Same Place, New Name. IHG, Marriott, and Hyatt Eye Conversions for Midscale Growth
Conversions are giving hotel groups a faster way to expand midscale, especially in higher-cost markets where new builds are harder to justify.
Luke Martin is Skift’s UK-based Jr. Hospitality Reporter, covering the dynamic world of hotels. Prior to joining Skift, Luke worked at GlobalData, where he covered a wide range of industries including hospitality, automotive, retail, and packaging.
Kempinski Selects Prague Monastery for First Acquisition In 55 Years
Kempinski’s strategy hinges on being extremely selective. In today’s luxury market, scarcity could sell better than scale.
Hotels Are Losing Travelers’ Discovery Window — And Scrambling to Get It Back
Hotels are no longer just competing at booking. As discovery shifts to social platforms, recommendations, and artificial intelligence tools, big groups are trying to shape demand much earlier.
Accor CEO: Geopolitical Turmoil Isn’t Killing Travel, But Companies Need Agility
Accor’s CEO says travel demand is holding steady, but behaving differently. Shorter booking windows and rapid shifts between destinations are forcing hotel companies to stay agile.
Hyatt’s AI Captures Customers Sooner, Improving Sales and Productivity
Hyatt is using artificial intelligence to get closer to trip discovery, where customer intent, loyalty, and direct booking economics increasingly overlap.
Why the Best Hedge Against Global Chaos Is a Very Large Hotel Company
IHG’s view is that volatility is now a constant, but that large, diversified hotel groups are still positioned to benefit, so long as travel demand stays strong.
Series By Marriott Launch in Europe Plugs Midscale Hole
The launch shows Marriott pushing deeper into midscale with a brand built for portfolio deals, not just one-off conversions.
Hilton Cuts Yotel Deal, Launches Select by Hilton
Hilton’s newest brand is aimed at bringing outside brands into its system without buying them outright. Yotel is the first test of that model.
Room00 Targets Italy and London in Expansion Drive
Room00’s new expansion plan sees its asset selection process adapt to each market. The company is not chasing a fixed hostel-hotel mix, but matching each property to the format that fits best.
UK Hotels Bounce Back, But London and Budget Offerings Underperform
A stronger second half helped the UK hotel market recover in 2025, but London lagged, and rising costs mean many operators are still struggling to grow profits.