Waikīkī gets a capsule hotel, lawmakers eye more tourist taxes, and AI threatens to outwork us all. Plus: the Trump effect on travel, CNHA’s new role at Ko Olina, and Severance hits too close to home.
![[Aggregator] Downloaded image for imported item #930](https://hawaiihotelhui.com/wp-content/uploads/HHHI_March_V2-503x282.png)
AI Podcast
I tested Notebook LM by turning our Canada presentation into a podcast, proof that new AI tools offer fresher, more engaging ways to share insights than old-school PowerPoint.
Business Wars’ Hilton vs. Marriott Podcast
Wondery’s Business Wars: Hilton vs. Marriott dives into the decades-long rivalry between the hotel giants, tracing their rise from family businesses to global powerhouses.
Never Memorize What You Can Look Up in a Book
Einstein’s “never memorize” mantra meets the modern era as second-brain tools like Notion and Otter.ai raise new questions about whether tech is helping us focus—or making our minds lazy.
Tripadvisor’s Bid for Relevance in the AI Era
Tripadvisor partners with AI engine Perplexity to share exclusive review data, a strategic move for a company long struggling for relevance amid shifting, AI-driven travel search.
HBX Group’s €5B IPO: A Distribution Giant Might Go Public
HBX Group, the wholesale giant formerly known as Hotelbeds, is gearing up for a €5B IPO—putting one of distribution’s biggest players on the Spanish stock exchange.
HEDNA Conference Takeaways
Insights from HEDNA San Diego spotlight shifting traveler behavior and staggering OTA marketing spend, raising big questions about how hotels stack up in their own distribution strategy.
A New Chapter for Lights On Digital: Congratulations to Will Song & Patrick Ahler
Lights On Digital is acquired as founders Will Song and Patrick Ahler exit after building one of Hawaiʻi’s top hotel marketing and revenue agencies, with new owners set to carry the legacy forward.
Even More HTA Drama
HTA’s $5M request for Maui recovery funds is denied, with officials saying the crisis is no longer an “emergency,” even as Maui hotels sit at a troubling 60% occupancy.
HNL – One Step Closer to The 21st Century?
Hawaiian Airlines plans a major 2027 premium lounge five times larger than today’s space, even as it shuts down its current premium servicing and closes Apt. 1929 next March.
