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Real hoteliers, real results: How properties around the world are turning cart abandonment into profit
Last week’s cart abandonment recovery playbook outlined strategies that you could deploy at your properties. But as any hotelier will tell you, there's a difference between theory and reality — especially when you're trying to hit your targets as quickly as possible. Or, you're trying to convince the owners that a new initiative is worth the investment.
Lighting Up Hospitality with AI | By Kirsten Mosco, CHDM
If you’re in hotel media and communications—part storyteller, part strategist, part brand builder—you likely thrive when 1000 things come at you at once. The work spans digital campaigns, brand storytelling, content creation, social strategy, reputation management, and internal communications. It might feel like drinking from a fire hose at times, but that’s the thrill of the ride.
Kinshasa to Host Inaugural World Music and Tourism Festival Celebrating Music and Tourism as Drivers of Dialogue and Development
Under the High Patronage of His Excellency Mr. Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kinshasa will host the first-ever World Music and Tourism Festival. UN Tourism joins the event as a supporting partner, reinforcing the shared value of culture and tourism for sustainable development and for building mutual understanding and peace.
Il Sereno, Lake Como Presents the Darsena Listening Suite: the World’s First Hotel Suite Built Entirely Around the Art of Listening
This season, Il Sereno Lago di Como introduces its most personal and immersive offering yet: The Darsena Listening Suite. Conceived by owner-audiophile Luis Contreras and brought to life together with designer Patricia Urquiola, this 200 m² lakefront sanctuary redefines the travel experience through music. The suite becomes a cultural space where high-fidelity analogue music, tactile contemporary design and Michelin-starred cuisine converge, with the lake as natural backdrop.
Whitney Spratt on the Power of Customer-Driven Innovation at Tripleseat | By Simone Puorto and Whitney Spratt
Whitney Spratt, General Manager of the Hotels Division at Tripleseat, sat down with us at HITEC 2025 to share how technology can unlock growth, improve guest experiences, and preserve the soul of hospitality.
Namron Hospitality Announces the Opening of Casa Yatí - the Group’s First Boutique Hotel in Oaxaca, Mexico
A collection of locally rooted boutique hotels across Mexico, Namron Hospitality has announced the opening of a new hotel in Oaxaca, marking the brand's expansion onto Mexico's southern Pacific coast. Casa Yatí is now open, offering a serene and luxurious coastal sanctuary that invites guests to slow down and connect with the ocean and the sun, and surrender to the awe-inspiring nature that surrounds the new bespoke property.
HHM Hotels Launches Forward-Thinking Leadership Realignment for Scalable Growth in U.S. and Canada
HHM Hotels today announced a bold restructuring of its leadership team, introducing a wave of strategic promotions and appointments across operations and commercial divisions. These moves are designed to accelerate performance, elevate owner relations, and prepare the organization for the next chapter of growth.
Anantara Kihavah Redefines Beachfront Luxury with the Rebirth of Its Iconic Beach Pool Villas
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas announces the debut of its reimagined Beach Pool Villas, setting a new benchmark in beachfront luxury. Thoughtfully redesigned for today's luxury travellers, the villas embody a renewed connection to nature, privacy, and island elegance in the heart of the Maldives.
Innovating Hospitality: Recap of the E20X 2025 Finalists
Since Cogwheel first participated in the pitch at E20X in 2022, the Cogwheel team has made it a tradition to follow the promising startups showcased each year. E20X (Entrepreneur 20X), hosted during HITEC, is known for spotlighting the most innovative solutions in hospitality tech, and 2025’s competition didn’t disappoint.
IHG Launches First Kimpton Hotel in Indonesia
IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world's largest hotel groups, has signed a management agreement with PT Mustika Adiperkasa and GHS K.K to introduce the first Kimpton in Indonesia. Set to open its doors in early 2026, Kimpton Bali Ubud will also be the first IHG hotel to open in Bali's cultural heart of Ubud as IHG continues to expand its luxury & lifestyle presence across the country.
Radisson Hotel Group Opens Radisson Hotel Don Mueang Bangkok, Strengthening Its Footprint in the Thai Capital
Radisson Hotel Group is proud to announce the opening of Radisson Hotel Don Mueang Bangkok, a new addition to its expanding portfolio in Thailand. Perfectly positioned just minutes from Don Mueang International Airport, the 89-key hotel offers a contemporary escape for travelers seeking comfort, convenience, and cultural connection.
Kleindienst Group to Open Hygge Hotel on Dubai World Islands
A new "Hygge" themed hotel is set to open in Dubai within the next two years. A project by Dubai-based real estate and property developer Kleindienst Group, the new property is named after the Scandinavian philosophy of hygge - a concept that's Danish in origin, with the word conveying a sense of contentment, simplicity, and the quiet joy of everyday life. The hotel will be located within The Heart of Europe on Dubai's World Islands, and is scheduled to open in the first half of 2027.
