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July 17, 2025

58 posts
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  • 15 min

HotelData.com is Live: Sarah McCay Tams & Josiah Mackenzie on the Power of Hotel Performance Data and Storytelling

📈 Josiah and Sarah discuss Sarah's journey from starting as a radio journalist at 16 to becoming a Head of Editorial at Actabl. Sarah worked in hospitality as a receptionist at a 40-room inn in the Cotswolds and later shifted to travel journalism. Actabl recently launched HotelData.com, a free resource for hoteliers. The 2025 budget guide reveals a 15% gap in budgeted vs. actual RevPAR, while ADR remains stable. Despite revenue challenges, hotels hit gross operating profit targets, showing strategic cost management, particularly in labor.
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  • 2 min

Whitbread celebrates topping out of new Premier Inn in Manchester

🏨 Whitbread is expanding in Manchester, with a ten-storey Premier Inn on Rochdale Road set to open in autumn 2026, featuring 157 rooms. Following its site acquisition in February 2024 and construction start in October 2024, the hotel will be Whitbread's second largest in Manchester city centre. Partnering with GMI Construction Group, the project emphasizes sustainability, aiming for renewable electricity from 2025. Whitbread plans to reach 125,000 rooms across the UK.
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  • 2 min

IHG Hotels & Resorts signs first Vignette Collection Hotel in Venice, Italy

📍 IHG's Vignette Collection, launched in 2021, expands in Venice with The Venice Times hotel featuring 30 rooms. Centrally located, it offers proximity to landmarks like the Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge, plus convenient Vaporetto access. A collaboration with Pacini Group further solidifies IHG's luxury presence in Italy. The hotel joins existing IHG properties like Hotel Indigo Venice – Sant’Elena, as part of IHG's strategic growth in Italy and worldwide.
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  • 12 min

Shops make a city great

🏠 San Francisco's urban design could learn from Japan's high commercial density, where mixed-use zoning allows shops everywhere. American zoning laws often limit commercial spaces, making neighborhoods less walkable and engaging. Recent reforms by San Francisco's mayor aim to streamline business permits, reducing red tape for small businesses. Japan's policies favor small retailers, creating vibrant, walkable neighborhoods. Encouraging small retail footprints, improving public transit, and enhancing safety can transform cities into lively urban spaces.
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  • 2 min

HOFiction 2025: “Without a strong employer brand, you won’t have an engaged workforce”

💼 Employers can reduce attrition by up to 28% and boost long-term retention by 22% with a strong employer brand, according to Consuelo Corridori. This involves reputation, proposition, and employee experience. A robust brand fosters a positive culture, enhancing engagement and reducing costs related to recruitment and training. The employer value proposition promises a rewarding experience, reflecting authenticity and alignment between the company's actions and promises.
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onefinestay launches Élysée Collection in Paris

🏠 onefinestay and Herrmann Immeubles Group launched the Élysée Collection in Paris’ 8th arrondissement, featuring nine luxury apartments across five floors. Mid-term bookings in Paris increased by 300% year-on-year, with 64% of inquiries for one to two-month stays. Six apartments cater to mid-term rentals, and three for 3 to 29 nights. The apartments combine Haussmann-style elements with modern amenities. Additional services include concierge, housekeeping, and optional amenities like grocery delivery and private pastry classes.
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Costa Rica’s Tabacón Thermal Resort sells for $111M

🏨 JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group announced the $111-million sale of Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa, a 570-acre luxury property in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, to Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality, Inc. The resort offers 105 rooms, the largest network of thermal springs, and a recently opened Choyin Rio Termal. Located at Arenal volcano's base, it features rooms from 376 to 2,530 square feet. JLL has completed $83 billion in global transactions over five years.
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Las Vegas Sands Singapore breaks ground

🏢 Las Vegas Sands has started construction on an $8 billion ultra-luxury resort in Singapore. Attending the event were Singapore’s Prime Minister, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, and Dr. Miriam Adelson. The project includes a 570-suite hotel, 15,000-seat arena, and 200,000 square feet of meeting space, with design by Moshe Safdie. The resort, expected to elevate luxury tourism in Singapore, features a 76,000-square-foot Skyloop, and sustainability elements like self-shading façades and recycled materials.
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D.C.’s Willard InterContinental unveils room renovations

🏨 Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C. has completed a restoration of 335 accommodations, including 69 suites and 14 signature suites. The project, led by Parker-Torres Design, honors the hotel's 200-year legacy with dramatic design elements. Notable themed suites include those honoring Eleanor Roosevelt and Julia Ward Howe. Presidential and specialty suites pay tribute to historic figures. A new customizable experience program, "Incredible Occasions," offers unique events like a Mint Julep Masterclass and a Tea Experience.
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  • 6 min

117 – On selecting a marketing agency

📚 Martin Soler discusses marketing strategies and efficiency challenges in hospitality. Holidays impact European marketing schedules, and traditional paper systems sometimes outperform modern tech in hotel check-ins. Agencies should prioritize action over planning for immediate results. N.Y. agency Wørks emphasizes art in branding. Google SEO strategies are evolving with AI. The debate on hotel personalization continues, questioning AI's role. Independent hotels could surpass OTAs by leveraging detailed website content. Execution should triumph over extensive planning in marketing.
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