Luxury Travel Confronts an Identity Crisis and 3 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.

>>Room Key is a bit like the train in the children’s story, “The Little Engine That Could,” which kept saying “I think I can, I think I can.” While Room Key may never become the next Kayak, it may help hotel chains gain more direct bookings: Hotel Loyalty Rates Finally Gave Room Key Site an Advantage

>>In 2017, the hotel industry took stock of the prior year’s major mergers, focused on putting them all together, and worked on figuring out a path into the future: A Look Back at What the Hospitality Industry Taught Itself in 2017

>>Everyone has different ideas and approaches for the next big thing in luxury hospitality, from digital innovation and more personalization to smarter, more intuitive service, and better dining experiences: Hoteliers Are Taking Different Approaches to Luxury Travel Innovation

>>Luxury hospitality is no longer defined by marble bathrooms and turndown service. To compete and appeal to today’s luxury guest, hotels have to be a lot smarter and more thoughtful than ever before: Luxury Travel Confronts a Widening Identity Crisis