Social media, not search, is now the springboard to travel discovery By A.D. Thompson Hotel research used to be highly active, said Cassady Quintana, but in 2026, as cross-generational guests scroll their social media feeds, the process has evolved considerably. “They’re saving things – destinations, hotels, restaurants – months before they book a trip,” she said. … [Read more...] about Flipping the Script
The AI Advantage
Turning guest insights into smart marketing By Amy King Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping marketing in the hotel industry. While much of the attention has focused on AI’s ability to generate emails, social posts, and promotional copy in seconds, the technology’s greatest value comes before the first word is written. Effective hotel marketers are using AI to … [Read more...] about The AI Advantage
A Trip Down the Mother Road
Hospitality on Route 66, then and now By Cathleen Draper One hundred years ago, the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads created the first federal highway system in an effort to connect small, rural towns with the urban centers between them. The system included an east-west network of existing local, state, and national roads running almost diagonally from Chicago to Santa Monica, … [Read more...] about A Trip Down the Mother Road
Closing the AP Gap
Partial automation yields partial payoffs in accounts payable By Chelsea Figurski Most hotel operators have invested in automation, driven by high hopes of speeding up back-office processes, making them more efficient, and reducing errors. But in many cases, their expectations haven’t been met. Invoice backlogs, payment errors, ever-growing fraud risk, and slow month-end … [Read more...] about Closing the AP Gap
Extended Stay’s Crowded Trade Problem
What separates a great deal from a mediocre one By Suraj Bhakta Every investor at every conference is reciting the same thesis: Resilient demand, favorable demographics, a category built for the moment. The fundamentals are real, but when an entire asset class reaches consensus, it stops being an edge. The nuances that separate a strong extended stay investment from a … [Read more...] about Extended Stay’s Crowded Trade Problem