Posts by author

Automatic

3028 posts

New hotel reservation scam spreads through major OTAs

🚨 Nov 14, 2025 - Travelers booking via Booking.com and Expedia are targeted by a phishing scam using compromised hotel accounts. Scammers send fake payment-verification requests, urging guests to verify payment to avoid cancellation. Attackers use a ClickFix attack to compromise hotel systems, deploy malware like PureRAT for remote access and credential theft. To stay safe, guests should verify payment requests directly with hotels using official contacts. Avoid trusting email or message requests for payment confirmation.
View Post
Share
View Post
  • 1 min

Gran Canaria halts new short-term rentals

🏠 Nov 13, 2025: In southern Gran Canaria, a five-year moratorium on tourist-apartment licences has been enacted, reshaping the holiday-rental market. Existing licences remain valid, but new ones are banned, affecting property values. Licensed properties may rise in value, while new or unlicensed units decline. Licence transfer restrictions add uncertainty. Local councils now control tourist accommodation planning. The law caps tourist housing at 10% of residential stock and aims to protect housing supply and curb over-tourism.
View Post
Share
View Post
  • 1 min

Deloitte warns hotel spending will tighten

🛫 Nov 13, 2025, Deloitte reports 54% of Americans plan holiday travel between Thanksgiving and mid-January, a 5% increase from 2024. However, spending is expected to drop to an average of $2,334, an 18% decrease. While Gen Z and millennials lead travel plans, Gen Z's budget reduction hits 31%. Only 47% plan to fly, down from 55%. Generative AI use in travel planning rises to 24%. Meanwhile, 26% of travelers still pursue luxury options.
View Post
Share
View Post
  • 1 min

STR lowers hotel forecast again

🛑 Nov 13, 2025, U.S.: Hotel performance projections for 2025-2026 face a downgrade by STR and Tourism Economics due to static macroeconomics. 2025 occupancy is forecasted at 62.3%, below 2024's 63.1%. RevPAR is expected to decline by 0.4% in 2025. ADR growth remains low at 0.8%. 2026 occupancy could drop to 62%. Economic challenges like rising unemployment and tariffs are key factors, though 2026 might see optimism from income growth and international events.
View Post
Share

Expedia sharpens its hotel pitch as OTAs diverge on strategy

📈 Nov 13, 2025: Expedia repositions as a "demand generator" at a London event, aiming to enhance hotel visibility. OTAs are diverging, with strategies affecting hotel margins. Technology, APIs, and partner tools are critical. Growth slows, costs rise, and AI-driven searches challenge OTA visibility. Expedia focuses on transparency and incremental demand, differing from others pursuing loyalty and fintech. Over the next 12–18 months, hotels must rethink their strategies to navigate these changes.
View Post
Share

Sonder’s collapse ends the tech-hotel experiment

💸 Nov 12, 2025, Sonder, once valued over $2 billion, filed for bankruptcy, exposing the flaws in tech-branded hospitality. Unlike Airbnb's model, Sonder's asset-heavy approach magnified losses by leasing and managing units. A $126 million deal with Marriott collapsed due to integration issues, hastening financial decline. The fallout included displaced guests, unpaid landlords, and job losses. This mirrors WeWork's trajectory, highlighting investor skepticism and a shift towards hybrid models.
View Post
Share

AI’s expanding role in hotel profitability

📈 Nov 12, 2025: AI transforms hotel profitability through intelligent systems optimizing rates, staffing, and operations. AI-driven revenue management uses real-time data for smarter pricing, while AI-powered forecasts enhance labor efficiency. Automation improves front desk operations, leading to 30% reduced call handling time and 35% increased reservation conversions. Energy savings and predictive maintenance reduce repair costs. Large hotel brands lead AI use, but decreasing costs will drive wider adoption, reshaping industry profitability.
View Post
Share