Top 5 hospitality industry trends to watch in 2026

Luxury travelers and major eventgoers are slated to drive hotel demand this year, while rising labor costs and advancements in artificial intelligence could shift hospitality operations.

By Jenna Graber, Lara Ewen and Jen A. Miller • Jan. 7, 2026

Top hospitality industry executive appointments of Q4 2025

Hyatt, Sonesta and others named new C-suite leaders in the last months of the year to drive operational changes, portfolio growth and brand strategy.

By Jenna Graber • Jan. 5, 2026

Apple Hospitality buys Nashville Motto by Hilton for $98M

The 260-key Motto by Hilton Nashville Downtown is within walking distance of multiple popular attractions in the area.

By Lara Ewen • Dec. 23, 2025

Omni Hotels & Resorts opens Fort Lauderdale flagship hotel

The 801-key waterfront property brings the brand back to South Florida for the first time in more than 20 years.

By Lara Ewen • Dec. 22, 2025

10 impactful hospitality executive interviews from 2025

C-suite execs from Hyatt, Marriott and Choice Hotels gave insights into technology and development trends, while brand leaders and owners shed light on operations and performance.

By Jenna Graber • Dec. 19, 2025

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.

By Lara Ewen • Dec. 18, 2025

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.

By Jenna Graber • Dec. 17, 2025

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.

By Fabio Zaniboni • Dec. 15, 2025

$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.

By Joe Bousquin • Dec. 10, 2025

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.

By Lara Ewen • Dec. 10, 2025

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.

By Jenna Graber • Dec. 8, 2025

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.

By Dale Johns • Dec. 8, 2025

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.

By Jenna Graber • Dec. 5, 2025

Hyatt taps Tamara Lohan as luxury brand leader

The Mr & Mrs Smith co-founder will guide Hyatt’s global luxury strategy on an interim basis as the company announces multiple high-end property openings in the coming year.

By Lara Ewen • Dec. 4, 2025

CitizenM rebrands to Another Star

The name change follows Marriott International’s acquisition of the citizenM lifestyle hotel brand earlier this year.

By Jenna Graber • Nov. 25, 2025

Accor’s Sofitel completes renovation on Manhattan flagship hotel

Sofitel New York refurbished all of its public spaces, as well as its 398 guest rooms and suites, adding a bistro and an expansive penthouse.

By Lara Ewen • Nov. 25, 2025

Kasa CEO on Sonder’s fatal flaw, property takeover after collapse

Apart-hotel company Kasa is slated to add several Sonder properties following its abrupt wind-down, which CEO Roman Pedan says resulted, in part, from Sonder’s master-lease operating approach.

By Jenna Graber • Nov. 21, 2025

IHG chief development officer for the Americas departs

Julienne Smith is no longer with the company after holding the title for roughly six years, IHG confirmed.

By Jenna Graber • Nov. 20, 2025

Marriott opens first US hotels under new Series collection brand

Developer Hawkins Way Capital converted two boutique Found Hotels in Florida and California under the flag and has others in the pipeline across key urban and coastal markets.

By Jenna Graber • Nov. 18, 2025

Las Vegas MGM Grand completes $300M remodel

In addition to an overhaul of the main tower’s 3,969 rooms and suites, the project added 111 suites to the hotel’s collection.

By Lara Ewen • Nov. 17, 2025

RevPAR dips, a lack of trips, Sonder’s slip and more from Q3 earnings

Despite widespread U.S. RevPAR declines amid travel turbulence, hotel CEOs are optimistic about the luxury segment, conversions and artificial intelligence.

By Jenna Graber • Nov. 17, 2025

Outset Collection by Hilton begins accepting bookings

The upscale collection brand plans to open its first property, Slackline Moab, this month, with a Chicago property scheduled for December and as many as 60 more in development.

By Lara Ewen • Nov. 10, 2025

Hyatt ‘confident’ as luxury drives Q3 RevPAR growth

CEO Mark Hoplamazian said he is encouraged by demand from high-end consumers, as well as pipeline, loyalty and technology developments.

By Jenna Graber • Nov. 6, 2025

Choice Hotels looks to international markets as US remains challenged

The company’s international business is now its highest growth opportunity, per CEO Patrick Pacious, as U.S. RevPAR dropped 3.2% year over year in the third quarter.

By Jenna Graber • Nov. 5, 2025

Conversions drove Marriott’s Q3 portfolio growth as US RevPAR dipped

Despite weaker demand in lower chain scales, Marriott held its full-year 2025 RevPAR growth outlook steady in the third quarter, and a record pipeline was a bright spot.

By Jenna Graber • Nov. 4, 2025