The role of the Hotel General Manager has changed. Today’s GM is accountable for guest experience, profitability, operational resilience, and owner confidence - often with leaner teams, tighter margins, and zero tolerance for inconsistency. The traditional management toolkit is no longer enough.

A new level of ultra-refined hospitality has arrived at Paraíso de la Bonita, A Luxury Collection Resort, Riviera Maya, Adult All-Inclusive, Member of the Royalton Reserve Collection, with the introduction of The Reserve at Paraiso de la Bonita, an oceanfront building dedicated to the resort’s most exclusive suites. Conceived as a more private, spacious, and elevated way to experience the resort, The Reserve at Paraiso de la Bonita brings the Royalton Suites & Villas vision to life through residential-style accommodations, expansive outdoor living, and a deeper sense of intimacy with the Caribbean Sea.

Sparcstudio an independent, creative design studio specialising in spa and wellness design for over 15 years in the spa, wellness, fitness, hotel, and resort sectors

IRIS, the leading provider of digital F&B and guest experience platforms has been selected by The Landmark London, one of the capital’s most iconic luxury hotels

Reading Time: < 1 minuteUK: Luxury hotel Oaklands Hall in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, has become the latest independent property to join Classic British Hotels.
The post Oaklands Hall joins Classic British Hotels appeared first on Boutique Hotel News.

Reading Time: < 1 minuteUK: Hospitality brand YOTEL has made a series of senior leadership promotions as the company aims to reach 100 hotels by 2031.
The post Senior leadership promotions at YOTEL appeared first on Boutique Hotel News.

As artificial intelligence (AI) has become more available and prominent for consumers, hoteliers should consider how their hotels get recognized by large language models (LLMs). Consumers are increasingly using LLMs like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Microsoft’s Copilot to plan their travel, including finding hotels to book for their trips. For hotels, understanding generative engine optimization (GEO)—a digital marketing strategy that can garner visibility across LLMs—is crucial to capturing this AI-savvy group of travelers. GEO […]
The post First Hospitality Helps Owners Enhance GEO for AI Searches appeared first on LODGING Magazine.

LONDON—HBX Group released its Travel Trends Report for 2026, which found that, while travelers prioritized wellness breaks and digital detoxes in 2025, “maximalization”—involving luxury stays, modular itineraries, and creative escapes—will take center stage in 2026 Additionally, technology will become an increasingly key component in travelers’ decision-making. This is especially true with social media, whereby brand partnerships and influencer endorsements are set to inspire holidaymakers. Trip Trends 2026’s headline trend is maximalism. From spending splurges to pop […]
The post HBX Group Releases Findings From Its 2026 Travel Trends Report appeared first on LODGING Magazine.

