Independent Hotel Brands Achieve Scale Through Shared Loyalty and Distribution

On October 21, 2026, Skift released a video exploring how independent hotel brands trade off between scaling and maintaining independence. The video notes that independent hotel brands want to achieve scale without sacrificing local character and direct guest relationships, and that shared loyalty programs, distribution channels, and technology can help them compete with large global hotel groups. The report did not disclose specific brands, program names, coverage scale, or timelines; current progress is limited to discussion of this topic.