As I write this, the submarine with five souls on board is missing and time is running out. They have barely a few hours of oxygen left. There has been no communication with the ship since the first two hours after it was launched on Sunday June 18th, 2023. This piece is about that faithful ship and my obsession with it and a connection to the hotel world, both personal and historic.
Hilton and Black Label Hotels Strengthen Partnership with New Brussels Airport Hotel
Hilton Worldwide has announced a new collaboration with hotel operator Black Label Hotels (BLH) for the Hilton Garden Inn Brussels Airport, marking their third partnership in a short period. The brand-new hotel, set to open in The Wings—an innovative business center near Brussels Airport—will cater to both business and leisure travelers, offering 250 rooms, meeting and conference facilities, wellness amenities, parking, and a restaurant with an open kitchen. Notably, it will include dedicated crew lounges for airline staff—the only hotel in the area to do so.
New Zealand Sustainability Leader Sudima Hotels Adopts SiteMinder as It Overhauls Technology Stack, Seeks New Efficiencies
New Zealand’s Sudima Hotels has adopted SiteMinder, the world’s leading hotel distribution and revenue platform, to drive new efficiencies and elevate the revenue-generating capabilities of its seven premium hotels.
A Natural Haven on Portugal’s Blue Coast: Six Senses Comporta Unveils Masterplan for New Resort, Spa, and Branded Residences
Stripped-back yet refined, within striking distance of Lisbon yet a world away, Comporta has a singular charm and serene beauty. A few miles south is the new Pinheirinho coastal estate, many years in the making, that will set an exceptional new standard in mindful design. Six Senses, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ fast-growing Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio, has signed a hotel management agreement with VIC Properties as one of the few hand-picked communities that will be brought to life in accordance with strict aesthetic and sustainability guidelines.
Saudi Arabia set to deliver 362,000 new hotels rooms by 2030 under US$110 billion hospitality project expansion
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 17 March 2024. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is poised to develop 362,000 new hotel rooms by 2030 as part of its US$110 billion hospitality sector transformation, according to data released ahead of the 2025 edition of the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Saudi Arabia.
The hidden costs of emotional labor for hotel employees
We all know that working in a hotel or spa requires more than just simple guest interactions and meeting basic job requirements, particularly when it comes to luxury and award-winning properties.
STR Weekly Insights: 2-8 March 2025
It was a mostly flat first full week of March for U.S. hotels with revenue per available room (RevPAR) up a modest 0.6%, the result of a 2.1% increase in average daily rate (ADR) being offset by an occupancy decline of 0.9 percentage points (ppts). The week started strong with RevPAR growth above 3% year over year on Sunday through Tuesday. Then began the decline, which worsened each day into Saturday (-4%). Strong ADR gains lifted the start of the week and falling occupancy deflated the end.
Beyond BAR: the power of Open Pricing
Best available rate (BAR) was the most commonly adopted strategy for pricing hotel rooms back in the 90s, but as the hospitality industry has evolved and become a sophisticated digital ecosystem of OTAs, own brand channels, and systems, a new pricing model was needed.
Rethinking Wellbeing – Why It’s More Than Spas & Luxury Hotels
Hospitality often treats wellbeing as a luxury spa experience, but Valentina Clergue of EHL argues it’s so much more.
Beyond Greenwashing – Why Hospitality Needs Real Sustainability Strategies
Many hotels and travel companies embrace sustainability—but do they really know how to implement it? Carlos Martin-Rios, professor at EHL Hospitality Business School, warns that good intentions aren’t enough.