TOP NEWS

🏨 Hotelogix introduced an hourly booking module for flexible hotel check-ins, targeting the hourly hotel booking segment forecasted to reach $25.62 billion by 2027 from $16.67 billion in 2019. Popular in the US, UK, India, Philippines, and Southeast Asia, this model can save guests up to 60% on accommodation costs. Hotelogix's feature includes packages, discounts, and custom reports for tracking revenue and booking metrics. Philippines-based GCGC, managing over 60 properties and 8,000 rooms, saw a 40% revenue increase per room and over 750 bookings averaging 6 hours each.

🍴 Steve Palmer, president of Indigo Road Hospitality, oversees 45 restaurants and 6 hotels, emphasizing robust training programs, especially post-pandemic, to onboard employees with less experience but the right attitude. Sean Kreiman, SVP of CHMWarnick, stresses hiring passionate staff and leveraging training tools, including Proph+IT, CHMWarnick's business intelligence platform with labor tools, offered at a reasonable price to owners and operators. Indigo Road provides a home loan program, pays for continuing education, and offers free mental health care to support and attract associates. They also conduct a Hospitality University for advanced learning in Charleston. Creating a positive culture has been key to attracting potential employees.

🍴 FOH Worldwide acquired Smart Buffet Ware, established 2009 by David Moreland, enhancing FOH's buffet category and securing a global distribution deal with Tiger Company LTD. This acquisition adds green battery technology, eco-friendly induction systems, 18/10 stainless steel chafing dishes, hot and cold beverage dispensers, carving stations, and multi-purpose trolleys to FOH's product portfolio, aiming to redefine buffet service with smarter, greener solutions for the hospitality industry.

💸 Hotel revenue managers face constant changes, including competitors lowering rates and unpredictable guest booking patterns, impacting productivity and morale. A new approach structured around four key pillars—Streamline, Clarity, Confidence, and Freedom—is suggested to transform their work, increasing productivity and improving the hotel's bottom line. Streamlining involves consolidating tools into one platform and automating tasks. Clarity refers to defining revenue goals and creating a roadmap. Confidence is built on data-backed decision-making and cross-departmental collaboration. Freedom explores new revenue streams beyond rooms. Embracing these principles can steer the role of revenue managers from reactive to proactive, contributing to the industry's future.

🏨 A major consumer brand is predicted to launch its own hospitality brand with the first hotel opening and more within the next 18 months. The concept includes unique properties like Neighbourhood Tokyo, Patta Amsterdam & Lagos, Casa Loewe in New York, Singapore, and Seoul, Lululemon Vancouver, Heaven Berlin & San Diego by Marc Jacobs, Fjallraven Cabins in Nuuk, Reyjkjavik, Kiruna, and Liquid Death Resort in Gold Coast AU and Everglades US. Hospitality is seen as the ultimate storytelling stage, where immersive experiences can be most effective. Traditional hospitality companies may become Icons, Realists, or Shadows, adapting to the entrance of non-native brands in the industry, which may disrupt service delivery and brand experience.

🏨 STAAH, a technology company, analyzed hotel bookings via its channel manager with 500+ integrations globally. In Southeast Asia, OTAs like Agoda, Booking.com, and Trip.com were top channels. Malaysia's list included Klook, direct hotel bookings declined, while STAAH GDS maintained rank 9. Vietnam's favorites involved MG Group and DidaTravel with STAAH SwiftBook for direct bookings. Singapore's top five remained with Klook and STAAH GDS as new entrants. Indonesia's direct bookings stayed strong at number four, with Hotelbeds and Airbnb new to the list. Thailand's rankings saw slight shifts with STAAH GDS as a new entry. In the Philippines, local OTAs rose, and direct bookings via STAAH SwiftBook ranked sixth. The region anticipates steady travel industry growth, with Thailand and Singapore at the forefront.

🌍 In 2025, travel and tourism are shaped by low-cost innovation, premiumization, online platforms, and personalization. GlobalData's report identifies key technological, macroeconomic, and ESG trends influencing the sector, such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and connectivity. The landscape has evolved from 2019, with personalized offers based on customer data becoming essential. Online travel apps now offer more than bookings, driving changes in consumer behavior and market dynamics.

📢 In 2024, the hotel industry’s RevPAR grew 3-4% with occupancy rates nearing pre-pandemic levels. The 2025 outlook suggests AI will enhance guest experiences by analyzing data for actionable insights. Hotel Oderberger in Berlin handles 97% of 4,000 monthly guest queries with a chatbot, improving staff productivity. Direct bookings are expected to become over 50% of the distribution mix by 2030, challenging OTAs. Hospitality brands diversify portfolios; for instance, Marriott's luxury branded residences constitute 8% of its portfolio. Non-room revenue streams contribute approximately 25% to a hotel’s total revenue.

🏨 In 2025, hotels face low rate growth and must utilize ecommerce, actionable data, and AI for profitability. Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel increased ancillary spend by $34,000 in six weeks, while Lux Le Morne Resort generated $27,000 in 2024. On average, ancillary spending per booking is $275. Lighthouse's BI platform investment of $370m highlights the importance of data-driven decisions, processing 400 terabytes of travel data daily. In November 2024, Sabre launched SynXis Insights, a BI tool with six dashboards, adopted by various hotels. Concerts by Oasis and Coldplay in 2025 are expected to boost hotel revenues, following Taylor Swift's tour success in 2023 and 2024.