TOP NEWS

💰 Hotels.com launched the Save Your Way initiative, offering members up to 20% discounts. Members can either apply discounts immediately or bank them for future use on ‘pay now’ trips. This initiative targets business and leisure travelers seeking flexibility. A $200 room could be booked for $160 or bank the $40 discount for future use, applicable without restrictions or blackout dates. Hari Nair, general manager, emphasized flexibility and maximizing trip value.

🏨 Oct 9, 2025: Airbnb expands its hotel business globally by hiring across the U.S., Europe, Canada, Mexico, and Australia. CEO Brian Chesky targets over 20% growth, up from 9.8% in early 2025. The company aims to list tens of thousands of hotels, focusing on boutique and independent ones, leveraging lower commissions. Analysts predict 100 million hotel room nights by 2028-2030. Manual onboarding and HotelTonight's existing infrastructure are key to this "door-to-door" strategy.

🛌 Oct 9, 2025, a survey of 5,000 European travelers reveals budget hotels excel in guest volume and satisfaction, driven by affordability. 39% perceive less value in premium options, with 87% spending under €120/night. Cleanliness is crucial for 81%, and cultural preferences vary: Germans prioritize food, while Italians and French focus on service. Budget hotels maintaining quality and tailored experiences are thriving amidst economic pressures.

📈 At The Lodging Conference, industry experts discussed hotel sector trends. As of Q4 2024, there were 6,378 projects in the pipeline, the most ever, indicating a shift to smaller hotels. U.S. hotel performance showed mixed results as of July 2025, with luxury hotels thriving while economy properties struggled. ADR growth lagged inflation for 23 of the past 36 months. Sustainability is key due to rising energy costs. The Middle East leads in revenue growth, driven by UAE and Saudi investments.

📈 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.