Wed.Aug 14, 2024

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What a New FTC Crackdown on Fake Reviews May Mean for Travel

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Regulators aim to curb digital chicanery. Their target: fake AI reviews, paid praise, and biased endorsements from influencers. But policing the sprawling review ecosystem may become a headache for many.

Travel 338
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Exclusive: Aligned Hospitality Rebrands The Tuxon Into a voco by IHG Hotel

Lodging

PHOENIX, Arizona—Aligned Hospitality Management has completed a rebrand of The Tuxon in Tuscon, Arizona, formerly a Design Hotels property, into a voco by IHG. Now known as voco The Tuxon, this hotel is the first voco in Aligned’s portfolio. The brand transition took 90 days. The voco flag was chosen to grow the hotel’s performance by attracting business travelers as the Tucson market has a solid corporate contribution.

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Booking.com, Amex GBT, Airbnb, Tripadvisor: What Travel Execs Are Saying About AI

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Big travel companies have the resources to plan major tech overhauls to integrate AI, but it's taking longer than some had expected.

Travel 325
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Graduate by Hilton Opens in Princeton, New Jersey

Lodging

Graduate by Hilton announced the opening of Graduate Princeton. Located on Nassau Street in downtown directly opposite campus, Graduate Princeton has 180 guestrooms and a signature restaurant, Ye Tavern. Paying homage to the town’s history, architecture, and design, the opening marks the first new hotel to open in Princeton in nearly 90 years—and only the second hotel in its downtown, nearly doubling the number of available hotel rooms in town.

Hotels 263
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How to Coach Reps on Overcoming Sales Objections with Confidence

Speaker: Brendan Sweeney, VP of Global Sales and David Phelan, Account Executive

In a world where buyers are more informed and objections are more nuanced, confidence isn't optional—it’s a competitive advantage. In high-stakes conversations, knowing how to handle pushback can make or break the deal. Join industry experts Brendan Sweeney and David Phelan for a behind-the-scenes look at how teams are transforming sales coaching with real-time feedback, objection-handling role plays, and pre-call preparation that actually sticks.

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Southwest Braced for Boardroom Battle as Activist Investor Nominates 10 New Members

Skift Blog

Skift Take: As industry veterans, Elliott Investment Management's 10 candidates have the potential to radically shake-up the 15-person Southwest board.

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DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Salt Lake City Downtown Completes Renovation

Lodging

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah—DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Salt Lake City Downtown announced the completion of a renovation including a redesign of the central atrium, lobby, guestrooms, food and beverage concepts, fitness center, and indoor pool. The hotel is managed by HRI Hospitality, and the renovation design was led by Studio 11. “We are thrilled to unveil a reimagined property to our guests that showcases the vibrant beauty of the city,” said Joe Snarr, area vice […] The post DoubleTree Suites

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Mews and Duetto Surpass 600 Joint Hotel Customers

Lodging

Mews and Duetto have exceeded 600 joint hotel customers, driving revenue growth for hoteliers globally. The integration between Mews and Duetto enables customers to price room rates based on demand, occupancy levels, competitor rates, and other factors. The partnership began in 2017 and today combines to service properties of all sizes—the smallest of which has only three rooms, the largest has over 800—in 29 countries.

Occupancy 146
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Ixigo-Backed Bus Startup Raises $10.5 Million – India Report

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Buses are key to last mile travel in India, connecting people from smaller Indian towns to international and domestic destinations. The funding reflects a positive outlook of investors towards the bus industry as more online players enter the segment.

Travel 290
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Ask Anthony: Independent Hotels Joining Soft Brands

Lodging

I own a small independent hotel and am exploring branding options to help increase visibility in our popular metropolitan area. Would you recommend becoming a soft brand? Exploring branding options is a crucial step for your independent hotel. Soft brands offer a unique blend of independence and brand recognition. Backed by major chains, soft brands allow hotels to retain their unique identity while benefiting from the parent company’s marketing, reservation systems, and loyalty programs.

Branding 146
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TUI Gains from Experience Sales and FTI Collapse

Skift Blog

Skift Take: TUI reported another record-breaking quarter with sales of tours and activities helping to boost profitability. TUI also gained from the collapse of smaller rival FTI.

