10 Febbraio 2026

• A Forest Party in the Palm of Your Hand: Turning a Key Card into a Story of Nature
  10 Febbraio 2026
  On a small birch wooden key card, a forest celebration is unfolding. A Mexican gray squirrel leaps between branches while a yellow-billed tern flashes through the canopy. A tree frog peeks curiously from a leaf. Nearby, an Asian elephant, a great hornbill, a red-breasted parakeet, and a Yunnan snub-nosed monkey gather in a lively woodland scene. Together, animals and plants become cheerful hosts of a grand forest party.
• HFTP Launches AI Council to Establish Industry Standards and Expertise
  10 Febbraio 2026
  Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals Association (HFTP®) today announced the formation of a new AI council dedicated to navigating the complexities of artificial intelligence (AI) within the hospitality sector. This strategic group will focus on establishing industry standards, acting as a knowledge hub, and providing expert guidance to professionals navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
• Vision Hospitality Group Opens Tempo by Hilton Nashville/Midtown
  09 Febbraio 2026
  Vision Hospitality Group, Inc., a Chattanooga, Tennessee-based hotel development and investment company, is pleased to announce the official opening of Tempo by Hilton Nashville Midtown , a 161-room lifestyle hotel located in Nashville’s Midtown district.
• The Customer is Always Right
  09 Febbraio 2026
  When Harry Gordon Selfridge opened his revolutionary department store in London in 1909, he didn’t just bring American-style retail to the heart of Britain—he introduced a philosophy that would shape the customer experience for more than a century.
• Related Group and Dezer Development Top Off Rosewood Residences Hillsboro Beach
  09 Febbraio 2026
  Leading real estate developers Related Group (Related) and Dezer Development have completed vertical construction at the Rosewood Residences Hillsboro Beach, marking a major milestone for South Florida’s most exclusive new address and the first-ever hospitality-branded condominium in the area.
• The Great Hotel Reset and the Future of Independence with Ben Rafter, CEO of Hotel Equities
  09 Febbraio 2026
  In this conversation, Sloan Dean interviews Benjamin Rafter, CEO of Hotel Equities and Springboard Hospitality, about his unconventional path from tech startups into hotel leadership and what that background means for the current cycle. Rafter argues that the US lodging market is entering a “reset” driven by debt maturities, deferred capex, and constrained owners, creating opportunity for strong operators, especially those able to combine operational discipline with modern commercial capabilities. He sees guest preference shifting toward experiences, localisation, and customisation, accelerating growth in soft brands and independent lifestyle hotels, while AI gradually levels the playing field by improving discovery, distribution, and decision making. Rafter also explains the strategic rationale behind the Hotel Equities–Springboard combination: keeping specialised operating models distinct (branded select service vs. lifestyle/independent), while scaling shared commercial services, t...
• Dar Global Debuts Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Oman in AIDA, the Iconic Brand of Family Entertainment
  09 Febbraio 2026
  Dar Global, the London-listed luxury real estate developer, has unveiled Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Oman at its landmark AIDA development. The project marks a significant addition to Oman’s fast-growing tourism sector, redefining luxury family travel while presenting a distinctive investment opportunity within one of the Sultanate’s most ambitious destinations.
• Kerten Hospitality Enters 2026 With Strong Momentum, Accelerating Expansion And Bolstering Leadership
  09 Febbraio 2026
  Kerten Hospitality has entered 2026 with the signing of 1,000 new keys in January, building on one of the most successful years in its history to accelerate expansion across the Middle East, Africa, and other high-growth markets.
• Long-haul travellers grow more cautious in 2026, while safety and flexibility shape demand for Europe
  09 Febbraio 2026
  The European Travel Commission (ETC) and Eurail have published the new Long-Haul Travel Barometer 1/2026, providing forward-looking insights into travel intentions, preferences and barriers among travellers from seven key overseas markets to Europe: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea and the United States. The findings point to a more cautious outlook for long-haul travel throughout 2026, shaped by affordability concerns, growing preference for domestic or closer-to-home trips and limited vacation time.
• Hospitality management to waive application fees to PRLA dues-paying members
  09 Febbraio 2026
  UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State School of Hospitality Management will offer scholarships to employees of Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association (PRLA) dues-paying member organizations who wish to pursue a Master of Professional Studies in Hospitality Management program or a Graduate Certificate in Hospitality Management program at Penn State.
• WTTC High-Level Meeting in Madrid Examines Global Investment Challenges and Opportunities in Travel & Tourism
  09 Febbraio 2026
  The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has concluded a high-level meeting in Madrid, bringing together global industry leaders, ministers and senior policymakers to examine investment challenges and opportunities across the Travel & Tourism sector worldwide.
• Technology, Trust, and Travel Trends: Hospitality Takeaways from FITUR 2026
  09 Febbraio 2026
  Another vibrant edition of FITUR has come to a close, and 2026 may well be remembered as a milestone year for the hospitality sector. Over just three days at Madrid’s IFEMA convention center, FITUR 2026 welcomed more than 255,000 visitors, confirming its role as a global nexus for tourism and innovation.
