Miscellaneous

🌎 World Travel & Tourism Council advocates for proactive destination stewardship, urging governments, destinations, and the private sector to collaborate. The goal is to maximize tourism's value for residents, businesses, and visitors. This approach emphasizes careful planning and partnership, ensuring tourism growth is beneficial for all parties involved.

🏨 By 2026, managing over 20 channels in hotel distribution will still be manually intensive, with dashboards often conflicting. Revenue losses continue despite efforts. The introduction of a new AI-discovery layer lacks a playbook, challenging hoteliers. This reflects the reality of hotel distribution strategy as we approach 2026.

📱 Travelers today crave cultural experiences beyond the usual sights. On July 28, 2026, HCN, based in Chicago, partnered to deliver over 200,000 licensed artworks to their in-room tablet platform. This initiative not only enhances guest experiences but also presents luxury hotels with new revenue streams.

🚽 Hugo Volpei launched Trone, a French bathroom brand, in 2018 after being inspired by London's Sketch toilets. The brand's breakout came with a task to deliver seven toilets for Big Mamma in six months. Trone's designs, including 'Callipyge', 'Icone', and 'Altesse', feature unique shapes and finishes. 'Altesse', revealed at Milan Design Week 2026, resembles a sleek wall-mounted pod. Volpei aims to make toilets desirable, overcoming societal taboos with innovative designs.

🍴 Whitbread will close all 106 Beefeater and 89 Brewers Fayre locations in the UK by early September. The closures, part of a restructuring plan, will result in approximately 3,800 job losses, aiming to secure £250 million in savings over five years. All Brewers Fayre sites close after dinner on 7 September, and Beefeater closes on 10 September. Whitbread plans to add 3,600 new hotel extension rooms and aims to redeploy affected staff.

🏨 Liam Brown, set to receive the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award at The Lodging Conference in Phoenix on October 7, 2026, is recognized for his notable contributions to the hospitality industry. Starting his Marriott career in 1989, he held key positions, including his role as group president for the U.S. and Canada until March 2026. Brown will retire in October 2026, having significantly impacted Marriott's global operations.

🏨 Liam Brown, the 2026 chair of the American Hotel & Lodging Association Board of Directors, will receive the Above & Beyond Lifetime Achievement Award in October 2026 at The Lodging Conference in Phoenix. Retiring in June after 35 years at Marriott International, he served as Group President, U.S. and Canada. His career began in 1989, reaching key roles in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The award honors his exceptional contributions to the hospitality industry.

🏨 Phoenix, Ariz., July 27, 2026 — Harry Javer announced that The Lodging Conference will honor Liam Brown, 2026 Chair of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Board of Directors. Brown, former Group President for U.S. and Canada at Marriott International, will receive the 2026 Above & Beyond Lifetime Achievement Award.

🌎 Luxury London hotel The Mandrake has collaborated with Vapoura rum brand to release a unique EP by producers Caralus and Daniel Sehnawi, inspired by the hotel's spaces, including Waeska bar, Jurema terrace, and YOPO Zaytoun restaurant. Limited copies of this vinyl are available at The Mandrake and through Vapoura, accompanied by a Vapoura cocktail menu. This collaboration aims to expand Vapoura's brand experience beyond the bottle, reflecting trends in immersive hospitality experiences.