India, 13th January 2026:  RateGain Travel Technologies Limited (NSE: RATEGAIN), a global leader of AI-powered SaaS solutions for the travel and hospitality industry, today announced that Sojern, its recently acquired AI-powered marketing platform built for hospitality, has been named Best Digital Marketing Agency in the 2026 HotelTechAwards, presented by Hotel Tech Report. The HotelTechAwards recognize the world’s leading hotel technology companies based on verified customer reviews and proprietary data signals, including market presence, integration capabilities, organizational health, and customer support quality. Each year, millions of hotel industry professionals rely on HotelTechReport.com to inform technology purchasing decisions. “Being recognised by Hotel Tech Report as the Best Digital Marketing Agency in 2026 is a powerful validation of the value our technology and teams deliver to hospitality marketers globally,” said Kurt Weinsheimer, Chief Strategy Officer at Sojern. “As travel brands navigate an increasingly complex and competitive digital landscape, we continue to evolve our AI-powered platform to help our customers cost-effectively drive direct demand, engage guests in real-time, and maximize revenue opportunities across the entire guest journey. This recognition reflects the trust our customers place in us and the strength of the teams behind our technology.” Bhanu Chopra, Founder and MD, RateGain said, “This award underscores the strength of Sojern’s teams and their AI-led marketing expertise. As part of RateGain, these capabilities broaden our portfolio and reinforce our belief in an integrated platform strategy. Together, we are advancing our marketing technology offerings to help travel and hospitality brands unlock more measurable, performance-driven growth at scale” Often referred to as “the Grammys of Hotel Tech,” the HotelTechAwards evaluate more than 200 technology products worldwide and are the industry’s only data-driven awards program, with winners determined by verified hotelier reviews across more than 120 countries. “The ranking process is simple, transparent, and unbiased judging is based on time-tested factors developed specifically for the hospitality industry,” said Jordan Hollander, CEO of Hotel Tech Report. “The HotelTechAwards are won based on verified hotelier feedback and objective performance data, which makes them one of the most demanding recognitions in hospitality technology.” Sojern’s accolade highlights its differentiation from traditional digital marketing agencies, leveraging AI-powered traveler audiences, multichannel activation, and measurable performance insights to deliver stronger marketing outcomes and guest loyalty for hospitality brands. Sojern was recently acquired by RateGain. The businesses are integrating AI-powered capabilities and global scale to accelerate innovation across the travel ecosystem. “Sojern’s recognition as Best Digital Marketing Agency reflects its ability to consistently deliver what hoteliers care about most from a marketing partner: qualified demand, efficient customer acquisition, and measurable return on spend,” Hollander added. Its strength lies in combining AI-driven traveler intent data with disciplined multichannel execution, helping hotels turn marketing investment into direct bookings at scale.” The 2026 Best Digital Agency distinction builds on Sojern’s continued momentum following previous HotelTechReport accolades, including recognition for excellence in Digital Marketing (2023 and 2024) and Global Customer Support Capabilities (2022), and underscores the company’s long-standing commitment to innovation, performance, and customer success in hospitality marketing. Browse dozens of verified reviews at Hotel Tech Report to see what customers say about working with Sojern. About RateGain RateGain Travel Technologies Limited is a global provider of AI-powered SaaS solutions for travel and hospitality that works with 13,000+ customers and 700+ partners in 160+ countries helping them accelerate revenue generation through acquisition, retention, and wallet share expansion. RateGain today is one of the world’s largest processors of electronic transactions, price points, and travel intent data helping revenue management, distribution and marketing teams across hotels, airlines, meta-search companies, package providers, car rentals, travel management companies, cruises and ferries drive better outcomes for their business. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in India, today RateGain works with 33 of the Top 40 Hotel Chains, 4 of the Top 5 Airlines, 7 of the Top 10 Car Rentals, and all leading OTAs and metasearch websites, including 25 Global Fortune 500 companies, in unlocking new revenue every day. About Hotel Tech Report HotelTechReport is the premier global research platform for hotel technology, serving over 1.5 million industry professionals annually. The platform connects hoteliers with the best technology solutions to improve guest satisfaction and operational efficiency. HotelTechReport is the leading global platform for hotel software reviews, rankings, and buyer education. With over 80,000 verified hotelier reviews and a proprietary scoring system that emphasizes customer outcomes, HotelTechReport is relied on by hoteliers in over 150 countries to make informed technology decisions. Learn more at hoteltechreport.com. PRESS CONTACTS: Global: Yasmine Najib / Kate Yee press@sojern.com Aastha Khurana media@rategain.com
The post RateGain Strengthens Global Hospitality Leadership as Sojern Is Named the No.1 Digital Marketing Agency for Hotels appeared first on RateGain.

Hotels retain nearly 96% of guest-paid revenue from direct voice bookings, significantly higher than OTA channels, which retain just ~82%. Source: Revinate The guest journey doesn’t begin at the front desk. It begins with a phone call. Sometimes it’s late at night, when a traveler is comparing options across multiple tabs. Sometimes it’s a hurried call between meetings. Sometimes it’s a guest asking quietly if the hotel can support a special need. These calls are deeply human moments—and yet, for years, hotels have treated them as operational interruptions rather than strategic opportunities. UNO VIVA changes that. As the first CRS-integrated AI Voice Agent built specifically for hotel reservations, UNO VIVA is designed not to replace hospitality teams, but to amplify them—by ensuring no guest call is ever ignored, rushed, or mishandled. To understand how this works in the real world, let’s follow a guest journey—starting well before check-in. Meet Claire: A Traveler Planning Her First Trip to France Claire is a 38-year-old marketing consultant from London. She’s planning a week-long vacation in France, splitting her stay between Paris and the south. She has options open on multiple tabs, but she hasn’t booked yet. It’s 10:30 PM. Instead of filling out another form, Claire decides to call the hotel directly. She wants reassurance before committing. 1. Information & FAQ Handling: When Clarity Decides the Shortlist Claire’s first questions are simple—but important. What time is check-in? Is breakfast included? What’s the cancellation policy if her plans change? These aren’t casual questions. They’re deal breakers. UNO VIVA answers instantly, even during non-working hours, using CRS-backed policy intelligence, not scripted responses. Every answer is precise—tied to the hotel’s actual configuration, dates, and rate plans. There’s no hesitation, no guessing, and no variation. For Claire, the experience feels confident and trustworthy. For the hotel, UNO VIVA ensures every caller receives the same accurate information—regardless of time, shift, or call volume. The hotel moves from “one of many options” to “a serious contender.” 2. Reservations & Modifications: When Intent Turns Into Action Encouraged, Claire asks about room availability. She’s flexible on dates and wants to compare options. This is where most voice systems fail—forcing callbacks or transferring the call. UNO VIVA keeps the journey intact. Because it is CRS-native, UNO VIVA pulls live availability, pricing, restrictions, and cancellation terms directly from the CRS. Claire compares room types, adjusts her dates, and confirms her booking—all within the same call. No rates are cached. No policies are generalized. Hotels using UNO VIVA see 40% higher booking conversion rates, because guests like Claire don’t have to wait, wonder, or second-guess. 3. Payments & Policy Queries: Removing Last-Minute Doubt Just before confirming, Claire pauses. She asks about deposits and refunds—what happens if she cancels part of the stay? UNO VIVA responds using CRS-level payment and policy logic, applying the exact rules tied to her selected rate and stay dates. The explanation is calm, precise, and unambiguous. For Claire, this removes the last bit of doubt. For the hotel, it prevents disputes, chargebacks, and post-booking escalations. The booking is confirmed. 4. Promotions & Negotiated Rates: Value Without Eroding Revenue During the conversation, Claire casually asks if booking now is the best option. UNO VIVA recognizes the intent behind the question. Using context-aware conversation logic, VIVA surfaces only approved promotions that align with the hotel’s revenue strategy. No unauthorized discounts. No rate parity risks. Just controlled, compliant value presentation. This helps close the booking—without sacrificing ADR. 5. Upselling & Ancillary Services: Revenue Hidden in Plain Sight As the call continues, UNO VIVA introduces relevant add-ons—a room with a better view, breakfast inclusion, and airport transfer options. The suggestions feel natural, not pushy. Because UNO VIVA includes a built-in upselling engine, these opportunities are consistently offered on every call. Hotels using VIVA report up to a 40% increase in revenue per call, driven by intelligent, contextual upselling. Claire upgrades her room. 6. Pre-Arrival Preferences & Accessibility: Preparing Before Arrival Before hanging up, Claire mentions she’ll be arriving early and prefers a quiet room. UNO VIVA captures these preferences in real time, tagging them within the system and passing them to the hotel team ahead of arrival. When Claire checks in days later, the hotel is already prepared. What feels like exceptional service is actually intelligent pre-stay capture. See UNO VIVA in Action Discover how UNO VIVA can help your hotel capture more direct bookings, recover missed revenue, and elevate pre-stay guest experiences—all through the voice channel. Book a demo Or contact us directly: unoviva@rategain.com Whether you manage a single property or an enterprise portfolio, UNO VIVA is built to scale with your reservation strategy—starting from the very first call.
The post 6 Ways UNO VIVA Scales Hotel Revenue Through the Voice Channel appeared first on RateGain.

