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Top Talent Awards: David Pepper, chief development officer, Choice Hotels International
31 August 2026This article was written by HotelsMag. Click here to read the original article There are many memorable scenes from the eighties aviator classic “Top Gun.” Maverick flipping the bird to the pilot of a Russian MiG; Goose’s sad demise; and, of course, one shirtless beach volleyball game. At the core of the movie is the idea of greatness, what Viper refers to as “the best of the best.” A panoply of greatness exists in the hospitality industry. And yet, still,…
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The choices we make about AI now are critical | Bill Gates | Scott Eddy | 20 comments
30 August 2026I read Bill Gates’ latest piece on AI, and there was one concept I kept coming back to because I think it has huge implications for hospitality. He …
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Choice Hotels Partners with Google to Launch AI-Powered Hotel Booking Feature in U.S. via Google Search
28 August 2026💻 Choice Hotels partners with Google to utilize AI Mode in Search for hotel bookings in the U.S., enhancing travel planning with conversational AI. This feature allows travelers to specify preferences in plain English and view hotel options visually, including rates and guest reviews. Choice Privileges points costs are also displayed for members. Their system, fully cloud-based, supports AI advancements in guest experiences, franchisee tools, and operations, aiming to simplify travel and benefit hotel owners.
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Google Ships Agentic Booking and Puts a Points Price Beside Your Rate, HVS Holds 4.5% for 2026, 98% of Ready Buyers Abandon Anyway
28 August 2026The week opened with Google’s agentic hotel booking described as a limited test with a GDS partner attached. It closes with the test shipped as a product, and with a second change alongside it that most of the coverage will underplay. Elsewhere the forecasts settled into a consistent picture for 2027 budgets, and a conversion study made an uncomfortable point about what happens after all this discovery work succeeds. Google Ships the Booking, and Puts a Points Price Next to…
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Your rate now competes with a points price inside Google’s answer
28 August 2026Driving the news. In a post published Thursday , Google said travelers in the United States can now book a hotel without leaving AI Mode, the conversational version of its search. The traveler describes the trip, gets a list of properties with reviews, picks one, taps “Continue on Google,” checks the room and the cancellation policy, and pays with Google Pay. Ten companies are in at launch: Booking.com , Choice, Expedia, Hilton, Hotels.com , IHG, Marriott, Priceline, Trip.com and Wyndham.…
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Google Acquires Spirit Airlines’ Operational Data Archive for $10 Million to Enhance AI Training Capabilities
28 August 2026🛫 Flight search products struggle due to data limitations, with a bankrupt airline’s history valued at $10 million. Airline loyalty programs face challenges as load factors rose to 82% in 2025. Google acquires Spirit Airlines’ operational archive for $10 million, showcasing the value of decision-making data. Deloitte reports only 23% of loyal airline members find value, and Gen Z/millennials are underrepresented. Co-branded travel card revenue could reach $60 billion by 2035, with banks paying travel brands more.
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Choice Hotels Partnrs with Google to Help Travelers Book Hotels Through AI Mode in Search
28 August 2026Planning a trip should feel exciting — not overwhelming. But for many travelers, finding the right hotel means opening multiple tabs, comparing photos and reviews, and checking rates one by one to find a property that fits the bill. Choice Hotels is partnering with Google to help simplify that experience. Choice Hotels is excited to be an early partner in hotel booking through AI Mode in Search, a new Google experience designed to help consumers find and book hotels in…
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Google officially integrates hotel booking into AI Mode
28 August 2026This article was written by Travolution. Click here to read the original article Google announces the end of its pilot program and officially makes it possible to book and pay for hotel rooms from the AI Mode interface. Google has announced the official launch in the US of hotel bookings directly integrated into AI Mode – the conversational interface of Google Search. Following a pilot phase, the American giant now allows users to formulate a search in natural language, obtain…
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Google Launches AI Mode Hotel Booking in US with Google Pay, Partners Include Choice, Hilton, Wyndham
28 August 2026🏨 Aug 28, 2026, Google launched hotel booking via AI Mode in the U.S., allowing users to book using Google Pay. Ten companies, including Choice, Hilton, and Wyndham, participated. Launch partners can also show hotel costs in points. This service is English only and excludes the EEA. The points pricing doesn’t affect hotel visibility in AI Mode. Google’s rate feed changes on September 30, affecting how hotels manage their pricing feeds.
