May 14, 2025

Minor Hotels has reported a resilient start to 2025, shrugging off seasonal softness and currency volatility to post a 4% year-on-year increase in core revenue and a 7% jump in core EBITDA.

Let’s face it: being a spreadsheet ninja isn’t enough anymore. Nope, Nein, absolutely nopydoo. You can forecast like a wizard, price like a machine, and build dashboards so beautiful they deserve a frame… But if you can’t lead, communicate, or collaborate across silos, you’ll always be “that person that is good to Excel"...believe me...not a medal wanting discipline.

Recently, I had an experience with a company and thought, “I hate this … Why do they make me do this?” This question wasn’t because of curiosity. No, I was thinking that this is something other customers must hate as well, but they make them do it anyway. So, I started a personal brainstorming session to list various processes, requirements, policies, rules, and more that cause customers to question why they continue to do business with these companies. Of course, my mind immediately went to customer service and experience issues, but there’s much more. With that in mind, here are seven practices, steps, processes, and policies that customers hate, but companies make them do it anyway.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the global body representing the Travel & Tourism private sector, today announced its latest Economic Impact Research which found that the U.S. is on track to lose a staggering $12.5BN in international visitor spending this year.

Several events, including multiple concerts by Usher, lifted Amsterdam hotel performance in April, according to preliminary data from CoStar. CoStar is a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information, and analytics in the property markets.

As seen in the Q1 2025 Hotel Construction Pipeline Trend Report from Lodging Econometrics (LE), the total pipeline in the Asia Pacific region, excluding China, (APEC) stands at 2,074 projects/408,213 rooms, representing a 3% year-over-year (YOY) increase in projects and a 1% YOY increase in rooms.

The Ascott Limited (Ascott), the wholly owned lodging business unit of CapitaLand Investment (CLI), is ramping up talent development to support the opening of more than 300 new properties by 2028. This global expansion is expected to create more than 12,000 new jobs, including over 1,500 property leadership roles. To power this growth, the company is launching Ascott Accelerate, a structured talent management programme that fast-tracks high-potential associates into hospitality leadership positions. This will be complemented by a digital learning platform offering flexible and accessible development opportunities for associates across all levels.

On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, RoomRaccoon brought together its community of independent hoteliers for Check-In 2025, the company’s flagship event hosted at Inspirium Breda. Known for its innovative hotel management software, RoomRaccoon curated a dynamic day of keynote insights, expert panels, and tactical learnings centered around the theme: Authentic Stays, Modern Ways.

Aldar has today announced its partnership with Hilton (NYSE: HLT), the global hospitality company, to develop Abu Dhabi’s first Waldorf Astoria Residences and the first branded residences located on Yas Island.

Kimpton, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ fast-growing luxury and lifestyle portfolio, announces plans with Houston-based DC Partners to develop the brand’s fourth Texas location in the picturesque Hill Country. Poised to open in 2027, Kimpton Fredericksburg will anchor the 22-acre mixed-use development, The Meuse. Named after Fredericksburg’s founder, John O. Meusebach, the development is designed to seamlessly extend downtown’s charm by combining local authenticity with luxurious hospitality, retail and dining destinations.