Vicious Biscuit's COO Amanda Kahalehoe, with a Marine Corps and IT background, has built a technology architecture designed for 150 units while operating only 12. She adopted middleware Olo and built proprietary layers for data integration. Through loyalty programs and AI analysis, the brand makes data-driven decisions during expansion, such as discovering that turning off third-party ordering spiked call-in orders by 40-70%.
Hilton Australia has been recognized as the No. 1 hospitality workplace in Australia for 2026 by Great Place to Work in the category of companies with more than 1,000 employees. The recognition reflects Hilton's people-first culture and inclusive leadership. Hilton is expanding across Australasia with upcoming openings in Sydney, Cairns, Gold Coast, Suva, and Auckland.
UK-based luxury hospitality firm Cheval Collection aims to double its global portfolio from 16 projects, with the Middle East as a key growth driver. It operates serviced apartments and branded residences, with properties in Dubai and expansion into Saudi Arabia. Despite Dubai's demand slump, Cheval believes its mixed short/long-stay model reduces reliance on international arrivals, but analysts caution that serviced apartments still absorb shocks, and S&P expects occupancy recovery only after 2027.
Wanda Hotels announced that its number of open hotels nationwide has surpassed 300, with over 500 under construction or to be opened, covering more than 400 cities globally. The milestone property, Qiqihar Fuli Wanda Reign, features 308 view rooms and a 1,100 sqm pillarless ballroom.
As regional theme parks struggle with attendance declines, debt pressures, and closures, Dollywood is defying the trend. Following the death of founder Dolly Parton, the park reaffirmed its $500 million expansion to become a year-round destination. Unlike competitors relying on licensed IP, Dollywood differentiates through authentic Appalachian culture and Parton's brand. Its financial strength enabled co-owner Herschend to acquire multiple regional parks, and it drives $1.8 billion in direct economic impact and over 23,000 jobs in Sevier County.
DeCheco's Pizzeria uses voice AI agent Ali to handle phone orders, aiming for 50 locations by 2038. Currently at 6, soon 9. AI reduces labor costs, increases average ticket size, and supports generous employee benefits.
European hostel brand Generator, acquired by Brookfield Asset Management for approximately €776 million, plans to double its 15-property footprint by 2030 by converting distressed mid-market hotels such as Novotel, Mercure, and Holiday Inn. New CEO Xavier Mufraggi says the conversion thesis is structurally compelling: four-star buildings require minimal alteration, allow four-to-six beds per room at around £40 per bed, and come with large F&B spaces that can be monetized through dinners, parties, and rooftop events, targeting at least 40% higher RevPAR than a standard three- or four-star hotel. Expansion will be mapped along Europe's high-speed rail network, with plans for multi-city passes…
BWH Hotels is expanding its design-driven boutique brand Aiden with new openings across North America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. In the U.S., Aiden by Best Western Sacramento Downtown in California and Aiden by Best Western Kansas City Downtown in Missouri recently opened, with properties also debuting in Germany and Thailand. Additional openings are scheduled for the remainder of 2026, including Denver, Tempe, Arizona, and Pullman, Washington. Brad LeBlanc, SVP and chief development officer at BWH Hotels, said the expansion comes as travelers seek hotels with 'personality, a sense of discovery and a connection to the destination.' The Sacramento hotel, opened in May, features design elemen…
Radisson Hotel Group is maintaining its target of 100 hotels in operation and development in Saudi Arabia by 2030, despite disruption from the U.S.-Iran war. Executive Elie Younes cites Saudi Arabia's domestic-driven demand as more resilient than the UAE's international-dependent market, forecasting recovery by June 2026, earlier than external forecasts of 2027. Expansion is shifting to secondary cities and the three- and four-star tier, favoring new builds.
California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) has partnered with T-ROC Global to deploy up to 1,000 automated retail machines nationwide over the next three years, targeting high-traffic locations such as airports, universities, hospitals, and hotels. The kiosks use Turbo-chef cooking technology to deliver a CPK pizza in about 90 seconds. T-ROC will handle operations, replenishment, and maintenance, with an initial rollout of clusters of at least 20 units across 30 major U.S. markets.
