Hyatt to Buy Two Roads Hospitality and 8 Other Hospitality Trends This Week

>>Hyatt’s M&A strategy might be best summarized as this: If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again: Hyatt to Buy Two Roads Hospitality for $480 Million

>>There was a lot to take in at Skift Global Forum this year. Now videos from the entire two-day event are available to see whatever you missed: Skift Global Forum 2018 On-Stage Videos Are Now Live

>>Can you ever really have the independence to do your own thing and have all that scale? SBE’s Sam Nazarian will find out soon enough: SBE CEO Warns of the Wal-Mart Risk in Hospitality

>>Airbnb is clearly growing very fast. But before it goes public, it will have to sort out regulatory issues like the one it faces in the UK: 5 Things We’ve Learned About Airbnb From Its UK Accounts

>>Maybe it’s because Europe has a higher percentage of independent hotels. Maybe it’s because Europe is made up of so many distinct cultures. Regardless, it seems that for some reason, in Europe, hospitality industry innovation tilts toward individuality. Analysts tell us why that is the case: What European Luxury Hotels Can Learn From Their Midscale Cousins

>>As labor markets tighten and competition increases, the hospitality industry must both embrace and make it easier for mid-career professionals to pivot their careers into a new world. The backgrounds, skill sets, and fresh thinking will add much-needed depth to the industry: Why Hospitality Should Hire Candidates With No Previous Hotel Experience

>>… But we have a feeling that things are shifting in that area as more luxury brands see themselves as “experience platforms”: Luxury Hotel Loyalty Programs Are Missing Out on Experiences

>>Hyatt certainly has been creative in experimenting with ways to use loyalty points this year. Its latest move allows its World of Hyatt members to redeem points for spa experiences at Exhale properties: Hyatt Adds Spa While Dropping Vacation Partners From Loyalty Program

>>New data show that the global wellness industry is on the rise: It’s now worth $4.2 trillion. Smart companies are innovating to stay ahead, exhibited by the Lululemon and Strava fitness-meets-digital partnership and Equinox’s move into luxury wellness tourism: Wellness Newsletter: Athleisure and Hospitality Brands Tap Tech Trends to Keep Up