Sales 289
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Welcome to the Future of Hospitality: Smart Rooms Start Here

Speaker: Jady West, VP of Hospitality & Chris Bennett, Head of Sales & Engineering

The modern hotel room is no longer just a place to stay—it’s an experience to remember. Today’s guests expect seamless 5G connectivity, personalized comfort, and high-tech convenience. From AI-powered smart room controls to in-room entertainment and app-based services, technology is redefining hospitality from the inside out. In this new session featuring industry pros Jady West and Chris Bennett, we’ll explore how high-speed, high-bandwidth connectivity powers the innovations that are enabling

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Accor aligns with SXSW Sydney for second year running

Hotel Management

Accor Pacific is set to return as the preferred accommodation partner for SXSW (South by Southwest) Sydney 2024. Launched in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW has become a major event that brings together technology, music, gaming and film enthusiasts, recognisable names and passionate industry professionals. Following its Australian debut in 2023, the festival returns to Sydney from October 14-20 with a packed program at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Tumbalong Park and other venues aroun

Events 130
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Q&A: iSeatz Founder and CEO on the Future of Travel Loyalty

Skift Blog

Skift Take: The travel loyalty landscape is shifting toward lifestyle rewards that prioritize experiences and personalized benefits over traditional points and miles. For 25 years, iSeatz has been at the forefront of this transformation.

Travel 289
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AHICE Aloha gears up for return this November

Hotel Management

The Aloha Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition (AHICE Aloha) is set to make its return to Hawaii in November 2024 following its successful debut last year. Hosted by HM Magazine, the Hawaiian event will take place on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 November at Ala Moana Hotel, Honolulu. Delegates will include some of the United States and Hawaii’s leading hotel owners, operators, consultants and suppliers.

Events 130
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Capital One to the Rescue? Inspirato Looks for Boost Through Its Strategic Partner

Skift Blog

Skift Take: The new CEO will have to figure out exactly what Inspirato will be. Is it the "luxury hospitality company" of 2019, the "innovative luxury travel club" of 2024, or something else.

Travel 288
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State of AI in Sales & Marketing 2025

AI adoption is reshaping sales and marketing. But is it delivering real results? We surveyed 1,000+ GTM professionals to find out. The data is clear: AI users report 47% higher productivity and an average of 12 hours saved per week. But leaders say mainstream AI tools still fall short on accuracy and business impact. Download the full report today to see how AI is being used — and where go-to-market professionals think there are gaps and opportunities.

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Integration of Mews and Duetto reaches over 600 hotels

Hotel Speak

[New York, 13 August] – Mews , the industry-leading hospitality cloud , and Duetto, a leading provider of revenue management software for the hospitality industry, have now exceeded 600 joint hotel customers, driving revenue growth for hoteliers globally. The seamless, real-time integration between Mews and Duetto enables customers to dynamically price room rates based on demand, occupancy levels, competitor rates, and other factors, ensuring optimal revenue generation.

Revenue 106
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Delta’s Free Wi-Fi, Paris Luxury Boost and Inspirato’s Layoffs

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Today's podcast looks at Delta’s new free global Wi-Fi, how Paris luxury hotels won gold, and big changes at Inspirato.

Hotels 147
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Why Configurability is the PMS Innovation You Need Now

TravelNet

A property management operation is far more complex than people outside the industry realize. There are “front office” activities like marketing, channel distribution, and guest services. And then there are “back office” duties like bookkeeping, reporting, and payment processing. Given this complexity, it’s no wonder why some software providers would like to be the end-all, be-all solution that does all these things well.

Marketing 105
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Checking in: Cunard’s Queen Anne

Hotel Designs

Hotel Designs Checking in: Cunard’s Queen Anne Checking in: Cunard’s Queen Anne During what was a star-studded event earlier this year, Hotel Designs Editor Sophie Harper was among one of the first aboard Cunard’s latest addition in the fleet, The Queen Anne, ahead of her maiden voyage to Lisbon… Stepping on board Cunard’s Queen Anne , the latest ship in the fleet, is momentous.

Dining 105
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Dont Let AI Pass You By: The New Era of Personalized Sales Coaching & Development

Speaker: Brendan Sweeney, VP of Sales & Devyn Blume, Sr. Account Executive

Are you curious about how artificial intelligence is reshaping sales coaching, learning, and development? Join Brendan Sweeney and Devyn Blume of Allego for an engaging new webinar exploring AI's transformative role in sales coaching and performance improvement! Brendan and Devyn will share actionable insights and strategies for integrating AI into coaching and development - ensuring personalized, effective, and scalable training!

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Graduate by Hilton debuts in Princeton, NJ

Hotel Business

Graduate by Hilton , the company’s university-anchored hotel brand, has opened the Graduate Princeton in Princeton, NJ. Located directly opposite campus, the hotel has 180 guestrooms and a signature restaurant, Ye Tavern. Paying homage to the town’s rich history, architecture and design, the opening marks the first new hotel to open in Princeton in nearly 90 years—and only the second hotel in its historic downtown, nearly doubling the number of available hotel rooms in town.

Branding 104
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Tripadvisor reviews: The complete guide for hotels

SiteMinder

What are Tripadvisor reviews? Tripadvisor reviews are a way for travellers to share their experiences on Tripadvisor, one of the world’s largest travel websites. Unlike online travel agencies like Expedia and Booking.com, where you need to book a stay or an experience through the site in order to leave a review, Tripadvisor is an open platform where anyone can leave a review for any hospitality business.