• Luxury hospitality reimagined: Cairns 5-star hotel elevates guest experience with Shiji’s Infrasys POS
  09 Febbraio 2026
  Shiji, the global leader in hospitality technology, announced today that Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns, one of Australia’s most iconic waterfront luxury hotels, has successfully gone live with Infrasys POS. The implementation marks a significant step in the hotel’s commitment to delivering seamless, efficient, and highly personalized guest service, supported by enterprise-grade cloud technology designed specifically for modern luxury hospitality.
• China’s Hotel Construction Pipeline Sees Record-High Brand Conversion Activity, Upscale and Upper Midscale Chain Scales Drive Growth at Q4 Close
  09 Febbraio 2026
  According to the latest China Construction Pipeline Trend Report from Lodging Econometrics (LE), China’s total hotel construction pipeline stands at 3,608 projects/644,938 rooms at the close of the fourth quarter of 2025.
• Ascott signs record 19,000 units across 102 properties in 2025
  09 Febbraio 2026
  The Ascott Limited (Ascott), the wholly owned lodging business unit of CapitaLand Investment (CLI), signed a record 19,000 units across 102 properties in 2025, marking 27% year-on-year growth in new signings. Its asset-light expansion was led by higher-fee segments such as resorts, supported by accelerating franchise momentum and strong conversion activity. Ascott entered more than 10 new cities across Asia Pacific and Europe, growing its global footprint to over 230 cities in more than 40 countries. The company now operates and has under development more than 1,000 properties[1] with over 176,000 units globally.
• Hyatt Regency Zhuhai Gongbei Celebrates Opening
  09 Febbraio 2026
  Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced the official opening of Hyatt Regency Zhuhai Gongbei, marking the latest addition to the Hyatt Regency brand’s global portfolio.
• HotelRunner to Highlight AI-Powered Automation and Fintech-Enabled Distribution at ITB Berlin 2026
  09 Febbraio 2026
  HotelRunner, the leading hospitality and travel technology provider, announces its participation in ITB Berlin 2026, one of the world’s most influential travel trade shows. The HotelRunner Team will be welcoming visitors at Hall 9, Stand 217a, at Messe Berlin between March 3–5, 2026.
• Riding the PortoBay wave: how people are shaping hospitality
  09 Febbraio 2026
  With historic Portuguese vibes, meandering cobbled streets, and extraordinary glimpses of the glinting Atlantic ocean, Funchal delivers exactly the welcome I’d hoped for. But it’s nothing compared to the greeting when I step into the lobby at PortoBay Santa Maria.
• Influence Society Unveils SOCIETIES 2025. A Visionary Annual Publication Defining the Next Chapter in Hospitality Branding
  09 Febbraio 2026
  Influence Society, a leading digital marketing agency serving high-end hospitality brands, proudly announces the release of SOCIETIES 2025, its signature yearly publication that serves as a strategic guide for hotel brands navigating a rapidly evolving market. This edition confronts key issues impacting hospitality: the rise of AI as a new baseline, the reemergence of long-form storytelling, the shift from possession to experiential engagement, and the growing need for design-forward, emotionally resonant branding. With over 60 pages of deeply researched perspectives, SOCIETIES 2025 is aimed squarely at hoteliers and brand leaders seeking to lead, not just compete.
• AI won’t save your hotel if your teams are still copy-pasting between systems
  09 Febbraio 2026
  In many hotel groups, automation is discussed as a question of intelligence.
• HVS Asia Pacific Hospitality Newsletter - Week Ending 6 February 2026
  09 Febbraio 2026
  Singapore-based Coliwoo Holdings Limited (“Coliwoo”) is acquiring the former Park Avenue Changi for SGD101 million. This translates to approximately SGD402,000 per key for the 251-key property. Coliwoo will acquire the leasehold interest in the strata lot from Singapore-based ESR-REIT Management (S) Limited’s (“ESR-REIT”), and convert it into a co-living property. The property forms part of ESR BizPark@Changi and includes ground-floor retail space. The property is strategically located within a five-minute walk of Expo MRT station, approximately 500 metres from the Singapore EXPO Convention and Exhibition Centre, with Changi City Point shopping mall within a five-minute walk and Changi Airport accessible via a 15-minute train ride.
• Reimagining Tourism Futures: Six Priorities Shaping the Sector’s Transition
  09 Febbraio 2026
  Tourism and hospitality are entering a period defined by rapid change. Climate volatility, evolving traveler expectations, workforce transitions and accelerating digitalization are challenging long-established models.
• Check-In, Clock-Out: Hospitality That Moves With the Nomad Lifestyle
  09 Febbraio 2026
  Bo Frederique van den Bosch is a second-place winner (in a four-way tie) in the HFTP Fall 2025 Blog Competition.
• Relais & Châteaux Pursues Its Commitments in Harmony with All Life on Earth with Four New Projects in Partnership with UNESCO
  09 Febbraio 2026
  In line with its commitment to sustainability, Relais & Châteaux is pleased to announce four joint initiatives with UNESCO, spanning multiple continents and promoting sustainable hospitality and culinary practices in harmony with all life on earth.
• Adeera and HTMi Partner to Train and Empower Saudi Talents in Hospitality
  09 Febbraio 2026
  Adeera has signed a framework agreement with HTMi, a recognized institute for hospitality and tourism management, marking a significant step in building a highly skilled Saudi hospitality workforce in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ambitions.