Category: Recent News

Barry Diller is one of business’s most candid and visionary strategists. Two decades after his last Phocuswright appearance, the chairman and senior executive of IAC and Expedia Group returns to the stage at a moment of massive transformation for travel and media alike. In this candid conversation, Diller shares his unfiltered take on where travel is headed, how technology is changing the game and the bold moves needed to stay ahead when the playbook is being rewritten in real time.

Travel discovery has moved far beyond OTAs and metasearch. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Reddit are shaping how new generations dream, research and even book their trips—compressing the path from inspiration to transaction. With hotel booking pilots rolling out on TikTok and creator-driven content dictating destination demand, the rules of engagement are shifting fast. Join our panelists from three of the biggest players as they unpack how social platforms are rewriting the playbook—and what travel sellers must do to win the next wave of travelers.

Hotel food and beverage isn’t simply a service line—it’s the second-largest revenue engine in the building (1) and, increasingly, the brand’s cultural calling card.

The European Travel Commission (ETC) has today presented the Reykjavík Declaration “Tourism for Europe, Europe for Tourism”, a joint commitment by its 35 member national tourism organisations to place communities and residents at the heart of Europe’s tourism future. Signed during ETC’s 110th General Meeting in Iceland, the declaration outlines a shared vision for tourism that enriches local life, regenerates destinations, and safeguards Europe’s cultural and natural heritage.

The first block of Orient Express Olympian, the second sailing yacht of Orient Express Sailing Yachts, part of Accor Group, was laid down today at Chantiers de l’Atlantique.

Hotelschool The Hague looks back on the successful delivery of EuroCHRIE 2025, the largest international conference in its history. From 10 to 13 November, the university of applied sciences welcomed more than 220 students, PhD candidates, researchers, lecturers, alumni and industry partners in hospitality and tourism to its campus in The Hague.

Shiji, the global hospitality technology leader, today announced that Palacio Arriluce Hotel, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, has gone live with Daylight PMS to enhance operational efficiency and deliver a seamless guest experience.

Guests used to tell us when something went wrong. They complained at the desk. They called from the room. They filled out comment cards with neat handwriting and detailed grievances. Even if the stay was less than perfect, they gave the hotel a fair chance to fix it before passing judgment. That era is over. Something fundamental has shifted not loudly, but silently, and most hotels still haven’t caught up.

Guests used to tell us when something went wrong. They complained at the desk. They called from the room. They filled out comment cards with neat handwriting and detailed grievances. Even if the stay was less than perfect, they gave the hotel a fair chance to fix it before passing judgment. That era is over. Something fundamental has shifted not loudly, but silently, and most hotels still haven’t caught up.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Dino Jevric, Arlo’s Social Media Manager, to discuss how the brand is taking a different path on Instagram at a time when many hotels still use social mainly to push rates and packages. Arlo is treating the platform less like a sales channel and more like an extension of the guest experience, curating its feed as a living diary of hotel life and neighbourhood energy. The aim is simple but ambitious: make people feel like they are already there, before they have even booked.