Follow Hotels.com in one place. This hub gathers the latest news and product changes around the Expedia Group booking brand, curated by 10 Minutes News from trusted sources. Keep up with a major consumer travel platform.
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Banyan Group Acquires Majority Stake in Newmark Hotels, Expanding African Portfolio to 28 Countries
17 September 2026🌍 In 2023, Banyan Group acquired a majority stake in Newmark Hotels & Reserves, with plans for full ownership. Newmark, founded in 2007, manages 26 properties across seven African countries. This partnership expands Banyan’s reach to 130 properties in 28 countries. Africa’s tourism grew by 8% in 2025, with further growth expected in 2026. Newmark retains its brand and management, while joining Banyan’s global booking network for enhanced reach.
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Rosewood Hong Kong Named World’s Best Hotel for Second Year in 2026 Ranking by World’s 50 Best Hotels
16 September 2026🏨 Rosewood Hong Kong tops the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026 list, announced on September 15 in Paris, for the second year. Capella Bangkok ranks second, with Four Seasons Bangkok third. Atlantis The Royal, Dubai is fourth, and Passalacqua, Lake Como is fifth. Asia dominates with 18 hotels; Europe has 21. Rosewood São Paulo is the top in South America at sixth. The ranking, in its fourth year, is decided by an academy of over 800 experts across 13 regions.
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Spandrel Development Partners Unveils Plans to Bring W Hotels to Uptown Charlotte
16 September 2026Globally recognized luxury lifestyle hotel brand set to anchor hospitality component of the transformative 400 South Tryon redevelopment New York, NY – Spandrel Development Partners today announced plans for W Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, to come to uptown Charlotte as the hospitality anchor of 400 South Tryon, marking a major addition to the city’s evolving hospitality landscape. The 200-key hotel, which will feature 173 guest rooms and 27 suites, including a signature…
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Four hundred keys, sixteen hundred residences, one operation.
15 September 2026Copthorne Winterpark Hotel & Residences in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital shows where a share of Millennium’s pipeline is going Dubai, UAE, 15 September 2026: In R8 District, M4 of Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, Dominar Development is building a Copthorne. It has 400 keys and also has approximately 1,600 branded residence units. Residences will have the option to join a rental pool programme managed with the hotel. That single mechanic is what separates a branded residence from an apartment with a…
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First Central Hotel Suites Dubai Integrates Operations with Shiji’s Daylight PMS and Infrasys POS Across 524 Rooms
14 September 2026📰 On September 14, 2026, in Dubai, Shiji announced that First Central Hotel Suites has integrated its 524-room property and two dining outlets with Shiji’s Daylight PMS and Infrasys POS systems. This unifies front office and F&B operations on a single cloud platform, enhancing guest service efficiency. The implementation aims to improve coordination, data visibility, and service delivery speed. Shiji supports over 91,000 hotels globally, ensuring seamless hospitality technology solutions.
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Up Hotel Agency Wins Seven Awards at 2026 Web Marketing Association WebAwards, Including Best Hotel Website for Arcus
11 September 2026🏨 Up Hotel Agency won seven awards at the 2026 Web Marketing Association WebAwards, including Best Hotel and Lodging Website for Arcus and six Outstanding Website awards. The winning designs emphasize user experience and responsive layouts, integrating booking systems across devices. Websites like Bertrand’s Townhouse, Mayfield Hotels, and Haddington House reflect unique styles and practical navigation. The WebAwards, established in 1997, recognize excellence in design, innovation, and usability, with top entries scoring over 60 out of 70.
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Google Introduces AI Mode Booking Capabilities in the U.S., Streamlining Hotel Discovery and Booking Process
11 September 2026📈 On August 27, 2026, Google launched its AI Mode booking feature in the U.S., enabling travelers to explore hotels and book through a conversational interface. This move aims to streamline the booking process by collapsing discovery, comparison, and transaction into one conversation. Significant partners include Booking.com, Expedia, Hilton, and Marriott. AI recommendations depend on accurate hotel data. Accurate content, rates, and availability are crucial for hotels to capitalize on this AI-driven discovery and booking trend.
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Google Introduces AI Mode Booking Capabilities in the U.S., Revolutionizing Hotel Discovery and Booking Processes
11 September 2026📱 On August 27, 2026, Google announced AI Mode booking in the U.S., allowing travelers to discover, compare, and book hotels via a conversational interface. Major brands like Hilton, Marriott, and OTAs such as Expedia and Booking.com are involved. AI compresses the travel booking process but raises questions about who controls guest relationships. Hotels need accurate content and direct booking paths to compete effectively in AI-driven environments.
