Market Trends

💹 Chicago, IL, 11 November — A PriceLabs study found that 63% of short-term rental hosts work full-time jobs while managing listings. The survey, involving over 1,400 hosts, revealed 71% spend under 10 hours weekly on management, with 37% spending five hours or less. Despite initial motives of earning extra (56%) or covering property costs (49%), 49% now aim to expand, and 22% consider full-time hosting. The full report releases on November 18.

🏨 In Great Britain, five of the 10 best-known hotel brands saw a decline in awareness from 2017 to 2023, according to the Hotel Guest Survey. Awareness varies by age, with Baby Boomers at 64% and Gen Z at 43%. In some cases, Gen Z brand awareness reaches as low as 19%. Only 30% of Brits think hotels offer the best rates directly, with 54% preferring other booking sites. The focus should shift to converting awareness into consumer preference.

🏨 UK hotel occupancy surged to 85% in September 2025, spurred by England's Red Roses performing in the Women's Rugby World Cup. London saw occupancy rise to 87.2%, with room rates increasing from £157.76 to £164.61 UK-wide and £220.14 to £232.48 in London. Gross operating profits climbed from 41% to 41.8% in the UK. Despite pressures like rising costs, the hotel sector offset weaknesses in manufacturing and construction, as noted by RSM UK's Chris Tate and economist Thomas Pugh.

🏨 Denver's hotel market faced challenges post-pandemic, with occupancy dropping monthly from September 2024 to August 2025. A federal shutdown starting October 1, 2025, exacerbated issues. Average Daily Rate (ADR) fell by nearly 2% in 2025. Limited new supply and the Colorado Convention Center's expansion boosted event hosting. 2026 expects occupancy to rise, with ADR growth by late spring. Risks include federal funding gaps and traveler price sensitivity, while stronger convention bookings and expanded air service offer potential benefits.

🗺 South Africa, 2026: 69% plan same/more holidays; Gen Z leads with 66% eager for more. AI in travel planning: 49% use it, 59% trust it for bookings. Lux-scaping: 64% embrace luxury stays; passion pursuits: 73% opt for interest-based trips. Top destinations: South Africa (25%), England (10%), Mauritius (10%). Key priorities: cleanliness (96%), family time (53%). Sustainability: 76% consider environmental impact. Research by Mortar, July 2025, surveyed 2,045 South Africans.

📈 Skift and Mews's 2025 report in New York highlights a shift in hospitality from room-focused metrics to guest-centric ones like Revenue per Available Guest (RevPAG). Ennismore generates over 60% of revenue from non-room sources. Mews platform saw a rise in non-room bookings from 1,179 to 2,223 hotels between 2024 and 2025, with reservations increasing over 230%. Technology, such as AI tools, enables tailored services, enhancing guest experiences and boosting long-term growth.

🏨 At Q3 2025, the APEC hotel construction pipeline reached 2,262 projects with 434,593 rooms, marking 9% and 6% YOY increases. The region saw 898 construction projects/199,865 rooms, while new project announcements totaled 226 projects/42,405 rooms. India led with 838 projects/108,775 rooms, reflecting 31% and 37% YOY growth. Notable city pipelines included Bangkok (65 projects/16,316 rooms) and Jakarta (48 projects/10,466 rooms). LE forecasts 336 new hotels by 2026 end and 322 by 2027 end.

📱 Grand Hyatt Singapore's in-room dining underwent a major digital transformation with Stellaris Digital Dine, improving efficiency by routing 90%+ of orders digitally. This shift has saved approximately $3,600 in monthly labor costs and nearly eliminated errors, reducing mistakes from 5-10% to near zero. Menu updates now take 2-3 hours instead of three weeks, with 58% of dining revenue (July 2024–June 2025) from digital orders. The initiative supports sustainability by eliminating printed menus.

📅 Columbia, Missouri hosted the 3-day Main Street Summit & Capital Camp, attracting over 1,200 founders, investors, artists, and athletes. The event featured talks on business insights and personal values, including those by Tim Tebow. Sessions were across downtown venues like cinemas and theaters. Key insights included the need for real connection, the shift towards analog experiences, and the importance of taste in business. Next, Waco prepares for its Homestead Fair, expecting up to 20,000 attendees.