New Report Details Necessary Travel Reforms Before FIFA World Cup, Olympics, Mega-Decade of Events
Thanksgiving-like travel extremes expected at U.S. airports 50 days next year, doubling to 100 days in 2028; current air travel system not built to handle surge of travelers. Roadmap outlines future of TSA screening: shoes and belts on; liquids in bottles in bags.
Hard Rock International Announces Upcoming REVERB by Hard Rock® Florence, AL to Be Developed by Sak Capital Partners
Hard Rock International announces today it is working with Sak Capital Partners which will manage the development of REVERB by Hard Rock Florence, AL, a new-build hotel project slated to open in early 2028. This hotel will join Hard Rock's growing REVERB by Hard Rock portfolio, including Atlanta and Hamburg, as well as seven properties in development including Florence, Kalamazoo, Scottsdale, Pensacola, Mazatlán, Tampa, and Punta Cana.
Bend Preserves the Past with Restored Downtown Boutique Hotel, The Westman
A new chapter begins for one of Bend's most storied buildings as the restored Westman boutique hotel opens reservations ahead of its highly anticipated fall debut. Located at 777 Northwest Wall Street in the heart of downtown, The Westman breathes new life into the city's former and once vibrant United States Post Office with 23 uniquely designed guest rooms and elevated, community-driven common space areas.
IDS Next: First Global Hospitality ERP to Deploy Autonomous AI Support
IDS Next, a global leader in hospitality technology, has collaborated with Salesforce, the world’s #1 AI CRM, to transform customer support by deploying Agentforce, Salesforce’s autonomous AI agent. With this integration, IDS Next becomes the first hospitality ERP provider to embed autonomous AI directly into its product portfolio, ushering in a new standard for intelligent, always-on support in the industry.
Agilysys VP Tim Hansen on 19% Growth, Tech Consolidation, and the Magic of Human Hospitality | By Simone Puorto and Tim Hansen
Tim Hansen, Vice President of Sales – Hotels & Resorts at Agilysys, joined us at HITEC 2025 to talk about the company’s impressive growth, the evolution of tech stacks in hospitality, and the delicate balance between automation and human connection.
Mylos Hotel Cargese - A Well-Integrated Project, Signed Orma Achitettura And Dorothée Meilichzon
Mylos Hotel will shortly be opening in Cargèse, the most authentically Greek of Corsica's villages. This modern auberge, which has been designed and constructed by the Orma Architettura consultancy and embellished by interior decorator Dorothée Meilichzon, is committed to operating with full consideration for the environment and is fully integrated into the surrounding landscape.
Leed Certification for Santo Mine Shines Light on Sustainability for Santorini | By Serafim Karouzakis
As the longtime General Manager of TUI Magic Life Candia Maris Resort in Crete and the recently appointed General Manager of Santo Collection on Santorini – both under Metaxa Hospitality Group, I’ve seen firsthand that no matter a hotelier’s reason for embracing sustainability, the rewards – for the property, our guests, and the broader community and culture – are well worth the effort.
Interview with Ryan King (Shiji Group): Why Experience Is the New Currency | By Simone Puorto and Ryan King
At HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis, we sat down with Ryan King, Senior Vice President for the Americas at Shiji Group, to unpack how hotels can measure, interpret, and act on guest experience data. Ryan explained why reputation now depends as much on real-time feedback analytics as on human service, and how tools like the Guest Review Index (GRI) are helping hoteliers identify both standout moments and systemic breakdowns. He also weighed in on AI’s growing role in the industry - not as a replacement for people, but as a tool to enhance guest experience and operational focus.
Hilton Surpasses 500 Hotels in Florida, Fueled by Multi‑Brand Expansion and Deepening Coastal Footprint
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) announces a major milestone, surpassing 500 open hotels across Florida - marking a new chapter of growth fueled in part by its expanding portfolio of lifestyle brands, including the upcoming debut of Tempo by Hilton in the Sunshine State. With this achievement, Hilton reinforces its commitment to delivering unforgettable stays in some of Florida’s most iconic and emerging coastal and urban destinations.
From AI to the Open Road: MMGY’s Summer Survey Captures How Americans Are Traveling Amid Global Headwinds
New research from MMGY reveals that American travelers remain deeply committed to leisure travel, even as economic headwinds and global uncertainty shape their choices. According to the 2025 “Summer Edition” of Portrait of American Travelers®, U.S. travelers are increasingly hitting the road, turning to artificial intelligence for planning support and embracing evolving definitions of luxury, lifestyle and wellness.
STR/TE Market Forecast Assumptions – June 2025
The top-line U.S. RevPAR forecast has been downgraded 80-basis points to +1.0%. The downgrade is driven by a combination of calendar shifts, weakening macroeconomic indicators, and uncertainty caused by erratic tariff implementation and large-scale federal job losses as well as increasingly soft international inbound travel.
