Market Trends

💰 Accor's Q3 2024 revenue increased by 12% to €1,434 million with RevPAR growth normalizing. Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin highlighted the role of luxury and lifestyle brands, high-potential markets, and the French Olympic Games in their growth. 47 new hotels with 8,000 rooms opened, marking a 3.2% net unit growth over 12 months; total portfolio reaching 838,826 rooms (5,638 hotels). Future projections include RevPAR growth of 4%-5%, net unit growth of 3%-4%, and an expected EBITDA of €1,100 million to €1,125 million. PM&E division revenue was €821 million, a 7% increase from Q3 2023, while luxury and lifestyle division revenue jumped 18% to €635 million. France's RevPAR rose 6%, Middle East and Africa's represented 20%, and Americas', mainly Brazil, saw an uptick from business demand.

🏥 Meg Kennedy and Rob Blood, founders of Lark Hotels, discussed hospitality innovation on their podcast episode from Oct. 25, 2024. They explored extended stay models and family-friendly accommodations during a road trip in Northern California. Insights include rebranding extended stays, creating hotel brands like Bluebird and Blind Tiger, and the benefits of partnerships and resort passes. They mention lodgings such as Dawn Ranch and Calistoga Motor Lodge, and discuss luxury in terms of access.

🏨 STAAH, a hospitality industry platform, invites both seasoned hoteliers and newcomers to test their knowledge with a Weekly Hotel Industry Quiz. The latest edition includes topics on luxury hotel brands and essential hotel software, aiming to keep participants informed on industry trends. Quizzes are available weekly, with past quizzes accessible for those who missed them. Participants are encouraged to share the quiz and strengthen their industry knowledge.

📖 Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor at Informa Restaurant & Food Group since August 2021, has over seven years in restaurant and hospitality journalism. Degrees: bachelor's in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey, master's in arts and culture journalism from CUNY. Former positions: Freelance writer, Insider, The Daily Meal. Published in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice. Expert in restaurant industry news, innovations, political/cultural issues. Joined Informa in October 2018, previously at Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018) and The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017).

🏠 Faena is expanding with the Faena District Miami River, featuring two towers designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, offering 440 homes within a 14-acre park and 45,000 sq. ft. of cultural space. Hilton is opening the 118-room Hilton Udaipur in early 2026, aiming to triple its South Asian presence to 75 properties. Berkadia refinanced two Carlsbad hotels for $92.5 million with a 65% LTV. Mandarin Oriental Residences will bring 228 luxury homes to Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, near cultural landmarks, with sales starting later in the year.

👨‍💻 Today's hotel guests seek emotional connections during their stays, beyond just accommodation. Implementing brand standards ensures consistent quality across properties, without stifling staff creativity. Well-designed standards enable staff to respond authentically within a brand's structured framework. Training, including technical aspects and role-play scenarios, empowers employees to handle various situations confidently, maintaining the brand promise while adding personal touches. Effective standards become invisible to guests, highlighting genuine care and emotional authenticity in service, which is the essence of exceptional hospitality.

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor, has worked with Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999 and with Restaurant Hospitality since 2016. He wrote The New York Sun’s "Kitchen Dish" column (2005-2008), reported from Thailand for Manager magazine and Asia Times, and was an ABC News runner during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Thorn, a Tufts University graduate and Le Cordon Bleu-trained, won the 2006 Neal Award and was inducted into the Disciples d'Escoffier in 2014. His food expertise spans French cuisine and Asian culinary trends.

🏝 Mama Shelter is set to open in Amsterdam, Netherlands in Q1 2027, featuring 150 rooms and 80 square meters of event space. The project, initiated by Ennismore, Chagall B.V., and White House Development B.V., commenced construction in September. The Auberge Resorts Collection will manage The Birdsall in Houston, scheduled for 2027, with 105 rooms and 44 residences. St. Regis celebrates its 60th hotel with The St. Regis on the Bund, Shanghai, offering 192 rooms and 1,100 square meters of event space. The Westin London City adds four new residences, sized 1,770 to 2,893 square feet, near St. Paul’s Cathedral and Tate Modern.

🏠 Brookfield Asset Management's The Leela unveils ultra-luxurious villas, Arq by The Leela, at The Leela Palace Udaipur along Lake Pichola, Rajasthan. Designed for high-net-worth individuals, the villas feature brass inlaid floors, Thikri artwork, and lapis stones, with personalized services like culinary journeys and artistic immersions. The Leela recently filed for a Rs. 5,000 crore ($594 million) IPO, the largest in the Indian hotel sector. The Leela aims to expand its 3,382-room portfolio to include 8 new hotels by 2028, with properties in Agra, Srinagar, Sikkim, Ranthambore, and Bandhavgarh. India's luxury hotel market is expected to reach $2.72 billion by the end of the year and $4.39 billion by 2029.

🛀 Showcasing transparent bathrooms, Dezeen's lookbook includes a variety of designs. In Kyoto, 07Beach designed a house where the bathroom opens to a courtyard for "open-air bathing." Husos architects replaced partitions with transparent walls in Madrid, creating a communal bathroom space. Taiwan's Cats' Pink House by KC Design Studio features a bathroom with dimmable pink glass. House in Nagoya, Japan by Suppose Design Office, has a bathroom viewable through glass walls. Tokyo's The Life apartment by I IN uses reeded glass to allow light into a windowless bathroom. Blueberry Nights hotel in Tbilisi, Georgia, designed by Sandro Takaishvili, offers slightly separated bathrooms for a cinematic feel. Vibo Tværveh cabin in Denmark, by Valbæk Brørup Architects, includes a wet room that opens to the outdoors. These examples redefine privacy and space usage in residential and commercial properties.