Deanna Ting

Hilton's MO? We're doing just fine — but it couldn't hurt to add a few more brands, either.

Will the Amazon Echo eventually become the new iHome docking station of the past? Will this technology be outdated in just a year or more? And more importantly: Is this what people really want from their hotel experience just yet?

The hospitality industry continues to tweak its various loyalty programs. But is this what customers really want?

This study sample is very small, so it's worth noting that these findings should be taken with a grain of salt. However, it does show that, despite hotels' best efforts to push loyalty and direct bookings, hotel marketers can't assume an "if you build it they will come" mentality toward their own websites.

Using geolocation to push offers to guests is a good idea, in theory, but hotels need to be very mindful they don't overload or annoy their guests in the process. And given all the data breaches we've seen over the past few months alone, they need to be a lot more careful about how they're using that information, or any information for that matter, collected from their customers.

Sometimes, being bigger really can be better. Or at least that's what Marriott is telling itself.

Here's our deep dive into all the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead as Airbnb transforms itself into a super brand of travel.

The bigger question now is what will happen to Rezidor, and how will that impact HNA's other hotel investments in NH Hotels, as well as Hilton and Red Lion Hotels?

Airbnb says it is willing to work more closely with cities on crafting commonsense short-term rental regulations and policies, but is this enough? And what's preventing the company from helping to enforce existing laws while it works with cities to craft new ones?

What will 2017 bring to the hospitality industry? Read on for a few predictions.