TOP NEWS

📈 In 2026, Andrew Farrow from RBH Hospitality Management emphasizes strategic positioning for independent hotels. At The Met Hotel Leeds and The Milner York, strategic repositioning and investments led to record revenues and guest satisfaction. Strategic branding guided investment decisions, ensuring alignment between digital and physical touchpoints. Future focus areas include market understanding, internal alignment, and rate resilience over volume. Clear strategies, driven by data and cultural alignment, differentiate hotels in competitive markets.

🏨 London, 20 January 2026 - Hotels using Journey's platform see a 95% AOV surge by offering curated experiences with bookings. Extras boost booking revenue by 16% and spa services increase AOV by 44%, from £371 to £534. Marketing efficiency improves with ad spend returns rising from 13 to 30. Repeat guests spend 1.5 to 2 times more. Simon Bullingham emphasizes treating experiences like revenue products boosts performance. Journey aids over 750 properties in enhancing guest experiences.

🏨 SilverBirch Hotels & Resorts, a leading Canadian hospitality company, revamped its financial planning by adopting FairPlanner and FairPayroll from Fairmas, enhancing accuracy and efficiency. Previously reliant on error-prone Excel spreadsheets, SilverBirch now enjoys improved forecasting, budgeting, and labor cost planning. Key benefits include increased budget accuracy, faster scenario comparisons, and enhanced decision-making. Fairmas, founded in 2003, serves over 5,500 hotels globally, expanding its presence beyond Europe.

🏆 Club Med celebrated its 75th anniversary with an immersive anniversary campaign. Forgoing a traditional retrospective, the brand launched an experiential marketing initiative that served as a manifesto of its identity. This campaign blended Club Med's heritage with contemporary appeal, creating a unified and influential marketing experience.

📈 European hoteliers, 2026: Focus on hyperpersonalization, tech stacks, data privacy. Africa's hospitality: $25.29B revenue in 2023; 7.31% growth by 2030. Travel Trends Report 2026: AI impact, emerging behaviors. China's travel: premium demand. AI investment ROI crucial in 2026. Accor's prediction: 25% search by 'mood' in 2026. Maestro PMS unveils roadmap January 14, 2026. Revenue Analytics' new integration in Atlanta. Sydney, December 2025: 81.3% occupancy, ADR AUD349.06. Paris, December 2025: 76.7% occupancy, ADR EUR371.87.

🏨 In a recent SMACK episode, Florian interviews Lennert De Jong, CEO of Another Star and ex-citizenM legend, about significant hospitality industry moves. CitizenM sold its brand to Marriott International while keeping operations, a strategic scaling decision. Lennert's team executed a record-speed tech integration in four months. Discussions cover AI's role in booking and loyalty programs, highlighting Marriott Bonvoy’s impact on major cities. This episode challenges perceptions about traditional hotel chains.

🏆 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S. from June 11 to July 19 will boost hotel demand across 16 cities. Driftwood Capital, managing over 5,000 rooms in host cities, notes early booking rises; over 102% increase for the World Cup Final in New Jersey. Strategies include tailored offerings and community engagement. Carlos Rodriguez Jr. and Alinio Azevedo emphasize targeted marketing and operations to maximize success. This event is a "golden opportunity" for the U.S. hospitality sector.

📚 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.