Skift Take

This week in hospitality, don't miss a long read on the potential of voice technology for vacation rentals and private accommodations, plus stories on Hyatt’s Two Roads Hospitality deal and Wyndham's La Quinta deal.

Hotel News Weekly Roundup

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 hotels.

For all of our weekend roundups, go here.

>>Voice has tremendous potential to transform the vacation rental or private accommodation experience as we know it — but are we there yet? And if not, how do we get there? The Bigger Promise of Voice in Hospitality Could Be With Vacation Rentals

>>We all knew Hyatt was in the mood for a major acquisition. (NH Hotel Group or Starwood, anyone?) And now we have a much better idea of what its plans are for Two Roads, as well as other acquisitions down the line: Hyatt’s High Hopes for Two Roads Revealed

>>So, what will Wyndham be buying next year? La Quinta Payoff: Wyndham Sees Big Revenue Jump From Its Latest Acquisition

>>Although Hotelbeds still sells ancillaries, its main focus is on accommodations, and the rebrand makes that clear: Hotelbeds Rebrands to Focus on Accommodations

>>Booking.com wants to service professional managers while going after individual vacation rental owners, too. Airbnb wants to tap into the professional-manager set while branching out into resort areas, and HomeAway wants to get more urban. These companies’ offerings will converge, and it’s likely their business models will, too: Booking Unveils Host Tools as Short-Term Rental Rivals Address Their Weaknesses

>>The abrupt departure of a CEO and falling profit set off plenty of alarm bells. Will Millennium & Copthorne be able to turn things around, or do its struggles represent the start of a wider industry slowdown? Millennium & Copthorne Blames Struggles on Rising Costs in Hospitality

>>It’s likely that the musical experience of most hotel employees doesn’t extend far beyond karaoke. Not the case for a certain Hungarian concierge, whose vast musical background strikes a special chord with guests: Don’t Accuse This Hotel Musical Director of Being the Muzak Guy

>>In a day when exclusive access and intimate experiences are heralded over material goods, a meal prepared by world-class chefs in a spectacular setting is something luxury consumers are willing to travel for: Luxury Hotels Bring in More Celebrity Chefs in Guest Gigs

>>Getting exclusive access for guests is becoming a key differentiator for the very best hotels: Hotels Raise the Stakes for Exclusive Experiences

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Tags: hospitality, Travel Trends, trends roundups

Photo credit: A Maui vacation rental on VRBO is shown. Voice has tremendous potential to transform the vacation rental or private accommodation experience. 250276

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