Category: Recent News

As of August 2024, more than 5,000 hotels worldwide have been verified under the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) “Hotel Sustainability Basics” framework. Are you part of it? Let’s take a quick look at what’s driving this global movement.

The 2025 Boutique Hotel Owners Conference, hosted by the Boutique & Luxury Lodging Association (BLLA), concluded its annual gathering, offering a clear view of the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of boutique hospitality. Guided by the theme Terra Incognita, the event championed creative thinking, encouraged hoteliers to explore new strategies, and highlighted the value of integrating culture, innovation, and connectivity to elevate the guest experience and stay ahead in an evolving industry.

Last week, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) hosted its signature education and membership event, the HFTP Annual Convention. The convention was held at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla. from October 22–24, 2025 with 465 professionals in attendance. It offered an energizing and informative experience presenting education, industry insights, networking and celebration.

Mews, the operating system for hospitality and shared spaces, today announced the acquisition of DataChat, a US-based AI company. The acquisition marks a major step in Mews’ mission to build fully agentic hospitality systems, where intelligent agents autonomously manage day-to-day operations, optimize performance, and empower humans to focus on the guest experience.

Holiday Inn by IHG has unveiled a brand new look following a significant programme of renovation to upgrade the iconic Edwardian building and elevate the hotel’s offering in the centre of Farnborough.

Unveiled at the landmark exhibition “1925-2025: A Century of Art Deco” at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, within the grounds of the Louvre, The Orient Express Train stands as a striking dialogue between heritage and modernity. As the principal exhibit in what is being hailed as one of the most significant Art Deco showings ever staged, it is exceptionally rare for a hospitality brand to take centre stage in a cultural exhibition of this magnitude, a true testament to Orient Express’s iconic status. Its inclusion recognises architect Maxime d’Angeac’s outstanding ability to reimagine Art Deco for the future.

As World Sustainability Day approaches on 29 October, Hilton is reaffirming its commitment to redefining sustainable travel with impactful initiatives across South East Asia. From hosting carbon-neutral events to donating surplus food to local communities, Hilton hotels in the region are taking meaningful steps to reduce environmental impact while creating positive guest experiences.

Just days into OpenAI’s new app marketplace, Booking.com and Expedia have seized a commanding lead. They’re not just experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI). They’re embedding themselves directly into the core of how travelers search, discover and book stays at your hotels. And because they’ve moved first—with no safeguards to stop them—they are about to become the default middlemen of the AI age. If that happens, hoteliers will spend the next decade paying for access to their own guests.

Spanish owner-operator Grupotel has acquired the four-star, 210-room Barceló Conil Playa in Conil de la Frontera, Spain from Spanish asset management company Wingenia. The beachfront property is situated in the south of Spain, about 100 kms west of Gibraltar. The hotel opened in 2021 and includes three restaurants, three bars and three meeting rooms. It was previously operated by Barceló and will now be managed by the new owners under the name Grupotel Conil Playa from November 2025 onwards.

Forty-eight percent of Thai hoteliers acknowledge they miss revenue opportunities at least weekly—such as when competitors adjust rates or new events are announced—because they cannot respond fast enough, according to new research by SiteMinder, the world’s leading hotel guest acquisition and revenue platform.