Sat.Jun 21, 2025 - Fri.Jun 27, 2025

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Travel Industry’s AI Talent Wars Are Heating Up

Skift Blog

Skift Take: A job-posts deep-dive shows how cruise lines, hotels, theme parks, and OTAs are staffing up for an AI future.

OTA 297
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IHG’s voco hotels Debuts in Canada With Three Hotel Signings

Lodging

ATLANTA, Georgia—voco hotels marked its entry into the Canadian market with its first three regional signings in Montreal, Toronto, and Niagara Falls. Scott Duff, vice president of development, Canada for IHG Hotels & Resorts, said, “The voco hotels brand has emerged as a remarkable success within the IHG premium portfolio, as both owners and guests are drawn to its distinctive properties that seamlessly blend the individualism of each location with the reassurance of a brand […]

Hotels 243
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Time to shine: nominations now open for the 2025 HM Awards

Hotel Management

The time has come to recognise the top performers in the hotel industry across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific with entries now open for the 2025 HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence, presented by Sealy Posturepedic. Highly regarded as the must-attend awards night for the accommodation and hospitality industry, HM Awards recognises the industry’s brightest stars across a range of categories from people and projects to standout properties.

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Stories & Villains: Storytelling in Sales

Anthony Cole Training

This week I was rewatching the Steve Jobs presentation from 2007 where Apple released a piece of technology that perhaps you have heard of. They called it the iPhone. Maybe you are like me and wonder how it is possible that 18 years have passed since then. I still remember having dinner in Philadelphia with a work colleague who had just bought the first version of the iPhone.

Sales 197
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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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Ritz-Carlton Ad Gamble Pays Off at Cannes Awards: 'Late Checkout' Takes Gold

Skift Blog

Skift Take: The Ritz-Carlton beat 181 other luxury brands to win advertising's top prize by doing something hotel marketers rarely attempt: ditching brief poolside glamour shots for a quirky four-minute movie.

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CoStar: U.S. Hotel Industry Reports Positive Yearly Comparisons

Lodging

ARLINGTON, Virginia—The U.S. hotel industry reported positive year-over-year comparisons, according to CoStar’s latest data through June 21. U.S. Hotel PerformanceJune 15 – June 21, 2025Percentage change from comparable week in 2024Occupancy: 70.5 percent (up 1.3 percent)ADR: $163.77 (up 2.0 percent)RevPAR: $115.39 (up 3.3 percent) Among the Top 25 Markets, San Francisco saw the largest increases in occupancy (up 17.2 percent to 72.2 percent) and RevPAR (up 26.7 percent to $141.09).

Occupancy 236

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Thoughtful Thursday – A Technical Guide to Booking Engine Widgets: Types, Use Cases & Best Practices for Hoteliers

STAAH

In a digital-first world, your hotel website is more than just a brand touchpoint – it’s a sales machine. With 65% of travellers preferring to book directly through a hotel’s website if given the right incentives (Source: Google Travel Insights), integrating a powerful booking engine is no longer optional, it’s essential. The SwiftBook Booking Engine provides hoteliers with a suite of customisable widgets that enable seamless direct bookings from any page on your website.

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Omni Hotels President: Why We Still Own Hotels in an Asset-Light Era

Skift Blog

Skift Take: CEOs at big hotel brands like to brag about how little they own. Omni is betting that ownership still gives it an edge in design, service, and loyalty.

Hotels 218
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AAA: Over 72 Million Travelers to Go 50 Miles or More for July 4th Week

Lodging

WASHINGTON, D.C.—AAA projects that 72.2 million people will travel at least 50 miles or more from home over the Independence Day holiday period from Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6. This year’s domestic travel forecast is an increase of 1.7 million travelers compared to last year and 7 million more than in 2019. AAA’s Independence Day forecast includes two weekends instead of one to better reflect the flow of holiday travelers. “Summertime is one […] The post AAA: Over 72 Million

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Key appointments: Crowne Plaza Geelong, QT Newcastle, W Sydney

Hotel Management

QT Newcastle welcomes new General Manager Luke Roberts-Lalli has joined QT Newcastle as General Manager, taking the reins from Michael Stamboulidis who recently joined QT Auckland. Roberts-Lalli brings over a decade of experience in luxury hospitality, including at QT Gold Coast where he served as Executive Assistant Manager. In 2023, he was selected for EVT’s Executive Leadership Accelerator, a program dedicated to shaping future leaders across the group.

