one of Europe’s quietest islands, with some of its darkest, clearest skies. Two-thirds forested, with wild beaches and rare biodiversity, it offers the space and stillness that set the tone for every stay.