TOP NEWS

🏨 Choice Hotels International introduces new prototypes for Comfort and Country Inn & Suites by Radisson in North Bethesda, Maryland, aiming to increase revenue for owners. Comfort, with over 2,100 locations and 122 in the pipeline, offers an open lobby and a "Comfort Way" service. The updated prototype can add three keys within the existing footprint and reduces FF&E SKU counts by 30%, speeding up hotel openings. Over 140 properties have adopted the Rise & Shine prototype. Country Inn & Suites introduces a residential ambiance and a welcome cookie for guests, plus a design gaining 18 keys and reducing land and FF&E costs. After acquiring Radisson Hotels Americas in 2022, Choice Hotels' Country Inn & Suites saw a 19-point RevPAR Index increase, a 20% rise in direct online contribution, and more revenue from group and business travelers. Two brands in the upper midscale segment opened 107 hotels.

✈ By 2026, ad spending on travel-focused commerce media is projected to reach $2.96 billion. In 2025, the travel industry will be characterized by seamless, personalized experiences facilitated by technology, where successful brands will utilize first-party data and integrate emerging technologies. Airlines, hotels, entertainment providers, and rideshare apps will collaborate to share insights and create targeted marketing campaigns, enhancing customer engagement and loyalty. Delta's partnership with DraftKings exemplifies how industry partnerships can scale growth and revenue through data-driven personalized promotions. Hospitality brands will increasingly monetize first-party data, following the retail media networks' lead, by creating advertising partnerships and media networks that deliver targeted ads across various platforms, including connected TV.

📦 The Global Direct Booking Acceleration Study surveyed 88 worldwide hotel chains, revealing that loyalty programs contribute less than one-third of total revenue, with large U.S. brands being an exception. Mobile bookings have risen to 42% of IBE revenue, a jump from 36% in 2019. Only 9% of hotels use AI-powered personalization in their IBEs, with 51% planning to adopt it. A significant 78% of chains face rate display issues in their booking process. Just 38% of IBEs are fully integrated with central guest profiles, and only 25% offer item sales post-booking. Resource constraints affect 29% of chains in optimizing online sales, and AI adoption is low, with 27% using chatbots and just 2% using voice-activated services. On average, hotel chains identify 6.6 tasks suitable for automation annually.

🏨 Hotel digitalization often starts with enthusiasm but faces issues due to standalone systems that don't integrate, leading to manual data entry and inefficiencies. Effective digital transformation lies in system connectivity, with successful hoteliers ensuring new software is compatible and builds an integrated ecosystem. Open APIs are crucial for this integration. The measure of digital success is not the number of systems but the interoperability between them.

🚀 The Hotel Yearbook 2025 Annual Edition was officially published last week during ITB Berlin. Contributors were thanked for their expertise and insights. Readers are encouraged to share their articles on LinkedIn and can find various resources and links provided by the HYB team. A post-publication survey will be sent, and feedback can be sent to [email protected] Contributions to the Sustainability Tech Edition were acknowledged for adding valuable perspectives to the hospitality industry.

🛏 In a hertelier LinkedIn Live event celebrating its fourth anniversary, Emily Goldfisher and Nancy Mendelson welcomed guests Amanda Al-Masri, Vice President of Wellness for Hilton, and Emily Hoyt, CEO of Lather. Al-Masri shared a statistic that 50% of people globally and two-thirds of Americans sleep better in hotels, attributing this to the elimination of obstacles like chores and the careful crafting of hotel room experiences. Al-Masri and Hoyt discussed Hilton's partnership with Calm, the importance of sensory elements like pillow sprays for sleep, and how wellness is integrated into Hilton's 24 brands and $220 million Hilton Honors loyalty program. Discussions also touched on ensuring guest satisfaction through shower and sleep experiences, the complexity of operationalizing pillow menus, and the significance of intuitive room controls for guests.

📈 Snapchat redefined from a photo-sharing app to a messaging platform, leading to a successful investment by Justin. Ryanair switched focus from passengers to airports, attracting millions in traffic revenue. US airlines profited mainly from loyalty programs, not ticket sales. The Swag's walking stick loyalty program drives repeat visits. AI Overviews increased by 558%, dominating search results and diminishing organic CTR for travel sites. Google's AI Mode and search dominance highlight the importance of AI optimization for visibility. Adapting to AI's role in commerce is crucial for future marketing strategies.

🏨 ITB Berlin, the world's leading travel show, hosted over 100,000 professionals and 5,800 exhibitors from 170 countries in 2025. Global tourism increased by 13% in 2024 with outbound travel hitting 2019 levels. MICE accounted for two-thirds of business trips, reflecting a strong demand for group travel. AI discussions focused on immediate hotel financial performance improvements. Collaboration in tech is breaking down data silos, highlighted by IDeaS' API developer portal and partnerships like with SiteMinder for more accessible hotel technologies. Key ITB 2025 takeaways include the importance of adaptability, total revenue optimization, practical AI application, system integration, and accessible technology for all hoteliers.

🚿 Independent hotel operators are adopting technology, such as an all-in-one property-management system (PMS), to assist housekeeping teams amid rising guest expectations and efficiency demands. The Hotel Association of Canada cites labor shortages as a key challenge for 2025, with 64% of hotels reporting staffing issues, according to an American Hotel & Lodging Association survey. Four ways PMS improves housekeeping include: enhancing communications, granting control over guest experience, providing tools for growth, and rewarding workers. A 2024 study found that digital tipping through PMS can result in an additional $375 in weekly earnings for associates. Companies increased training budgets by 14% in 2023 to support staff development. Flexible work schedules are a top priority for 77% of workers, according to the "Flex Work Nation" report.

👨 Leanne Harwood's hospitality career started in New Zealand where she became the first female hotel concierge, leading to roles across eight countries in sales, operations, and management. Emphasizing "freedom within a framework," Harwood encourages risk-taking and innovation. At IHG, she actively promotes diversity, mentoring women and supporting IHG's LGBTQIA+ group, Out & Open. While noting progress in women's leadership in hospitality, Harwood acknowledges the need for more initiatives to close the senior-level gender gap.