TOP NEWS

🏨 Meliá Hotels International will manage MiM Hotels, owned by Leo Messi, starting November 1. MiM’s six hotels in Spain and Andorra will join The Meliá Collection, maintaining their identity while benefiting from Meliá’s systems. The portfolio includes locations in Sitges, Sotogrande, Mallorca, Ibiza, Baqueira Beret, and Andorra. MiM Hotels focus on sustainability and wellness, featuring designs by Luis Bustamante and Lázaro Rosa-Violán, with dining by chef Nandu Jubany. All properties have LEED certification.

💻 Andrew Arthurs, President and COO at Actabl, discusses AI and smart data use in hospitality. He emphasizes digitizing workflows to empower teams and improve operations. Arthurs highlights that effective tech initiatives start by understanding daily hospitality tasks.

🛌 Last-minute hiring and schedule chaos in hotels stem from a lack of integrated data on demand, labor, and skills. Standardizing language across departments, connecting systems, and regular reviews can stabilize rosters and reduce overtime. An enticing employee value proposition includes clear pay bands, growth paths, and perks like meals and transport. Simplifying applications and promoting a collaborative culture boost retention and recruitment. Aim for

💰 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.