TOP NEWS

✈️ TravelPerk has expanded its agreement with Amadeus, enhancing its NDC capabilities to cover 25 airlines. This move aims to provide 10,000 global customers access to comprehensive travel content, featuring air, hotel, mobility, and transfer services. The collaboration emphasizes innovation and a customer-first approach, combining advanced technology with personalized service to enhance business travel. Kristina Geier and Guillaume Pamelard highlight the partnership's focus on creating a simplified, connected travel ecosystem.

🏨 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, 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.

🏨 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.

🍽 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.