Market Trends

🍴 Saladplate, the go-to hub for Hospitality, Food, and Beverage insights, is part of Informa Markets. It offers news, a monthly newsletter, and a bi-monthly e-magazine, alongside access to 10,000+ brands and updates from 35+ international trade events.

🛩 Kim Kardashian's 2025 visit to a Seoul aesthetics clinic highlights the Glowmads trend, where travelers embrace beauty and wellness experiences. Skyscanner's 2026 report reveals 37% of travelers incorporate beauty into self-care routines, 32% explore local beauty cultures, and 22% are influenced by social media. Hotels can leverage this by enhancing spa facilities and partnerships. Beauty now significantly shapes how people engage with destinations.

💰 In 2024, Minnesota welcomed 81 million visitors, generating nearly $15 billion in visitor spending. Lauren Bennett McGinty, Executive Director of Explore Minnesota, discussed with Glenn Haussman how the state agency generates $25 billion in economic impact. The interview detailed strategies and insights beneficial to hoteliers.

📰 Vanessa Watts and Erika Dray, founders of Watts & Dray in New York, launched their studio in 2021. They interviewed Paolo Ferrari and Courtney Lauderdale from Studio Paolo Ferrari, founded in 2016 in Toronto. The studio has worked on projects like Long Bar, Shebara Resort, Desert Rock, and Peridot. Ferrari, emphasizing the value of discipline, states, "It's about the idea," not just the object. They would still maintain their design studio even if they won the lottery.

🌎 In Lebanon, New Hampshire, the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey revealed that 71% of international travelers haven't altered their plans despite rising costs. Among U.S. travelers, 73% maintained their plans, compared to 65% of non-U.S. travelers. To adjust, 16% reduced spending, and 6% postponed trips. Airfare costs increased for 77% of travelers, with hotel rates and dining costs also rising significantly, especially for non-U.S. travelers. This indicates travelers prioritize experiences over budget constraints.

🏨 In Amsterdam, 2024-2026 sees a hotel market facing challenges like increased city tax (7% to 12.5%) and VAT hikes (9% to 21% in 2026). Tourist arrivals hit 9.3 million in 2024, growing 4.9% from 2023. A 20% rise in bednights by 2025 highlights growing non-hotel accommodations. Investment in 2025 reached €590 million, with Amsterdam leading at 59% of transactions. Future tax hikes could push city taxes to 20% by 2031, impacting pricing strategies amid competitive pressures.

🏨 24 hotels from 11 countries are vying for the European “Hotel Property Award 2026,” part of the 196+ forum Munich conference. The ceremony is set for 7 October at Hotel Bayerischer Hof Munich. Eligible hotels, built or redeveloped between January 2025 and June 2026, are judged on architecture, sustainability, and economic viability. Entries span cities like Madrid, Paris, and Vienna, as well as leisure spots like the Croatian Adriatic coast and the Bavarian Alps.

📑 Jul 22, 2026, Markus Busch analyzes hotel wholesaler contracts, noting the "three strikes" policy by Hotelbeds, which monitors 60,000 sellers across 135 markets. Traditional fixed wholesale rates are outdated, causing rates to be undervalued. Dynamic wholesale rates are recommended. With the inability to enforce "opaque, package-only" clauses, hoteliers need better contract terms: dynamic rates, transparency on distribution channels, and kill-switch rights. Contracts must adapt to modern market conditions.

📅 In 2023, Gary Patel dropped Choice Hotels after 18 years, losing 579 reviews and a 4.4 rating, starting anew with 29 reviews as an independent hotel owner. Over 1,200 economy and midscale franchise agreements will end by 2030. AI favors third-party sources and OTAs over hotel websites, emphasizing the importance of earned media. In 2025, only 28% of hotel conversions went independent, reflecting a steady 20-year average. The opportunity lies in early adoption and building a unique reputation.

🌎 On August 12, 2026, the total solar eclipse is driving hotel prices in Reykjavik, A Coruña, Bilbao, and Santiago de Compostela to unprecedented levels. Reykjavik tops the list, with hotel rates at $1,012 per night, a 212% increase from 2026 averages. Short-term rentals peak at $1,172 per night. Demand in A Coruña is 186% higher YoY, while Santiago remains the cheapest at $193 per night. 81% of A Coruña's short-term rentals are booked.