TOP NEWS

🌎 In 2026, 26% of global travelers start hotel searches on OTAs, up from 18% in 2025, surpassing search engines which fell to 21% from 36%. In the UK, 26% use OTAs, rising from 16% in 2024, while 24% use search engines, down from 40%. AI use for travel planning rose to 4%, with 80% of travelers seeking AI features like price alerts. Dynamic pricing is supported by 65% globally and 55% in the UK.

📰 Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor at Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999, reports on culinary trends. He hosts the podcast "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn." Thorn studied at Tufts University, Le Cordon Bleu, and in China. He was a columnist for The New York Sun (2005-2008) and won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award. Inducted into Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014, Thorn specializes in French and Asian cuisines. He resides in Brooklyn, NY.

📈 Sylvie Bergeret, member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, with 25 years in the hotel sector, shares insights on hospitality investment outlook. As Head of Research at MKG, she highlights current market trends and investment strategies.

📅 Google has introduced AI-powered features in Search, allowing users to plan trips and find deals from a single prompt. I tested this by asking Google to suggest family-friendly hotels for Christmas in London. Results included Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, Royal National Hotel, and Hilton London Metropole, among others. The AI derives suggestions from sources like Tripadvisor and Facebook, emphasizing the importance of being present in these platforms for hotel visibility. Visibility now depends on user-generated content and niche sites as much as traditional SEO.

🗺 AI use in travel planning jumped from 10% in 2024 to 18% in 2025, driven by Gen Z and Millennials. In China, 40% use AI for planning, compared to 27% in the US. 28% of travelers plan trips in off-peak months to avoid heat and crowds. Europe sees a 3% rise in international arrivals, with visitor spending projected to increase by 9.9% in 2025. Rising costs push interest to Central and Eastern Europe.

🏨 Nov 18, 2025, the UK hotel industry faces steady demand but limited new supply and cost pressures. Despite economic challenges, international travel and domestic leisure trips drive demand. Rising costs push hotels toward productivity, automation, and flexible staffing. Sustainability strategies, like energy-efficient tech, aid cost control and ESG goals. Extended stays and hybrid accommodations diversify revenue. Selective financing requires proactive refinancing and asset management for liquidity and returns. More details at [PwC](https://www.pwc.co.uk/industries/hospitality-leisure/insights/uk-hotels-forecast.html#bottom-kick).

🛌 High-end hotels, like Rosewood Miramar Beach and Ritz Paris, are transforming retail spaces into cultural marketplaces. They're offering limited-edition collections and exclusive collaborations, capitalizing on affluent guests. FRAME's apparel at Ritz Paris sold out rapidly. Hotels leverage atmosphere and emotional resonance to create memorable retail experiences, turning products like a $450 robe into lasting memories. Strategic retail elevates guest perception and increases revenue, creating brand ambassadors worldwide. Successful execution demands curation, dynamic inventory, storytelling staff, and local partnerships.

📈 ATLANTA, Georgia—Q3 2025's Hotel Profitability Performance Report reveals U.S. hotels' strategy shift. Hotels experienced a 9% shortfall in budgeted RevPAR at $119.22. Yet, GOP margins remained stable at 37.7%, just 1.2 points below expectations. Key strategies include precise forecasting and cost control. Upper-midscale and upscale hotels excelled in GOP margins, with strong performance in Hawaii, California, New York, and Washington, D.C. For 2026, dynamic forecasting and aligning labor to demand are crucial for maintaining profitability.

📦 Tina Necrason, global head of branded residences at Hyatt, discusses the sector's growth drivers and future opportunities. Hyatt is adapting its portfolio to align with evolving demands.