Belfry Boosts Staycation Demands This Summer with New Rooms and Fitness & Leisure Opening
The Belfry Hotel & Resort, is set to open 149 new bedrooms at its award-winning resort this August. Launching ahead of schedule, their opening could not be more timely. With research showing that UK staycations are becoming increasingly popular as holidaymakers seek to avoid extreme heat, the resort is the perfect location for a refreshing summer getaway.
Why It’s Time for Boutique Hotels to Flip the Tech Stack | By Pedro Colaco
Independent hoteliers are bombarded daily with technology vendors pitching miracle solutions. Everywhere you turn, there’s another acronym, another platform, another promise to "transform" your property—if only you buy their product first.
From Dream to Departure: What Drives Travelers to Book | By Mirja Sickel
When you dream about your next big adventure, what transforms that daydream into action? What takes you from “That would be amazing, someday” to “Let’s book it now”? Maybe it’s a stunning photo on social media that sparks your imagination, a captivating blog post, or an inspiring conversation with a friend or family member. Whatever the trigger, something shifts – and suddenly, the idea of travel starts becoming a plan.
U.S. Firms Could Unlock $2.4 Trillion in Sales by Optimizing Business Travel, New GBTA Study Finds
U.S. companies are missing out on more than $2.4 trillion in potential new sales revenue because they may be underinvesting in business travel, according to a new report exploring the return on investment (ROI) of corporate travel. Despite a strong post-pandemic rebound, the study found that real travel and entertainment (T&E) spending in the U.S. remains $66 billion below 2019 levels. The analysis shows that a modest 8.3% increase in T&E could yield a 6% increase in sales – even taking into consideration post-COVID investments in virtual meeting platforms. These are some of the key findings from the report, T&E and the Bottom-Line: Quantifying the Return on Investment of U.S. Business Travel, released today by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and made possible in partnership with the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA).
The Land Paradox: How Financial Stress is Creating Tomorrow's Development Goldmine | By Jeff Woolson
Today's challenging capital environment has created an unexpected opportunity: a surge in land offerings for ground-up hotel and resort development. While sellers may face financial pressures that drive these offerings, buyers confront elevated construction and capital costs that fundamentally reshape land valuations. This dynamic often stems from internal organizational changes that forces land sales yet creates a paradox. With both cost of capital and construction expenses expected to remain elevated, land values have declined significantly from previous peaks.
The GINTO Model: Boutique Hotel Substance Meets Scalable Growth | By Henri Roelings
In a hospitality industry where boutique often means niche and scale often means compromise, GINTO Hotels is quietly proving that the two can coexist. On a recent trip to Paris, I had the opportunity to meet with Brice de Puymorin, Julien Kiefer, and Emmanuelle Pochat, the visionary trio behind GINTO, and to experience their philosophy firsthand during a stay at PILGRIM, their bold Left Bank property. What emerged from our conversation was more than a brand story—it was a blueprint for a new kind of urban hospitality: one that preserves the charm and substance of a neighbourhood hotel while delivering a business model designed for growth across Europe.
U.S. Travel Welcomes Confirmation of Bryan Bedford as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration
U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman issued the following statement on the Senate’s confirmation of Bryan Bedford to serve as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA):
Helix Hospitality Announces the Acquisition of Element by Westin - Bentonville, AR
Helix Hospitality, a Chicago-based hotel investment and management company, is proud to announce the acquisition of Element by Westin - Bentonville, located at 3401 Medlin Lane in Bentonville, Arkansas. The acquisition continues their expansion into the rapidly growing Northwest Arkansas region and underscores their continued commitment to investing in high-potential, secondary growth markets. As part of the Pii Capital family, Helix will bring extensive resources and industry expertise to the property with a proven track record of more than 30 years of successful development, repositioning and investment management in commercial real estate.
Fix the Data First: Why AI Alone Cannot Solve Hospitality’s Content Challenges | By Simone Puorto and Natalie Kimball
At HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis, we sat down with Natalie Kimball, Vice President of Strategic Accounts for Americas and EMEA at Shiji Group, to explore the evolving role of hotel content management, data accuracy, and distribution, particularly in the complex Chinese market. Natalie also shared her candid views on AI in hospitality, the importance of operational control, and the risk of losing the entry-level roles that built today’s industry leaders.
Hospitality is not an island | By Vanguélis Panayotis
For a long time, accommodation, which evolved into hospitality, was a key component of the travel chain. It was an essential link, certainly, but it came at the end of the transportation chain and served as the starting point for the chain of tourist or business activities. This travel chain created – and still creates – a variety of ecosystems with their specialized actors: transport providers, accommodation providers, receptive agencies, leisure sites, restaurants... Solid by nature, yet often rivals, even antagonistic, when it comes to sharing the value chain.