Events

🏨 Hotels can enter the 2026 GuestRevu GREAT Awards from June 1-30. This third edition includes all lodging types worldwide, judged by online reviews from Tripadvisor, Booking.com, and Google. Data is analyzed by Stenden University South Africa. Winners will be announced in October 2026 for Europe, America, and APAC, and in November for Africa. The awards emphasize guest satisfaction and exceptional hospitality, with partners like Cendyn and Stayntouch enhancing this global celebration.

📅 Shonali Devereaux, CEO of the Meetings Industry Association since November 2024, will join the Hotel Owner Conference on 3rd November 2026 at Prince Philip House, London. With 30 years of experience, including leadership roles in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, she also volunteers, lectures, and champions inclusivity. The conference gathers major industry figures to discuss operational and investment trends. Tickets and details are on the event's official website.

📚 ICFF 2026 will be held at New York's Javits Center from May 17-19, featuring the theme "Common Ground" to highlight design's cross-disciplinary role. The event will host over 90 speakers, including designers and business leaders. Notable talks include "The Art of Making" by Jessica Gersten and "The Hospitality Effect" by Andrew Franz. The fair will transition to November dates in 2027, coinciding with BDNY, while still maintaining independent curation and identity.

⚽ 2026, in the United States, the administration has waived visa bond requirements for confirmed World Cup ticket holders. This change aims to facilitate international fans' attendance at the event. Geoff Freeman, CEO of U.S. Travel, highlights that such measures, including accelerated visa processing and efforts by the White House Task Force, enhance the U.S. as a top travel destination and ensure a successful World Cup experience.

🏆 On 8 January 2026, FIFA named Marriott Bonvoy as the 'Official Hotel Supporter in North America' for the World Cup held from 11 June to 19 July across the US, Canada, and Mexico. With 3.5 billion football fans globally, the event includes 48 teams, 104 matches, and 16 host cities. Bonvoy members with a Visa card can secure final match tickets for just 1 loyalty point, offering 12 packages per match and a suite in the final's stadium.

🏨 Raffles Paris is spearheading Accor's ambitious Roland-Garros activation, running from May 18 to June 7. Notable transformations are occurring at landmark hotels in Tokyo, São Paulo, and Shanghai. The event includes immersive hotel experiences, a curated courtside lounge, and exclusive member auctions for final seats.

📅 May 13th, 1:00 PM EST, Online Zoom: Join HOTELS Magazine's webinar, “The Digital Layer of Procurement: Turning Spend Data Into Profitability.” Experts Debbie Shepard, Rachel Dabrowa, and Kirk Pederson will discuss enhancing hotel procurement through spend visibility, benchmarking, and guided insights. Topics include increasing contract compliance, reducing cost leakage, and making smarter substitutions. With profit margins under pressure, this event offers solutions to boost efficiency and profitability. Register for free!