LATEST NEWS

Upward Revision in 2026 U.S. Hotel Forecast: RevPAR Growth Now at 2.8% Due to Increased Demand and Occupancy

💸 CoStar and Tourism Economics revised the U.S. hotel forecast for 2026, increasing RevPAR growth from 0.6% to 2.8%. Demand growth expectations rose from 0.4% to 1.3%, with occupancy projections up from 62.1% to 62.8%. ADR growth expectations doubled to 2%. However, rising inflation and operating costs, notably labor, insurance, and utilities, continue to challenge profitability. At NYU, Michael Grove noted year-over-year growth in auxiliary revenues: 4.5% in food and beverage,…

Innovation

Booking Holdings and Airbnb Invest in AI Travel Ventures to Navigate Potential Impact of Agentic Assistants on OTA Models

📈 Booking Holdings and Airbnb are investing in AI travel ventures to adapt to evolving travel technology. This strategic move impacts hotels, as these platforms could control both booking engines and AI-driven travel assistants. Dr. Aradhana Khowala emphasizes genuine sustainability in hospitality, while Bernold Schroeder advocates for resilient leadership. The EU sustainability law takes effect in September. The focus for hotels should be on clean data and open integrations to…

Mergers & Acquisitions

Hotel Operations

Environment, Regulatory and CSR

Simone Puorto Interviews Dr. Aradhana Khowala on Regenerative Tourism vs. Sustainability at EHL HumanX Summit

🌍 At the EHL HumanX Summit in Lausanne, Dr. Aradhana Khowala, CEO of Aptamind Partners, criticized the tourism industry's approach to sustainability, advocating for a shift towards regeneration. She emphasized quantifiable actions, such as sourcing 40% of food within 50 kilometers, rather than superficial initiatives like recycling towels. Drawing from her experience with projects…

Hotel Openings