TOP NEWS

🏨 Thailand's hospitality sector is evolving, with over 83,000 rooms in Bangkok and 751 new keys by 2025. As new luxury and lifestyle hotels emerge, older hotels face higher costs and uneven performance. Strategic turnarounds focus on cultural optimization, lifestyle repositioning, reflagging, and operational modernization. Effective asset management, financial strategies, and sustainability are key to success. The focus is on agility and alignment with shifting demand, operational costs, and brand relevance for future competitiveness.

📈 In December 2024, Booking.com revamped its review scoring, shifting to a dynamic model focused on recent reviews. Key data shows a hotel’s score, which was static at 8.8 for 480 days (2023-2024), rose to 9.3 by August 2025 after the change. This new approach led to 15 score changes in eight months of 2025, surpassing the total from the previous two years. The update rewards recent guest experiences and reflects current hotel performance more accurately.

💰 Luxury clientele has diversified, with 35% of the market now consisting of Mass Affluents and Luxury Seekers, whose wealth ranges from USD 100,000 to USD 1 million. Millionaires Next Door (USD 1 to 5 million) and HNWIs (USD 5 to 30 million) prioritize non-ostentatious luxury, personalized travel, and cultural experiences. Ultra-HNWIs (over USD 30 million) demand rarity, time efficiency, and transformative experiences. Generational shifts, driven by Millennials and Gen Z, are redefining luxury expectations.

🏨 Otelier, Agilysys, and Sage invite you to the 2026 Hotel Operations Index study to enhance hotel efficiency. Participate in a 5-7 minute survey to improve data access and automation for over 10,000 hotels globally. Insights contribute to a comprehensive benchmark report. Otelier, with 30 years of experience, offers real-time financial and operational visibility for properties and global brands. Participants receive exclusive results and analysis.

📱 2026 predictions highlight AI's integration in hospitality, urging owners to develop action plans. Wellness shifts beyond massages, demanding spa updates. 5-star hotels thrive, while 4-star counterparts struggle. Younger guests favor mocktails over wine, shifting focus. The Experience Economy's importance grows. Tech advancement is key, balancing back-of-house efficiency with guest interaction. Social media strategies evolve, focusing on targeted influencers. Team support is crucial, with inflation stabilizing, efficiency remains vital. Robots improve but aren't prominent this year.

📈 Hotel trends in 2025 show a heightened focus on real-time U.S. market performance, indicating industry vigilance. AI interest decreases but evolves, while guest experience and design remain constants. Acquisitions and consolidation dominate brand headlines. Booking.com maintains dominance, followed by Google. Marriott rises with strategic growth, and Airbnb experiments with diversification. OTAs like Expedia adapt to tech changes but trail behind. Notably, social media and reputation management declined in focus.

🗺️ Japan, 2025: Strategic tourism policies focus on sustainability, dispersal, and experience. New measures like visitor caps, fees, and taxes are implemented to protect cultural sites and residents. Rail extensions and regional promotions aim to distribute tourist flow beyond urban hubs. Tokyo strengthens its role as a global aviation connector with increased flight frequencies between Asia and North America. The Japan Travel Market Essentials 2025 report offers insights on market trends and policy impacts.

🔥 Hove, December 23, 2025, Imperial Hotel: A fire broke out at 3:11 PM on the fourth floor. East Sussex Fire and Rescue responded with multiple engines. Guests and staff were evacuated; one person was treated for injuries. Firefighters used an aerial ladder and breathing apparatus. Crews stayed until 7:27 PM. The fire, deemed accidental, was caused by an extractor fan fault. Police and ambulance services were also involved. No further injuries were reported.

🏨 Vilnius, Lithuania, awarded the European Hospitality City 2025 on November 17 by the European Hotel Awards, hosted a gala at the Grand Hotel, Vilnius. The event recognized Vilnius’ creativity and growth in hospitality. Honorees included Radisson Collection Astorija (Hotel of the Year) and Evalda Šiškauskienė (Lifetime Achievement). The award highlights Vilnius' status as a thriving European capital. Vilnius hosts major events and offers easy access from London with frequent direct flights.