TOP NEWS

📚 roommaster, a leading hospitality software firm, published "The 2026 Hotel Operations Blueprint." This guide helps hoteliers tackle rising guest expectations and operational complexities through digital workflows, automation, AI, and connected tech stacks. roommaster serves over 100 countries, emphasizing innovation and simplicity. The guide aims to streamline front desk, housekeeping, and maintenance operations for efficient hotel management by 2026. Download it at roommaster's website for practical strategies.

📈 Airbnb's role is more about resolving issues than hospitality, addressing failures like refunds and cancellations. Sonder, once valued at $2.2 billion, liquidated via Chapter 7 by November 2025. Vacasa, valued at $4.5 billion in 2021, was sold to Casago in April 2025 for $130 million, a 97% decrease. Inspirato's gross margins fell from 71% to 31%, leading to a $59 million acquisition by Exclusive Resorts. These failures highlight the operational challenges of short-term rentals.

💻 2026 is pivotal for hospitality as AI becomes integral, impacting guest communication, housekeeping, and booking. 18 experts predict AI will transform hotel operations. Around 33% of travelers use AI for hotel searches. Ancillary services like parking and spa access become strategic revenue sources. Reviews are essential for AI accuracy. IT leaders must rethink procurement for scalability and AI readiness. Despite AI’s growth, human interaction remains crucial, highlighting soft skills. Mews, powering 12,500 hotels globally, leads in this transformation, raising $410 million.

🌐 Expedia and Booking.com, day-one partners of ChatGPT's App marketplace, spend $14 billion annually on marketing to capture early-stage travelers. Nearly 40% of travelers use AI tools for trip planning, with over half using AI in some capacity. AI is altering OTA economics, reducing their influence as travelers shift to AI interfaces. Connect AI enables hotels to engage directly with travelers on AI platforms, offering direct bookings and full control over guest relationships, bypassing OTAs and their 15-25% commissions.

🏨 Jan 16, 2026, Deloitte's report highlights the hospitality industry's transformation due to shifting consumer behavior, economic challenges, and technological advances. Traditional growth models are strained by AI-driven demand and regulatory scrutiny. Key insights: AI is central to guest journeys; experience-led growth surpasses brand loyalty; portfolio diversification captures fragmented demand; efficiency through real-time data; responsible operations are essential; workforce transformation requires digital skills. The industry faces capital constraints, labor shortages, and social backlash against mass tourism.

📱 GenAI use by travelers is set to increase significantly, with predictions reaching 24% during the upcoming holiday season, up from 16% in 2024 and 8% in 2023. Currently, OTAs handle 20% of U.S. hotel bookings, translating to 325,000 daily room reservations. A debate is ongoing regarding AI's impact on OTAs, with some believing AI will benefit OTAs, while others argue it may weaken them. The outcome will influence future booking dynamics.

📈 Q1 2025, a travel outlook for Lufthansa's TNMT.com became its most-read article. LinkedIn roundup gained ~100k impressions. Supported Beautiful Destinations' report on social media in travel. Launched OneChart merch. Q2: Collaborated with OAG and Microsoft on AI in aviation. Column for ZAL magazine on sustainable aviation. Hired two for Research+Attitude, turning freelance support into a business. Q3: Conducted "10 Principles of High-Impact Data Visualization" workshop. Worked remotely from Florida. Discovered useful AI tools Wispr Flow and Julius AI.

📈 Based on 42 million reviews from 12,000 hotels in 2025, guest satisfaction increased worldwide, including EMEA, Americas, and APAC regions. Hotel response times averaged 3.5 days, with review volumes up by 2.1% year-over-year. Key departments like Value, Food & Beverage, and Cleanliness influenced guest perceptions. Analysis of 127 million mentions provided benchmarks for improving Global Review Index (GRI). Global star segment scores for tourism cities were also shared.

📰 Google and Shopify released a new AI-driven commerce protocol last week. CES 2026 recaps highlight robotics, though practical applications remain a decade away. Expedia pivots to infrastructure, gaining European regulatory advantages over Booking.com. Social platforms now influence travel decisions, emphasizing authenticity. A new global distribution chart helps hotels focus on markets with strong reviews. Feedback is welcomed for updates. Google offers free AI courses.

🏨 2026 marks a pivotal shift in the hotel industry. Generative AI is integrating search, chat, and booking into a single flow, transforming guest interactions and visibility. Hotels must have clean, structured content and open APIs to remain visible. Personalized experiences are replacing points-based loyalty, driven by connected systems. Agentic AI is enhancing operations like bookings and housekeeping. Automation will allow staff to focus on connections, adding value and enhancing guest experiences. Hoteliers must adapt swiftly to these changes.