LODGING Staff - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 21

3 min

TakeUp Examines How AI is Reshaping Consumer Travel in New Report

🗺️ WESTFIELD, Ohio—In 2026, TakeUp's report on AI-planned travel surveyed 300 U.S. travelers. It found 90% awareness of AI travel tools, with 86% using AI to book accommodations. Of these, 63% rely on AI for most trips, and 96% plan to continue. AI influences booking, with 84% more likely to book based on trusted AI recommendations. Despite 55% not using AI due to concerns like accuracy, future demand focuses on personalization and real-time pricing.

1 min

JLL Arranges Refinancing for WoodSpring Suites Portfolio

💸 JLL's Hotels & Hospitality Group arranged $167.7 million refinancing for a 15-property WoodSpring Suites portfolio in Michigan, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Florida. The loan includes $117.7 million initially, with a $50 million earn-out potential. Properties, totaling 1,829 keys, opened in the last 2-5 years. Whitman Peterson and Concord Hospitality lead the sponsorship. With extended-stay demand projected to grow by 5% annually, these assets are strategically positioned near key infrastructure and amenities.

3 min

Tripadvisor Shares Top 2026 Travel Destinations

📅 2026 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards spotlight Bali, Indonesia, as the No. 1 Top Destination globally. New York City leads the U.S. list again. Madeira, Portugal, ranks as the No. 1 Trending Destination. Dublin, Ireland, tops Solo Travel Destinations, and London, U.K., is named the best Food Destination. Singapore claims the top spot for Culture Destinations. For romantic getaways, Bali is the No. 1 Honeymoon Destination. These recognitions guide travelers to diverse global experiences.

1 min

IHG Appoints Wei Manfredi as Senior Vice President of AI and Architecture

💻 Wei Manfredi was appointed senior vice president of AI and architecture for IHG Hotels & Resorts in Atlanta, Georgia. She will guide AI strategy and technical architecture. Her background includes experience with McDonald’s, Google Cloud, Lululemon, and Visa. IHG has recently implemented a new Revenue Management System in over 6,700 hotels and a Property Management System in 2,000 hotels, along with launching machine translation for 20+ brands and driving AI-powered automations.

4 min

Ennismore Surpasses 200th Hotel Opening

🏨 Ennismore plans several key hotel openings in 2026. Delano Miami Beach will reopen with 171 rooms and four dining venues. Hyde Mexico City Reforma will offer 106 rooms, while Mama Shelter Mexico City will feature 100 rooms and a rooftop bar. In Asia, Hyde Bali Seminyak will debut with 59 suites, and Rixos Phu Quoc in Vietnam will include over 1,700 rooms. New European openings include Mama Shelter Lake Como and Delano London. Rixos Premium Magawish Bay View will open in Egypt.

2 min

Revenue Analytics and Jonas Chorum Announce Two-Way Integration

💰 Revenue Analytics and Jonas Chorum have launched a two-way integration in Atlanta, Georgia, leveraging JonasARC's open API. This enables hotels to automate pricing using real-time data flow between Jonas Chorum PMS and Revenue Analytics’ N2Pricing system. Benefits include automated data sync, AI-driven accurate pricing, faster pricing cycles, and a stronger RevPAR capture. The integration is designed for rapid setup, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing manual tasks for hotels.

3 min

HBX Group Releases Findings From Its 2026 Travel Trends Report

🌎 HBX Group's Travel Trends Report for 2026 highlights "maximalization" as the key trend, with travelers opting for luxury stays and creative escapes. Technology plays a crucial role, with nearly 50% choosing destinations via social media. AI use in trip planning is growing, though only 35% of hotels and airlines currently leverage it. Travelers increasingly seek authentic experiences, sustainability, and wellness. Multigenerational tourism and entertainment-driven trips are also on the rise.

2 min

WorldHotels Highlights Growth Across Its Portfolio

📈 WorldHotels expanded by nearly 100 luxury/upscale hotels across 12 countries in 2025, including new locations like Milan, Manchester, and Miami. The luxury travel industry is projected to reach $1.7 trillion by 2032. In 2026, 40 more hotels are in development, introducing WorldHotels Residences in Ho Chi Minh City and new glamping sites in North Carolina and Brazil. A second wellness resort, Soul Spring Sanctuary, will open in Cabo in March.

1 min

Kabani Hotel Group Brokers Sale of voco St. Augustine — Historic Area by IHG

🏨 MIAMI, Florida—Kabani Hotel Group brokered the sale of voco St. Augustine – Historic Area by IHG, a 50-room hotel, for $9,000,000. The sale price equates to $180,000 per room with a 6.3% capitalization rate and a ~5.3× room revenue multiple. The transaction, led by Lucas Mondino, closed in 44 days. Built in 2019, the hotel caters to both historic tourism and beachgoers in St. Augustine's strong leisure market.

2 min

Hyatt Centric Delfina Santa Monica Completes Renovation

🎪 Hyatt Centric Delfina Santa Monica completed a $16 million renovation in 2024, transforming all 315 guestrooms and 15,000 square feet of event spaces. The redesign by Waldrop + Nichols Studio features coastal-inspired aesthetics. Highlights include the 4,526-square-foot rooftop Delfina Ballroom, accommodating up to 400 guests, and the new 500-square-foot Sandbox venue. The renovation introduced the Coastal Harvest Bar & Kitchen, serving California-inspired cuisine. The hotel now offers seven Sunset Suites with ocean views and a heated saltwater pool.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.