STR Weekly Insights: 5-11 October 2025

For the second consecutive week, average daily rate (ADR) rose at the rate of inflation, up 2.6% for the period ending 11 October 2025. As a result, U.S. revenue per available room (RevPAR) rose 0.6%, marking the industry’s first weekly increase since the end of August. Occupancy, however, fell for a 16th straight week, with the most recent decline (-1.4 percentage points) half of what had been seen in the previous fortnight (~2.5ppts).

Dublin Hotel Market Spotlight YE August 2025

The sample of branded full-service hotels in Dublin recorded a slight decline in profit during the 12 months ending in August 2025, compared to the same period last year. GOP per Available Room (GOP PAR) decreased by 1.4%, due to a -1.0% drop in revenues while the cost declined by -0.8%.

Waldorf Astoria Arrives in Finland: A New Chapter in Iconic Luxury

Waldorf Astoria makes its Nordic debut, unveiling a new era of luxury in the heart of Helsinki. Owned by M&L Group and operated by Hilton under the Waldorf Astoria brand, the landmark property spans four beautifully preserved historic buildings, designed by Finnish architects Evert Lagerspetz and Armas Siitonen. Waldorf Astoria Helsinki features 116 elegantly appointed rooms, including 32 suites, inviting guests to experience timeless elegance, Nordic sophistication, and the kind of personalised service that has defined the brand for over a century.

Why Hospitality Education Needs a Reality Check

For much of the late twentieth century, hospitality education was a model of how academia could work hand in hand with industry. The UK led the world in creating postgraduate programmes that balanced academic rigour with real-world relevance, producing graduates equally at ease in boardrooms and hotel kitchens. These programmes nurtured qualities such as leadership, resilience, creativity, and good people management, essential to an industry built on human connection.

The Future of Hotel Branding: The AI Design Power Revolution

Over the summer, a pink yacht docked off Marassi Marina in Egypt’s North Coast offering on-board beauty services by the Egyptian brand, Beauty 911 had appeared on my Instagram feed. I had no plans of going to Egypt but within minutes of seeing this Instagram reel, my August plans became experiencing the pink yacht with my girlfriends before the summer ended. What I felt in those moments, unfolding a scenario I hadn’t planned, is today’s traveler letting curiosity, preferences, and desire drive every decision. One captivating idea, one scroll-stopping image, can completely rewrite their travel.