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Automatic

2825 posts

HBX launches Luxurist

🏙 The Luxurist, supported by Hotelbeds' parent company, debuted on Feb 3, 2025, offering over 3,300 handpicked luxury properties in 141 countries. This platform aims to redefine B2B premium travel with a high-end, tech-driven interface, planning tools, integrated concierge services, and extensive support for travel advisors. Initially launched in the U.S., it plans to expand to European markets within the year, addressing the rapidly growing luxury travel sector.
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CoStar optimistic on hotel profitability in 2025

📈 On Feb 3, 2025, at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit in Los Angeles, CoStar and Tourism Economics updated their 2025 U.S. hotel forecast. Key projections include average daily rate (ADR) growth at 1.6%, revenue per available room (RevPAR) at 1.8%, and a slight occupancy rate increase to 63.1%. The upper upscale segment's growth was revised up, while the midscale's outlook was adjusted down, with midscale expected to face negative RevPAR due to supply increases.
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Next-level hospitality contact centers

📞 On Feb 3, 2025, Contact Center leaders from Hershey Entertainment, Accor, and IHG convened during an HSMAI session to discuss operational optimization. They emphasized flexible QA, aligning service with revenue, fostering agent growth, and utilizing AI for efficiency. Strategies highlighted included interaction-based QA assessments, linking quality metrics with revenue, professional development programs, staffing solutions like part-time agents and flexible schedules, and tech for compliance and customer service enhancement. More details are available at HSMAI's website.
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How hotels use AI to enhance guest experiences

🏨 On February 3, 2025, hotels are using AI-powered solutions for personalizing guest experiences, including tailored greetings and room upgrades. AI-driven insights from guest data inform recommendations for rooms, dining, and activities. AI chatbots now handle over 35% of routine inquiries, enhancing efficiency and allowing staff to focus on more significant guest interactions.
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Hotel CEOs look to ‘certainty’ for business travel growth

🏨 At the Americas Lodging and Investment Summit on Feb 3, 2025, analysts predicted moderate growth for the hotel industry. Ryan Meliker expects modest corporate travel growth due to declining profits and a slower stock market. STR forecasts a 1.6% rise in U.S. average daily rates and a 1.8% increase in RevPAR, with luxury hotels driving growth. Kalibri Labs projects a 1-3% RevPAR growth but cautions about hotel expenses rising 5-10%. Hilton and Wyndham CEOs are hopeful for improved business travel under Trump's administration, while Marriott's CEO warns of potential travel disruptions. Group travel is set to grow 5% in 2025, with luxury hotels stable, midscale hotels challenged by supply, and economy hotels benefiting from high demand.
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Engaging guests with romantic promotions

💖 Flemings Hotels offers a Valentine's package with breakfast, flowers, and prosecco. Meininger Hotels entices with a playful 10% deal for "flirty lovebirds". Shivas Galaxy Hotel uses a GIF and countdown timer to spark urgency for Valentine's bookings. Get details at The Hotels Network. (Published on Feb 3, 2025)
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Hopper eyes $10b IPO

🏆 Hopper, a Montreal-based travel data provider, is considering an IPO with a potential valuation of $10 billion as of Jan 28, 2025. The app, favored by millennials and Gen Z, predicts prices for travel-related services. It boasts a workforce of around 650 remote employees and has a business-to-business service aiding companies like Capital One Financial Corp. Hopper's revenue streams include commissions on travel bookings, price guarantee fees, and primarily corporate partnerships.
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How responsible travel is evolving

🏉 U.S. sustainable travel market projected to grow from $66.22 billion in 2023 to $116.46 billion in 2029. Over 70% of travelers seek sustainable tourism experiences. Sustainable travel includes engaging with local communities, minimizing environmental impact, and embracing local traditions. TravelPulse reports this segment as the fastest growing in the industry. Key aspects: local experiences, environmental conservation, and cultural respect. (TravelPulse/Travel Weekly, Jan 28, 2025)
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Hilton closes 2024 with record growth

🏨 Hilton achieved a historic milestone in 2024 with the largest single-year room growth in over 100 years, adding 973 hotels and 100,000 rooms, and attained a 7.3% net unit growth. On Jan 28, 2025, it was reported that Hilton signed contracts for 1,430 hotels, totaling 154,000 rooms, pushing the development pipeline to 3,600 hotels and over 498,500 rooms, an 8% increase in pipeline rooms from the previous year. Additionally, construction commenced on 88,500 rooms, marking the company's highest level of construction starts. Globally, Hilton leads with one in five hotel rooms under construction set to join its portfolio.
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