Consumer Trends

  • IShowSpeed for Expedia
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    Courtesy of Expedia
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    Expedia bets on creator-led marketing with IShowSpeed partnership

    The platform is becoming the official travel partner of the livestreamer known for his globe-trotting endeavors and rabid Gen Z fandom. 

    By Peter Adams • May 5, 2026
  • Soccer fans holding country flags
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    Getty Images
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    US hotel bookings for World Cup ‘tracking below initial forecasts’: AHLA

    In order to attract international travelers for the tournament, AHLA is advising against proposed last-minute tax hikes and cost increases on visas and transportation. 

    By • May 4, 2026
  • The exterior of a Hyatt Regency hotel.
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    Getty Images
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    Luxury drove Hyatt RevPAR growth in Q1

    Hyatt’s luxury brands fueled RevPAR growth in the quarter, with CEO Mark Hoplamazian noting, “If there's any sign of weakness in terms of the high-end customer, we have not seen it.”

    By Lara Ewen • May 1, 2026
  • The exterior of a Motel 6 hotel.
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    Getty Images
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    G6 Hospitality launches Studio 6 Plus extended stay brand

    The new-construction brand adds “security, space, and home-like features” for guests intending to stay for a week or longer, per CEO Sonal Sinha.

    By • April 30, 2026
  • Wyndham Hotels & Resorts opened its second Echo Suites extended stay hotel in Plano, Texas.
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    Courtesy of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
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    Wyndham reports flat US RevPAR in overall ‘strong’ Q1

    CEO Geoff Ballotti highlighted “faster-than-expected” RevPAR recovery for Wyndham’s U.S. select-service brands and a record development pipeline of 259,000 rooms.

    By • April 30, 2026
  • Interior of a hotel guest room
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    Courtesy of Castlerock
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    Westin Nashville completes $13.5M renovation as business and leisure demand evolves

    The revamp prioritized “high-impact, revenue-generating areas” including the hotel’s 456 guest rooms and meeting spaces, according to owner Castlerock.

    By • April 29, 2026
  • Front view of a brick building featuring a large arched entrance topped with a silver plaque displaying the blue Hilton logo. Two flags are mounted above the entrance, and the facade includes tall windows and decorative stonework.
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    Alamy
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    Hilton bets big on AI with vendor partnerships, guest planning tool

    The hotelier is linking up with Google, OpenAI and Anthropic to expand its use of AI, CEO Chris Nassetta said Tuesday.

    By Paige Gross • April 29, 2026
  • The exterior of a hotel shows a Hilton logo.
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    Getty Images
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    Hilton CEO touts strong Q1 RevPAR growth, 2026 optimism

    Hilton raised its full-year RevPAR outlook, with CEO Chris Nassetta noting continued conversion momentum and growth across all brand segments.

    By • April 28, 2026
  • Two people at spa
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    Getty Images
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    Travelers increasingly seeking ‘mental health reset’: report

    New research from Amadeus found that some hotel guests are willing to pay extra for peace of mind, which creates revenue opportunities for hoteliers.

    By • April 27, 2026
  • A person searches for travel recommendations via their phone and laptop.
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    Getty Images
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    Hotel Tech-in: The tool giving hotels visibility into gen AI search

    As travelers increasingly plan trips using conversational AI, Operto’s newly launched GEO Consultant helps hotels improve how they show up in guests’ searches.

    By • April 27, 2026
  • Rendering of a hotel
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    Courtesy of Gladstone Immersive
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    Minor Hotels debuts Anantara brand in US with Miami property

    The experiential luxury hotel and residences represents a “major step” in Bangkok-based Minor Hotels’ U.S. expansion plans.

    By • April 24, 2026
  • Exterior of a hotel along a street
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    Courtesy of Noble Investment Group
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    Tempo by Hilton opens in Savannah, marking brand’s Georgia debut

    The opening of the 148-key hotel is “an important step in the brand's growth journey” as Tempo expands into “sought-after destinations," per Tempo's global brand head.

