Market Trends

🏆 City Lodge Hotels, alongside TBWA Hunt Lascaris Johannesburg, triumphed at the Loeries 2025 in Africa and the Middle East, winning 8 awards from 23 shortlisted entries. The "Save Our Stay" campaign garnered a gold for Comedic Impact, silvers in Service Design and PR & Media Communication, and several bronzes across categories. The Loeries, now in its 47th year, is a prestigious annual event celebrating creative excellence. Zuki Jantjies, City Lodge's Sales and Marketing Director, was a judge this year.

💰 Hong Kong-based Jardine Matheson will acquire remaining shares of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, valued at $4.2 billion, and take it private. The company offers $3.35 per share, a 52% premium over the last unaffected price of $2.20 on Sept. 29. Mandarin Oriental operates 44 hotels in 27 countries. Recent sales include 13 floors of its Hong Kong hotel for $925 million. By June 2025, it reported a 45% profit increase to $798 million.

🏠 Branded residences are booming globally due to increasing wealth and lifestyle shifts post-pandemic. Dubai leads with $8.5 billion sales in H2 2024, while Miami hosts 42 active projects. The market, dominated by hotel brands (79%), sees growth in non-hotel sectors like fashion and automotive. The UHNWI demand for private, luxury living drives standalone residences. Developers and brands benefit from high returns and loyalty, with major hotspots in New York, London, and emerging markets like Saudi Arabia.

🏨 UK, 2026: Pride of Britain Hotels’ report reveals affluent travelers (1,646 surveyed) favor heritage stays (75%) and multigenerational travel (19%, up 7%). Most (over 50%) take three UK breaks annually, planning to continue in 2026. Couples dominate at 79%, with friend groups rising to 28%. Bookings often occur within days or hours (reported by 75% of hoteliers). Hidden charges frustrate 69% of guests. Direct bookings are preferred, influenced by transparent pricing and perks.

🏨 Luxury hotels are becoming billion-dollar lifestyle empires, generating 30-75% of revenue beyond rooms through retail and wellness. By 2030, this shift presents a $40B opportunity, with Aman leading $2.3B in branded residence sales in 18 months. Nobu focuses on restaurant-led models, while Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, and Rosewood leverage data for 85% sales growth and 25% higher margins. They're mastering Total Revenue Per Available Room (TRevPAR) and building loyal communities through curated luxury experiences.

💸 Gloria Thalasso & Hotels in Gran Canaria and Lanzarote increased direct sales from 2.7% in 2014 to 45% of total sales by 2025. In collaboration with Mirai since 2014, they implemented a new website, booking engine, digital marketing, and the Omnichannel Contact Center. Metasearch campaigns achieved 99% coverage, while calls achieved a 37% conversion rate. The Mirai Twin 3D shopping process improved interaction and conversion, enhancing guest-centered service and sustainability focus.

Blog Post Excerpt 📈 Midscale hotels saw the strongest growth in satisfaction, doubling 5-star growth rates. On October 16, 2025, Shiji's Q3 report highlighted a 86.8% Global Review Index, with 3-star properties growing satisfaction by 0.8pp. Global review volumes rose 2.6% year-over-year, driven by a 33% increase on Google. Despite gains, Europe and Asia review volumes fell slightly. Average response times improved to 3.0 days, down from 4.7 days in Q3 2023, thanks to AI tools.

📖 Heritage and comfort redefine luxury travel in 2026. PoB Hotels' report reveals 75% of affluent travelers prioritize heritage, with 80% valuing peace. Domestic tourism rises, as 50% took three UK breaks last year, with nearly 60% planning the same for 2026. Despite economic uncertainty, 42% expect higher spending on UK breaks. Dining diversifies with interest in chef’s tables and foraging walks, while spontaneity becomes a status symbol, with up to 75% of bookings made at short notice.

📈 Q3 2025 Shiji Guest Experience Benchmark reveals global trends in hospitality. Global review volume rose by 2.6% compared to Q3 2024, despite drops in Europe and North America. Google’s influence increased by 33% YoY, driven by a 59.9% surge in Latin America. North America experienced a decline in NPS for 3-5 star hotels. Average survey completion time globally is 5:41 minutes, with African markets exceeding 8 minutes.