Automatic - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 169

2 min

Spain’s summer of unrest

🌍 In June 2025, anti-tourism protests erupted across Spain, notably in Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca. Locals, frustrated with overcrowding, rising rents, and housing shortages, targeted tourists using water guns, flares, and chants like “tourism is terrorism.” The backlash highlights issues like Airbnb's impact on housing affordability and threatens the region's tourism-dependent jobs and revenue. Spain's global tourism image risks damage, pushing the industry towards sustainable solutions to balance visitor impact and local quality of life.

2 min

WhatsApp introduces ads

📱 WhatsApp, as of June 17, 2025, introduces ads in the Updates tab, accessible by 1.5 billion users daily. Meta emphasizes user privacy, maintaining end-to-end encryption and not accessing message content. Optional integration with Facebook and Instagram aids cross-platform targeting. New monetization tools include paid subscriptions and ad tools for "channels." This aligns with Meta's strategy, leveraging its $164 billion ad revenue. Despite privacy concerns, analysts note potential due to WhatsApp's vast user base.

2 min

How Marriott is using AI to rethink room assignments

💻 Jun 17, 2025, at the Skift Data and AI Summit, Marriott International revealed its AI-driven room assignment tool, optimizing 1.2 million room assignments in seconds. Initially faced with staff overrides, continued iterations improved its accuracy while retaining staff oversight. This initiative, begun in 2023, emphasizes efficiency over full automation, empowering staff. Highgate Technology Ventures advocates for incremental AI adoption, reinforcing the potential of small-scale innovations in the hospitality industry.

2 min

Travel advisors navigate a year of extremes

✈️ Jun 17, 2025: Travel advisors navigate a volatile market with last-minute luxury trips and early 2026 bookings. Conferences highlight economic uncertainty impacting U.S. travelers, while luxury bookings boost agencies like VIP Vacations. Despite Q1 dips, AMG and TLN see growth in river cruising and luxury. Declines in destination weddings and honeymoons reflect changing financial priorities. Industry optimism for 2026 indicates a potential “new normal,” despite current challenges with booking extremes.

3 min

Waymo’s Impact on the Tourism Economy

Waymo One is providing hundreds of thousands of fully autonomous trips each week in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin, where residents are integrating Waymo One into their daily…

1 min

US airlines secretly shared travel data with border patrol

📰 ARC, owned by major U.S. airlines like Delta and United, sold passenger data to CBP as of June 12, 2025. The data, comprising names, itineraries, and payments, aids in tracking individuals without legal oversight. This arrangement includes a secrecy clause and consists of over 1 billion records updated daily, spanning 39 months. Privacy experts criticize this practice, reflecting government reliance on private brokers for sensitive data.

1 min

Shiji releases 2025 Hospitality Distribution Technology chart

📈 June 11, 2025 - Barcelona: Shiji unveils its 2025/2026 *Hospitality Distribution Technology Chart*. Key trends include AI integration across hotel tech, social media like TikTok and WeChat as booking channels, and a rise in alternative marketplaces. Upselling tools are essential, with a focus on direct bookings and open APIs. The chart reflects a shift towards flexible, tech-driven revenue strategies. Download the full chart on Shiji's website.

1 min

How digital clues guide today’s travelers

🌎 Jun 12, 2025: AI is transforming travel planning, influencing 62% of travelers through online content, and 75% via social media. Brands like Dragonpass, with 40 million users, are using AI to tailor travel perks based on digital behaviors such as search history and purchase habits. Marketers must adapt to this AI-driven landscape to stay relevant, as digital interactions from Google searches to TikTok likes shape travel decisions.

2 min

Airbnb expands its reach—will hotels keep up?

🏠 Jun 12, 2025, Airbnb expands its Experiences platform to include hotel-style services, such as massages and fitness sessions, challenging hotels to adapt. Despite skepticism from Hilton and Accor executives about quality consistency, Airbnb aims to compete by offering amenities typically exclusive to hotels. HotelAVE's CEO highlights missed loyalty and revenue opportunities for hotels. Meanwhile, Marriott tests curated experiences, and some hotels list on Airbnb to reach new segments. The hospitality industry faces the pressure of evolving guest expectations and tech advancements.

1 min

PwC downgrades 2025 U.S. hotel forecast

🏨 Jun 12, 2025, PwC revised its 2025 U.S. hotel forecast down due to economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions. RevPAR growth is now expected at 0.9% to $101.16, down from 1.5%. Occupancy is projected at 63.1%, with ADR rising 0.8% to $160.30. Q2 saw a 1.2% RevPAR decline, but Q3 and Q4 are expected to rebound with growth of 1.1% and 1.8%, respectively. Inbound international business travel remains strong, while domestic demand is uneven.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.