Automatic - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 190

1 min

U.S. hotels set record Q1 RevPAR

🏨 U.S. hotels in Q1 2025 reached a record RevPAR of $92, a 2.2% increase from the previous year, with March hitting the highest figures ever. Occupancy dipped amid economic uncertainties, and international arrivals slowed. Urban hotels saw robust growth driven by corporate and group travel. Mid-sized urban transactions were popular among investors, with a preference for central business districts and resort markets. Economy hotels saw a 5.7% RevPAR drop year-over-year. A total of $145 billion in hotel loans is expected to mature by 2026, indicating potential for strong transaction activity. Limited new supply and tariffs could maintain high hotel performance throughout 2025.

1 min

Expedia doubles down on B2B partnerships

📈 On May 15, 2025, Expedia Group unveiled new B2B APIs, advertising tools, and AI-powered features, following a year where B2B partnerships generated $4.1B, up 21% YoY. The expansion allows partners to access flights, cars, hotels, activities, and insurance, operating like OTAs and driving customer engagement with over 135 million room nights booked through partners in 2024. Expedia's integration with OpenAI and Microsoft Copilot enhances travel planning, while ACI optimizes dynamic video content. Partners can now use sponsored listings and loyalty features to promote bookings.

1 min

Travel marketing strategies for a softening market

🛫 In APAC, with travel demand reducing post-pandemic, brands are shifting from acquisition to retention, focusing on trust-building and loyalty. A report highlights strategies in Singapore, Australia, and China, emphasizing partnerships and multi-channel visibility. Key facts: Travel slowdown leads to 65% retention focus and 64% brand-building; 74% use comparison sites, 66% consult OTAs, and 31% social media; Singaporean travelers prefer OTAs (76%) and promotions; marketers advised to engage with affiliates, influencers, and communities; trust, transparency, and authenticity are essential. Reported on May 15, 2025.

1 min

BCD Travel to become latest reseller of Amadeus Cytric

📅 On May 14, 2025, Amadeus expanded its partnership with BCD Travel, launching "Cytric Easy for Microsoft Teams" as a new reseller offering. The integration allows efficient planning and booking of flights, hotels, and cars within Microsoft Teams, aiming to reduce corporate travel costs and increase productivity. Features include "Share My Transfer" for better coordination among travelers, streamlining corporate travel by combining booking, reporting, and policy compliance.

2 min

Airbnb relaunches Experiences and adds hotel-style services

🏠 Airbnb, on May 14, 2025, commits $250 million to evolve into a full-service travel platform. Relaunching “Experiences” in 650 cities and introducing “Services” in 260 cities, the company now offers unique activities and hotel-like services. Airbnb aims for multiple billion-dollar revenue streams, integrating a travel concierge-style app, with personalized and social features for users. No significant revenue is expected in 2025 from this investment, but future plans may include flight and rideshare options.

1 min

Expedia calls AI the biggest shift since mobile

💻 May 14, 2025, Expedia reported mixed Q1 financials with a 6% increase in room nights booked and $3 billion in revenue but a $200 million net loss due to weaker travel demand. CEO Ariane Gorin emphasized AI's transformative potential, likening it to mobile tech's impact. Strategic expansions include Instagram's Trip Matching and Microsoft Copilot integrations. AI tools like OpenAI trip planning and Romie enhance user experience through passive and interactive AI features.

1 min

U.S. travel industry hit by $12.5B drop in foreign tourism

🏖️ U.S. travel and tourism industry may lose $12.5 billion in 2025, a 22.5% drop from its 2019 peak, due to Trump administration immigration policies. Projected international spending to decrease to $169 billion from $181 billion in 2024. Border cities and tourist hubs are most affected, with the U.S. Travel Association calling for actions to reassure international visitors of a welcoming U.S. Some domestic destinations might gain from increased local travel.

1 min

Booking Holdings bets on AI to cut costs and drive efficiency

📁 Booking Holdings, led by CFO Ewout Steenbergen, is set to save $450 million by 2027, with $150 million expected in 2025, by streamlining operations. A significant part of the savings will fund AI projects for process automation. Despite global demand stability, U.S. demand is waning. Q1 2025 showed an 8% year-over-year increase in revenue at $4.8 billion, with room nights and gross bookings also up by 7%. The company anticipates mid-to-high single-digit growth for the full year, amid geopolitical and economic uncertainties.

NYC hoteliers applaud crackdown on illegal rentals

🚩 May 13, 2025, New York City targets Incentra Village House in Greenwich Village with the first lawsuit under Local Law 18, addressing unlicensed Airbnb operations. The property failed to meet safety standards, lacking fire alarms and sprinklers. This enforcement aims to protect licensed hotels and combat the housing shortage exacerbated by illegal short-term rentals. Airbnb argues the law inflates hotel prices. The lawsuit underscores NYC's commitment to guest safety and fair competition.

New York City lowers 2025 visitor forecast by 3 million

🌏 May 13, 2025, New York City: Tourism projections for 2025 have been reduced by 3 million visitors due to shifting global travel sentiment. The new forecast anticipates 61.4 million visitors, down from 64.4 million. International arrivals, especially from Western Europe and Canada, face a sharp decline, with numbers falling from 14.1 million to 12.1 million. Domestic traveler forecasts are down by 1 million. Recovery for international travel might not occur until 2027–2029.

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