Wed.Oct 23, 2024

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Anthropic’s New AI Feature Mimics Human Travel Agents

Skift Blog

Skift Take: This is an early idea of how an AI travel agent could look. As the tech advances, users could bypass online travel agencies altogether.

Travel 318
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CoStar: U.S. Hotel Rooms Under Construction Increases for Seventh Consecutive Month

Lodging

WASHINGTON—The volume of U.S. hotel rooms under construction increased year over year for a seventh consecutive month, according to CoStar’s latest September 2024 data. The post CoStar: U.S. Hotel Rooms Under Construction Increases for Seventh Consecutive Month appeared first on LODGING Magazine.

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American Airlines Fined $50 Million for ‘Serious Violations’ of Disability Rules

Skift Blog

Skift Take: The fine is one of the largest an airline has ever received for disability-related violations. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the DOT wanted the fine to “set a new standard.

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AHLA and World Wildlife Fund Revamp Hotel Kitchen Platform

Lodging

WASHINGTON—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced a revamped Hotel Kitchen platform that will help hoteliers around the country prevent food waste, protect the environment by diverting food from landfills, and reduce operating costs. The revamped Hotel Kitchen platform will make it easier to reach the goal of cutting U.S. food waste in half by 2030.

Hotels 273
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Smart Tools & Strong Teams: A People-First Approach to AI in Sales

Speaker: Matt Sunshine, CEO at The Center for Sales Strategy

AI isn’t replacing salespeople—it’s empowering them. The most forward-thinking sales organizations are using AI to enhance human performance rather than eliminate it. From coaching and messaging to prospecting and pipeline accountability, artificial intelligence is giving managers and SDRs the new tools they need to work smarter, sell better, and close more.

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New York City Hotels Face New Rules After Council Passes Licensing Law

Skift Blog

Skift Take: New York City has tightened the rules for hotel operations. After having supported a campaign to rein in short-term rentals, the city's hotel sector has now gotten a taste of greater regulation of itself.

Hotels 307
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Choice Hits 500th Extended Stay Hotel Milestone With Everhome Suites Opening in Glendale, Arizona

Lodging

Having assembled a diverse lineup of extended-stay flags over the past several years through both brand development as well as acquisition, Choice Hotels International is celebrating the opening of its 500th property in the popular segment. The company recognized the milestone at the newly opened Everhome Suites in Glendale, Arizona, which represents the sixth property for the new construction midscale extended-stay brand launched in 2020.

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Leveraging Revenue Management Technology to Decide What Stays and What Goes

Lodging

Hoteliers have a lot to consider this budget season. The effects of inflation and the higher interest rates tasked with taming it are being felt by guests, with STR projecting a 6 percent decline in real RevPAR for U.S. hotels compared to 2019. This and other closely related headwinds around the globe have led hoteliers to make difficult decisions regarding their budgets, and they are relying on technology to determine where to strategically reallocate resources […] The post Leveraging Rev

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Goa’s Move to Attract Adventure Tourists – India Report

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Goa is using adventure tourism to diversify its image – it is known for beaches, nightlife, and parties. Boosting the local economy and extending the tourist season also fits in with its regenerative tourism vision.

Tourism 301
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Transforming Hotels into Industry Pioneers: Leveraging AI for Strategic Growth and Innovation

Are Morch

This article is part of the Hotel Digital Transformer newsletter on LinkedIn. Subscribe to my LinkedIn newsletter where I’ll share tips, ideas, and strategies to help your hotel open its digital gateway. __ In the competitive landscape of the hospitality industry, the fusion of AI and human insight represents a formidable strategy for differentiation and pioneering innovation.

Hotels 240
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How MakeMyTrip Plans to Ramp Up Its Use of Gen AI

Skift Blog

Skift Take: MakeMyTrip is betting on AI to drive traffic and improve the customer journey. But it will take at least a few more quarters to see results.

Travel 287
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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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Hilton Reports Q3 2024 Results

Lodging

MCLEAN, Virginia—Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. reported its third quarter 2024 results. Highlights include: Overview Christopher J. Nassetta, president and CEO of Hilton, said, “We were pleased to deliver continued strong bottom line results that exceeded our guidance, despite slower top line growth, which was driven by modestly slower macro trends, weather impacts, and unfavorable calendar shifts.

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Rallies and Room Rates: What U.S. Presidential Campaign Stops Reveal About Hotel Pricing Strategies

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Increased occupancy rates for cities hosting campaign stops in advance of the 2024 U.S. Presidential election did not proportionally translate to higher hotel prices. This unexpected trend invites further examination into how hotels and agencies can analyze data to set up smart, dynamic pricing strategies for one-time events.

Occupancy 284
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Messy open enrollment? Here’s how to fix it for year

eHotelier

By starting early and leveraging technology, you can learn more about how your employees view the open enrollment process, troubleshoot problems in advance, and improve the experience for employees and HR teams alike.

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Hilton’s Record Hotel Openings and Pipeline Growth

Skift Blog

Skift Take: This summer, Hilton opened more hotels than they've ever opened in a three-month period. When you subtract the hotels they lost, it grew its hotel count by 7.8%, also a record.

