The Promise of Voice and 8 Other Hospitality Trends This Week

>>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