Hotel Designs
Hotel review: Jnane Rumi – leading the cavalry on quiet luxury
Hotel review: Jnane Rumi – leading the cavalry on quiet luxury
Pauline Brettell.

Hotel Designs
Solos: bathroom innovation by Ideal Standard & PS+A
Solos: bathroom innovation by Ideal Standard & PS+A
Meghan Taylor.

Sydney, Australia – SiteMinder, the world’s leading hotel guest acquisition and revenue platform, has dominated the 2026 HotelTechAwards as it celebrates 20 years as an industry pioneer.  Backed by over 50,000 customers globally, the hotel technology leader has secured the ‘Hotelier’s Choice Award’ for the fifth consecutive year and the title of ‘Best Hotel eCommerce […]

Artificial intelligence (AI) is on every business leader’s mind at the moment, and this is no different in the hotels and tourism sectors. There is extensive research pointing to the potential productivity, financial, and operational benefits of AI, and businesses across the world are trying to capitalise on this exciting opportunity.  In Australia, though, there […]

These are the fashion-first ski styles I brought back from Europe.

Book by Jan. 22 for discounted travel through May 31 to destinations like Bali, Frankfurt, and Bangkok.

CHICAGO (January 7, 2026) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) has announced the reopening of Secrets Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort, an adults-only, all-inclusive haven, following a...

CHICAGO (January 6, 2026) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) and Indochina Kajima announced today that Wink in Vietnam is joining the Unscripted by Hyatt brand. This strategic agreement...

Why experiential, visual, and integrated UIs matter more than ever in AI-driven travel planning

Rising confidence and high-value travelers reshape outbound and domestic travel patterns

A YYZ layover at Toronto International Airport means time between flights that can range from under an hour to overnight, depending on your connection type and airline. Quick Answers Does Toronto airport have nap pods? No. Despite online claims, Toronto Pearson does NOT have traditional sleeping pods or nap pods as of January 2026. The […]

How long does it take to recover from jet lag and travel fatigue? Most travelers recover within 3-7 days, with jet lag typically requiring about one day of recovery per time zone crossed, according to CDC and Sleep Foundation guidelines. However, recovery time varies significantly based on your travel direction, age, and how quickly you […]

The role of the Hotel General Manager has changed. Today’s GM is accountable for guest experience, profitability, operational resilience, and owner confidence - often with leaner teams, tighter margins, and zero tolerance for inconsistency. The traditional management toolkit is no longer enough.

A new level of ultra-refined hospitality has arrived at Paraíso de la Bonita, A Luxury Collection Resort, Riviera Maya, Adult All-Inclusive, Member of the Royalton Reserve Collection, with the introduction of The Reserve at Paraiso de la Bonita, an oceanfront building dedicated to the resort’s most exclusive suites. Conceived as a more private, spacious, and elevated way to experience the resort, The Reserve at Paraiso de la Bonita brings the Royalton Suites & Villas vision to life through residential-style accommodations, expansive outdoor living, and a deeper sense of intimacy with the Caribbean Sea.