The Latest

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  Hotel loyalty programs are a key cost-saving tool for travelers

  Loyalty perks such as free stays and upgrades are increasingly important in making travel feasible, per a new Marriott Bonvoy survey.

  Brands

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  3 hotel casinos approved for New York City

  The winning bids went to the Hard Rock, Genting Group’s Resorts World and Bally’s and will see resorts and complexes come to Queens and the Bronx.

  Brands

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  Marriott Vacations companies settle EEOC claim they revoked employee’s Sabbath accommodation

  The former worker, a Seventh-Day Adventist, had received Saturdays off until a change in management ended the religious accommodation, according to the agency.

  Brands

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  Lotte buys land under New York Palace hotel for $490M

  The company bought the premises in an all-cash sale from the Archdiocese of New York after a previous extension of its long-term ground lease.

  Brands

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  Sonder properties up for leasehold interest after company’s bankruptcy

  The assets span major U.S. urban markets, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, across 17 states, according to investment and advisory firm Gordon Brothers.

  Updated Dec. 19, 2025

  Operations

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  Hyatt names Jason Ballard global brand leader for Essentials portfolio

  The company veteran is tasked with overseeing strategy, performance and brand evolution for the division as it enters its next phase of growth.

  Brands

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  Hospitality M&A up sequentially in Q3 as investor optimism returns: PwC

  Dealmaker priorities are shifting toward properties or capabilities that merge artificial intelligence, loyalty and experiential design, per a new report.

  Technology

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  122.4M Americans slated to travel over the holidays despite tighter budgets

  According to a AAA report, more people will travel this year between Dec. 20 and Jan. 1, though hospitality experts have cited rising costs as a concern for consumers.

  Consumer Trends

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  Opinion

  Beyond efficiency: Why automation is the creative heart of hotel design

  Integrating responsive environments and tailored, high-tech design into hotel spaces can help elevate the guest experience.

  Technology

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  Investor trio acquires InterContinental New York Times Square hotel

  Gencom, Argent Ventures and Highgate purchased the luxury property from Tishman and MetLife for a reported $230 million, as the market maintains “long-term strength and global appeal.”

  Corporate/Finance

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  Mandarin Oriental shareholders approve go-private offer

  Jardine Matheson’s bid to acquire the remaining shares of the luxury hotel company, valued at $4.2 billion, moved closer to completion following a majority vote.

  Brands

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  With Fed rate cut, hospitality execs forecast 2026 hotel investment trends

  The latest reduction could boost U.S. investment activity next year, with luxury hotels and urban markets poised for strong growth, per leaders from JLL, AHLA and others.

  Corporate/Finance

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  The top hospitality industry CEO moves of 2025

  Yotel, Vail Resorts and Remington all named new chief executives during the year, while the heads of Virgin Hotels Collection and Six Senses bade farewell.

  Updated Dec. 16, 2025

  Brands

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  Who is willing to pay for premium experiences?

  Consumers are more willing to splurge on superior experiences when they feel optional or deliver enjoyment, KPMG found.

  Consumer Trends

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  Park Hotels & Resorts to sell 5 non-core hotels

  The company anticipates gross proceeds of $198 million from closed and expected transactions as it reshapes its portfolio.

  Corporate/Finance

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  Viceroy Hotels & Resorts taps Highgate CEO Arash Azarbarzin for top role

  The luxury hospitality brand also named a new chief commercial officer, as well as several other executives, to “guide its next phase of growth.”

  Brands

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  LivAway Suites breaks ground on 4th Phoenix-area location

  The new hotel will be the extended stay brand's fifth property in Arizona and is part of LivAway’s rapidly growing national development pipeline.

  Brands

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  $10B One Beverly Hills project goes vertical

  The luxury development will include two residential towers and a hotel branded by the Aman Group of Switzerland.

  Development

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  Hilton sets sail on loyalty growth with Explora Journeys partnership

  The tie-up is part of the new Hilton Honors Adventures immersive loyalty program extension and will allow members to earn and redeem points on luxury ocean travel.

  Brands

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  DC labor groups want $25 minimum wage and to kill the tip credit

  Buoyed by the success of Zohran Mamdani and goaded by the revision of Initiative 82, labor organizations in Washington, D.C., are picking a bigger version of a familiar fight. 

  Labor

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  Opinion

  3 ways boutique hotels can seize greater market opportunities

  By capitalizing on distinctive features and considering the needs of both tourists and locals, independent hospitality professionals can gain a competitive advantage.

  Development

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  Bunkhouse Hotels opens another boutique property in Houston

  Hotel Daphne comes after Hotel Saint Augustine debuted in the Texas city earlier this year, following Hyatt’s 2024 purchase of the brand’s parent company, Standard International.

  Brands

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  Marriott unveils St. Regis brand extension in latest luxury play

  St. Regis Estates will focus on hotels with “significant history, expansive grounds, and extraordinary amenities,” catering to the evolving demands of today’s high-end travelers.

  Brands

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  Aimbridge adds first US all-inclusive property

  IHG’s Voco Sandpiper in Port St. Lucie, Florida, is in the midst of a $50 million renovation, with the first phase slated for completion in early 2026.

  Brands

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  Blackstone buys San Francisco Four Seasons amid market’s ‘AI revolution’

  The deal, reportedly priced near $130 million, comes as the city’s beleaguered hospitality market makes a comeback thanks to its growing AI sector, per Blackstone COO Jon Gray.

  Brands

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