TOP NEWS

📅 HD Expo 2026 emphasized data-driven design, year-round hospitality, and operational discipline. Harper Halprin and David Tracz highlighted creativity through constraints, like budgets and existing structures. Randall Stone and Dominick Perrier-Strand discussed community-oriented hotels, offering local collaborations and experiential touches. Sam Fox stressed disciplined operations, valuing staff and continuous improvement. These panels focused on making hospitality concepts work effectively by integrating data, community, and strong leadership practices.

🏆 FIFA World Cup 2026 faces a booking mismatch: Despite being the largest ever with 48 teams over 104 matches in 3 countries, 80% of hotel bookings across 11 U.S. host cities fall short of expectations. Contributing factors include 65–70% of hoteliers citing visa issues, the strong U.S. dollar, and changing traveler habits. Hotel rates rise while occupancy drops due to FIFA’s room block strategy and evolving mega-event traveler preferences. Global attention doesn’t ensure high bookings.

🏨 Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel, founded in August 2007 by the Clavijo Begazo family, features 62 rooms and suites. Situated near Machu Picchu, the hotel emphasizes eco-conscious practices, focusing on sustainability and local culture. Sumaq supports regenerative farming and agrobiodiversity in the Andes, preserving native crops like potatoes and quinoa. It offers cultural experiences, including cooking classes and rituals. Part of the SLH Considerate Collection, Sumaq is pursuing B Corp Certification, enhancing community impact and sustainable practices.

🌍 Spain is thriving as a top European tourism destination, with 96.8 million international visitors in 2025, a 3.2% increase from the previous year. Tourism revenue surged by 7%. Geopolitical instability, notably the war in Iran, is steering travelers toward stable destinations like Spain, Italy, and France. The trend, pre-dating recent conflicts, highlights the value of stable markets. However, overtourism in popular areas prompts a need for visitor redistribution to less developed regions.

📈 Airbnb CFO Ellie Mertz revealed on a Q1 2026 call that hotel metrics are growing over twice as fast as Airbnb's overall business. AirDNA data shows a 22% growth in Airbnb's hotel bookings compared to a 7% increase for short-term rentals. Mertz outlined three strategic reasons for Airbnb's hotel focus: filling supply gaps, catering to certain trip types, and attracting new guests. Despite concerns about competition, hotels aim to complement rather than compete with short-term rentals.

🏠 May 5th, 2026, Las Vegas: The HD Expo at Mandalay Bay featured a Best Booth Award ceremony judged by Julie Purpura, Rashana Zaklit, Cristie Winterfield, and Kelly Scherbenksi. Williams-Sonoma Business to Business won Best in Show. Other winners included Outform (Best Small Booth), Kimball Hospitality (Best Large Booth), and Kettal (Best Product Display). The event highlighted creativity and design excellence across various categories, celebrating standout achievements in hospitality design.

🏨 In 2026, at Marriott International headquarters in Bethesda, MD, She Has a Deal (SHaD) saw three former pitch participants return as hotel owners. The competition awarded $50,000 to Team Heir Development, graduates from Spelman and Penn State. Women make up 58.6% of the hospitality workforce but less than 2% of hotel owners are women of color. SHaD aims to narrow this ownership gap through training and mentorship, with notable deals including those by alumnae in Sedona, CA, and Stockbridge, GA.

🏨 At the HD Expo, wellness in hospitality design was highlighted as essential, with technology like massage chairs and red light therapy integrating into spaces for a seamless experience. Cinematic guest journeys were emphasized for their choreographed transitions. Desert Rock in Saudi Arabia showcased luxury hospitality rooted in natural landscapes. The event underscored the need for business acumen for creative leaders, emphasizing the importance of operational knowledge in sustaining design studios.