TOP NEWS

📈 U.S. Travel Association forecasts a decline in international inbound travel, with visits dropping from 72.4 million in 2024 to 67.9 million in 2025, a 6% decrease. Domestic traveler spending is projected at $1.2 trillion for 2025. Las Vegas expects a 5.8% visitor decline. Restaurants rely heavily on travelers; 47% report decreased tourism-related sales in 2025. Fine dining sees 41% sales from visitors. 2026 may see a rebound due to events like the FIFA World Cup.

🏨 In 2025, average wages for non-supervisory workers hit $22.70 per hour. The hospitality industry faced turnover rates 4 to 7 times the national average, costing $3,500 to $5,000 per replacement. Las Vegas union contracts reduced room quotas and enhanced safety. AI handles 70% of repetitive tasks, while automation may impact 25% of roles by 2030. Managerial pay rose 40%. Training transforms roles from line cooks to sous chefs, earning $55,000 to $75,000 annually.

🗺 Dec 11, 2025, Phocuswright's report projects global travel bookings at $1.67 trillion for 2025, driven by strong APAC demand and digital bookings. The Asia-Pacific region leads growth due to increased intra-regional travel and rising disposable income. Short-term rentals and AI-powered planning tools intensify competition, requiring hotels to enhance experience and pricing strategies. With evolving guest expectations, hotels must leverage granular market intelligence to navigate this increasingly complex distribution landscape.

💰 Dec 11, 2025: In the report "The State of Corporate Travel & Expense 2026" by Skift and Navan, 90% of business travelers view trips as essential, emphasizing deal-making and client relations. Seventy-four percent of managers anticipate more team trips, benefiting hotels with meeting spaces. Only 43% of travelers feel supported during issues, while fewer than 40% utilize real-time data for improvements. AI and NDC are enhancing booking experiences, underscoring the need for hotels to adapt with better data usage and service quality.

🍽 In 2025, editors from Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality interviewed over 60 chefs on the Extra Serving and Menu Talk podcasts. These included corporate chefs from Taco John's and Marco's Pizza, as well as independents from Kyu and Northern Spy. Celebrity chefs Nelson German and Stephanie Izard also joined. Discussions covered culinary innovations, with expertise ranging from beverages to desserts. Tune into these podcasts for insights from top culinary minds.

🏨 **New England, 10 December 2025** — Lafayette Hotels, managing 26 properties, doubled direct online bookings since 2021 using RMS, a streamlined property management platform. This transition led to 70% of reservations being direct and reduced IT costs by $100,000 yearly. Operational efficiency increased as automated accounting saves 60 hours weekly. New properties onboard in nine days. RMS provides instant updates and unifies guest experiences, driving sustainable growth.

📈 Paris, Brittany, and the French Riviera excel in luxury hotel performance, while Île-de-France outside Paris struggles. Medium-sized cities (150,000-300,000 inhabitants) are gaining potential. Over ten years, RevPAR rose with slower cost increases, maintaining value creation potential. AI aims to boost productivity, and a +1 point Booking rating boosts RevPAR by 16%. CSR is crucial, with banks favoring green financing. The European hotel industry faces five challenges: process transformation, market fragmentation, asset modernisation, modularity, and CSR mobilisation.

📖 Joanna Fantozzi, a Senior Editor at Nation’s Restaurant News since August 2021, has over seven years of experience in hospitality journalism. Her career includes roles at Informa, Insider, and The Daily Meal. Joanna holds degrees from The College of New Jersey and CUNY. She has moderated industry events like MUFSO and Restaurants Rise and contributed to major publications. Her expertise covers restaurant news and cultural issues.

🛸 Americans plan to travel in 2026, with 91% intending to take trips, and 49% aiming to travel more than in 2025. Two-thirds (67%) prioritize travel over material purchases. Key motivations include deeper connections and well-being, with 55% wanting to spend more time with loved ones. Domestic road trips and local getaways appeal to 44%. Hotel loyalty programs matter, with 52% enrolled, 49% valuing them for savings, and 80% for perks. Millennials prioritize travel over dining out.

🍴 Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor at Nation's Restaurant News since 1999, covers F&B trends. He holds a degree from Tufts University (1990) and a culinary certificate from Le Cordon Bleu (1986). Thorn, a former columnist for The New York Sun (2005-2008), has written for the Oxford Encyclopedia and received the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award. He served as IFEC president in 2005 and was inducted into Disciples d'Escoffier in 2014. Thorn resides in Brooklyn, NY.