This week in hotel news: LivAway Suites broke ground on its first hotel in Montgomery, Alabama, expanding into the Southeast; Meyer Jabara Hotels will manage the Reitz Union Hotel on the University of Florida campus, its first university property; Davidson Hospitality Group launched the GM Edge leadership development program.
IHG Hotels & Resorts signed five new hotels in Taiwan, including the debut of HUALUXE, and launched the IHG One Rewards LINE MINI App. New projects cover Taipei, Taitung, and Pingtung, spanning urban, cultural, hot spring, and leisure destinations. IHG currently operates 17 hotels across eight brands in Taiwan.
IHG and Harilela Group signed a landmark agreement to add The Hari London (85 rooms) and The Hari Hong Kong (210 rooms) to Vignette Collection, and convert Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre (324 rooms) into The Hari Singapore, opening in 2027. This brings their partnership to six hotels and marks Vignette Collection's debut in Singapore.
JINYA Ramen Bar plans to expand to over 200 locations, currently having 80 (soon 85). The company deployed handheld tableside payment devices, reducing the payment process from 20 steps to 4, improving table turnover. It is also piloting an AI auto-attendant to handle incoming calls, reducing front-of-house pressure. The VP of IT emphasized the importance of data integration and clean data, and plans to implement natural-language ordering via AI.
JINYA Ramen Bar, an 80-unit chain, is preparing its technology for expansion to over 200 locations. The company deployed handheld tableside payment devices, reducing the payment process from 20 steps to 4, improving table turnover. It is also piloting an AI auto-attendant to handle incoming calls, reducing front-of-house pressure. The VP of IT emphasized the importance of data integration and clean data, and plans to implement natural-language ordering via AI.
Hilton has been named the No. 1 Best Workplace in Latin America by Great Place to Work for 2026, marking its first top ranking after three consecutive years as the region's best hospitality workplace. Hilton employs over 26,000 team members across 300+ hotels in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a pipeline of 150 additional hotels creating more opportunities.
HHM Hotels has added 11 properties to its management portfolio through a strategic alliance with Wurzak Hotel Group, including branded hotels in Florida and Philadelphia, expanding its footprint.
Dutch Bros' $105 million bid for Salad and Go locations has sparked opposition from 7 Brew, highlighting intense competition for turnkey drive-thru real estate. Industry experts note that rapid expansion relies on acquiring existing sites, combined with technologies like handheld POS to achieve one-minute window turnaround.
Premier Inn's Middle East business has recovered from war impact, with occupancy rising to 78% in July and revenue decline narrowing to 11%. Despite a down year forecast, the brand is accelerating expansion, including entering Saudi Arabia (Riyadh and Jeddah) and pursuing a ~AED2 billion leasehold deal with Equitativa, aiming for 8,000 keys within five years.
Choice Hotels International has expanded its upscale Cambria brand portfolio with two new hotel openings: Cambria Hotel Euless – DFW Airport South in the Dallas-Fort Worth region and Cambria Hotel Bend – Mt. Bachelor near Bend, Oregon. These openings strengthen the brand's presence in "key leisure and business travel markets" and contribute to Choice's broader expansion of its upscale portfolio to cater to "rising demand for distinctive, experience-driven accommodations." The Texas hotel offers 107 rooms near Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and AT&T Stadium; the Oregon hotel has 131 rooms with access to the Pacific Northwest's premier outdoor destinations and craft beer scene. Choic…
Hilton announced the signing of three lifestyle hotels in Phuket, Chiang Mai, and the Maldives, including a Curio Collection in Phuket and two Tapestry Collection properties in Chiang Mai and the Maldives. This supports Hilton's ambition to surpass 250 luxury and lifestyle hotels in Asia Pacific and double its portfolio in Southeast Asia.
Omio founder and CEO Naren Shaam discusses how AI accelerates solving supply, data, and customer understanding in multimodal travel, but doesn't replace live operational complexity. Omio currently operates in 47 countries, planning to expand to 70 next year and 100 the following year. The company is increasing B2B efforts, providing infrastructure via APIs and MCP.
Perk (formerly TravelPerk) opened its Middle East office in ADGM, Abu Dhabi, in partnership with ADIO. The company targets tripling business travel spend from UAE customers by 2028 and leverages Abu Dhabi's AI infrastructure for regional growth.