TOP NEWS

🏠 26 November 2025, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Saudi Arabia returns to the Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah in Riyadh from 20-22 April 2026. Over 1,100 global hospitality leaders discussed Saudi Arabia's plan for 362,000 new hotel rooms by 2030, facilitated by a $10 billion pipeline. FHS 2025 reported $1.6 billion in business opportunities. The summit will address luxury and mid-market segment balance, homegrown hospitality brands, and branded residence growth, with under-construction projects up 455% in the last decade.

🏨 Ki Space Hotel & Spa, located in Val d'Europe, France, wins the Hospitality Awards for innovation, featuring smart rooms and a 1,000 m² spa. Maison Heler Metz, opened in March 2025 in France, earns Coup de Coeur for its unique design by Philippe Starck with 104 rooms. Gateway Bekal, in Kerala, India, offers 151 rooms on 30 acres, integrating sustainable design. TRIBE Krakow Old Town in Poland, opened in 2024 with 168 rooms, combines modern and traditional architecture.

🏨 Many hotels are now prioritizing environmental impact by reducing CO₂ emissions, preserving biodiversity, and conserving marine life. This shift is driven by increased expectations from guests, partners, and investors, enhancing the resilience and credibility of hotel operations.

📌 November 2025. Hotels fall into the "Heads in Beds" fallacy, aiming to maximize occupancy by matching competitors' prices, leading to generic offerings. Differentiated hotels focus on specific guest needs: "The Connector," "The Achiever," "The Escapist," and "The Explorer." By catering to specific "Why" needs, hotels use value-based pricing strategies, achieving higher rates and loyalty. This strategic shift turns rivals into irrelevancies, emphasizing solutions over proximity, and transforms marketing into a precise, efficient effort.

🏨 2025 marked the “Year of the Operator,” as Josiah discusses how top hotel operators maintained profitability despite underwhelming top-line results. Operational excellence is highlighted as a key advantage moving into 2026. By creating a "virtuous cycle" involving teams, guests, and financial outcomes, operators displayed how strategic management can transcend performance expectations. Listeners are encouraged to implement these insights to enhance their hospitality ventures.

🏨 Longer hotel stays and group demand are rising as travelers seek experience-driven itineraries. The hospitality industry sees a 74% annual turnover, highlighting the need to redefine hotel food and beverage (F&B) roles as viable careers, not just temporary jobs. Investing in employee training, mentorship, and technology enhances service quality and guest experiences. Authentic programming like farm-to-table dining fosters personal connections, reflecting guests' values and enhancing loyalty. Prioritizing people and innovation remains key to exceeding guest expectations.

🏨 Centara Hotels & Resorts and NUO International Hotel Management Co., Ltd. signed a strategic Letter of Agreement in Beijing to develop their brands and expand internationally. The event, attended by executives like Mr. Thirayuth Chirathivat and Mr. Tyrone Tang Ming, highlights a two-way brand licensing model. They will introduce brands like "Jianguo" in Thailand and "Centara" in China, aiming for cross-border hospitality innovation by sharing resources and strategies in Southeast Asia.