INTERNATIONAL REPORT—A recent survey by MMGY Travel Intelligence reveals that Generation Z is at the forefront of a significant surge in European travel, showing a strong intent to spend more on international trips and take more holidays than any other age group in the next year. Despite economic pressures and global uncertainties, Europeans remain committed to leisure travel, with Gen Z setting the pace in terms of both expenditure and the number of trips planned. The study also highlights the growing influence of artificial intelligence in travel planning, a heightened demand for sustainable and authentic experiences, and the impact...

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIF.—Soul Community Planet (SCP), the Holistic Hospitality company founded on the values of wellness, kindness, and sustainability, announced the evolution of its brand into three distinct expressions: SCP WildFree, SCP Hotels, and By SCP. Together, these unique brand expressions offer mindful travelers new opportunities to experience SCP’s Holistic Hospitality. “Since we launched Soul Community Planet seven years ago, we’ve had the privilege of welcoming and learning from a global community of mindful travelers,” said Ken Cruse, SCP Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “We all increasingly aspire to travel in ways that lift our spirits, strengthen the communities we visit,...

Deloitte just released the results of its Forecast in Flux: 2025 Deloitte Corporate Travel Study. The report draws on two surveys fielded in July 2025. The 2025 Deloitte Corporate Travel Manager Survey reached more than 150 travel managers, while the 2025 Deloitte Corporate Traveler Survey reached more than 1,000 professionals who took a business trip in 2024 and 2025. Both surveys were U.S.-based. A portion of the study addressed sustainable travel. According to Deloitte, many organizations are taking a closer look at how they manage corporate travel, identifying opportunities to streamline operations and reduce unnecessary impact. Nearly half (48 percent) of travel managers surveyed say their...

NATIONAL REPORT—Deloitte’s latest corporate travel survey reveals a complex landscape for business travel up to 2026. While budgets are generally increasing, there is a notable shift in priorities and a growing emphasis on cost management and sustainability. The survey, conducted among U.S.-based travel managers and corporate travelers, provides insights into the evolving dynamics of corporate travel. Company travel spend holds steady, but changes are on the horizon: three in four (74 percent) travel managers surveyed plan to expand budgets this year (similar to 2024), but fewer (68 percent) expect to do so for 2026. However, the share of travel managers expecting...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Trade wars, tariffs, sluggish growth: uncertainty and stagnation are the dominant themes of the 2025 global economy. By contrast, German consumer confidence is proving to be surprisingly robust, at least where travel and relaxation are concerned. Despite the difficult economic climate in Germany, summer holidays remain a priority for its citizens. According to estimates by the German Travel Association (DRV), Germans plan to spend around 85 billion euros on pre-holiday travel services in 2025—a significant 6 percent increase over the previous year. The organized travel market with package and tailormade tours is growing particularly strongly. The industry expects that...

I have reported many times over the years—especially during the height of COVID-19—about the impact of indoor air quality (IAQ) on the guest experience. (See the IAQ section of Green Lodging News.) According to EPA, there are a lot of elements of a hotel space that can negatively impact IAQ—everything from carbon monoxide to pesticides to cleaning products to what is off-gassed by pressed wood products. Hoteliers often fail to provide the level of IAQ that guests deserve. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 8 percent of the U.S. population has asthma. An estimated...

NATIONAL REPORT—Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) from allergens, mold, mildew, viruses, bacteria, cigarette smoke, marijuana smoke, vaping, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and more can easily result in a negative experience for your guests, harsh reviews of your property, and unexpected time, labor and dollars spent addressing the source(s) of the problem. Being proactive about IAQ can prevent a lot of headaches—literally—and even result in a higher room rate if you utilize one of the programs available from the companies in lodging that specialize in helping with TRevPAR (Total Revenue Per Available Room). Each company is unique in its approach....

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Tourism can offer unforgettable experiences, but it comes with increasing environmental costs. As sustainability takes center stage in the industry, an emerging focus is on how travelers themselves can make a difference through pro-environmental behavior. To date, however, the interplay of personal and cultural values in shaping such behavior remains underexplored. Seeking to fill this gap, Professor Dori Davari and Professor Seongseop Kim of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, working with a co-author, targeted Chinese millennials, a major consumer group known for valuing luxury and self-expression while showing growing...

NATIONAL REPORT—As conversations around sustainability grow across industries, hoteliers have to ask: Is this something we should be focusing on? If you’re going for a higher star rating, sustainable operations initiatives may be a lot lower on your priority list than daily room cleanings, providing hair dryers and other star requirements. However, sustainability may be more valuable for your hotel than you realize. It can reduce water and energy consumption and staff workloads, potentially saving you money. Sustainable operations initiatives can also be marketing differentiators, helping you showcase the value of your hotel beyond good star ratings. Below, we look at why sustainable tourism...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points are becoming increasingly essential for hotels to stay competitive in the hospitality industry. The number of EV drivers in the U.K. has seen a sixfold increase from 2020 to 2024, reaching 1.36 million. As a result, the demand for accessible charging facilities has grown, with the availability of these facilities playing a pivotal role in the choice of accommodation for EV owners. Hotels that provide EV charging facilities stand to benefit in multiple ways. They can expect increased bookings and longer stays, as EV drivers often plan their trips around charging availability and may...