Business of Travel.
News and analysis for the people who run travel, from hotel boardrooms to airline route desks.
Marriott and Spotnana Deepen Corporate Booking Integration
Marriott International deepens its partnership with Spotnana, streamlining corporate hotel bookings, loyalty linking, and real-time inventory for business travellers globally.
Hotel Groups Adapt to Wellness Demand and Specialised Management
Loews Hotels has launched a new fitness programme, while Aimbridge Hospitality added three historic Midwest properties to its management portfolio. PM Hotel Group also named a new development SVP.
Accor CEO Bazin to Detail Instinct-Driven Strategy at Skift Global Forum
Sébastien Bazin, who has led Accor since 2013, will elaborate on his decision-making approach for 5,800 hotels, emphasising human intuition over pure data, at the New York event from 22–24 September.
Design Hotels Adds 15 Properties to Asia-Pacific Portfolio
Design Hotels expanded its Asia-Pacific network this year, adding 15 new properties across 12 destinations. The growth, particularly strong in China, demonstrates increasing demand for independent, design-focused accommodation among travellers and developers.
Club Med Seeks Hong Kong IPO, Shifts to Asset-Light Model
Club Med Lifestyle Group, a Fosun International subsidiary, is pursuing an initial public offering in Hong Kong. This move supports its strategy to expand resorts through management contracts, avoiding direct property ownership.
Singapore Hotels Prioritise Transformation at Annual Exchange
Singapore's hospitality sector convened this week at the Singapore Hotel Association's (SHA) third Hospitality Exchange (HX 2026) to address critical industry transformation. The annual conference gathered over 300 hotel owners, operators, technology partners, and government stakeholders to discuss strategies for adapting to evolving guest expectations and global market pressures.
Audley Travel Sale Collapse Raises Private Equity Questions
Audley Travel, a tailor-made tour operator, failed to secure a buyer despite reporting record profits. This outcome follows nearly 14 years under private equity ownership, prompting industry scrutiny of long-term investment models.
Hyatt Expands Indonesia Footprint: Jakarta, Semarang, Lombok
Hyatt Hotels Corporation plans three new properties in Jakarta, Semarang, and Lombok, including South-east Asia's first Destination by Hyatt, expanding its Indonesian portfolio.
Marriott Targets $1.55 Billion 2027 Group Revenue Gap
Marriott International is compelling its United States and Canada sales teams to secure an additional $1.55 billion in group revenue for 2027. This directive applies to managed hotels, with a deadline set for the end of this year. The initiative follows Marriott’s chief financial officer describing global group bookings for the same period as ‘flattish’.
Mews POS Launches in North America; Borgata Begins $107M Renovation
Mews has introduced its integrated point-of-sale system to the U.S. and Canada, while MGM Resorts International’s Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa initiated a $107 million renovation of its Atlantic City tower. Concurrently, Hotel Equities expanded its management portfolio in Austin, Texas, through a new partnership with Lodgic Hospitality.
China's RV Tourism Surge Challenges Hotel Sector
China's growing recreational vehicle (RV) market is impacting traditional hotels, particularly during peak travel periods. Government policies support RV infrastructure expansion, leading to increased mobile accommodation choices for travellers.
American Express Clarifies Business Card Access for Self-Employed
American Express has confirmed that sole proprietors and freelancers can apply for its business credit cards, expanding financial tools for independent operators, including those in the travel sector.
Hard Rock International: Guitar-Shaped Las Vegas Hotel for 2027
Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, continues its global expansion. A new guitar-shaped hotel in Las Vegas is scheduled for 2027. The brand now operates in over 80 countries.
New York City Hotels Urge US-Canada Trade Resolution
The Hotel Association of New York City calls for an end to the US-Canada trade dispute. It warns tariffs threaten tourism and deepen economic pressures on the city’s hospitality sector.
Airbnb Pilots Lower Fees for Host-Generated Bookings
Airbnb is testing lower service fees for hosts who direct their own guests to the platform. This new programme uses specific booking links and could reshape host-platform dynamics.
Kohl > Partner Report Reveals Austrian Hotel Sector Polarisation
An operational analysis by consulting firm Kohl > Partner for Austria's hotel industry in the 2025 fiscal year shows a growing divide between top-performing and struggling establishments. While a 4.2 per cent increase in sales prices boosted overall operating results, the report highlights significant disparities in profitability, driven by shifting consumer habits and persistent cost pressures within the Alpine region.
Highline Hospitality Acquires Dual-Branded AC Hotel and Element San Antonio Riverwalk
Highline Hospitality Partners expanded its portfolio by acquiring the dual-branded AC Hotel and Element San Antonio Riverwalk properties. This move shows ongoing strategic investment in the hospitality sector.
UMusic Hospitality & Lifestyle Plans Kansas City Music Hotel
UMusic Hospitality & Lifestyle, in partnership with UMH Development LLC, is converting a historic Kansas City building into a 169-room music-themed hotel, drawing on the city's jazz heritage.
Oyo-Parent Prism Shifts US Focus to Motel 6 Ahead of Indian IPO
Prism's latest annual report, ahead of its Indian IPO, demonstrates a significant transformation. The Oyo-parent company now shows heavy reliance on the US market through Motel 6 and moves towards greater operational control over its hotel portfolio. India emerges as its central technology and operating hub.
Wyndham Targets 500+ New Hotels in Asia-Pacific Over Five Years
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts details a five-year expansion plan for Asia-Pacific. The strategy involves tailored franchise and management models to leverage diverse regional markets. Over 500 hotels have joined the portfolio recently.
Nobu Hospitality Expands Egypt Footprint with Three New Sites
Nobu Hospitality, co-founded by Robert De Niro, reveals a significant expansion across Egypt. The luxury brand plans three distinct developments. These will introduce new restaurants, hotels, and branded residences. Sites include the Mediterranean coast and Cairo, marking a strategic evolution for the company.
La Siesta Founder Do Van Dan Reveals Strategy Against Vietnam's Hotel Influx
Vietnam leads Southeast Asia on hotel revenue growth, and record new supply is arriving to meet it. Do Van Dan, who built La Siesta from ten rooms to a Tripadvisor world top-ten, argues the only defensible asset is the one a competitor cannot commission.
APF, TMGOC Ventures Secure $120m for New Orleans Dual-Branded Hotel
Access Point Financial (APF) and TMGOC Ventures have co-originated $120m in financing to recapitalise a newly completed dual-branded hotel in New Orleans. The project, led by Kailas Companies, involved converting a 31-storey office tower into a 250-room Fairmont and a 216-room Element by Westin, alongside office space and a dining venue.
Meyer Jabara Assumes Gainesville University Hotel Management; LivAway Suites Builds First Alabama Pr
Meyer Jabara Hotels has assumed management of its first university property in Gainesville, Florida. Concurrently, LivAway Suites commenced construction on its initial Alabama hotel, expanding its national presence. Davidson Hospitality Group also launched a new leadership development programme for its team members.
Lindblad, Intrepid, Travelopia Pursue Varied Growth Paths
Lindblad Expeditions, Intrepid Travel, and Travelopia are employing distinct growth strategies. These major tour operators shape the multi-day touring sector through varied capital deployment.
Marriott Bonvoy Shifts Beyond Points with Experiential Focus
Marriott International is reshaping its loyalty programmes. The hotel group now focuses on consumer demand for travel activities. This shift moves beyond traditional points systems.