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Meta’s AI Agent Muse Uses Expedia for Hotel Searches, Pays Duffel for Over 1,500 Flight Searches Per Booking
11 September 2026🗺 Meta’s AI agent, Muse, launched on September 8, 2026, can book travel and compares hotel options on Expedia without cost. It found a New York hotel for November 1-2 for $410, noting bed type limitations. For flights, Meta pays Duffel: $0.005 per search beyond 1,500, $3 per order, 1% of order value, and $2 per paid extra. Duffel allows 15,000 free searches for ten bookings. OTA pages provide all info, bypassing hotels’ direct sites.
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Radisson Hotel Group Opens First Radisson Individuals Hotel in Denmark with 165 Rooms in Greater Copenhagen
10 September 2026📍 Radisson Hotel Group opens the Hoje Taastrup Hotel Copenhagen West in Høje-Taastrup City, marking Radisson Individuals’ debut in Denmark. The hotel features 165 rooms averaging 24 sqm and 724 sqm of event space, accommodating up to 460 attendees. It’s a 5-minute walk from the City2 Shopping Centre and 18 minutes by train to Copenhagen Central Station. Ideal for business and leisure, it’s well-connected to local attractions and Copenhagen Airport (23.7 km away).
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Radisson Hotel Group Launches Denmark’s First Radisson Individuals in Høje Taastrup, Offering 165 Rooms and Event Space
10 September 2026🏨 Radisson Hotel Group opened Hoje Taastrup Hotel Copenhagen West in Høje-Taastrup City, Denmark, marking the Radisson Individuals brand’s debut. The hotel offers 165 rooms averaging 24 sqm, with Family Rooms sized at 35 sqm. It’s a 5-minute walk to City2 Shopping Centre and an 18-minute train ride to Copenhagen Central Station. Event facilities span 724 sqm, accommodating up to 460 attendees. Copenhagen Airport is 23.7 km away, ensuring easy access for travelers.
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Meta Launches Muse AI Agent for Seamless Travel Booking on iOS, Android, and Web in the U.S.
10 September 2026🗺️ Meta launches Muse, an AI travel agent, in the U.S. on iOS, Android, and web platforms for users 18+. It organizes and pays for travel, using Stripe’s Link for payments and 1Password for secure credentials. Muse operates even when closed, requiring user approval for purchases. A Travelport study shows 72% of users experience stress when bookings are handled by AI. Muse Confidential VM will be introduced later, with future plans for AI glasses integration.
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Radisson Individuals Expands in France with Hotel & Spa Amoria La Baule’s 43-Room Oceanfront Opening
8 September 2026🏨 Hotel & Spa Amoria La Baule, part of Radisson Individuals, features 43 rooms by La Baule Beach, France. Located on Boulevard Hennecart, it offers ocean-inspired accommodation and wellness amenities, including a 140-square-meter wellness area with a pool, sauna, and treatment rooms. Dining is available at Madame A., an ocean-facing café. Nearby attractions include Guérande and Saint-Nazaire. The hotel targets both travelers and local gatherings, enhancing Radisson’s French presence.
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Ross Sneddon of Rocco Forte Hotels Named Pastry Chef of the Year at 2026 Catey Awards
8 September 2026🍮 Ross Sneddon, Executive Pastry Chef at The Balmoral in Edinburgh and Brown’s Hotel in London, was named Pastry Chef of the Year at the 2026 Catey Awards on July 7, 2026. The Catey Awards are the UK’s top hospitality awards. Ross, who has been with The Balmoral since 2015, oversees pastry programs at two Rocco Forte Hotels. His role includes mentoring emerging pastry chefs who have succeeded globally.
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Starboard Hotels Acquires Seven Accor-Branded Hotels, Expanding UK Portfolio to 28 Properties and Over 3,000 Rooms
7 September 2026🌍 UK hospitality saw seven Accor-branded hotels (913 rooms) acquired by Starboard Hotels and LaSalle Investment in their first private equity JV, marking 28 UK hotels and 3,000 rooms for Starboard. At Lake Como, Bain Capital sold a 148-room property to Sansiri Capital within six months of opening. Meanwhile, US RevPAR rose by 1.7% (week ending 29 August) to $100.69, and the GSA increased FY2027 US lodging per diem to $113 from 1 October.
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Starboard Hotels and LaSalle Acquire Seven UK Hotels, Expanding Portfolio to 28 Properties and 3,000 Rooms
7 September 2026🏨 Starboard Hotels and LaSalle Investment Management have acquired seven UK hotels from Ares and EQ Group, marking Starboard’s 20th anniversary. This acquisition increases their portfolio to 28 properties, adding 913 rooms and bringing their Accor-managed hotels to 15. The transaction involves ibis and Novotel brands in cities including London and Birmingham, highlighting the demand for quality hotels in key markets. Starboard now manages over 3,000 rooms in the UK.
