TOP NEWS

📌 During the 2025 Hunter Hotel Investment Conference at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, hospitality industry leaders discussed an uncertain market. Factors include the economy, a potential recession, and hotel development. CBRE's Vice Chairman Robert J. Webster highlighted unprecedented shifts in interest rates over the past three years. JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group's President Daniel C. Peek noted a slowdown and emphasized focusing on corporate and consumer confidence. Peachtree Group CEO Greg Friedman warned of recession-induced volatility making 2025 challenging. Experts advised hoteliers to be proactive with lenders and patient amidst market turbulence.

🏨 San Diego-based Cloudbeds' podcast "The Turndown" enters its third season with VP of Partnerships Sebastien Leitner hosting. The season features global hospitality leaders like Richard Kessler, Lori Kiel, and Bashar Wali, discussing challenges and innovations for 2025, such as AI and automation, commercial strategies, and leadership. Thousands have downloaded previous seasons, and the new season begins with Richard Kessler, a 50-year industry veteran. Episodes are available on major streaming platforms and the Cloudbeds website.

🏨 AI is revolutionizing the hospitality industry, with hoteliers embracing AI-driven innovations to stay competitive. The video series "Own Your Hotel’s AI Shift," launched in October 2024, features insights on AI integration in hotel strategies and operations. Experts underline the importance of AI literacy, with Michael J. Goldrich emphasizing consistency in generative AI use. Florencia Cueto spotlights AI's role in personalization and operational efficiency. Ira Vouk and Shane O'Flaherty discuss selecting valuable AI solutions and the future of AI agents in enhancing guest interactions. The series offers a blueprint for using AI to boost hotel strategy and performance.

🏩 Sara Masterson, President of Olympia Hospitality, was featured on March 19, 2025, sharing her insights on hospitality leadership with host Nancy Mend. The discussion was part of the Hospitality Daily Podcast, providing perspectives on growth and leadership within the industry. The episode, along with others, is available on the Hospitality Daily Podcast website and other platforms hosting the series.

📌 Global hotel investment volume reached $57.4 billion in 2024, up 7% from 2023 but still the third-lowest since 2012. At the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference in Atlanta, industry leaders expressed concerns about economic uncertainty and the impact of higher interest rates on asset values and transactions. Hotel asset values have decreased by roughly 20% due to the challenging last two years. A CNBC Fed survey forecasts a GDP decline to 1.7% in 2025 from 2.4%, impacting travel demand. Luxury spending has dropped by 5% in February, signaling potential struggles for luxury hotels. Despite difficulties, opportunities for buyers exist in market dynamics and capitulation from institutions like Blackstone and Brookfield. Hotel development is sluggish due to high building costs and borrowing rates, leading to a preference for maintaining current assets.

📌 Hospitality providers enhance efficiency and guest satisfaction with advanced technology. Revenue Management Systems (RMS) optimize pricing and inventory control with features like advanced demand forecasting, dynamic revenue management, real-time insights, and automated efficiency. Property Management Systems (PMS) are central to daily operations, handling reservations, guest management, and integrations. Market Intelligence tools offer competitive benchmarking, demand data, and performance analysis. Central Reservation Systems (CRS) manage room inventory distribution across channels. Rate Distribution Systems (RDS) ensure consistent rates and availability online. Rate shopping tools provide real-time pricing intelligence. Reputation management tools monitor online reviews and feedback for improved service quality. Upselling systems offer personalized guest upgrades, and sales and catering tools streamline event planning and group sales. The integration and effective use of these systems is vital for maximizing revenue and operational agility in the hospitality industry.

🏨 Choice Hotels International introduces new prototypes for Comfort and Country Inn & Suites by Radisson in North Bethesda, Maryland, aiming to increase revenue for owners. Comfort, with over 2,100 locations and 122 in the pipeline, offers an open lobby and a "Comfort Way" service. The updated prototype can add three keys within the existing footprint and reduces FF&E SKU counts by 30%, speeding up hotel openings. Over 140 properties have adopted the Rise & Shine prototype. Country Inn & Suites introduces a residential ambiance and a welcome cookie for guests, plus a design gaining 18 keys and reducing land and FF&E costs. After acquiring Radisson Hotels Americas in 2022, Choice Hotels' Country Inn & Suites saw a 19-point RevPAR Index increase, a 20% rise in direct online contribution, and more revenue from group and business travelers. Two brands in the upper midscale segment opened 107 hotels.

✈ By 2026, ad spending on travel-focused commerce media is projected to reach $2.96 billion. In 2025, the travel industry will be characterized by seamless, personalized experiences facilitated by technology, where successful brands will utilize first-party data and integrate emerging technologies. Airlines, hotels, entertainment providers, and rideshare apps will collaborate to share insights and create targeted marketing campaigns, enhancing customer engagement and loyalty. Delta's partnership with DraftKings exemplifies how industry partnerships can scale growth and revenue through data-driven personalized promotions. Hospitality brands will increasingly monetize first-party data, following the retail media networks' lead, by creating advertising partnerships and media networks that deliver targeted ads across various platforms, including connected TV.

📦 The Global Direct Booking Acceleration Study surveyed 88 worldwide hotel chains, revealing that loyalty programs contribute less than one-third of total revenue, with large U.S. brands being an exception. Mobile bookings have risen to 42% of IBE revenue, a jump from 36% in 2019. Only 9% of hotels use AI-powered personalization in their IBEs, with 51% planning to adopt it. A significant 78% of chains face rate display issues in their booking process. Just 38% of IBEs are fully integrated with central guest profiles, and only 25% offer item sales post-booking. Resource constraints affect 29% of chains in optimizing online sales, and AI adoption is low, with 27% using chatbots and just 2% using voice-activated services. On average, hotel chains identify 6.6 tasks suitable for automation annually.