    By • April 21, 2026
  • Inside of a hotel room featuring a TV and chairs
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    Courtesy of Hyatt
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    Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center completes $70M renovation

    The 14-month project brings modernized guest rooms, redesigned bathrooms and a new event space, creating something that feels “distinctly Denver.”

    By • April 17, 2026
  • The interior of an apartment-style hotel room.
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    Courtesy of Hilton
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    Hilton unveils first properties under new Apartment Collection brand

    The Placemakr properties in Salt Lake City and Atlanta are now open for booking under the Hilton brand, as the apart-hotel sector gains traction.

    By • Updated April 17, 2026
  • A rendering shows a Sports Illustrated Resorts property in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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    Courtesy of Travel + Leisure Co.
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    Sports Illustrated Resorts expands to Louisiana college town

    Developers will convert a Hilton hotel in Baton Rouge under the lifestyle brand amid Sports Illustrated Resorts’ expansion into premier sports-driven college and university markets.

    By • April 17, 2026
  • Travelers stand in line at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Travel and tourism contributed $11.6T to global economy in 2025: WTTC

    The sector significantly outpaced global economic growth, but results were uneven across regions, “reflecting continued challenges in international visitor recovery,” particularly in North America.

    By • April 16, 2026
  • An image shows a family in a hotel room.
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    Courtesy of Marriott Bonvoy
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    Marriott Bonvoy, Visa team up on FIFA World Cup loyalty campaign

    As sports tourism surges, the pair offers exclusive access to matches and other experiential rewards to Marriott loyalty members with Visa cards.

    By • April 15, 2026
  • Picture of glamping accommodations alongside pools
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    Courtesy of BWH Hotels
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    BWH Hotels bets on billion-dollar glamping market with new luxury brand

    WorldHotels Backdrop, a collection of glamping retreats and outdoor escapes, debuts as travelers increasingly seek “intentional ways to reconnect with nature.”

    By • April 15, 2026
  • A woman checks her phone inside her home.
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    Getty Images
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    The future of loyalty is personalized, not universal, perks

    AI will enable loyalty personalization on a massive scale by helping brands dig through behavioral data and other relevant information for targeted offers, Gartner predicts.

    By Bryan Wassel • April 10, 2026
  • An Airbnb room rental featuring a bed with decorative pillows and artwork hanging above.
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    Courtesy of Airbnb
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    Opinion

    The early signals hotels are missing in vacation rental demand

    For major global events like the FIFA World Cup, short-term rental data can often show how demand is forming well before it is fully visible in hotel bookings, writes one Key Data VP.

    By Melanie Brown • April 9, 2026
  • Exterior of a hotel
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    Permission granted by My Place Hotels
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    My Place Hotels opens second Arkansas property, targeting ‘high-demand’ markets

    The 63-key My Place Hotel — Jonesboro, AR, brings the extended stay brand to an area “defined by steady business, healthcare and long‑term travel demand.”

    By • April 8, 2026
  • The Manhattan skyline seen from above.
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    Getty Images
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    Hotel Association of New York City launches ‘Save NYC Hotels’ ad campaign ahead of World Cup

    The campaign spotlights the need for New York hotels to capture the event’s full economic potential as the hospitality market contends with low demand and geopolitical headwinds.

    By • April 6, 2026
  • Travelers walk through an airport terminal that is displaying an American flag.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Easter hotel bookings show ‘robust recovery,’ renewed traveler confidence: SiteMinder

    U.S. hotel bookings are up nearly 17% compared to last Easter weekend, indicating consumers are still prioritizing travel despite uncertain global conditions, per a new report.

    By • April 3, 2026
  • Inside of a guest room
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    Permission granted by Trailborn Hotels & Resorts
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    Trailborn Hotels & Resorts to debut first West Coast property this summer

    The 44-room Hill House at Trailborn Mendocino is one of two properties coming to Northern California as the outdoors-focused brand expands nationally.

    By • March 31, 2026
  • A person uses their phone in front of a Booking.com sign.
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images
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    Booking.com points to human support as its ‘differentiator’

    The online travel agency is using AI to route customers to the best channel on first contact and to contextualize customers’ inquiries for service representatives.

    By Kristen Doerer • March 27, 2026