The Boutique & Luxury Lodging Association (BLLA), the premier global community for independent boutique and luxury hotels, today announced a strategic partnership with AICrashcourse.info, an AI education platform founded by Rohit Khanna, designed to make artificial intelligence accessible and actionable for hospitality professionals.
Villa d’Este La Collezione unveils its new destination: Palazzo Venezia
Villa d’Este La Collezione, the new brand which includes Villa d’Este on Lake Como, Villa La Massa in Florence, and Miralago Luxury Apartments in Cernobbio, is delighted to announce the opening of Palazzo Venezia in Como, the first 5-star hotel in the city to join The Leading Hotels of the World.Deniz Ömürgönülşen, LHW’s VP of Member Experience, welcomes this new chapter for both the city of Como and the evolution of the Villa d’Este Group: “Palazzo Venezia opens a magnificent new chapter on Lake Como. As a sister property to the Leading Hotels of the World members Villa d’Este and Villa La Massa, it enriches our heritage in one of Italy’s most beloved destinations, offering travellers a charming and tranquil city retreat. Open all year round, Palazzo Venezia strengthens our commitment to independent Italian hospitality and to creating extraordinary experiences, increasingly sought after by our guests. We are delighted to welcome this new hotel to the LHW collection.
a&o Hostels acquires Schulz Hotels as part of EUR 500 million growth strategy
a&o Hostels, Europe’s largest and fastest growing hostel chain with 30,000 beds under management, has acquired Berlin based Schulz Hotels.
How small hotels are staying profitable in an unpredictable market
Guests are booking later, staying shorter and spending less, and competition is fiercer than ever. To stay profitable, independent hotel businesses need to embrace smart pricing and distribution, simplify their hotel management and double down on direct bookings and local marketing. This article breaks down what’s changing and how you can adapt.
The 2026 AI Disruption Map – 24 Tech Leaders Reveal Where Hospitality’s Future Is Being Built
Floor Bleeker and Henri Roelings asked 24 leading hotel technology suppliers a simple question: Which process or function will your AI solutions disrupt most in 2026, and how will this redefine value for hotels? (click here to check out this World Panel Viewpoint on HN).
Automation & AI: Why Hotels Need the Basics Before the Brilliance
We have been promised that AI will “transform” operations overnight. Well, AI is definitely leading to a transformation, I’m just not sure about “overnight”. The reality revealed by h2c’s 2025 Global AI & Automation Study is far more pragmatic. Most hotel groups still confuse automation and AI, and this confusion is slowing down returns, blocking adoption, and delaying efficiency gains that could be achieved today.
Your Apartment Expands London Portfolio with 23 New Design-Led Studio Apartments on Tower Bridge Road
Leading serviced apartment brand Your Apartment has announced the opening of its latest property, 23 contemporary studio apartments on Tower Bridge Road, London, further strengthening the company’s presence in one of the capital’s most dynamic districts.
The Chalet at Rosewood London Brings Alpine Luxury to the City
Rosewood London unveils The Chalet at Rosewood London, an immersive alpine-inspired terrace experience running from 25 November 2025 through February 2026. This winter’s terrace activation marks an exciting new collaboration with Goldbergh, the Amsterdam-based luxury ski brand and The Singleton Single Malt Scotch Whisky, transforming the hotel’s iconic courtyard into a sophisticated mountain retreat in the heart of London. The partnership brings together Rosewood London’s renowned approach to experiential hospitality with Goldbergh’s elevated take on alpine lifestyle, creating an unexpected urban escape that captures the glamour and warmth of a contemporary ski chalet
Hilton and Explora Journeys Announce Luxury Ocean Travel Partnership with Debut of Hilton Honors Adventures
Today, Hilton and Explora Journeys – the privately owned and ultra elegant ocean travel brand of the MSC Group – announce an exclusive collaboration. As part of this exciting new travel offering, Hilton debuts Hilton Honors Adventures, an extension of Hilton’s award-winning guest loyalty program focused on immersive, adventure-driven travel.
KKR Provides €300m Financing for Tristan Capital Partners’ EPISO 6 Acquisition of easyHotel Platform
KKR, a leading global investment firm, today announced that KKR-managed funds and accounts provided c. €300 million whole loan financing to EPISO 6, a fund managed by Tristan Capital Partners, to support its recent acquisition of easyHotel, a leading pan-European budget hotel operator. The financing will also support growth initiatives for the easyHotel platform, including further advancing the platform’s expansion and investment throughout Europe, new development projects in high-demand markets and capex investment across the existing portfolio.