The Bench Restructures Leadership to Support Global Growth and Investor Engagement

🏠 Ali Shahid appointed CEO of The Bench, succeeding a nine-year tenure, to lead global strategy and product direction. Jonathan Worsley becomes Chairman, focusing on strategic initiatives. Leadership changes include Matthew Weihs as Growth Director and Daria Smith as Middle East and Africa Managing Director. FHS Saudi Arabia scheduled for April 20-22, 2026, at Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh, with numerous sponsors and partners supporting the event.

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Mandarin Oriental’s First Hotel in Mallorca to Debut in Spring 2026

🏨 Mandarin Oriental Punta Negra, Mallorca, located in Calvià, will open in spring 2026. The resort features 131 rooms and suites, including 26 suites, 9 casitas, and 19 with plunge pools. Dining highlights include Matsuhisa and Leña by Dani García. Wellness offerings include nine treatment cabins and various pools. The resort blends contemporary design with local craftsmanship, offering exclusive Mediterranean luxury with captivating views and access to two secluded coves.

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Al Qimmah Hospitality and Marriott International Announce Agreement to Add More Than 2,700 Hotel Rooms in Saudi Arabia

🏨 Al Qimmah Hospitality and Marriott International signed five new hotel projects in Saudi Arabia, adding over 2,700 rooms in Jeddah, Makkah, and Madinah. Four brands, including JW Marriott and Four Points by Sheraton, will be featured. Marriott operates 44 properties with over 11,000 rooms in Saudi Arabia. The new hotels include JW Marriott Jeddah with 356 rooms, Four Points in Makkah and Madinah with 1,830 rooms combined, Element Madinah with 136 rooms, and Four Points Flex in Madinah with 450 rooms.

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Customer Experience Without Conditions

💬 In 1955, Rosa Parks defied racial segregation in Montgomery, Alabama. Her actions inspire a customer service concept: treat every customer well, irrespective of their behavior. Shep Hyken revisits the "Reality Rule" from Taylor Scott’s book, advocating unconditional service. Key rules include: Golden Rule (treat others as you wish to be treated), Platinum Rule (treat others as they want), and Employee Golden Rule (treat employees as customers). Removing expectations leads to consistent, intentional customer experiences.

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New Year’s Eve pushed Sydney room rates to record-high

📅 Sydney's hotel industry, December 2025: Occupancy at 81.3% (+3.2%), ADR at AUD349.06 (+11.1%), RevPAR AUD283.68 (+14.7%). New Year's Eve saw occupancy peak at 95.4%, with ADR reaching AUD1,009.10 and RevPAR at AUD962.95—record highs. December 10, during a Jimmy Barnes concert, occupancy was 93.3%. Lady Gaga's concerts on December 12-13 pushed occupancy to 89.4%, with peak ADR at AUD379.65. Across December, occupancy exceeded 70% on most days.

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Paris hotel performance reached December high

🏨 Paris's hotels achieved unprecedented success in December 2025, driven by Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Occupancy reached 76.7% (+6.6%), with an average daily rate of EUR371.87 (+1.1%) and revenue per available room at EUR285.13 (+7.8%). New Year’s Eve set records with 93.3% occupancy, ADR at EUR586.11, and RevPAR at EUR547. Performance levels were the highest since the 2024 Summer Olympics, marking the first recorded 90%+ December occupancy.

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Unveiling a New Chapter: Sky Garden Floor Debuts at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia

🌇 Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia unveils Sky Garden—an exclusive floor designed by 1508 London, featuring four guest rooms, three suites, and a 4,000-square-foot penthouse. Fusing art, wellness, and culinary excellence, it offers a curated art collection, advanced wellness treatments, and top-tier dining experiences. The wellness area includes a private studio with fitness amenities. Sky Garden provides a sophisticated, personalized experience in a residential-style setting, emphasizing intimacy and calm over spectacle.

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Tourism Investment in Bulgaria: New UN Tourism Guidelines Highlight Opportunities in the Sector

🗺 Bulgaria's tourism sector is booming. In 2024, the country set a record with 13.3 million international visitors, a 5.6% increase from 2019. Domestic tourism spending hit EUR 1.14 billion, up 89% compared to 2019. International tourism receipts reached USD 4.3 billion. Major hotel brands like Hyatt and Marriott are investing in locations such as Sofia and Burgas. The UN Tourism launched "Tourism Doing Business: Investing in Bulgaria" to highlight investment opportunities in this diverse and year-round destination.

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Crescent Hotels & Resorts Welcomes Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel to Portfolio

🗽 Crescent Hotels & Resorts adds Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel in Ohio, a 408-room property with a rooftop pool and over 22,500 sq. ft. of meeting space. This expansion, part of a partnership with Whitestone Companies, highlights Crescent's growth in the branded lifestyle sector. Whitestone manages 27 projects across 14 states, focusing on high-potential property transformation. Crescent operates more than 120 hotels in North America under major brands like Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt.

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Small Hotels, Big Stakes: Why Europe’s Tourism Future Depends on SMEs

🌍 Europe, 2023: Tourism accounts for 5.1% of the EU's gross value added, around €764 billion, supporting 20 million jobs. The EU has 25.8 million SMEs, 99.8% of all enterprises, employing 88.7 million people. Four in five accommodations are independent, predominantly SMEs. Technology adoption remains low among SMEs, with only 7% implementing AI versus 39% of larger accommodations. SMEs face challenges in finance and skills, impacting their competitiveness and ability to innovate and modernize.

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The Bench Restructures Leadership to Support Global Growth and Investor Engagement