Colin Tessier

Red Roof entered 2026 with significant momentum following a successful 2025. The company added 3,500 rooms to its development pipeline and increased new hotel executions by 35 percent over 2025. Additionally, Red Roof celebrated the addition of 40 members to its ownership community through its RIDE and SHE initiatives

(L-r): Christopher J Nassetta, Hilton President and CEO; Mark Hoplamazian, Hyatt President and CEO; Sebastien Bazin, Accor Chairman and CEO; and Elie Maalouf, IHG Hotels & Resorts President and CEO

@HOME by Best Western marked a significant milestone in April with the opening of @HOME by Best Western St. George, its first property in the United States. With the brand’s pipeline projected to reach 34 hotels (2,791 rooms) by the end of the year, BWH Hotels continues to respond to the demand for guests seeking long-term accommodations, particularly near demand drivers like medical buildings and manufacturing facilities. President and CEO Larry Cuculic spoke with LODGING while attending the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference and highlighted the momentum of the @HOME brand.

NEW YORK and SEOUL—Lotte Hotels & Resorts and Highgate jointly announced a strategic partnership that will see Highgate assume management of the Lotte New York Palace Hotel, a 909-room luxury hotel. The Palace engagement is part of a broad collaboration between the two companies that includes hotel management, distribution, technology, and talent development across the Americas and Asia.

Summer is often a peak season for the hospitality industry; kids are out of school, so families plan various trips, and hotels are a key part of these journeys. This summer in particular brings plenty of promise, as the FIFA World Cup and America250 will fuel even more travel. However, while owners and operators can plan for months in advance, the volatility of weather constantly threatens to reduce performance in this context by leading travelers to postpone or even cancel their trips. John Schultzel, chief growth officer of Olympia Hospitality, recently discussed this dynamic with LODGING and shared strategies for success.

Stonebridge appointed Paul Eckert as chief operating officer in May. An industry veteran of 33 years, Eckert most recently served as chief operating officer at Trailborn Hotels & Resorts. He has also held leadership roles at Davidson Hospitality Group, including executive vice president of operations & business intelligence, executive vice president of operations, and senior vice president. In an exclusive interview with LODGING, Eckert discussed his new role and detailed his leadership philosophy while reflecting on his journey in the hospitality industry.

Since Inn-Flow launched in 2009, the company has continued to strengthen its footprint in the hospitality business with its accounting and management software, especially with the launch of Inn-Flow Procurement. The solution gives hotel owners and operators a thorough view of performance by bringing together procurement, accounting, and labor. Deploying AI has accelerated Inn-Flow’s ability to provide these insights. Founder and Chief Executive Officer John Erhart recently spoke with LODGING and discussed Inn-Flow’s growth while also detailing its approach to using AI.

Thousands of professionals across the hospitality industry, including executives, providers, and hotel owners, have converged at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, for HITEC, where they will participate in the annual conference that highlights the latest innovative technologies and provides a robust slate of programming. The rapid rise of

The integration of AI and its implications across various aspects of the hospitality industry was a hot topic at HITEC for the second consecutive year. In 2026, the conversation is shifting toward agentic AI and beyond as technology providers continue to innovate, especially in robotics

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) presented the E20X North America 2026 competition, which marked the 11th edition of the event, at HITEC 2026