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The New Landmark of Kowloon East: Royal Garden Expands in Tseung Kwan O

🏨 Hong Kong, January 2026: The Royal Garden Kowloon East opens in Tseung Kwan O, marking the first expansion in 44 years for the Royal Garden brand. The 366-room resort, formerly Crowne Plaza, features seven villas, themed family rooms, and a 25-meter outdoor pool. Dining highlights include Ponentino, opening July 2026, offering Italian cuisine. Eco-conscious design by LAAB Architects caters to Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha, with phased openings throughout 2026.
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Hyatt Centric Delfina Santa Monica Unveils Multi-Million-Dollar Transformation, Debuting All-New Coastal-Inspired Design and Santa Monica’s Only Rooftop Ballroom

🏝️ Hyatt Centric Delfina Santa Monica unveils a $16 million renovation completed in fall 2024. The hotel now features 315 redesigned guestrooms, 15,000 sq ft of meeting spaces, and the all-day Coastal Harvest Bar & Kitchen. Highlights include 11 event spaces and Santa Monica's only rooftop ballroom, the 4,526 sq ft Delfina Ballroom. The hotel offers amenities like a heated saltwater pool, beach cruiser bicycles, and is centrally located on Pico Boulevard. Perfect for corporate travelers and community gatherings.
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Sonesta Opens The Midtown Hotel, MOD Collection by Sonesta in Boston, MA

🏨 Sonesta International Hotels Corporation announced the opening of The Midtown Hotel, MOD Collection by Sonesta at 220 Huntington Avenue, Boston's Back Bay. This 159-room upscale hotel was recently renovated and caters to modern lifestyles. Guests can earn or redeem points through the Sonesta Travel Pass loyalty program. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the hotel is part of the playful and flexible MOD Collection, which offers curated F&B and eclectic design.
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Sustainable Hotel and Resort Development in the Caribbean: Strategies for a Resilient Hospitality Future

🏖 The Caribbean's tourism sector faces climate risks, including hurricanes and sea-level rise, prompting resilience strategies like hurricane-resistant designs and nature-based defenses. Energy costs, driven by fossil fuels, see mitigation through renewable sources, offsetting 20-80% of demand. Water and waste management adopt circular systems, reducing reliance on imports. Community initiatives focus on local workforce development and cultural preservation. Sustainability-linked loans and green bonds finance transitions, appealing to eco-conscious travelers seeking authentic experiences.
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MICE Tourism and the Rising Importance of Sustainability

📈 Global MICE tourism projected to reach USD 1,172 billion by 2025, doubling by 2035 with a CAGR of 9.87%. Nearly half of MICE buyers prefer sustainable venues, prompting venues like RIU Plaza España to offer carbon footprint services. Strategies include measuring carbon footprints, selecting certified green venues, and designing eco-smart events. Since 2011, GCSTIMES, operating in 140 countries, has emphasized sustainable innovation, supporting over 100,000 hospitality groups in low-carbon efforts.
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Hotel distribution in 2026: what is structurally changing

📈 Jan 7, 2026, Whitesky identifies 25 trends impacting hotel distribution. Key shifts include AI as integral infrastructure for pricing decisions, fragmented distribution channels requiring multi-touchpoint management, and increased pricing regulation. Central reservation systems (CRS) are critical as the main source for rates. Demand from APAC markets is growing, altering global strategies. Traveler behavior, such as bleisure travel, is now more predictable. Hotels must adapt to automation and data-centric strategies to remain competitive.
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What hotel tech leaders say AI will disrupt first in 2026

💻 Jan 7, 2026, key insights from 27 hotel technology providers reveal AI’s operational impact. AI unifies fragmented systems, automates tasks, and enhances decision-making in revenue, operations, and guest engagement. Key shifts include collapsing operational fragmentation, automating manual tasks, continuous guest communication, predictive revenue management, scalable personalization, and the importance of open platforms. By 2026, AI-ready hotels gain advantages in RevPAR, efficiency, and satisfaction, while legacy systems create a two-speed industry.
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Doug Kennedy’s Next Staff Training Webcast: Hospitality IS…

📚 Doug Kennedy's 40-minute hospitality training webcast on January 23, 2026, at Noon ET kicks off KTN's advanced-level series. Free registration is available, thanks to sponsors like Travel Outlook and Track Hospitality Software. Upcoming sessions include February 20 and March 20, also at Noon ET. Topics cover hospitality "vibes," luxury hotel standards, and sales strategies. Recordings are accessible via KTN’s YouTube and Spotify channels. The training emphasizes empathy, authenticity, and effective guest and client engagement.
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Should service robots have rights?

🤖 Led by Amit Sharma and Anna Mattila, Penn State researchers published findings in the *Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research* discussing the ethical implications of service robots in hospitality. Service robots now perform tasks like deliveries and semi-autonomous decision-making, raising questions about liability and governance. Companies should define robots' rights and responsibilities, adapting policies as tech evolves. Established in 1937, Penn State's School of Hospitality Management is a leader in preparing global hospitality professionals.
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Wrapping Up: Top Ranking Destinations in 2025

✈️ London, Tokyo, and Paris were 2025's top global destinations. Madrid and Alicante saw a 10% growth over 2024, while Punta Cana grew by 9%. Dubai and Marrakech each saw an 8% increase. APAC's North Asia led with Okinawa's 36% growth, and cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou also surged. Shanghai and Tokyo were top corporate travel destinations, with Shanghai up 10% and Tokyo 9%. Madrid grew by 5% in business travel share.
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