TOP NEWS

📈 Aug 20, 2025: Booking Holdings settles for $9.5M with Texas over hidden fees, highlighting increased regulatory focus on travel pricing. The FTC's new "Junk Fees Rule," effective May 2025, mandates upfront disclosure of all fees, impacting online travel agencies (OTAs). Smaller OTAs face higher compliance costs, possibly leading to industry consolidation. Transparent pricing may enhance consumer trust and conversion rates but also pressures profitability. Investors should focus on OTAs that leverage transparency competitively.

📈 Aug 19, 2025 – Google’s AI-driven review synthesis transforms hotel reputation management, distilling thousands of guest reviews into concise summaries. These insights, prominently displayed in search results, highlight a hotel’s strengths and weaknesses, impacting booking decisions more than star ratings. Real-time updates shift digital reputations instantly. Hoteliers must adjust strategies to align with AI interpretations of guest feedback, focusing on consistency, engagement, and operational follow-through instead of review quantity.

🏨 WASHINGTON, D.C.—In FY2026, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) decided to maintain flat government per diem rates, impacting the hospitality industry. The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) highlighted the importance of aligning these rates with rising costs. Rosanna Maietta, AHLA President & CEO, emphasized the decision's strain on both the industry and government travelers. The AHLA plans to advocate for adjustments with the GSA and Congress to support a thriving hospitality sector.

🏠 August 13, 2025, Bolivar Peninsula, Texas – Bolivar Vacations, a Casago franchise partner, has expanded to manage over 90 beachside vacation homes by transitioning properties from Vacasa. Leading the team is Felipe Caldeira, known for consistent growth. The company’s guest satisfaction holds a 4.9 average score. Following Casago's acquisition of Vacasa in May, the transition will be complete post-summer, integrating local service with national support systems. Casago’s local-first model is gaining momentum.

💻 Resorts World Las Vegas, August 2025, has adopted the Oracle OPERA Cloud hospitality platform to streamline operations and personalize guest services. The cloud-based system has unified guest data across three properties, reduced IT overhead, and eliminated the need for on-premises hardware. Mobile access enhances staff efficiency, while AI solutions and Simphony Cloud POS optimize guest engagement and food and beverage operations. The shift aims to increase revenue and guest satisfaction through tailored services and improved operational efficiency.

💰 Over 3,800 members invested in Six by Nico’s new Six by You initiative within five days, raising over £1.75 million before public launch. Investments start at £360, providing £360 in equity and a £360 Season Pass for two, offering four dining experiences. The initiative, launched on Crowdcube, offers £720 total value for a £360 investment. Nico Simeone, the founder, emphasizes building a community of co-owners to shape the future of the brand.

💻 Aug 13, 2025: Hotels are transforming operations with AI as their core system. Integrated into PMS, CRS, and CRM, AI automates decisions, services, and revenue management. This technology boosts revenue by improving upsell conversion and occupancy rates without increasing staff costs. AI offers hyper-personalized guest experiences, enhancing satisfaction and loyalty. It reduces training time, speeds up responses, and removes inefficiencies, giving hotels a competitive edge in adapting to market changes and maintaining profitability.

🏨 Airbnb is aggressively integrating hotels, especially in U.S. markets with limited rental availability, aiming to convert traditional hotel guests. CEO Brian Chesky and CFO Ellie Mertz focus on independent hotels worldwide, offering competitive commissions. Many hotels join via HotelTonight, boosting U.S. promotions. Targeted growth includes heartland states and Hispanic travelers. Despite this shift, private homes remain Airbnb's core. The strategy ramps up as of August 13, 2025, focusing on existing and new partnerships.

🍴 Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor, joined Nation’s Restaurant News in 1999. From 1995-1997, he was a sub editor at Asia Times. He wrote for the New York Sun (2005-2008) and served as IFEC president in 2005. Thorn holds a BA in history from Tufts University (1990) and studied at Le Cordon Bleu in 1986. Notably, he contributed to the Oxford Encyclopedia in 2012 and 2015 and won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award.