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1. Hilton, Wyndham launch collection brands
Both Hilton and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts executives have each officially launched new collection brands this morning.
Hilton has announced the Outset Collection by Hilton, a soft brand targeting upper-midscale and upscale hotel conversions.
Hilton's President of Global Brands and Commercial Services Chris Silcock said the impetus of the brand grew from owners' interest in the company's other collection brands.
Owners "recognize the strength of the Hilton engine," he said in an interview. "We've achieved the highest market shares across our estate by a long shot compared to our competitors. So there's a thirst from owners to get access to that. We have Curio [Collection] at the upper end of upper-upscale as a full-service collection, allowing some of those real destination hotels to join. We have Tapestry [Collection by Hilton] below that with, again, good quality finish but slightly lower service level — but still a full-service hotel with room services, gyms and food and beverage."
Wyndham's newest brand, meanwhile, is Dazzler Select, an extension of its existing Dazzler soft brand that will focus on the economy segment and hope to draw in younger travelers.
"Independent hoteliers have long been at the heart of experiential travel, yet unlike those in upscale and luxury, owners in the economy space have often had to go [at] it alone — until now," Wyndham President and CEO Geoff Ballotti said in a news release. "Dazzler Select gives owners the freedom to preserve their hotel's character while leveraging the scale, reach and resources of the world's largest hotel franchisor. It's a game-changing opportunity for independents, delivered by the company that knows these travelers best."
2. Workers at two Philadelphia hotels strike
Workers at the Hampton Inn Philadelphia Center City-Convention Center and the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown officially went on strike Sunday morning citing the need for higher wages, better pension contributions and healthcare, and improvements to overall staffing at the properties, NBC10 in Philadelphia reports.
“We need a real raise,” Francine Eason, room attendant at the Sheraton, said in a news release. “Inflation has eaten up our wages. We deserve to be able to take care of ourselves. We deserve to be able to take care of our families. It’s time for these companies to listen.”
For roughly the past month, workers at the Hilton Americas-Houston were the only ones on strike in the U.S.
3. New York's historic Roosevelt Hotel could be demolished
The Pakistani government is reviewing its options for the shuttered Roosevelt Hotel in New York City, which is owned by Pakistan International Airlines. Bloomberg reports demolition to make way for a new skyscraper is among the options on the table.
Government officials are focused on creating a joint venture to redevelop the property, and the selection of a JV partner will help guide its ultimate plans for the historic hotel property.
The hotel closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and was used for a period after as housing for migrants in the city.
“We will have clarity on this in the next few months after finalization of the JV partner and market sounding,” said Muhammad Ali, adviser to the prime minister on privatization.
4. Brazilian hotel costs continues to create issues for COP30
Hotels have continued to be the focus ahead of the COP30 climate summit, but not for any sustainability related reasons. Reuters reports that a shortage of accommodations and prohibitive costs continue to be major headwinds for smaller nations looking to join the summit.
Latvian officials are the latest to complain about costs, asking organizers if they could join the meeting remotely.
"We already basically have a decision that it's too expensive for us," climate minister Kaspars Melnis told Reuters. "It's the first time it's so expensive. We have a responsibility to our country's budget."
5. AI trip planning sends tourists to imaginary landmarks
While using artificial intelligence for trip planning purposes is growing increasingly popular, the BBC reports the technology is sometimes leading travelers astray is potentially dangerous ways. The BBC cites examples of tourists trying to visit landmarks in Peru that doesn't exist or following incorrect itineraries that leave them stranded on the summit of a Japanese mountain.
"According to a 2024 survey, 37% of those surveyed who used AI to help plan their travels reported that it could not provide enough information, while around 33% said their AI-generated recommendations included false information," the BBC reports. "These issues stem from how AI generates its answers.
According to Rayid Ghani, a distinguished professor in machine learning at Carnegie Melon University, while programs like ChatGPT may seem to be giving you rational, useful advice, the way it gets this information means you can never be completely sure whether it's telling you the truth."