Marriott Experiments With Homesharing and 11 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.

>>Leave it to Marriott to figure out a way to make homesharing work for the hotel industry. But as we’ve noted before, this space has its challenges, and figuring out the logistics and differences between managing homes and hotels will be crucial: Marriott Experiments With Homesharing

>>Marvel: “Infinity War is the most ambitious crossover event in history.” Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest: “Hold my beer.” Marriott and Starwood Pull Off a Merged Loyalty Program That Makes Everyone Happy

>>In a nearly repeat performance from 2017, Marriott and Starwood once more emerged on top of the heap this year when it comes to loyalty programs and consumer sentiment: Southwest and Marriott Dominate Annual Loyalty Program Awards

>>If you really want a better understanding of today’s hospitality industry, you’ve got to hear it from the owners first because, without them, all those brands would be nothing more than ideas: The Inside Story Behind Marriott’s Moxy-Led Invasion of Manhattan

>>With so many hotel ratings systems out there, who can you trust? Should ratings systems be open to all, a la the People’s Choice Awards, or do more accurate results come from a system of professionals judging professionals, a la the Oscars or the Tonys? We take a look at one of the world’s top rating guides for luxury properties: An Inside Look at the Forbes Travel Guide

>>Travel guides, in their various forms, are a dying breed, especially those that require an expensive army of reviewers. They are still valued by agents and others in the industry, but with cheaper alternatives out there, how long can they survive? How Do You Rate a High-End Hotel?

>>Hyatt knows that its business is heavily skewed towards affluent and experienced travelers and it’s done well to establish itself as a dominant player in many gateway destinations. But the combination of hotel consolidation and a rising middle class has made it think differently about how and where it wants to position itself: Hyatt CEO Wants to Woo the Global Middle Class

>>Germaphobes will be relieved not to have to touch a hotel room remote control again: Hilton Will Let You Control TV, Lights, Temp in Your Room From Smartphone

>>Just like everyone wants a piece of the tours and activities industry right now, everyone in hospitality wants a cut of the vacation rental business, too: Choice Hotels Expands Its Vacation Rental Portfolio with Listings from RedAwning

>>AccorHotels is definitely in the mood to buy. But the bigger question is, now that it has all of these things, how will the company actually integrate them all so that they’re successful? AccorHotels Reportedly Wants to Buy Mövenpick Hotels

>>Can Airbnb become a superbrand of travel, as it has stated as a goal? Probably not without launching flights. On the other hand, Booking.com has done fairly well for itself without offering flights until now: Airbnb Won’t Launch Flights Anytime Soon

>>The move resolves uncertainty about the HNA investment as Hilton positions itself to take advantage of strong economic trends: Hilton Issues Debt to Buy Out Part of Stake Held by China’s HNA