Accor's Spending Spree and 5 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.

>>A feel-good story from a hotel brand that goes beyond the PR headlines? That's a very good idea: Good Hotels Has a Better Approach to Building Community

>>Our guess is, pretty soon, this will be as standard as those in-room iHome docking stations for your iPods, only a whole lot more useful: Hyatt to Offer In-Room Streaming Entertainment Worldwide

>>AccorHotels is buying up and/or investing in a lot of other companies in its pursuit to become an entirely new breed of hotel company: Everything AccorHotels Has Acquired and Invested in Over the Past Year

>>Tune in to hear how hotel loyalty programs are changing — and what that means for the traveling public: Skift Podcast: What Hotels Are Doing to Win Your Loyalty

>>Does this mean short-term rental regulations are actually working? Or just that Airbnb’s business is maturing? Regulation Is Slowing Growth in Some of Airbnb’s Most Popular Markets

>>Vacation rental bookings are increasingly going online but there is still a dichotomy in models -- instant confirmations versus a 24-hour fail-safe vetting period. Because of the fragmented nature of the vacation rental market, one-size-fits all doesn't seem to be in the offing: HomeAway to Home Owners: It’s Online Booking or Nothing at All