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Nespresso Targets Premium Coffee Experience as Key Differentiator in U.S. Hotels, Says B2B Head Nick Stevens
27 August 2026☕ Nick Stevens, head of B2B for Nespresso for Business, prioritizes making Nespresso the premium coffee partner in the U.S. hospitality industry by fostering relationships with key groups and demonstrating sustainability advantages. Stevens emphasizes coffee’s role in enhancing guest experiences across hotels and addressing cost pressures. Nespresso’s capsule systems now offer diverse beverage options and focus on sustainability, with significant investments in capsule recycling and responsible sourcing, while meeting evolving guest demands for quality and personalization.
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Google Launches AI Chat Feature for U.S. Hotel Bookings with Partners Including Booking.com and Marriott
27 August 2026📅 On Thursday, Google rolled out a new feature in the U.S., integrating AI chat for hotel bookings. Users can now search, compare, and pay for hotels directly through Google’s platform using Google Pay. The feature partners with major brands like Booking.com, Hilton, and Marriott. While Google facilitates the booking process, the hotel or OTA handles charges, confirmations, and support. This development enhances Google’s agentic travel booking capabilities.
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Trivago Reports 21% Revenue Growth as CEO Advocates AI for Enhancing Employee Productivity Over Cutting Staff
27 August 2026🌎 Trivago, led by CEO Johannes Thomas, reported a 21% Q2 revenue growth, reaching $633M, contrary to AI-driven disruption predictions. Instead of downsizing, Trivago leverages AI for operational efficiency, equating 600 staff’s output to 6,000. Meanwhile, Loveholidays increased AI-assisted code changes from 7% to 79% in a year, boosting deployments by 73% without expanding its engineering team. A $10 CPM cost is set for travel content creators, with a recent campaign achieving 5.8M views on a $50K budget.
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Can AI Make Hospitality More Authentic?
27 August 2026Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of hospitality. It can help hotels remember guest preferences, anticipate demand, analyse feedback, answer routine questions, generate possible solutions to service problems and support employees in making faster decisions. And every time we introduce more technology into hospitality, the same concern comes back: are we losing the human touch? I am increasingly convinced that this is not quite the right question. A hotel can use very little AI and still provide a highly scripted,…
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Global Hotel Alliance expands with two homegrown hospitality brands from Turkey and Poland
27 August 2026Dubai, UAE — Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands, is expanding its portfolio with two regional hospitality brands from Turkey and Poland. These brands joining GHA reflect the growing appeal of the alliance model among independent hotel companies looking to expand internationally, while retaining their local cultural appeal and individual identity that has established them in their home countries. Together, The Marmara Hotels and PURO Hotels will add 15 hotels to GHA DISCOVERY ,…
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Hotel Room Forecasting: A Complete Guide for Hoteliers 2027
27 August 2026Hotel room forecasting is the practice of predicting future room demand, occupancy and revenue using historical performance, current bookings and outside market signals. It underpins pricing, inventory and staffing decisions across the property, because a hotel room is a perishable product, once a night passes unsold, that revenue is gone permanently and cannot be recovered […] The post Hotel Room Forecasting: A Complete Guide for Hoteliers 2027 appeared first on RateGain.
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Report Highlights Hospitality Industry’s Need to Reconnect with Guests Amid Rising Loneliness and Automation Challenges
27 August 2026🎤 At the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, Noah Kahan performed for 56,000 attendees. Many concertgoers, likely hotel guests, enjoyed a shared moment of joy, highlighting the hospitality industry’s challenge of fostering similar experiences. The World Health Organization reports that one in six people globally experiences loneliness, especially among the young. The hospitality sector must rethink its role in creating human connections, balancing automation with genuine interaction to reignite joy.
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The Only Guest Email You Own Is the One She Hands You, 69% Decide on AI Summaries Alone, Branded Residences Get a Reality Check
26 August 2026Wednesday finished the thread the week started, and finished it with contract clauses rather than argument. Monday established that whoever sells the room owns the guest, Tuesday counted the expiry clocks, and today’s piece names the documents and lands somewhere a front desk can act on. Elsewhere the research on where a booking decision actually forms put a number on AI’s role in it, and branded residences got a sales pitch and a warning inside the same morning. The Only…
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Record Attendance at 2026 Hotel Data Conference in Nashville; STR Reports Revenue Growth Outpacing Expenses for Hoteliers
26 August 2026📈 2026 Hotel Data Conference in Nashville drew record attendance with nearly 1,000 hoteliers. STR President Amanda Hite noted revenue growth surpassing expenses, marking positive trends for 2027. RevPAR is expected to rise 4.4% in 2026 but slow to 2% in 2027. Despite growth, hotel margins remain a challenge due to rising costs. AI integration is becoming crucial for efficiency in the hospitality sector. PM Hotel Group recently expanded in Nashville, managing 12 new properties amidst a diversified portfolio of…
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HotelKey Expands Self-Check-In Kiosk Rollout with NSR Hotel Group’s 20+ Property Deal Across the U.S.
