Hotel News

Starwood Hotels developed a new brand story for its Le Méridien flag with a reworked social lobby concept, artistic collaborations, cool cultural events and a global group of cultural innovators.

Travelers' expectations for connectivity will only intensify in 2014. Hotel brands that don't adopt quickly risk becoming obsolete while others that cater to guests' digital needs remain relevant.

By offering full-service support, local contacts, insider access and members' club privileges, Oasis Collections is introducing the sharing economy to a new market of international travelers.

Going mobile, staying social, and connecting to local are the hospitality trends that will continue to dominate the hospitality sector in 2014, especially as older brands get up to speed on what today's travelers seek.

The rules being discussed would apply to Europeans booking rooms in the UK, and the framework would be fairly narrow in scope. They do not address broader rate parity issues, but would indeed provide for more competition and would be good for limited numbers of travelers.

From embracing TripAdvisor to empowering hotels to take social media into their own hands, Four Season has taken chances on digital that are paying off.

Hey, the airline business is rough, and with this acquisition Amadeus gets diversification, and a much bigger foothold into the hotel sector, particularly for groups and events. Companies such as Pegasus, Sabre, and Trust International could feel the competitive impact.

Although these companies represent only a piece of the growing vacation rental market, their calculated combination suggests that other rental competitors could see the benefits in similar deals in the next few years.