TOP NEWS

📈 European regulatory frameworks, like the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, take effect in 2024. Our research, covering 5,700 consumers and 1,200 stakeholders, reveals strong sustainability advocacy: Italy (50%), China (74%), France (38%). The USA and Canada prioritize employee wellbeing, while Australia (41% antagonists) needs operational efficiency education. Sustainability is central, transforming into a profit engine. Early movers capture market share and command premium valuations. Adaptation is key.

💸 Starting January 2026, the Netherlands will increase accommodation VAT from 9% to 21%. Hoteliers are exploring strategies to adapt, such as bundling F&B, which remains taxed at 9%, in room packages. Membership models with a €99 annual fee offer discounted rates, potentially altering VAT implications. Hotels are also pivoting to workspace offerings and event hosting to exploit more favorable tax rates. Adaptation is key for survival in this evolving tax landscape.

🍽 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News, based in Brooklyn, NY, has been influential in the industry since 1999. He won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award and served as IFEC president in 2005. Thorn is a Tufts University alumnus and a Le Cordon Bleu graduate. His extensive background includes work at The New York Sun, Asia Times, and contributions to notable publications like the Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America.

📚 On October 7, 2025, IDeaS launched their annual eBook, "Future Forecast: Hospitality Tech Predictions for 2026," in Minneapolis. The eBook, featuring insights from industry experts, addresses upcoming trends such as technology simplification with only 54% of hoteliers using integrated tools, AI transformation with 89% planning new applications, and the integration of sustainable practices. Key investments are in automation and upskilling. IDeaS aims to guide the hospitality industry towards innovation, profitability, and sustainability.

📈 On the first day of The Lodging Conference, industry leaders discussed the K-shaped recovery. Mitch Patel led a panel addressing market bifurcation and cyclical trends. Ben Rosenbaum noted luxury RevPAR growth contrasts with struggles in midscale/economy segments. Jeff Wagoner highlighted luxury resilience in Hawaii. Dave Pollin cited investment opportunities in Baltimore, Portland, and New Orleans. Washington, D.C. demand is down 6% this year. Barry A.N. Bloom emphasized REIT transparency, while inflation concerns were expressed by Naveen P. Kakarla.

📱 ChatGPT announced "chatting with apps" today. Booking.com and Expedia Group are included, though functionality is limited. Expedia provides structured results with real-time data, but transactions occur outside the ChatGPT interface. This doesn't imply a major shift towards OTA bookings due to user behavior and company advertising budgets. Industry change is urgent, with only days to respond. Companies like Agentic Hospitality and Hyperfunnel are developing solutions, but a consolidated industry effort is needed.

🍷 Premium alcohol-free distillery NietsCo. launched in the UK, debuting at Fortnum & Mason. Founded by Alexandre Hauben in Belgium, NietsCo. offers four flagship products. Havaniets №1 0.0% (£36) and Botaniets Original 0.0% (£29.95) have won multiple international awards. Aperiniets (£23.00) crafted in Italy, shines in spritz variations. These spirits range from 5 to 6 kcal per serving, emphasizing flavor and craftsmanship. NietsCo. aims to offer exciting alcohol-free options with quality and innovation.

💻 Actabl partners with 90% of the top 50 US hotel management companies, engaging 150,000 hoteliers daily. The focus is on customer success, with a team of CSMs who are experienced in hotel operations. This team helps clients like ProfitSword and Alice achieve goals such as improving forecast accuracy and enhancing guest satisfaction scores. Actabl's strategy includes investing in customer success and technical expertise, ensuring their technology effectively enhances hotel operations and ultimately boosts performance.

💸 Hotels are shifting from revenue to profit management for better financial resilience amid rising costs and owner demands. Traditional revenue methods miss true guest value, like additional spending. Profit management aligns data across departments, moving from RevPAR to metrics like Net RevPAR and TRevPAR. Integrating data, aligning teams, and using predictive strategies lead to informed decisions and sustainable profits. This cultural shift enhances competitive advantage by focusing on total profit, not just room revenue.