Hotels 98
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The Mille Club: historical rate card reveals luxury rate explosion

eHotelier

Luxury’s exclusivity and timelessness allow it to stand the test of time and maintain steady growth through practically any market conditions.

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What Hotel Procurement Leaders Can Learn from the Paris 2024 Olympics

Hotel News Resource

This summer, as we witnessed the world's top athletes compete in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, there were some profound parallels between pursuing excellence in sports and leading procurement in hospitality. Both domains demand precision, innovation, and a deep commitment to collaboration.

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The GTM Intelligence Era: ZoomInfo 2025 Customer Impact Report

ZoomInfo customers aren’t just selling — they’re winning. Revenue teams using our Go-To-Market Intelligence platform grew pipeline by 32%, increased deal sizes by 40%, and booked 55% more meetings. Download this report to see what 11,000+ customers say about our Go-To-Market Intelligence platform and how it impacts their bottom line. The data speaks for itself!

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Deconstructing Cyberattacks: Your Guide to Post-Incident Forensic Analysis

Hospitality Tech

Recovering from a cyberattack isn't just about damage control—it's an opportunity. Through detailed forensic analysis, businesses can pinpoint weaknesses, refine their security strategies, and fortify their defenses against future threats.

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5 Examples of Exceptional Hotel Brand Positioning

Hotel Speak

In the competitive world of hospitality, a well-defined hotel brand positioning can make all the difference. Ultimately, it serves as a powerful compass, guiding every decision from marketing and design to guest experience. A well-defined brand position not only differentiates your hotel from the competition but also creates a deep and enduring connection with your target audience.

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Inside the rise of TikTok Travel

Hospitality Today

While it might not be the most dependable source for news or politics, the social media platform could be worth exploring when it comes to travel

Travel 75
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U.S. group business delivers seven consecutive quarters of growth

Hotel Business

For the second quarter of 2024, the Hospitality Group and Business Performance Index from Knowland and Amadeus shows overall health of 105.5% YOY. This is the first time the overall index has exceeded 100%, reflecting continued industry health across all reported indices. In addition, 22 of the top 25 U.S. markets have achieved 100% or more in overall performance compared to the same time in 2023.

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Beyond the Basics: How to Develop and Retain a Top-Performing Sales Team

Speaker: Brendan Sweeney, VP of Sales at Allego

Maximizing sales rep performance is no easy task. 📈 Traditional sales training methods focus heavily on the first few weeks in the sales role. Companies dedicate time, resources, and budget to onboarding new hires, only for them to forget what was learned in those first few weeks, lose motivation, and struggle to come to grips with their role.

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Boutique hospitality and envisioning the guest experience from the ground up

Revinate

Hotel Moment WITH KAREN STEPHENS Episode 92 In this episode of the Hotel Moment podcast, Bree Brostko, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Brand Strategy at Retro Hospitality, joins podcast host and Revinate CMO Karen Stephens to share the art of transforming unlikely properties into remarkable hotels, where guests [.] The post Boutique hospitality and envisioning the guest experience from the ground up appeared first on Revinate.

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Flowing Smarter: How Real-Time Data is Revolutionizing Water Management in Hospitality

Hospitality Tech

From pools to cooling towers, innovative water management technology is empowering hospitality professionals to monitor, track, and predict water usage with unprecedented precision—boosting efficiency, safety, and sustainability across facilities.

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Hot Off The Press – July/August 2024

Hotel Business

Christina Trauthwein, VP, content & partnerships, Hotel Business shares some of the content you will find in the July/August issue. There is a feature on the spirit of giving, the topic of a recent executive roundtable; a story on revenue management, the subject of a recent Hot Topics discussion; an interview with Red Roof’s new president; and our annual owners & developers report, which includes a ranked list.

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STUDIO SHOO on designing a destination at the Courtyard by Marriott

Hotel Designs

Hotel Designs STUDIO SHOO on designing a destination at the Courtyard by Marriott STUDIO SHOO on designing a destination at the Courtyard by Marriott The new Courtyard by Marriott hotel opened recently in Yerevan, Armenia’s capital, with the restaurant and terrace design by STUDIO SHOO… STUDIO SHOO , a design and architectural bureau, was assigned to creating and implementing the interior design of the restaurant and terrace in accordance with Courtyard by Marriott’s new conce

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5 Ways You Can Win Faster with Gen AI in Sales

Incorporating generative AI (gen AI) into your sales process can speed up your wins through improved efficiency, personalized customer interactions, and better informed decision- making. Gen AI is a game changer for busy salespeople and can reduce time-consuming tasks, such as customer research, note-taking, and writing emails, and provide insightful data analysis and recommendations.