Automatic

I had the opportunity to take part in a panel at the 9th Fabrique du Tourisme, alongside a representative of global tech and a demanding voice of responsible digital innovation. More than an editorial, what I am offering here is a long-form advocacy piece, intended to justify the uniqueness of our profession—one that should enable it to embrace AI as a tremendous opportunity.

Hotel managers have a significant opportunity to improve their working relationships with meeting planners, ensuring smoother events and driving repeat bookings. By adopting a partnership approach, hotels can move beyond simply providing space to becoming indispensable collaborators. This guide details the 5 C’s of Partnership: satisfying meeting planner needs through Customization, Communication, Collaboration, Consistency, and Check-in.

Hartford’s hotel market has demonstrated strong performance, with occupancy and ADR exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, a significant decline in hotel room supply has hindered the convention center’s ability to attract large-scale events, underscoring the need for additional lodging to support long-term competitiveness.The Hartford hotel market has undergone notable shifts over the past five years following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The market rebounded relatively quickly, with occupancy levels in 2022 only modestly below 2019 levels and ultimately surpassing pre-pandemic performance in 2024. Average daily rate (ADR) recovered even more strongly, exceeding pre-COVID levels beginning in 2022 given the market’s pricing resilience and strong demand base.

In the lead up to FHS Saudi Arabia, taking place at from 20-22 April 2026 at Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh, we asked industry partners about what’s next for hospitality investment in the Kingdom in line with this year’s event theme: "Where Opportunity Meets Capital."