INTERNATIONAL REPORT—For decades, the hospitality industry has sold a quiet promise: comfort without friction. A guest books a room, checks in, and expects a seamless environment—cool air, hot water, illuminated corridors, refrigerated food, functioning elevators, crisp linen, and the invisible orchestration of logistics that make hospitality feel effortless. Unlike aviation, where travelers have long tolerated fuel surcharges as part of the economics of flight, hotels and restaurants have traditionally concealed the underlying volatility of energy inside a single, curated price. That model is now under pressure. As energy markets become more unstable, logistics more fragile, and geopolitical disturbances more frequent,...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Regenerative tourism was cool two years ago. Now in 2026, it’s overused. Yes, it’s still wildly important as you can argue that a luxury hotel brand with a strong sustainability program can no longer be called luxury. But the market is getting saturated with hotels and resorts tapping into regenerative positioning and marketing angles. Real trendsetters are already one step aside, and here is one potential step that we’ve helped introduce to clients to get into their implementation roadmap. Agrobiodiversity is complex to fully understand, but there’s value in simplifying this complexity, and it serves a very noble cause...

MIAMI—The Global Wellness Institute (GWI), the leading nonprofit dedicated to research and education in the global wellness industry, has released new data on the United States’ fast-growing wellness economy, now valued at $2.1 trillion. The findings, made possible through a partnership with Fountain Life, show that the U.S. remains the undisputed leader in the global wellness economy, dwarfing other top markets. Growing at an annual rate of 7.9 percent from 2019 to 2024, the U.S. ranks among the 10 fastest-growing wellness markets worldwide and holds the largest market share in nine of eleven wellness sectors. Wellness economy per capita spending in the U.S. surpassed...

NATIONAL REPORT—Travelers want to relax and feel refreshed during every stay. Indoor air quality influences guest satisfaction scores and brand reputation. Boosting your hotel’s air quality goes beyond upgrading filters. Focusing on integrated design, material selection, and operational discipline will make guests feel comfortable and healthy. Upgrade Filtration & Monitoring High-performance filtration no longer qualifies as a luxury upgrade. Many operators now install MERV 13 or higher filters in guestrooms and common areas to capture fine particulates, including combustion-related pollutants common in urban markets. Real-time air quality monitoring has also moved from niche to mainstream. Smart sensors track CO2, PM2.5, and humidity...

NATIONAL REPORT—In 2026, sustainability is no longer a fringe concern, it’s a mainstream expectation. But while eco-consciousness is on the rise, price sensitivity is still top of mind for most travelers. This creates a tension that every hotelier must navigate: How do you promote your property’s green credentials without alienating budget-conscious guests? Fortunately, it’s not a binary choice. Today’s travelers want eco-conscious stays and budget-friendly hotels, so marketers must learn to balance low-cost actions with high-impact initiatives. And the hotels that strike the right balance will win loyalty, increase direct bookings, and elevate their brand. According to the 2026 TravelBoom Leisure Travel...

FAJAO, UGANDA—True to the WildPlaces Africa ethos, Kulu Ora is tucked away in a hidden corner of Murchison Falls National Park—an untouched wilderness few have ever laid eyes on and Uganda’s oldest and largest protected area. The lodge sits in the middle of Murchison Falls National Park in a 75,000 hectare newly designated low impact zone. The zone, shared only with Papa’s Camp (a luxury tented bush camp, also part of the WildPlaces Africa portfolio), gives guests guaranteed privacy, and exceptional wildlife encounters away from the crowds. Setting a new standard for safari luxury in Uganda, Kulu Ora combines thoughtful design, deep, cultural heritage...

NEW YORK—HD Expo, presented by Hospitality Design magazine, unveiled a new brand identity marking the next phase in the event’s evolution. Long recognized as hospitality design’s largest annual gathering, HD Expo is sharpening its focus through a rebrand centered on discovery, learning, and connection—experiences that help define what comes next for the industry. Developed in partnership with global creative agency forceMajeure, the refreshed look introduces the concept of “a portal into possibility,” brought to life through an arch motif inspired by architectural thresholds and spatial transitions. The form represents both a literal and symbolic passage, inviting attendees into a setting where curiosity sparks...

MADRID—The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and UN Tourism have launched the “Recipe of Change” initiative to address food waste in the tourism sector, with participation from major industry businesses serving over 600 million guests annually. The “Recipe of Change” initiative, launched by UNEP and UN Tourism on the International Day of Zero Waste, aims to address food waste in the tourism sector. The program encourages participating organizations to measure food waste in their operations and implement operational and behavioral solutions in support of Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, which aims to halve food waste by 2030. A Global Roundtable was convened...

BURBANK, CALIF.—This month, The Walt Disney Company is celebrating Earth Month with a global, enterprise-wide initiative led by National Geographic, inviting audiences to “Step Into Wonder.” Anchored by the unparalleled legacy of storytelling, conservation, and exploration shared by Disney and Nat Geo, Earth Month will spotlight a dynamic slate of content and experiences designed to inspire a deeper connection to the natural world. The campaign builds on Disney’s decades-long commitment to protecting and sharing the wonders of nature through entertainment, education, and impact-driven action. From new premieres and immersive activations to global storytelling and conservation milestones, this monthlong celebration reflects Disney’s...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—The conversation around regeneration in hospitality often begins with a search for definition. What does it mean? How is it different from sustainability? Has sustainability failed? From my perspective, this framing risks missing the point. Regeneration and sustainability are not opposing concepts, nor sequential stages. They are two sides of the same coin, different lenses through which we look at the same fundamental question: what impact are we creating over time, and is it the impact we want? The real issue our industry faces is not a shortage of terminology, but a shortage of long-term thinking. Too often, hospitality decisions are made for...