TOP NEWS

🏩 Claudia Infante, Chief Data Officer at Margaritaville, explains the difference between hospitality and lodging on April 29, 2025. Emphasizing the business benefits of investing in genuine hospitality services, she encourages applying the insights to enhance operations and customer experiences.

🏨 AI revolutionizes the hospitality industry, automating and enhancing tasks in Marketing, Sales, and Revenue Management. AI adoption rates exceed 70% globally, yet up to three-quarters of businesses struggle to scale value from AI investments. The focus shifts from incremental efficiency to strategic transformation, requiring a move from routine tasks to strategic thinking and human skills. The emergence of Integrated Commercial Leaders orchestrates Marketing as Brand Experience Architects, Sales as Strategic Growth Partners, and Revenue Management as Commercial Strategists. The future-ready commercial team relies on a robust Hotel Business Intelligence System and a leadership mindset that views AI as an enabler of human potential.

🔔 Marriott International, on Apr 29, 2025, announced the acquisition of citizenM, a lifestyle hotel brand with 36 hotels and 8,544 rooms across 20+ cities, plus 3 under construction. Marriott will pay $355 million, with up to $110 million in potential future earn-outs. Post-acquisition, citizenM will join Marriott with new franchise agreements, projecting ~$30 million in annual fees. The deal is expected to drive Marriott's net room growth to nearly 5% in 2025.

🏨 Marriott International acquired citizenM hotels for $355 million, with citizenM retaining real estate ownership and joining Marriott's Bonvoy loyalty program. The author reflects on citizenM's unique approach to hospitality, comparing it to the punk rock ethos of Fugazi, fearing that the acquisition might dilute this spirit. He recalls a personal experience at citizenM, highlighting its authenticity, and expresses concern over potentially losing the brand's essence, drawing parallels with BrewDog's perceived shift after selling a stake.

🏕 Wyndham Hotels & Resorts launched La Quinta by Wyndham in Batumi, Georgia, to cater to tourists, business travelers, and digital nomads. Georgia saw 7.4 million international visitors in 2024, a 4.2% year-over-year increase. La Quinta by Wyndham Batumi features 98 rooms, on-site parking, a 24/7 fitness center, wellness center, an international restaurant, and a bar. It's close to attractions like Batumi Beach and Batumi International Airport. The expansion reflects Wyndham's EMEA growth strategy and Georgia's booming tourism.

🔔 Choice Hotels International partners with Mews to provide an innovative property management system (PMS) for international franchisees. The collaboration features real-time data access, operational efficiencies via automation, a scalable infrastructure, and enhanced guest experiences through personalized stays. The integration with choiceEDGE reservation system ensures up-to-date rates and availability. Chief Information Officer Brian Kirkland highlights the importance of regional-specific tools for franchisees outside the U.S., while Mews CEO Matt Welle emphasizes the goal of setting a new benchmark in connected hospitality.

🏨 Choice Hotels International is adopting Mews as a PMS option for international franchisees, aiming to improve connectivity, operations, and guest loyalty using Mews’ cloud-native PMS. The integration with choiceEDGE will allow real-time rate and availability updates across all booking channels. Key benefits include full data visibility, operational efficiencies through automation, scalable growth, and enhanced guest experiences. Brian Kirkland highlights the importance of expanding platform options for franchisees outside the U.S., while Matt Welle of Mews emphasizes the collaborative effort to set new industry benchmarks.

💰 Customer experience platforms for hotels facilitate feedback collection during pre-arrival, stay, and post-departure, aiming to improve services based on guest preferences and pain points. These platforms analyze feedback for marketing, highlight guest-praised features (e.g., exceptional service, prime location), and address common concerns. Proactive review management enhances reputation and conversion rates. Additionally, personalized offers for past guests drive repeat bookings and loyalty, ultimately contributing to revenue growth through direct bookings.

🏨 In Q1 2025, the U.S. hotel construction pipeline hit an all-time high with 6,376 projects and 749,561 rooms, marking a 5% and 6% YOY increase, respectively. Under construction are 1,152 projects with 145,368 rooms, and 2,286 projects with 263,370 rooms are scheduled to start within 12 months. Early planning stages surged 10% and 13% YOY with 2,938 projects and 340,823 rooms. Upscale, upper midscale, and midscale chain scales dominate, accounting for 75% of projects. A record 1,421 brand conversions and 2,050 combined hotel conversion and renovation projects were noted. Q1 saw 313 new project announcements and a 21% quarterly increase in new construction starts. From January to March 2025, 161 new hotels opened, and 740 new hotels with 83,548 rooms are expected by year-end, a 1.5% growth rate. Looking to 2026, a 1.6% increase with 848 new hotels is anticipated.

🏨 The U.S. Hotel Construction Pipeline at Q1 2025 includes 6,376 projects and 749,561 rooms, marking a 5% and 6% YOY increase. Under construction: 1,152 projects (+1% YOY) with 145,368 rooms (+3% YOY). Starting within 12 months: 2,286 projects (+1% YOY) with 263,370 rooms. Early planning stages surged by 10% in projects and 13% in rooms YOY, totaling 2,938 projects and 340,823 rooms. Upscale (1,443 projects/179,295 rooms), upper midscale (2,338/226,349), and midscale (974/82,094) dominate 75% of the pipeline. Brand conversions hit a record-high: 1,421 projects/136,668 rooms (+13% and +16% YOY). New project announcements in Q1: 313 projects/37,912 rooms. Openings from January to March 2025: 161 hotels/18,767 rooms. Forecast for 2025: 740 hotels/83,548 rooms (+1.5%), and for 2026: 848 hotels/92,892 rooms (+1.6%).