The hospitality and travel industry is experiencing a spending surge, with online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia Group, Booking Holdings, Airbnb, and Trip.com Group collectively spending a record $4.08 billion on sales and marketing in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024. This 10.6% increase from Q1 2023 really reflects the industry’s aggressive pursuit of consumers eager to travel after pandemic restrictions eased. The fierce competition is evident, particularly between Expedia Group and Booking Holdings, the two largest players. Both companies surpassed $1.6 billion in marketing spend during ..read more

The Gadget Show’s Jason Bradbury and Google’s Susie Vowinkel confirmed as keynote speakers for 2024 edition of TravelTech Show Visitor registration is now open ahead of the show taking place 19-20 June 2024 at ExCeL London With just one month to go until TravelTech Show opens its doors on 19 June, organisers of this year’s show have released further findings from its research, highlighting the challenges felt by buyers. Over a third (34 per cent) stated that both implementation time for new solutions or platforms and balancing budgets in line with the cost of new technology, are their bigges ..read more

[Detmold, 14 May] Mews, a leader in hospitality technology and cloud-native property management systems (PMS), today announced its acquisition of HS3 Hotelsoftware, the German-founded on-premises property management system. The acquisition bolsters the presence of Mews in Germany, bringing significant market penetration of Mews in the market. The acquisition comes as more hotels adopt cloud technology, where Mews has grown its customer base by 93% as the post-pandemic digitalization in Germany gathers pace. Following its latest funding of $110m, Mews is accelerating its growth with expansion i ..read more

Melbourne, 13 May 2024 – RMS Cloud, a leading global provider of property management software, is pleased to announce the appointment of David Murray as Chief Executive Officer, effective June 2024. Bringing a wealth of leadership experience and a track record of success in growing businesses, Murray has previously held key roles at renowned enterprises such as IBM and Amdocs. Joining RMS Cloud after a successful tenure as CEO of Buildxact, a global Software-as-a-Service company, Murray brings a growth mindset backed by proven results to the future of RMS Cloud, which seeks to take its global ..read more

Houston TX, April 25 2024 – Hotel technology specialist SHR has announced the expansion of its Global Advisory Board, strengthening its position as an innovation leader in the hospitality sector. The Global Advisory Board at SHR is a collective of senior executives across the hospitality landscape, chosen for their expertise and deep industry insights. This platform provides a forum for open dialogue on strategic issues, emerging trends, and the development of cutting-edge solutions that enhance guest experiences, streamline operations, and increase profitability for hospitality businesses glo ..read more

In the hospitality sector, retaining employees has always been challenging, especially with the surge in turnover during the pandemic, which hasn’t yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. As a result, there’s a growing demand for swift hiring and robust retention strategies. Fortunately, you can implement several proven approaches to bolster retention, with one standout method being an effective onboarding process. When executed right, onboarding can elevate hospitality retention rates by as much as 50%. It can also enhance engagement and help new hires acclimate to their roles and the new work e ..read more

Hotel Speak, a leading online news resource for hotel marketing news and insights, is thrilled to announce a media partnership with The National Hotel Marketing Conference (NHMC) – the UK’s only dedicated annual conference for the hotel marketing and sales community, to be held on May 2nd at the Hilton at St. George’s Park, the English FA Centre of Excellence in Staffordshire. In today’s fast-evolving hospitality landscape, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for success. Where better for UK hospitality professionals to hear about the latest trends in hotel marketing than The National Hotel ..read more

In the bustling ambiance of a hotel restaurant, staff are often challenged to serve an array of high-quality beverages swiftly. The iSi system stands out as the perfect ally in meeting these demands. Its intuitive design is especially accessible, enabling staff with varied levels of experience to quickly become proficient, thereby ensuring beverages are prepared swiftly and wait times are minimised. Batch preparation becomes a key advantage during peak dining hours. The iSi system allows staff to prepare components for popular drinks in advance. With a few simple steps, elements like whipped c ..read more

UK, 26 March 2024 — Abode Worldwide, a specialist public relations agency in the hospitality and living sectors, has announced three key hires as it seeks to execute its ambitious growth plan. Stewart Paterson has joined as an Account Director overseeing client services, Madeleine Parkin has been appointed as Account Manager and Jenny Noad has taken on the role of Agency Coordinator. All three have deep experience in the PR, technology, property and hospitality industries. Stewart is a former national newspaper journalist and joins from Coverdale Barclay. He has a strong public relations track ..read more

Helsinki, 20 March 2024 – Bob W, the tech-powered hospitality operator, has today announced the launch of its sixth London opening of a new aparthotel near St Paul’s Cathedral. The new Bob W location is now taking bookings with guests able to stay from early Spring. Spanning across a mid-20th century building on Watling Street and a Neo-Georgian building on Groveland Court, Bob W St Paul’s skillfully blends modern convenience with historic charm. The strategic expansion reinforces Bob W’s commitment to deliver high-quality hospitality, genuine local experiences and sustainable practices. Bob W ..read more