TOP NEWS

📈 Mews transformed the hospitality industry in 2025. Through key acquisitions—Clarity in APAC and the UK, Flexkeeping in September, and DataChat in October—Mews expanded operational strength and AI capabilities. With $75M from Tiger Global, Mews powered over 12,500 hotels across 85+ countries, marking an 85% increase. Highlights include smoother payments, 3 million kiosk check-ins, and accolades like Best PMS at HotelTechAwards. Events like Mews Unfold drew 700 hoteliers, reflecting Mews's global reach and innovation.

🗺️ Peru's hospitality scene is evolving with boutique hotels led by Ignacio Masias, CEO of Andean. By mid-July 2025, Andean's Tinajani Canyon hotel joins its five other Peruvian locations. These properties capture the essence of Peru, offering immersive cultural experiences. Approximately 33% of guests hail from the US, 33% from Europe, and 33% from other regions. This shift reflects a global appetite for genuine experiences, moving away from luxury to authentic connections with landscapes and local cultures.

📖 In 2025, Mirai's top blog posts focused on AI's impact on hospitality. Key topics included AI's role in marketing, guest interactions, and hotel operations, with insights by Pablo Delgado and others. Google Ads' AI Max revolutionized hotel marketing, while Booking.com's U.S. credit card strategy posed new challenges. AI-driven personalization and metasearch developments were highlighted. Hoteliers were advised on leveraging demand and optimizing Google Hotel Ads. AI's present influence underscores the need for strategic adaptation.

🏨 U.S. hotel occupancy in November 2025 dropped to 57.9%, a 2.8% decrease from November 2024, according to CoStar. The average daily rate increased slightly by 0.6% to $153.77, while revenue per available room fell by 2.3% to $88.97. Tampa saw significant declines in occupancy (-21.1%), ADR (-7.7%), and RevPAR (-27.1%) due to Hurricane Milton's aftermath. Minneapolis and Detroit had the lowest occupancies, at 51.9% and 55.9% respectively.

🍴 Bret Thorn is the Senior Food & Beverage Editor at Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999, and hosts the podcast "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn." He won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award and was IFEC president in 2005. Thorn's career includes roles at The New York Sun, Asia Times, and Manager magazine. A magna cum laude graduate of Tufts University, he studied at Nanjing and Peking universities, and Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Thorn resides in Brooklyn, NY.

🌎 Ted Turner Reserves launched a new website, developed by Tambourine, to promote its conservation mission across 1.1 million acres in New Mexico, including properties Vermejo, Sierra Grande, Armendaris, and Ladder. This site enhances digital storytelling and encourages eco-conscious travel. Ali Sheikh from Tambourine highlighted the blend of design, technology, and emotion. President Jade McBride emphasized the site's alignment with Ted Turner's conservation goals, fostering a deeper connection with nature.

🏆 U.S. hotels in host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are seeing a surge in bookings and average daily room rates (ADR). As of December 12, 2025, bookings for the U.S. vs. Paraguay match in Los Angeles on June 12 rose 80.5%, with ADR up 21.4%. For the England vs. Croatia match in Dallas on June 17, booking volumes grew 113.65%, with a 5.6% rise in ADR. The World Cup Final in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19 saw ADR increase by 72.42%, and bookings by 102.10%.

🏆 Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., 18 December 2025 — The FIFA World Cup 2026 match schedule release on December 5 spiked short-term rental bookings in host cities by an average of 29% YoY. From June 11 to July 19, 2026, nights sold rose by 298%, revenue by 533%, and ADR by 63%. Notable surges occurred in Guadalajara (+1,989%) and Greater Boston (+1,954%). However, Greater Los Angeles saw a 10% decline.

🏨 Hotel asset management (HAM) has evolved since the 1970s by separating property ownership and operations, initially thriving in the U.S. and gaining traction in Europe over the last 20 years. Analyzing 22 interviews, findings reveal 100% of property owners and 90% of asset managers expect increasing HAM relevance. Key trends include AI adoption, operational involvement, real estate focus, ESG importance (18%), and interpersonal skills. The shift is driven by competitive markets, franchise growth, and international investors.

💻 Agnelo Fernandes, CEO of Cote Hospitality, shares insights from a recent trip to Northern California on the evolving role of technology in the hospitality industry. He emphasizes the critical shift towards AI-driven personalization and its impact on operational efficiency. With financial and operational pressures, there's a need to rethink labor and data strategies. This discussion highlights the non-negotiable aspects of adapting to rising expectations and tighter margins for industry leaders.