Market Trends

🛌 The American hotel industry has prioritized aesthetics over genuine wellness, evident in hotel amenities like $9 gummy bears and sugary drinks. The global wellness tourism market hit $894 billion, yet most hotels fail to offer true wellness services. Sleep deprivation affects immune function and cognitive performance, emphasizing the need for better hotel sleep environments. The Six Senses, Equinox Hotel, Aman, and SHA Wellness Clinic are leading by integrating wellness into their core services, enhancing guest recovery and experience.

🌆 SODA designed Nineteen Wells Street office in Fitzrovia, London, commissioned by Great Portland Estates. The office, located in a heritage-listed art deco building from 1929, features a raspberry-red spiral staircase and a two-storey bookcase. The design blends art deco influences with modern elements, creating a welcoming and timeless space. Custom rugs were designed with Floor Story. The lower ground floor features a snug for collaboration, with a moodier palette centered around deep green hues.

🏨 In San Juan, the Independent Lodging Congress hosted the INDIEConfab event discussing fashion-hospitality crossovers. Participants included Galli Arbel of Hotel Anna & Bel and Alexander Buchholz of Bar Rêve. The hotel industry faces challenges in escaping commodity status, unlike fashion, which creates brand loyalty. The $990 difference between Hanes and Prada tees exemplifies fashion's branding success. The hospitality sector needs to leverage its unique "escape" offering to avoid stagnation and remain financially viable.

🏨 Thom Geshay, CEO of Davidson Hospitality Group since 1988, shares insights on hospitality trends and his role with AHLA. He highlights a divergence in industry performance across segments and emphasizes sustainability. Davidson focuses on specialized, full-service properties. AHLA's advocacy will gain momentum with events like the 2026 World Cup. Geshay’s leadership principles include passion, inclusivity, and risk-taking. His outlook for the industry is optimistic, with major events set to boost engagement and economic impact.

🏨 Luxury brands are shifting focus to hospitality, as noted by Bain and Altagamma, emphasizing experiential value over conspicuous consumption. Omer Acar of Raffles Hotels states, "Luxury retail sells the dream but in hospitality, we deliver the dream." Aman Resorts in New York showcases this shift with urban tranquilly at premium prices. Julie Bramham, Diageo's MD, highlights a move towards experience-led value. Hospitality offers seamless, memorable experiences, driving consumer preference over traditional luxury goods.

🏨 The luxury hotel market, worth $112.4 billion in 2025, is projected to hit $219.1 billion by 2035, with a 7.7% annual growth rate. Economy hotels' revenue per room dropped 1.8% through August 2025, while luxury saw a 5.3% rise. In 2025, Four Seasons was the most admired hotel group, and Mandarin Oriental ranked top luxury brand. Rosewood Hong Kong was named the world's best hotel. Total US hotel labor costs reached $127 billion in 2025, up 15.3% since 2019.