Ritz‑Carlton to Launch Third Yacht as Hotel-Branded Cruise Race Heats Up
Ritz-Carlton’s cruise rollout may have been delayed but it's enjoying premium pricing - $10,000 and up per guest.
Future of Lodging
As the lines continue to blur between hotels and short-term rentals, Skift is focused on the technology and the consumer behaviors that are driving this. Follow our coverage across the wide world of lodging, from traditional hotels and motels to urban short-term rentals and traditional vacation rentals.
Exclusive Resorts Takes Stake in Accor’s Onefinestay — Exclusive
Exclusive Resorts is taking control of OneFineStay, which offers hand-picked luxury homes and personalized concierge services. That represents a strategic expansion of both brands' reach in the affluent traveler segment.
Hyatt Cuts 30% of its U.S. Customer Service Staff
Hyatt didn't say if AI tools would be used to replace the employees, but hotels are increasingly turning to AI to handle customer service and back-office tasks.
Best Western Parent CEO Pushes Global Growth to Challenge Bigger Rivals
BWH Hotels, the folks who run Best Western and 17 other brands, added nearly 100 hotels in the first half of 2025. CEO Larry Cuculic argues that not being a public company gives the group an edge.
Elite Chefs. Real Talk. Luxury Hotels Are Bringing Back the Dinner Party
Luxury hotels are using dinner parties to build loyalty among high-spending guests. The ROI looks a little ugly at first, but they're a long-term bet.
Kill the Front Desk: CitizenM CEO Says Marriott Backs Its Tech and AI Vision
The boutique hotel that figured out how to make tiny rooms feel luxurious is about to find out if corporate ownership kills cool. CitizenM's CEO Lennert De Jong believes Marriott's approach to tech and service are very promising.
Premier Inn Turns to High-Margin Rooms to Offset UK Hotel Weakness
Premier Inn says it's outperforming rivals in a soft UK market, but it's doing so by squeezing more value from fewer guests, not a rebound in demand.
U.S. Hotels Brace for Immigration Crackdowns as Worker Shortage Looms
Hotels may face a labor crisis as ICE enforcement tightens. The industry is reviewing how it complies with complex laws and recent changes to work authorizations.
Two Brands, One Roof: Why Dual-Brand Hotels Are on the Rise
Dual-brand hotels reflect the hotel industry's new priorities: leaner costs to build and appealing to different types of guests.
Accor Bets on Kylian Mbappé in Loyalty Ad to Cut Out Middlemen
Accor is running ads for its loyalty program that star footballer Kylian Mbappé. The goal is to drive more direct bookings. The backstory is that online travel agencies are incredibly convenient for consumers and incredibly expensive for hotel companies like Accor.