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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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Lead Clearly: Top 5 Communication Habits for Hotels

eHotelier

In hospitality, communication isn’t just a soft skill—it’s a strategic advantage. Whether you’re managing a bustling front desk, coordinating a kitchen brigade, or leading a cross-functional team, your ability to communicate effectively can make or break the guest experience. Drawing from the Lead Communication in the Workplace course, here are five practical strategies that I’ve.

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Exclusive Resorts Takes Stake in Accor's OneFineStay — Exclusive

Skift Blog

Skift Take: The partnership with OneFineStay, which offers hand-picked luxury homes and personalized concierge services, represents a strategic expansion of both companies' reach in the affluent traveler segment.

Resorts 225
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Revenue Analytics Acquires Climber

Lodging

ATLANTA, Georgia & LISBON, Portugal—Revenue Analytics announced its acquisition of Climber, a Portugal-based Revenue Management Software (RMS) company serving boutique, independent, and regional chains across Europe, the Americas, and Brazil. The acquisition marks a strategic step in Revenue Analytics’ growth strategy, expanding its product portfolio and accelerating its reach in international markets.

Revenue 207
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Exclusive: Fiji’s hotel outlook is bright, JLL reports

Hotel Management

Fiji’s hotel market has shown consistent growth and forward bookings indicated continued strength, writes Nick Thompson, Senior Vice President, Hotels and Hospitality. Fiji’s tourism sector has achieved unprecedented success, with visitor arrivals surpassing one million for the first time—983,000 arriving by air and 82,000 as cruise passengers. This positive trajectory continues into 2025, with April showing a 4% increase compared to last year and holiday arrivals up 8%, with Australia remaining

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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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5 Game-Changing Advantages of Automated Customer Service for Hotels

AskSuite

According to PwC, 70% of consumers now expect companies to offer self-service options, and the travel and hospitality sector ranks among the top industries adopting AI to meet this demand. For hotel chains and resorts managing high service volumes across multiple properties, the pressure to respond faster — without sacrificing quality — has made automated customer service not just an operational upgrade, but a financial necessity.

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Delhi Drops Police Approval for Hospitality Businesses: How Will It Impact The Industry?

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Delhi’s decision to drop police from the licensing requirement may have been prompted by staff shortages, but for the hotel industry, long weighed down by high entry barriers, it’s a much-needed step toward easier business.

Business 220
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This Week’s Comings & Goings

Lodging

Sonder Holdings Inc. announced that Francis Davidson has stepped down as chief executive officer and as a member of the company’s Board of Directors. Janice Sears, Sonder’s chairperson of the Board, has been appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer. Sears will continue to serve as Sonder’s board chairperson. Virgin Hotels Collection announced the appointment of Chris Stevens as chief operating officer and Rayhan Arif as chief commercial and financial officer.

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‘Open for investment’: AHICE Fiji spotlights market opportunities

Hotel Management

Opportunities abound in the Fijian hotel market – that was the message to the more than 350 hotel industry leaders that gathered at Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa this week for the AHICE Fiji Islands Investment in Tourism Summit. Fiji Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Honorable Viliame Gavoka, and Fiji Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications, the Honorable Manoa Kamikamica, were in attendan

Market 130
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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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10 types of tourists you could attract to your hotel

eHotelier

The days of generic, one-size-fits-all travel marketing are over.

Tourism 98
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India’s Tourism Market Set to Hit $38 Billion by 2033: What’s Fueling the Surge?

Skift Blog

Skift Take: India's travel market is no longer a story waiting to be, it is booming now and the strong growth is expected to sustain. Global brands are aware of it as they race to make the most of this opportunity.

Market 220
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Marriott International Signs Agreement to Debut City Express by Marriott in El Salvador

Lodging

PLANTATION, Florida—Marriott International, Inc. announced a signed multi-unit agreement with Corporación Polaris and Cardedeu to open four City Express by Marriott properties, marking the brand’s debut in El Salvador. The signed projects include the addition of 440 rooms. “We are very excited to introduce City Express by Marriott to El Salvador, a vibrant and culturally rich market,” said Alonso Burgos, vice president of development for Marriott International in CALA. “This ag

Marketing 205
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Exclusive: Marriott eyes further growth in Fiji

Hotel Management

Marriott International’s Fiji-based Area General Manager and Vice President Pacific Islands, Neeraj Chadha, discusses hotel performance and future opportunities in market. Neeraj Chadha, Marriott International Tell us a bit about Marriott International’s Fiji portfolio to date and any pipeline properties. Marriott International currently operates five iconic properties across Fiji: Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay, Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort, Sheraton Denarau Villas, Sheraton Resort &

