New U.S. travel rules add layers of fees and paperwork: a $250 “Integrity Fee” for many visa applicants, higher ESTA costs, mandatory 30-day registrations, visa bonds for some countries, and targeted bans.
Not Quite Hilton (But Also Kind of Hilton)
Hilton Grand Vacations, Marriott Vacations, and Wyndham Destinations may carry the hotel brand names, but all three are independent, publicly traded companies, spun off from their parent brands and operating their own development, sales, and operations despite the shared logos.
Hospitality Geek Week
A packed week at HITEC, HSMAI, and industry side meetings highlighted three themes: AI everywhere, commercial teams needing real alignment, and hotels still struggling with outdated, disconnected tech.
Marketing the Unwanted?
As Congress slashes Brand USA funding by 80%, international visitors continue to flee the U.S., leaving destinations like Hawaiʻi exposed just when global marketing matters most.
New Owner, New CEO, New Name, New Era for Sabre Hospitality?
TPG’s takeover of Sabre Hospitality brings a new CEO with SaaS chops but no hotel background, raising questions about whether real innovation is coming, or just another private-equity playbook.
The Hotel Geeks’ Nirvana
Heading to HITEC and HSMAI’s Commercial Strategy Conference this week for a deep dive into hotel tech, AI, and commercial trends, recap coming with all the useful and eyebrow-raising takeaways.
Forecast: Meh
U.S. hotel forecasts take another hit as CBRE and STR cut 2025 RevPAR, demand, and ADR expectations, with Hawaiʻi facing added pressure from weak international travel and shrinking booking windows.
Junk Fees Rule Goes Live—Ready or Not
The FTC’s junk fees rule takes effect May 12, forcing hotels to display full prices upfront and potentially pay commissions on total rates, ending the long dance around resort fees.
Lighthouse Acquires The Hotels Network
Lighthouse acquires The Hotels Network, aiming to merge pricing intelligence with personalization and direct-booking tools, an ambitious move that could reshape how hotels align revenue and marketing.
Marriott Buys Another Brand
Marriott snaps up lifestyle brand citizenM for $355M, adding 36 design-focused hotels and pushing its 2025 net room growth toward 5%.
