Category: Recent News

In recognition of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and in line with our spirit of care, we shine a light on initiatives and partnerships, that Accor teams have developed around the world, to champion gender equality, combat violence and empower women.

In the last five years, there has been an unprecedented rush to new technologies in hospitality such as AI integration and fully automated customer service but often this overlooks if that is what guests want.

For GuestCentric’s Latest in Travel podcast series in 2024, I had the privilege to engage with various experts across the travel, hospitality, and tech sectors, uncovering critical insights for the industry’s future. Drawing from their deep operational experience and technology expertise, these professionals highlighted opportunities for advancements that can elevate service quality, boost efficiency, and drive growth in the hotel sector. Below are the most impactful takeaways from the interviews conducted, outlining strategies to help hotels flourish in 2025 and beyond.

The Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge will support projects that are leveraging digital technologies to enhance tourism, promote sustainability, and drive economic growth. Participants are encouraged to address digital transformation, sustainability, inclusivity, and digital governance across key areas, including branding and marketing; smart destinations and deep technologies; scalable education solutions; and efficiency in operations. Through these categories, the initiative seeks to foster innovation that elevates destination appeal, optimizes resource management, and creates intelligent, impactful tourism experiences.

In a landmark session at COP29, the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (the Alliance) introduced its Universal Sustainability Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) during the first-ever joint session of Tourism Ministers and the COP Presidency. This initiative, part of the COP29 Declaration on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism, marks a transformative step for the hospitality industry, underscoring its pivotal role in addressing global climate challenges, enhancing economic sustainability, and driving sustainable consumer choices.

IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, announces the signing of Vignette Collection, Union Han, Istanbul Karaköy, – marking the brand’s debut in Türkiye. The converted property, owned by Cortex Turizm, will become the 16th IHG hotel in the city once it opens in the second half of 2025.

Mews, the industry-leading hospitality cloud, has won the Tech Hero Award at CIODAY2024. The award is presented to companies that have built their business around a digital core, allowing them to continually adapt to industry changes and lead the way with innovations.

When was the last time you thought about your hotel’s door locks? While they might not be front of mind for many hoteliers, door locks are integral to hotel operations and guest experiences. However, many hotels still rely on outdated systems, creating challenges for security, maintenance and digital innovation.

Despite plenty of evidence for the “cognitive biases” from which all decision-makers suffer, an astounding number of managerial decisions is still based on gut feelings rather than solid analysis. Among the many reasons for this may be a certain level of apprehension about the complexity of quantitative analysis and the methods it entails.

The 2024 Wellness Real Estate Mid-Year Report, released by RLA Global in collaboration with HotStats, highlights the shifting dynamics within the wellness hospitality sector. The report uncovers a surprising profitability trend, with Minor Wellness hotels outperforming their Major Wellness counterparts in revenue and growth during the first half of the year. Powered by HotStats’ financial and operational data, this analysis provides critical insights into the evolving market.