Market Trends

🌡 VRF systems offer hotels simultaneous heating and cooling with two-pipe design, reducing installation complexity and costs. NoMad Los Angeles, a 241-room property, and Moxy Columbus, Ohio, a 150,000 square-foot building, installed Mitsubishi Electric CITY MULTI® VRF for space efficiency and operational cost reduction. CBRE's report emphasizes the financial benefits of high-efficiency HVAC systems, with VRF systems providing energy savings through modulated output based on demand. Hybrid VRF systems further enhance efficiency by combining refrigerant and water-based indoor distribution, suitable for hotels with limited space.

🍽 Indonesia's food and foodservice sectors are evolving rapidly, compared to the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. Key growth trends include digital adoption and innovation in packaged food and out-of-home dining. GlobalData's insights reveal shifts in consumer behavior, menu trends, and channel performance, with technology increasingly blurring retail and foodservice lines. This strategic session, tailored for Strategy and Insights professionals in FMCG and foodservice, provides actionable benchmarks for portfolio planning, channel strategy, and regional investment.

🏠 Opera Contemporary, a luxury furniture brand, furnished the sleeping area of Hilltop House, a private villa in Metro Manila, Philippines, curated by Moda Interni and Casa Licup. The master bedroom features a Dorothy bed with a green bouclé fabric headboard, 350 cm wide, and accommodates a 200x200 cm mattress. Additional pieces include the Fritz bench, Sophie armchair, and a Ø120-cm New Brian coffee table with Arabescato Vagli marble. Opera Contemporary highlighted bespoke Italian craftsmanship.

📺 May 13, 2025, Ben Wolff, co-founder of Onera and CEO of Oasi, discusses the evolving expectations of travelers on the Hospitality Daily Podcast. He highlights how providing immersive and participatory experiences can create deeper emotional connections and memorable guest experiences. The episode urges businesses to adopt these strategies to benefit both their operations and customers. For more insights, check out Ben's LinkedIn post and other episodes.

📖 May 12, 2025 - Ben Wolff, co-founder of Onera and CEO of Oasi, discusses his view of hotel development as an artistic endeavor rather than just a business venture. The episode encourages listeners to harness creativity to benefit their business and team. For further inspiration, the music for the show is crafted by Clay Bassford from Bespoke Sound, a company specializing in music identity design for hospitality brands.

🏨 Robert Mandelbaum, Research Director at CBRE Hotels, leverages over 80 years of hotel performance data to analyze changes in guest behaviors and service expectations. He emphasizes the need to comprehend the essential factors behind hotel success. Further insights can be found in the series including "Meet Robert Mandelbaum: The Man Who Turns P&Ls into Playbooks".

🚢 Nearly 10 million holidaymakers used ATOL protection for trips in January-March 2025, a 4.4% increase from the previous year. ATOL saw a rise in bookings, with 12.8 million people booked for April-October 2025, half of these in the last three months. The UK Civil Aviation Authority encourages using the 'Check an ATOL' tool for financial protection assurance. Michael Budge, Head of ATOL, emphasizes the importance of booking with an ATOL-licensed travel provider.

🏠 Hilton's "2025 Trends Report" signals an increase in travelers seeking wellness on vacation. Jessica Shea, VP of wellness at Hilton, emphasizes the economic opportunity and responsibility to cater to health-conscious guests. Hilton works with sleep expert Dr. Rebecca Robbins to optimize guest sleep experiences and introduces stress-reducing hotel features. Fitness centers are standard across all Hilton brands, with luxury properties offering advanced amenities. Wellness offerings at Hilton are revenue drivers, impacting rates and driving demand, especially in lifestyle and luxury segments. Hilton has retail partnerships with wellness brands like Lululemon and Alo, and collaborations with Peloton and Calm. Wellness initiatives are being integrated with the Hilton Honors program.

🏨 Robert Mandelbaum, Research Director at CBRE Hotels, discusses hotel industry profitability strategies amidst slowing revenue growth. He emphasizes the distinct performance of luxury versus economy hotels, the influence of location, and the effects of various operating models. More resources can be found at Hospitality Daily.