Pipeline 284
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New Research-Backed Strategies to Empower Managers as Culture & Engagement Leaders

Speaker: Beth Sunshine, SVP, Up Your Culture

When culture isn’t consistently lived out across the organization, engagement suffers—and it often starts with a disconnect at the top. In this session, Beth Sunshine, SVP of Up Your Culture at The Center for Sales Strategy, will reveal how HR and executive leaders can close the gap between vision and execution by equipping frontline and mid-level managers to become culture carriers.

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Four Seasons Hangzhou – a design inspired by Hangzhou’s waterways

Hotel Designs

Hotel Designs Four Seasons Hangzhou – a design inspired by Hangzhou’s waterways Four Seasons Hangzhou – a design inspired by Hangzhou’s waterways Nestled in the vibrant heart of Hangzhou City, known for its Grand Canal and West Lake, Four Seasons Hangzhou City Centre, recently opened its doors, inviting guests to embark on a journey through the water – the design team at Avalon Collective invited us in for a closer look… A saying praises the natural beauty of Hangzhou, likening them to a s

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New Speakers You Won’t Want to Miss at Skift Global Forum East in Dubai

Skift Blog

Skift Take: As travel’s center of gravity moves East, our 3rd annual Skift Forum in Dubai will bring together consequential and insightful leaders who are helping to reshape the industry, as change happens more rapidly than ever.

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Crafting hospitality spaces from the floor up with Balsan’s new Elite Collection

Hotel Designs

Hotel Designs Crafting hospitality spaces from the floor up with Balsan’s new Elite Collection Crafting hospitality spaces from the floor up with Balsan’s new Elite Collection Building on its already extensive portfolio of luxury flooring, Balsan has now introduced its functional yet uniquely aesthetic Elite Collection for the hospitality industry… Curated with the needs of modern hoteliers and designers at the forefront, the Elite Collection from Balsan caters to all needs of

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‘Trust in Our Company Has Eroded,’ Boeing CEO Says After $6 Billion Loss

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Boeing’s new CEO wants to make the plane maker a leader in aerospace again. But it’ll take time to fix the issues with its aircraft programs and restore the company’s culture.

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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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IRIS unveils new features to drive mobile order volumes and guest engagement

eHotelier

New additions to the IRIS platform have been developed to build mobile ordering capabilities, enhance the guest experience and reduce manual processes for staff

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Boeing Strike to Continue as Union Members Reject New Offer

Skift Blog

Skift Take: With 64% of union members rejecting this latest offer, the gulf between the two parties has never felt wider.

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Checkmate Raises $10 Million in Series B Funding Led by Tiger Global to Scale the Adoption of its Restaurant Voice AI and Kiosk Solutions

Hospitality Tech

Investment signals rapid growth in AI-powered ordering and self-service technology, fueling the next wave of restaurant innovation.

Scale 98
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Choice Opens 500th Extended Stay Hotel as It Expands Portfolio

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Choice Hotels is betting big on extended-stay hotels but is doing so methodically.

Hotels 144
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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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A Tale of Two Hotels: Empowering Revenue Management for Success

Demand Calendar

We explore how two general managers interact with their revenue managers and how their different approaches affect their teams and the overall performance of their hotels. It's a story of tradition versus innovation, control versus empowerment, and the significant impact these attitudes have on individuals and organizations. Let the story begin.

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NYC’s New Tourism Chief, IHG’s Growth and Cathay’s ‘Mindblowing’ Cabin

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Today's podcast looks at New York City's new tourism boss, Cathay Pacific's first-class upgrade, and IHG's strong quarter.

Tourism 130
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From Revenge to Intentional: Priceline's 2025 Report Predicts a Major Shift in Travel Trends

Hotel News Resource

The report identifies eight major trends, including Awayborhoods, Flocking, Star Trekking, Holding Court, Gap Days, Running the World, Townsizing, and GetHerAway.

Intent 85
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Hilton Trims Revenue Outlook as U.S. Travel Demand Softens

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Hilton said its revenue growth won't quite reach forecasted heights this year because demand is softening (not cratering). The news arrived like room service: slightly delayed and not quite what was hoped for.

Revenue 100
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Don't 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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The Rise of Media Networks in Travel: A Win&Win for Brands and Consumers

Hotel News Resource

ravel commerce media is a growing trend where companies monetize their websites by allowing advertisers to use their customer data for targeted advertising.

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Hyperion Tiles – going gorgeously green

Hotel Designs

Hotel Designs Hyperion Tiles – going gorgeously green Hyperion Tiles – going gorgeously green Offering designers and hoteliers the chance to incorporate the latest colour trends into their projects, tile specialist Hyperion Tiles has curated a comprehensive collection of green-hued designs to stand the test of time… Taking inspiration from nature, we are seeing more green-hued projects gracing the world of architecture and interior design.

Hotels 59
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Why Every Hotel Needs a Commerce Platform

Hotel News Resource

n this new era, known as the age of hotel commerce, hotel executives must adopt innovative strategies to stay competitive, streamline operations, and enhance guest experiences. Central to this transformation is the implementation of a robust hotel commerce platform.

Hotels 80
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Choice opens 500th extended-stay property

Hotel Business

Choice Hotels International Inc. has opened its 500th extended-stay property, the Everhome Suites Glendale Sports Entertainment District in Glendale, AZ. This achievement underscores Choice’s rapid expansion in the economy and midscale extended-stay market. Across the hospitality industry, the company has the fastest-growing economy extended-stay portfolio and leads in the economy new-construction category, according to STR pipeline data through August.

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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!