Market Trends

🏨 Hotel satisfaction in North America rose 14 points to 696 in the 2026 JD Power Benchmark from 682 in 2025. Based on feedback from 5,642 guests, the study highlights Columbia Sussex leading with a score of 739. Crestline Hotels & Resorts (718) and Driftwood Hospitality Management (717) follow. Despite improvements, only 43% find common areas inviting, and 48% view them as modern. The benchmark assesses hotels with over 14,000 branded rooms.

🛳 The Aman group and Cruise Saudi will launch a 183-meter yacht on May 7, 2027, between Palma de Mallorca and Nice, accommodating 94 guests in 47 suites. The luxury cruise market is expanding, with 98 ships projected by 2025, up from 28 in 2010, and 1.7 million passengers by 2029. Disney plans 13 ships by 2030, with cruising generating $3 billion last year. European ports are restricting large ships, and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection reports a 51% occupancy rate.

🔥 In 2026, extreme heat significantly impacted traveler perceptions in the Mediterranean, with France's Perception of Climate Index (PCI) dropping to 77.2, lower than Portugal (93.5), Italy (91.6), Spain (90.4), and Greece (89.9). Italy's PCI fell by 0.9 points from 2025. Spain and Greece showed high sensitivity to early heatwaves, while Portugal remained stable with a 91.1 PCI. French and domestic travelers in Spain and France are sensitive to heat, whereas UK and US travelers recover faster.

🏨 U.S. hotel performance in 2Q-2026 showed a 5.7% RevPAR increase, driven by the FIFA World Cup, tax relief, and soft prior year comparisons, despite challenges like the Iran war and rising gas prices. Real GDP rose by 1.5%, with AI investments representing 60% of business spending in 2025-2026. Corporate transient demand exceeded expectations, driven by high stock prices and AI investments. However, AI's long-term impact on hotel demand may be negative, affecting weekday RevPAR growth.

📝 In 2026, a survey by IHG Hotels & Resorts and Talker Research revealed that 47% of 1,000 Americans are interested in "skillcations," combining vacations with skill-learning. Additionally, 68% believe such experiences can be life-changing. Skillcations enhance experiential, wellness, and authentic travel, offering digital detox and personal growth. They transform trips into memorable experiences, allowing travelers to actively engage with local cultures through cooking, crafts, and other activities, while prioritizing experiences over possessions.

📚 On September 2, 2026, Markus Busch highlights the complexities of hotel booking systems, focusing on platforms like Amadeus and SAP. Amadeus handles over 2 million properties, with "120,000 hotels worldwide" in GDS inventory. SAP's new system offers up to six million options. Navan addresses data conflicts with an AI tool, boosting room rate options by 70%. This tech impacts where and how hotels' negotiated rates appear, offering corporate travelers a blend of loyalty and savings.

🏆 In July, non-host cities like Chicago, Detroit, and San Diego saw RevPAR boosts of 16%, 17%, and 11% respectively, due to event displacement from World Cup host cities. ADR grew 8.2% above inflation for the second month, though growth is easing. The hospitality sector debates SEO's impact, highlighting that search often guides rather than influences hotel decisions. The sector emphasizes brand protection over generic search, while AI's role in hospitality is scrutinized.