TOP NEWS

🛑 Scott Dahl and Mercedes Blanco discuss hotel industry trends heading into 2026, emphasizing upselling, cross-selling, and AI's role in personalizing guest experiences. AI, including ChatGPT, is reshaping travel research and distribution. They address data ownership, privacy concerns, and generational travel trends. Key recommendations include utilizing AI for upselling, maintaining the human touch, and experimenting with innovative solutions to stay competitive. Hospitality professionals are urged to embrace change to navigate the evolving market landscape.

🎠 Puy du Fou plans a €700 million theme park in Bicester, Oxfordshire, opening in phases starting 2029. Spanning 150 hectares, it will have 20,000 trees, 5 km of hedgerows, and 16 hectares of meadows. The park will create 2,000 direct jobs and 6,000 indirect jobs, attracting 1.5 million visitors each year and generating €500 million locally. It will feature historical shows and is easily accessible from London, located near the M40 and Bicester railway station.

🏨 6,696 hotels worldwide were analyzed, revealing that guest satisfaction almost entirely explains eco-friendliness ratings, with sustainability actions and certifications having little impact. The EU’s Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive demands verifiable environmental claims, spotlighting a gap between actual sustainability and guest perceptions. Hotels should integrate sustainability visibly and communicate effectively, while platforms need clearer, consistent sustainability messaging. Aligning measurement with meaning is essential to bridging this perception gap and fostering accountability.

🌏 As 2025 ends, the Sustainable EU Tourism program wraps up its two-year initiative across Europe, focusing on sustainable tourism management. It emphasizes resource efficiency and community engagement, offering hotels practical steps like aligning with local goals and adopting sustainability practices. GCSTIMES, active since 2011, operates globally with centers in China, the US, UAE, France, and Australia. Their sustainable tech innovations reach over 140 countries, aiding 100,000+ hospitality groups.

💻 Hotels are adopting automation in operations to counter rising costs and high guest expectations. Deloitte reports a 32% cost reduction for those advancing intelligent automation. RobosizeME's analysis shows two-thirds of hotel processes are automation-eligible. Automation saves time and stabilizes labor by reallocating staff to value-adding tasks. A European hotel group saved 50 working days annually per workflow automated, improving data accuracy and operational resilience. Automation is now essential for strategic and financial success in hospitality.

📈 Hotels are increasingly making data accessible to all staff, not just management, as it aids in faster decision-making and aligns departments. Accessible analytics allow front desk and marketing teams to make real-time adjustments, while integrated systems connect PMS, RMS, and financial data for coherent insights. This democratization of data transforms hotels into agile, profitable entities by promoting evidence-based discussions and enabling every level of staff to act confidently.

🏨 Hospitality brands face intense competition with over 450 brands and 17.5 million rooms worldwide. To stand out, hotels must offer experience-led value propositions. Successful transformation can lead to pricing premiums and operational efficiency. The systematic approach includes five phases: Discovery, Blueprint Design, Operating Model, Change Management, and Critical Success Factors. Typical implementation takes 3 months, with full rollouts over 12-18 months. Embracing these strategies offers differentiation and sustainable value creation in a crowded marketplace.