Automatic

Luxury hotels have always been associated with the grandeur of glittering chandeliers, lavish rooms, opulent lobbies and overly attentive service. Yet, today’s most affluent travelers are seeking something far subtler and understated, commonly referred to as quiet luxury hospitality. In the hotel industry, quiet luxury has come to mean seamless service, simple yet high-quality materials and cuisine crafted from local ingredients in discrete locations. While quiet luxury has become a trending topic, its meaning and application in hospitality are still evolving and call for a deeper understanding.

French owner-operator Dunamis Hospitality, together with French investment firm Eternam, has acquired a portfolio of nine budget hotels (630 rooms) in the north west of France. The transaction was structured as a club deal through a French Professional Private Equity Fund (FPCI). The properties are primarily operated under the Ibis Budget and Ibis Styles brands and are located in the Normandy and Hauts-de-France regions (Deauville, Cabourg, Le Havre, Rouen, Fécamp, Abbeville, Berck-sur-Mer, Le Tréport). Dunamis and Eternam plan to renovate the hotels to enhance both the customer experience and energy performance.

Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the Robert A. Gilbert Award for Career Achievement in Commercial Strategy, honoring leaders whose careers have shaped hospitality sales, marketing, distribution, and revenue optimization through enduring leadership, innovation, and advocacy across the commercial disciplines.

Cocoon & Eckelmann Hotels, the Munich-based lifestyle hotel group, today announced it will fully migrate its combined portfolio to Apaleo’s open and API-first property management platform.

RobosizeME, a leading provider of workflow automation solutions purpose‑built for hotel groups, today announced the appointment of Mike Kistner as Chief of Staff. The addition of the seasoned hospitality technology executive reinforces the company’s commitment to operational excellence and strategic growth as demand increases for automation across hotel operations.

Labour costs are rising faster than revenue in many markets, and hotel operators are being squeezed. From statutory wage increases and national insurance obligations to evolving overtime rules and inflationary pressures, the cost of maintaining staff is becoming a structural business challenge.

New research shows the majority of recruiters in the hospitality industry believe that graduates are missing out on job offers because of a lack of professional maturity and work readiness. A further fifth believe graduates are ‘work shy’ and ‘lack self-awareness’ when they try to join the workplace.