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Hotels.com Report Finds 53% of Canadian Business Travellers Prefer Free Breakfast as Top Hotel Perk
7 September 2026💻 More than half of Canadian business travelers (53%) switch personalities for work, with Gen Z at 73%. Average lodging allowance is C$242 per night, per diem C$122. September is the busiest month for 20% of them. Preferred destinations include Toronto (32%), New York (30%), and London (20%). Free breakfast (53%) ranks as the top hotel perk. High-speed Wi-Fi is essential for 68%, while 59% blend work and leisure easily. Survey conducted between August 10-18, 2026.
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Sallés Hotels Boosts Revenue by Offering Daytime Bookings through Dayuse at Six Spanish Locations
7 September 2026🏨 Sallés Hotels, a Spanish group of 4-star and 5-star hotels, collaborates with Dayuse to monetize rooms during 10 am – 6 pm across six hotels in cities like Barcelona and Málaga. This approach attracts 45% local and 55% international guests, significantly boosting bookings and secondary spending. Dayuse guests rate Sallés 4.7/5, enhancing the hotel’s reputation. This strategy increases revenue without extra staffing, using Dayuse’s commission-only model with no upfront cost.
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Treehouse Hotel Manchester Launches Elite Fitness and Recovery Sanctuary with Public Memberships at £80 Monthly
3 September 2026🏋 Manchester, September 2026: Treehouse Hotel Manchester launches The Playground Gym, offering limited public memberships at £80/month. This gym features elite fitness equipment and recovery tech. Located at Blackfriars Street, it partners with The Pollen Club and The Good Sauna. Key events include Sauna Social on the last Friday of each month, and the Root & Run Club starting 29 July. Little Kickers Football Academy will run from 31 July to 14 August, targeting children aged 7-12.
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Hotels.com Launches Business Travel Mode Offering Rewards Through One Key, Enhancing Traveler Benefits and Repeat Bookings
2 September 2026💸 Sep 1, 2026, Hotels.com launched a business travel mode with saved preferences like nightly rate and breakfast. Ten hotel nights a year elevate a traveler to Silver status. One Key rewards: 1% back for standard hotels, 2% for Silver/Gold, 3% for Platinum, at $236 a night. Surveyed average: 10 work nights/year, $2,360 spent, $47 earned in OneKeyCash. Expedia retiered One Key on July 28, 2026. Filters persist in the app without contracts or expense integration.
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Kaya Hotels Acquires ME Barcelona for €100 Million, Rebranding to Kaya Palazzo by 2028
1 September 2026📋 Kaya Hotels & Resorts purchased the five-star ME Barcelona from Actual Capital for €100 million. The hotel opened in 2021 near Passeig de Gràcia, offering 164 rooms, a restaurant, two bars, and eight meeting rooms. Kaya plans to rebrand it as Kaya Palazzo Barcelona in 2028. This acquisition expands their portfolio of 14 hotels across Turkey and Northern Cyprus and follows the £20 million purchase of the Kaya Great Northern Hotel in London’s King’s Cross.
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Equinox Hotel New York Hosts Global Sleep Symposium 2026, Highlighting Sleep’s Impact on Guest Satisfaction and Wellness
30 August 2026💤 On June 4, 2026, the third Global Sleep Symposium took place at Equinox Hotel New York, focusing on sleep strategies for travelers. Keynote speaker Dr. Matthew Walker emphasized sleep’s nonnegotiable role in performance. Discussions covered practical sleep improvements for hotels, like intuitive lighting and air systems. The “nappuccino” concept—caffeine before a short nap—was highlighted for enhancing alertness. Equinox Hotels, prioritizing optimal sleep for guests, aligns with the growing trend of sleep tourism.
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Google Introduces AI-Driven Hotel Booking in the US with Partners Including Hilton and Marriott
28 August 2026📈 Google launches agentic hotel booking in the U.S., collaborating with 10 major companies like Booking.com and Expedia. It incorporates Google Pay for seamless transactions. Points display feature added for Choice, Hilton, and Wyndham. In U.S. hospitality, 2026 RevPAR growth forecast is 4.5%; Q2 cap rate at 7.7%. GuestCentric reveals only 2% conversion from hotel websites, highlighting checkout friction. Hyatt Regency Savannah sees 24% sales increase from self-service kiosks. Marriott to renovate 676 rooms in Playa del Carmen by 2027.
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Google Launches AI Mode Allowing U.S. Travelers to Book Hotels Directly with Partners Like Hilton and Expedia
28 August 2026📅 August 28, Google launched AI Mode for hotel bookings in the U.S., allowing travelers to book hotels within its conversational search. Ten partners, including Booking.com and Marriott, are part of this launch. AI Mode can now display hotel costs in points from loyalty programs like Hilton. Google remains a non-OTA and is testing this feature in English, with a full rollout pending. Points comparison now occurs directly in conversations, changing how rates compete.
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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.
