Author: Admin

AI, as in artificial intelligence, is the hot topic of the past two years. The experts say we’ve barely opened the door on AI’s possibilities. We all know AI stands for artificial intelligence, and a simple definition of AI, as it applies to customer service and experience (CX), is technology that can think and learn like humans to help solve problems and answer questions, making companies and their employees more productive and efficient.

As hospitality leaders, we are conditioned to focus on a specific set of metrics. We live and breathe RevPAR, occupancy, ADR, and direct booking percentages. These numbers are the bedrock of our operational control, and rightly so. The latest Insights Podcast prompted me to think more about the data we often overlook.

Last year saw the emergence of a new spectacle, with local residents in some major European tourist destinations undertaking very vocal protests against tourism, often armed with water pistols, to provide an amusing and newsworthy nuisance to some visitors.

Many hotel managers today aim to shift more bookings to their website — and rightly so. But in practice, website sales often come in short-lived spikes, driven almost entirely by paid campaigns. When ads are the only traffic source, the website becomes a temporary landing page, not a stable sales channel. And while the numbers might look good in the moment, the ROI rarely holds over time.

On July 7–8, 2025, EHL Hospitality Business School’s Lausanne campus welcomed the 9th Hospitality Finance & Economics (HFE) Conference, organized in collaboration with the Center for Urban and Real Estate Studies at Hitotsubashi University and the NUS Institute of Real Estate & Urban Studies. Seventeen researchers from four continents turned each session into a dynamic and insightful exchange on topics ranging from climate risk and affordability to the burgeoning world of digital real-estate markets.

In the push toward more sustainable guest amenities, plant-based leather has stepped into the spotlight. Hoteliers are now introducing luggage tags not only as practical identifiers, but also as keepsakes that extend the guest experience far beyond the stay. More than a giveaway, they’ve become a branded accessory, one that blends design, durability, and sustainability in a single detail.

Revinate, hospitality’s leading direct booking platform, is excited to announce two strategic appointments to power its continued expansion across the Asia-Pacific region. Jeff Hoh joins as APAC Head of Sales, while Nick Ellis has been appointed Australia Country Director. Ellis will report to Hoh who will report to Doug Tilford, Revinate’s Chief Revenue Officer.

The business travel industry is fueled by innovative supplier companies who focus on serving the needs of both corporate travel programs and the travelers these corporate customers send out on the road for work trips.

Harbour Hotels, an award-winning UK-based hotel group, has announced a landmark £3 million refurbishment of Harbour Hotel Guildford. Commencing this summer, the investment will see all 183 rooms and suites undergo a full redesign in a two-phase project, with upgraded technology and refreshed interiors.

Paris, France, August 26, 2025. Influence Societies has partnered with the newly restored Palacio de Tavira for its opening, launching a high-performing website designed to serve as the property’s primary booking and revenue channel. Set in the meticulously renovated former Palacio dos Tavares—a historic 18th-century landmark in Tavira’s old town—the hotel offers guests a distinctive blend of heritage, culture, and modern comfort. The new website reflects the property’s unique identity while enabling a seamless booking journey for its target audience of families and couples seeking authentic Algarve experiences.