Market Trends

🌳 La Donaira in Andalusia, Spain—a boutique eco-retreat set on a 1,700-acre biodynamic farm with orchards, vineyards, oaks, and olive groves—offers guests rustic-luxury suites, Andalusian horse riding, and farm-fresh organic meals. This curated collection of favorite treehouses and tree-inspired stays ranges from traditional to innovative and domestic to wild, based on personal passion and extensive collecting.

🏩 Eva Klausner, Director of Guest Experience at Numa, discusses the future of guest experience in a podcast episode released on March 15, 2025. Hosted by Danica Smith, founder of MorningStar GX, the episode features insights into enhancing the hospitality sector. The podcast encourages listeners to share the episode with their team to translate ideas into actionable benefits for their business and clientele. Music for the show is by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound.

🏨 Brand storytelling in hospitality often confuses a hotel’s unique origin and values, known as "brand story," with guest-centric "storytelling," which focuses on crafting experiences for guests to create their own narratives. Clarification between these concepts is crucial for hoteliers aiming to curate memorable guest experiences that contribute to individual life stories, rather than merely promoting the hotel's own narrative.

📱 In the 1990s, answering machines were common, but today there are nearly 5 billion smartphone users, a number expected to hit 6 billion by 2028. Research indicates smartphones may impair cognitive functions, sleep, and social skills. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon criticized excessive phone use in meetings. Hyatt's Miraval brand mandates a device-free environment, while other hotels offer "digital detox" experiences, like Vichy Celestins Spa Hotel and Haramara Retreat in Mexico, where rooms lack electricity.

🏡 Salamander Collection, founded by Sheila Johnson, recently added PGA National Resort as its seventh property. The acquisition by London-based Henderson Park marks PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., as the second Salamander property to host a PGA Tour event, specifically the Cognizant Classic. Salamander Washington DC, formerly Mandarin Oriental Washington DC, underwent a renovation completed before January 20, showcasing a new Presidential Suite with White House-like features. The revamped property also includes a dual-story spa and a celebrated restaurant, Dōgon by Chef Kwame Onwuachi, ranked second on Washingtonian’s top regional restaurants within four months of opening. The renovation aimed to align with Sheila Johnson's vision, integrating equestrian elements and a home-like atmosphere to create D.C.’s living room.

📖 In Paris, France, Influence Society, a creative agency, has launched the first edition of Societies Quarterly, a new 30-pages publication aimed at hoteliers. It provides insights on luxury, design, and technology's impact on hospitality and will be issued quarterly. The report contains curated visual inspirations and examines luxury concepts, design thinking, architecture, and technological innovation. It looks beyond the hotel industry, drawing inspiration from brands like Nike, Hublot, and Aston Martin to guide hoteliers in innovation and anticipating future trends.

📌 Over 675 million monthly site visits are available to those who sign up for free. The Travel Recovery Trend Report for Q2 2021 showed industry positivity, although Q3 faced Delta variant concerns and renewed restrictions. Positive progress was noted in the industry, with data and research from Expedia Group guiding travel marketers globally and regionally.

🏦 The InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping, developed by Asset World Corporation and managed by IHG, has launched the Club InterContinental Lounge and The ii Spa, enhancing the luxury amenities with Lanna heritage experiences. The Club InterContinental Lounge, exclusive to Club InterContinental room guests, offers serene Lanna-inspired views and décor, priority services, and a rich local food menu sourced from organic produce supported by the Royal Project Foundation. The ii Spa features authentic wellness treatments such as the Lanna Signature Massage (THB 3,100 for 120 minutes), the Lanna Blessing Massage (THB 4,500 for 120 minutes), and Aroma Bliss Massage (THB 3,300 for 120 minutes) using Panpuri and Phytomer products. The Lounge operates from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm, while The ii Spa is open from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm daily.

🏛 Discover hidden gems near Dubai for a unique experience: Hatta's stunning scenery and outdoor activities, Al Ain Oasis' UNESCO World Heritage site with traditional farming methods, Fujairah's pristine waters for snorkeling and historical landmarks, Ras Al Khaimah's longest zipline at 2.8 kilometers within the Hajar Mountains, and the high dunes of Liwa Oasis. Enhance your adventure with a rental car for comfort, fuel efficiency, and connectivity, ensuring access to these secluded locales at your own pace.

🏨 Europe's hotel construction pipeline, as of Q4 2024, includes 1,661 projects with 244,464 rooms. The distribution is 736 projects under construction (112,904 rooms), 415 projects to start in the next 12 months (59,719 rooms), and 510 projects in early planning (71,841 rooms). In Q2 2021, Europe saw 169 hotels (24,472 rooms) open, coinciding with the Olympic demand. Upscale (352 projects/54,687 rooms), upper-midscale (322 projects/47,634 rooms), and upper upscale (276 projects/43,428 rooms) segments lead, comprising 57% of projects and 60% of rooms. Property conversions increased by 26% to 520 projects (61,550 rooms). The UK, Germany, Turkey, France, and Portugal account for 49% of pipeline projects and 46% of rooms; with London (77 projects/14,820 rooms) and Istanbul (49 projects/7,903 rooms) having the largest pipelines. The Hard Rock Hotel Athens Riviera, due in 2027 with 1,000 rooms, is a notable development. In Q4 2024, Europe saw 59 new hotels (7,368 rooms), with 342 hotels (48,564 rooms) expected in 2025 and 399 hotels (51,964 rooms) in 202