TOP NEWS

🏨 Martine Gerow, CFO of Accor, led the Q1 sales and revenue call in absence of CEO Sébastien Bazin. Accor, which operates predominantly outside the U.S., has 108 hotels in North America out of over 5,500 globally, drawing just 5% of its room revenue from the U.S. In March, U.S. bookings declined by 10%, with larger drops from Europe. Canada, with 27 Accor hotels, showed a trend of locals staying in-country rather than traveling to the U.S. For Q1 2025, Accor reported a RevPAR increase of 5% YOY, with a 13.1% rise in the Americas despite China's negative impact. Accor opened 45 new hotels adding over 5,900 rooms and had a network of 847,290 rooms. The company aims to accelerate net unit growth in the second half of 2025 and expand to 300 hotels in India by 2030, with recent deals including a partnership with InterGlobe and potential management of 17 Royal Holiday Group properties.

🏠 Blackstone, a US investment firm, is acquiring Hamilton Island in Queensland, Australia, from the Oatley family for about AUD1.2 billion. Coliwoo sold an 80% stake in Coliwoo Hotel Pasir Panjang, Singapore, for SGD43.9 million, with a long-term leaseback. Singapore-based RP Financial bought a mixed-use asset in Auckland, New Zealand, featuring a 154-key hotel. Sino United Publishing acquired Wifi Boutique Hotel in Hong Kong for HKD205 million, realizing a gain of HKD190 million over 35 years.

🗺 Jan 13, 2026, China: The travel market shows significant growth in 2025, with increased holiday spending and per-capita expenditure. More than 50% prefer deep exploration of single destinations over fast-paced itineraries. Outbound travel is led by affluent consumers, with short-haul trips in Asia and diverse long-haul destinations. Independent and high-end customized travel gain popularity, focusing on emotional satisfaction over cost. Ultra-high-income travelers favor premium experiences.

📈 Travelers spend up to 45 days planning trips, engaging with 277 pages or 303 minutes of content. Marketing should focus on inspiration, research, and booking phases—not just booking, which is only one day. Full-funnel strategies boost brand.com contribution by 8-10% and reduce OTA reliance. Ads at booking stages have a 7% recall rate. AI tools are reshaping travel planning, requiring Generative Engine Optimization. Aligning marketing and revenue management enhances influence over booking and planning windows.