TOP NEWS

📡 On 31 January 2027, the UK will retire the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), posing risks to hotel operations, particularly lift emergency communications as per BS EN 81-28. A recent report shows 70% of businesses reliant on PSTN lack migration plans. Cellular systems, like AVIRE’s DCP Evo, offer compliance, cost savings, and reliability through remote monitoring and battery backup. Hotels must audit lifts, upgrade to digital solutions, and plan transitions to avoid compliance issues and ensure guest safety.

📈 In select-service hotels, revenue management often burdens general managers or cluster revenue managers with manual data tasks. This inefficient practice leads to delayed decisions, inaccurate forecasts, and human errors, hindering revenue opportunities. Automation through a Revenue Management System (RMS) addresses these issues by processing real-time data for dynamic rate adjustments, improving forecasting accuracy, and eliminating manual errors. This shift empowers leaders to focus on strategy and guest experience, enhancing profitability and loyalty.

📍 Hotels should adopt a flexible 24-hour stay model from check-in, instead of a rigid 11 a.m. checkout. This aligns with irregular travel patterns, enhances guest experience, and builds brand loyalty. Over one-third of travelers are willing to pay for extended hours. Real-world examples, such as Peninsula and The Standard, show success with flexible hours. Implementing staggered checkouts reduces staff stress, increases revenue, and improves customer satisfaction, with metrics supporting conversion lifts and reduced complaints.

📊 Las Vegas faces a sixth month of declining tourism, despite strong gaming revenue. Report highlights rising costs as a concern. Rick Harrison attributes the decline to "COVID hangover" and high prices. Virgin Hotels partners with William Hill for sportsbook operations. Zoox resumes robotaxi testing after a recall. Cyberattack hits Nevada's government systems, underscoring cybersecurity needs. The restaurant industry sees closures due to economic pressures. Las Vegas remains a key innovation hub, hosting over 42 million visitors annually and nearly 150,000 rooms.

💰 Riverside Hotel in Boise, Idaho, automated its tip management using TipHaus with Oracle, benefiting over 400 employees, including 150 tipped staff. Previously reliant on cash payouts, Riverside faced transparency and administrative challenges. By adopting this technology, they eliminated cash tip outs and reduced manual errors, saving over 40 hours a month in calculations. Complaints about tips dropped to zero, with staff now receiving earnings twice weekly, enhancing morale and trust.

🏖 Disney's evolution on Sep 2, 2025, highlights how consumer economics are reshaping the hospitality industry. Transitioning from middle-class accessibility to a tiered luxury experience, Disney exemplifies segmentation by spending power. Key shifts include using technology for upselling and replacing free perks with paid, tiered options post-pandemic. Despite increased costs, Disney's strong brand sustains demand. Hoteliers face a similar dilemma: target high-spend segments or maintain inclusivity amid stagnant middle-class purchasing power.

✈️ Ryanair partners with Booking Holdings, including Booking.com, Kayak, Priceline, and Agoda, providing access to Ryanair flights to over 235 destinations. This collaboration allows customers booking through these platforms to access their myRyanair accounts without additional verification, ensuring they receive crucial flight updates. The partnership highlights efforts to protect customers and provide more choices at lower fares, offering price transparency and enhancing the booking experience for travelers globally.

🍴 Michael Mina, The Mina Group, and Stephen Curry are opening steakhouses in October at The Westin St. Francis hotel in Union Square, San Francisco. Mina's Bourbon Steak and Curry's The Eighth Rule will debut. Curry’s first hospitality venture follows his 2021 launch of Gentleman’s Cut bourbon. The Eighth Rule offers limited seating and craft cocktails. The Mina Group, managing operations, has over 25 concepts. The central Bourbon Lounge will feature seasonal California ingredients.

🏨 September 1st marks National Hotel Employee Day, established in 2022 by the American Hotel & Lodging Association to honor U.S. hotel workers. Mews, co-founded by Richard Valtr and Matt Welle, uses AI to enhance hospitality by automating tasks, allowing staff to focus on guests. Features like AI Smart Tips and Atomize RMS optimize operations. Sandra Alcazar (The Maj Hotel, Philadelphia), Johnny Noonan (The Chloe, New Orleans), and others highlight the benefits of AI in delivering personalized experiences.