Pipeline 130
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Diving into Diversity: Decoding the Foundations of Inclusion in Hospitality Talent Acquisition

Speaker: Lauren Fernandez - CEO & Founder, Full Course

Companies all over the world, including Marriot International and Hilton Worldwide, are aware of the value of including DEI in their talent acquisition strategy. However, despite these initiatives, there is still plenty that the hospitality sector can do to promote DEI. When comparing the hospitality industries in India, Iraq, the UK, and the US, you will see that there is a consistent underrepresentation of persons from different ethnic, gender, and disability origins across all levels of the i

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Chalets 1066 in France Sees 20% Growth in OTA Revenue with STAAH

STAAH

Managing 60+ alpine chalets was challenging until Chalets 1066 found a smarter way to streamline bookings with STAAH Nestled in the picturesque Alpine village of Les Gets, France, Chalets 1066 is a self-catered chalet and apartment rental business with a reputation for comfort, quality, and personalized service. Managing over 60 hand-picked properties — from budget-friendly apartments to luxurious ski-in/ski-out chalets with hot tubs and saunas — Chalets 1066 offers unforgettable experiences yea

OTA 97
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Hyatt Cuts 30% of its U.S. Customer Service Staff

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Hyatt didn't say if AI tools would be used to replace the employees, but hotels are increasingly turning to AI to handle customer service and back-office tasks.

Services 189
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Miami Worldcenter Names Rentyl Resorts Exclusive Hospitality Partner

Lodging

MIAMI, Florida—Rentyl Resorts has been named the exclusive hospitality partner and property manager for the retail environment of Miami Worldcenter. As part of this long-term collaboration, Rentyl Resorts will oversee retail property management and guest experience operations at Miami Worldcenter while integrating its full-service national hospitality platform across the project’s residential, resort, and lifestyle offerings. “Urban luxury today demands more than just five-star rooms—it’s

Resorts 205
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Video: AHICE Fiji at a glance

Hotel Management

The 2025 AHICE Fiji Investment in Tourism Summit, held from 24–26 June at Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa in Denarau concluded on a high note with over 350 stakeholders participating. For the latest AHICE Fiji Islands wrap up, click here. This premier event gathered regional and Asia-Pacific hotel and tourism leaders for invaluable discussions around investment, innovation, and the future of hospitality.

Tourism 130
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A Buyer’s Guide to Future-Proofing Your Restaurant Tech Stack

The race to 100% digital is on. With the restaurant industry still in the early innings of its digital transformation, brands need an airtight strategy when it comes to building out their tech stack. Download the buyer’s guide to learn where to prioritize your efforts and get the most out of every investment.

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Where do hoteliers really want AI to take over? HiJiffy’s white paper reveals the answers

Hotel Speak

From major chains to independent hotels, HiJiffy’s latest survey shows that AI is no longer a future trend, it’s a present-day reality. But as automation becomes more deeply embedded in hotel operations, a more nuanced question is emerging: where is the line? That very question is the starting point of HiJiffy’s latest white paper exploring how AI is reshaping hospitality and how to strike the right balance between technological efficiency and human touch.

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How Extreme Weather Is Shaping Travel Plans

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Only a third of travelers actively avoided destinations due to extreme weather. But many are opting for flexible bookings, safer seasons, or backup plans rather than canceling trips entirely.

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How to Future-Proof a Property Without Losing the Human Touch

Lodging

In the hotel industry, “future-proofing” is often narrowly defined through a technology-first lens from automated check-in systems, AI-powered service platforms, and digital-only guest journeys. While innovation remains vital to long-term success, hospitality is, and always will be, a human-facing business. A great hotel experience is always the sum of many elements, including design, comfort, and personalization, but the most critical thread remains the team behind it and how the brand communic

Services 182
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‘It’s only going one way’: Accor Deputy CEO Jean-Jacques Morin talks franchising growth

Hotel Management

Accor welcomed over 350 leaders to its General Managers Leaders Conference at the Gold Coast this week. Global and regional leaders were in attendance, including Accor Deputy CEO Jean-Jacques Morin and Chief Executive Officer – Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, Duncan O’Rourke, and Chief Operating Officer – Pacific Adrian Williams. Speaking to HM as part of a media roundtable at the newly opened Mondrian Gold Coast, Morin discussed the growth in franchising in Australia and around the globe.

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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!