Miscellaneous

📝 Barcelona, Spain, 2025: Shiji's Guest Experience Benchmark Report reveals global guest satisfaction at 86.7%, based on 40 million reviews across 12,000 hotels. Year-over-year GRI rose by 0.5 percentage points, driven by 3-star (0.6 pp) and 4-star (0.5 pp) hotels. Regional highlights: Middle East (+0.8 pp), North America (+0.7 pp), Asia (+0.6 pp). Google reviews surged 15.7%. Asia leads with a GRI of 89.4%. The report aids hotels in tracking and enhancing performance.

📅 Ravi Patel, former AAHOA chairman (1992-93), passed away. He was a founding member and chairman of SREE Hotels. Ravi began his hospitality career in 1980 in Florence, SC, transforming a motel into a successful EconoLodge. He lived in Charlotte, NC, and built over 30 hotels. Patel was key in AAHOA’s early days, focusing on empowering hoteliers. AAHOA celebrates his legacy and extends condolences to his family and the SREE Hotels community.

🌍 Helen, Lucas (almost 3), Ezra (1), and I are enjoying a unique experience in the Chihuahua mountains. Despite its disadvantages, like harsh lighting, this place enriches our lives, highlighting the value of relationships and service to others. Our agrarian roots influence our journey, reinforcing my dedication to revealing how places shape people. Being here underscores our wealth in experiences, not material possessions, and inspires us to appreciate life's simple, yet profound, lessons.

✈️ Ryan Jones, CEO of Flighty, discusses the app's journey and design since its beta release in early 2019. Flighty focuses on real-time, accurate flight tracking. The app's community feedback shapes its innovation. Jones shares his dislike for certain airports, particularly because of their carpets. He even jokes about changing Austin's IATA code. Flighty is highly recommended for its user experience and data precision. Explore Flighty on various social platforms for more details.

🏨 Luxury hotel brands face a "scaling without dilution" challenge—how to expand while maintaining exclusivity and prestige. This involves redefining luxury beyond material aspects and emphasizing cultural meaning. Strategies include: 1) creating a holistic playbook for property launches, 2) involving key players in the process, and 3) utilizing a brand toolkit. Some brands, like Moncayo by Auberge Resorts, focus on horizontal expansion, deepening value with existing clientele through exclusive real estate offerings.

🏨 15th January 2026, Brussels: The AICR declared the World’s Best Receptionist winners at The 30th World’s Best Receptionist by Bucherer. Mateja Simic from The St. Regis Doha, Qatar, topped the contest, followed by Alicja Panek from Poland and Andrea García Santamaría from the UK. The awards celebrate exceptional front office hospitality standards, with more than 1,400 AICR members from 30 countries participating. The event was sponsored by Bucherer, Forbes Travel Guide, and EHL Hospitality Business School.

🗺️ Skyscanner launched its new "Packages" product in the UK, with plans for further international rollout in 2026. The platform collaborates with selected ATOL-protected providers, including TUI, Jet2, and Expedia. High demand for package holidays is evident, with a 113% increase reported early in the year. Skyscanner's package comparison tool searches 25 million packages daily, aiming to simplify travel planning by offering competitive options from top UK providers. January marks the peak booking period for UK travelers.

🏗️ UAE: In Nad Al Sheba, Binghatti and Mercedes-Benz are investing AED30 billion in a masterplan community spanning nine million square feet. Slated for completion in three phases, it will offer over 13,000 residences across 12 towers, each named after Mercedes-Benz concept cars. The development will include diverse amenities such as gyms, family pools, and social spaces, with a focus on wellness, recreation, and community. This project marks a significant collaboration, emphasizing integrated urban living.

👕 Betsy Freeman joins Josiah Mackenzie in a podcast episode to discuss the creation of Hospitality Daily’s first merch: a special edition t-shirt. The conversation highlights how art and emotion are pivotal in shaping brand identity, emphasizing the importance of collaboration for successful outcomes. Music for the show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound, specializing in music identity design for hospitality brands.