25 August 2026📈HotelKey is expanding its self-check-in kiosks, projected to save hotels over 2,000 labor hours annually. On August 20, 2026, NSR Hotel Group chose HotelKey for its G6 portfolio of 20+ U.S. properties. Infinity Management is adopting kiosks post-success at Motel 6, Anaheim. HotelKey, supporting 25,000 hotels, enhances guest service via automation. Their future AI plans include managing rate negotiations. NSR Hotels, with 30+ properties, continues expanding under Himanshu Sarvaiya’s leadership.
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AI Influences 69% of Travelers’ Booking Decisions Before They Reach Booking Platforms, Says Travel Dreams 2026 Report
25 August 2026📅 In a survey involving 500 hoteliers and 6,000 travelers, 69% find AI summaries sufficient for booking decisions. Travelers use AI in planning (42%), inspiration (36%), and booking (32%). Chatbot use has tripled to 18% in five years. Price (52%) and location (50%) remain top hotel considerations. Reviews influence 88% of travelers’ choices, rising to 91% among Millennials. Flexible policies matter to 39% of hoteliers. India’s AI reliance is 87%, China’s 86%.
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Maestro PMS Highlights Importance of Balancing Standardization and Flexibility in Multi-Property Hotel Management Systems
25 August 2026🏨 Multi-property hotel management requires balancing standardization and flexibility. Standard processes for data, reporting, and security are essential, while properties must adapt to local needs. A Property Management System (PMS) ensures consistent operations and visibility across portfolios. Flexibility in operations is crucial, but should work within a common framework. The goal is to maintain a shared foundation while allowing individuality, ensuring efficient operations as portfolios expand. Modern PMS platforms, like Maestro PMS, support this balance.
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IHG Signs 14-Hotel Conversion Deal in Kyoto, Expanding Partnership with GCP Hospitality to 1,063 Rooms
24 August 2026🏨 IHG Hotels & Resorts, in partnership with GCP Hospitality, signed a deal to convert 14 hotels in Kyoto, Japan, into IHG brands within 12 months. This includes 12 Garner hotels and a Holiday Inn Express among 1,063 rooms. Garner, launched in August 2023, is IHG’s fastest-growing brand with 100 hotels opened globally. This agreement enhances IHG’s position in Kyoto and marks one of Japan’s largest hotel conversion deals.
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SINA Hospitality Receives Approval for $180M Sports & Entertainment Destination in Colonial Heights
21 August 2026Major Development to Turn 38-Acre Site into a Regional Tourism Hub Featuring Sports Fields, Housing, Premium Hotels, Dining, and Retail COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VA Richmond-based hotel development and management firm SINA Hospitality is moving forward with a $180 million multi-use sports, hospitality, and entertainment destination in the City of Colonial Heights following City Council approval. The landmark project will turn nearly 38 acres of underutilized land at 301 Charles H Dimmock Parkway near Southpark Mall into a vibrant regional sports tourism…
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Hotels Can Leverage Their Unique Histories to Enhance Guest Experience and Build Long-Term Brand Loyalty
21 August 2026📚 Hilton’s 2025 Trends Report reveals that 70% of global travelers with children choose destinations based on their kids’ interests. About 56% prioritize kids’ clubs, and 63% let children choose restaurants. Additionally, 58% revisit childhood destinations, driven by nostalgia. This highlights a shift in family travel dynamics, with children playing a more active role in decision-making. The hospitality industry can leverage historical storytelling to create emotional connections, enhancing experiences and brand attachment across generations.
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Luxury Hotels Should Curate Diverse Beverage Selections Focused on Quality and Guest Experience, Not Local Quotas
21 August 2026✨ At a luxury hotel in Old Québec, the selection of whisky should meet diverse guest expectations. A local bottle must express authenticity and quality, while international brands offer familiarity and benchmarks. The selection process involves tasting, contextual relevance, and operational viability. Each product should serve a specific function, whether as a destination anchor, stylistic reference, or discovery product. Success in luxury hospitality lies in creating a credible selection that balances local charm with global appeal.
