IHG to Create Another Soft Brand as Its Pipeline Shows ‘Strongest Ever Performance’
IHG’s decision to debut its new soft brand outside of the Americas says a lot about its strategic thinking.
Future of Lodging
As the lines continue to blur between hotels and short-term rentals, Skift is focused on the technology and the consumer behaviors that are driving this. Follow our coverage across the wide world of lodging, from traditional hotels and motels to urban short-term rentals and traditional vacation rentals.
Wyndham Cuts 2025 Forecast After Soft Third Quarter
Wyndham's cut to its forecast is modest, at about 2%. But it's notable that Texas, Florida, and California showed particularly soft results, as well as China, during the third quarter.
Hilton’s 41 AI Experiments and New Fee Cuts for Hotel Owners
Hilton's CEO outlined ways that AI could make it more cost effective to run his hotel business. Easier said than done, of course.
Hyatt Layoffs, Choppy Revenue: What to Listen for This Hotel Earnings Season
Is the U.S. hotel sector entering a recession? Will other hotel groups join Hyatt in layoffs? These are some of the things that Skift is looking out for during earnings season.
Wyndham Debuts a Paid Loyalty Plan: $95 a Year for Discounts and Higher Status
Wyndham is monetizing the very concept of being a repeat hotel guest, while providing discounts on bookings with other travel suppliers. Expect the industry to watch this move closely.
Mandarin Oriental to Go Private in Deal Valued at $4.2 Billion
Mandarin Oriental is being taken private by its majority shareholder as part of a broader reset. The company is cutting real estate, revamping its brand, and aiming to scale more quickly.
Squatter Scare for Short-Term Rental Hosts in France: Hype or Reality?
Media stories about "Airbnb squatters" in France make for viral headlines. But the real data and legal nuance reveal a very rare, if still unnerving, risk for hosts.
Hotel Loyalty Race: Top 14 Programs, Ranked by Members Per Room
Major chains tout hundreds of millions of members, but a new Skift metric reveals wild disparities in how they build their programs. Marriott, for instance, is in the middle of the rankings when measured by members per room.
Michelin Expands Hotel Ratings Globally Amid ‘Award Fatigue’
Michelin Guide, whose star ratings are coveted by restaurants, has expanded its ratings of “the most exceptional hotels" across the globe. But is it too little, too late, for the revered brand to matter in the luxury hotel segment?
Rosewood Bets on ‘Discovery’ and Experiences in Brand Refresh
Rosewood's rebrand as a "discovery-led lifestyle forum" sounds like ChatGPT-powered consultant-speak. Strip away the jargon, though, and the underlying ads and employee training have a plausible, justifiable logic.