Hotel CEOs Love Direct Booking and 4 Other Hospitality Trends This Week

Throughout the week we post dozens of original stories, connecting the dots across the travel industry, and every weekend we sum it all up. This weekend roundup examines hospitality.

For all of our weekend roundups, go here.

>>Whether you choose to view it as a war or not, it’s fairly unanimous that nearly every hotelier wishes he or she would have more direct bookings versus bookings made through an online travel agency: Hotel CEOs Love Direct Booking But They Have Varied Views About Strategy

>>Why? They make money. And they’re easier to roll out than a “hard brand.” (Thus, why those are “hard.”): Don’t Expect Hotel Companies to Stop Launching New Soft Brands Anytime Soon

>>Solo female travelers often pay more to be safe on the road. Paying less for safety is certainly novel, and if Overnight can get enough female-friendly listings onto its platform, that could be promising: Female Travelers Finding Creative Solutions in Homesharing Economy

>>Listen for insight on the trends, design choices, and amenities that help hotels stand out: Skift Backstage Podcast: What Next-Level Hotels Have in Common

>>It’s a relatively small addition for now, but as Hyatt grows the Miraval brand, no doubt its members will appreciate the access to Miraval’s wellness offerings. Now, we just have to wait and see what happens with Hyatt and Expedia: Hyatt Adds Miraval to Make Its Loyalty Program More Attractive