Loyalty Programs: Who’s Really Winning?
I have a love-hate relationship with loyalty programs. Actually, scratch that. Mostly hate. Having sat on the franchisee side of the table, I know first-hand that these programs don’t benefit the hotel. They don’t benefit the traveler either. They…
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What hotel investors think about capex in 2025
Typically, major hotel owners had set aside four per cent of gross annual revenue for capital improvements (capex) and four to five per cent in reserves for repair, maintenance, and replacement of furniture, fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E), depending…
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Extended-stay hotels are here for the long haul. It’s why brands are crowding in
The extended-stay hotel segment is still having its moment. In fact, its shine may have never been brighter. The asset class, characterized by long stays, from several days, to weeks, to months, and design elements, such as in-room kitchens and…
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The Tomb A Machine Can’t Find: When the Golden Key Unlocks What Tech Alone Can’t
“Thank you. I found my friend.” That was the message Sharezal Abdul Wahid received a week after a guest checked out of The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur — accompanied by a photo of the elderly man standing by the grave of a long-lost wartime friend…
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Have ‘Best of’ Lists Made Travel More Bland?
The 50 Best dictates where to stay. Do its judges even know what they’re talking about? Some of the most influential hospitality rankings in the world are produced in a homely office park in Crawley, an exurb of London. There amid the square bushes…
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Africa’s hotel performance still a wild card
After two years of solid recovery, the global hospitality industry has moved into “steady, modest and expected” growth patterns but Africa presents a far more complex picture.
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Should the Government be Regulating Commissions Hotels Pay to the OTAs?
Recently, the Switzerland’s price watchdog (Der Preisüberwacher / Le surveillant des prix) ruled that Booking’s hotel commissions were 'abusively high' and ordered the OTA to lower them by 25% for Swiss hotels…
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During the EHL Open Innovation Summit in Lausanne, we had the opportunity to sit down with Dr…
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International tourist arrivals grew 5% in Q1 2025
International tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) increased by 5% in the first quarter of 2025 though results were mixed among regions and sub-regions.
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Korea's luxury hotels are strengthening their own brand (PB) kimchi business one after another
Lotte Hotel is planning to expand its kimchi-related product line by launching Kimchi Stew Home Meal Replacement (HMR) in the second half of the year.
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The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is delighted to announce that Mr William HEINECKE, Founder and Chairman of Minor International PCL, was inducted into the SHTM Gallery of Honour on 16…
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Twenty Years of Change: How Hospitality Tech Evolved and What’s Next
Twenty years ago, hospitality looked very different. Kitchens ran on handwritten tickets and verbal handoffs. POS terminals were clunky, fixed to the counter, and limited to basic transactions. Front-of-house teams juggled high guest expectations…
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Data Privacy Breaches: A Wake-Up Call for Hotel Operators
In the hospitality industry, there is yet another obstacle that operators really need to worry about. We all know that guest trust is the cornerstone of success but what if we breach that trust and not even on purpose? While we can go the extra mile…
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What Marriott CFO, industry experts think of CitizenM deal
Hospitality pros say Marriott will need to work hard to ensure CitizenM doesn’t cannibalize its other lifestyle brand, Moxy. CFO Leeny Oberg says that won’t be a problem.
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From "Gig" to "Glitch" Economy: Hospitality's New Battle Against AI Hallucinations
The Emergence of the Hallucinated Guest (and no, we are not discussing ayahuasca retreats...). Last week, a client contacted me in visible perplexity: «We received a booking for a two-bedroom suite that does not exist»…
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From Fine Dining to Fine Living: Can F&B Brands Boost Real Estate Value?
Branded residences have become the flavour of the year in the UAE and the wider Middle East. Developers have embraced the idea that attaching a brand – any brand – can boost both price tags and investor appeal…
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4 ways hospitality HR teams are taking the lead
The hospitality industry is at a crossroads, with HR leaders playing a pivotal role in addressing workforce challenges and driving strategic transformation. From combating high turnover rates and seasonal hiring challenges to leveraging digital…
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How Trump tariffs will impact US hotels with higher costs, lower demand and delayed expansion
President Trump’s new tariffs are predicted to have a huge impact on the US hotel industry and potentially on occupancy rates if it drives up the price of a room.
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