The travel industry is on the cusp of a major transformation, and in 2025, it’s critical for vacation companies to understand shifting customers’ expectations. To stay ahead, brands must build deeper, more meaningful relationships with their customers. This significant change is being driven by younger generations — Millennials, Gen Z and Gen Alpha — who are reshaping the way we think about vacation. These generations place a premium on personalization, purpose and authenticity. They want to travel in ways that reflect their values and identities, whether that means taking a wellness retreat in the mountains, going on a cultural immersion...

Strategic planning is foundational to any hotel’s long-term performance. It shapes financial targets, service design, staffing, capital allocation, and ultimately, guest satisfaction and brand growth. Yet, too often, hotel executives develop strategic plans that fail in execution, lack relevance, or are misaligned with market dynamics. These failures aren’t due to a lack of ambition—but rather a series of recurring mistakes that can be predicted, prevented, and corrected. Some plans are too inward-looking, built around legacy services instead of emerging guest needs. Others fall short in execution, with frontline teams unclear on how their roles connect to broader goals. Still...

There’s so much uncertainty and challenge in our day-to-day living. We are in unprecedented times where the stresses and responsibilities of life and global events can feel insurmountable. It’s easy to lose our ability to be receptive to others when we ourselves are feeling overwhelmed by our own lived experience. The pandemic and recent global events have imprinted the realities of this full spectrum of human experience on our hearts. The joy, curiosity, and wonder. The pain, suffering, and grief. No matter where we come from, what we believe, what we’ve experienced, or how we orient and identify ourselves,...

As the hospitality industry evolves, boutique and independent hotels are at the forefront of distinguishing themselves by curating unique and memorable experiences. Delivering a superior guest stay that includes the option to create an itinerary of experiences has become the top strategy for properties to build guest loyalty and earn positive reviews in a competitive market. According to a recent study by Medallia, 61% of consumers are willing to spend more with companies that provide a customized experience. This presents a significant opportunity for the hotel industry to enhance revenue by adopting strategies that speak to what their guests...

In today’s environment, all businesses, including those in the hospitality industry, should plan and prepare for a government inspection, audit and/or unplanned visit. Not only does this make good practical sense but provides the added value of encouraging and assisting general regulatory compliance. Worry is not preparation; action is preparation. With the right action, in advance, businesses can be equipped to deftly handle whatever might come their way. Since the beginning of 2025, ICE - short for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - has radically increased its inquiries, subpoenas, investigations, audits and enforcement of immigration activity. The hospitality industry...

The challenges that our industry has faced over the past several years have been answered by a collective effort to evolve our operations and rely on our industry’s passion for service and care. The net result of this passion and effort has seen hospitality demonstrate its resilience and strength. For McKibbon Hospitality, we’ve seen positive growth and we’re carrying this optimism and anticipation through 2024 and beyond. Like many groups, we are dedicated to and driven by the service to our guests, patrons, and associates. We understand that to provide challenges that afford our team the opportunities to expand...

The combination of innovation, efficiency, and a relentless focus on guest satisfaction is the key to staying ahead in the forever-changing landscape of the hospitality industry. At Selina, we are re-imagining the hospitality experience through a holistic approach that brings technology, sustainability, personalized experiences and a deep commitment to engage communities in the process. Our efforts have streamlined operations, reduced costs, and created unique and memorable experiences for our guests and team. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how Selina is continuing to set new standards in the industry. Strategies for Operational Excellence Achieving operational excellence in the hospitality...

According to Hilton's third annual trends report, this year will be marked by a pronounced emphasis on wellness travel, with "rest and relaxation" identified as the pivotal trend shaping the travel landscape for 2024. Beyond the traditional offerings like spas, yoga classes at sunrise, and fitness centers with the latest equipment, the pursuit of personal wellness has undergone a significant transformation. As a result, today's travelers, whether embarking on a business trip or a leisurely vacation with friends or family, are placing a growing emphasis on prioritizing sound sleep and rest. Known as sleep tourism, this phenomenon refers...

When implemented effectively, partnering with the right asset management firm can help maximize investor returns and real estate property values. Asset management is particularly important in this post-pandemic environment where macroeconomic conditions are in constant flux, geopolitical issues continue to intensify, and domestic monetary policy has considerable implications for real estate wealth management. These factors present both challenges and opportunities; however, without the proper analysis and expert tactics of skilled asset managers, risk becomes more difficult to anticipate and opportunities more challenging to harness. The following article outlines how choosing the right asset management firm, and more specifically, the right...

February 2024 was the hottest on record and the ninth consecutive month where each month was the warmest on record globally. Sustainable design, development and operations is now a ‘must’ and not a ‘maybe.’ When we talk about the concept of sustainability, we often mean that we are meeting the needs of today while also protecting resources that future generations and the planet will need to thrive. But something lies beyond this common understanding of sustainability in the contemporary hospitality industry: a yearning for authentic design and operational solutions. How can we apply innovative environmentally and socially conscious...