Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced that a strategic master franchise agreement with Huanyue International Holdings (Hainan) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Dossen Group, a leading hotel operator in China, to exclusively develop and operate hotels for the Hyatt Select brand in the Chinese Mainland. This collaboration combines Hyatt’s global brand recognition with Dossen Group’s extensive local footprint and operational strength, marking a significant expansion of Hyatt’s portfolio in the region.

In an industry facing increasing pressure from rising labor costs, talent shortages, growing demand for immediate service, and an increasingly unstable geopolitical environment, specialized co-sourcing models are gaining ground over traditional outsourcing. According to data from 24/7 Travel Partner Desk (247tpd), a company specializing in customer service operations for the travel industry, this model enables companies to reduce operational costs by between 40% and 50% in functions such as customer service and 24/7 operations. In markets with particularly high cost structures, such as the United States or Northern Europe, savings can reach up to 70%, according to company data.

Hotel Communication Network (HCN) today announced compelling results from a guest survey conducted at a luxury hotel in downtown Chicago. The study involved 179 hotel guests and evaluated perceptions and interaction with HCN Tablets featuring breakthrough AI Concierge technology. HCN’s new advertising platform allows major urban hotels to install fully integrated tablets that automate guest room technologies and enable hotels to deliver personalized guest experiences aligned with their brand, while earning significant revenues from a share of the advertising and ecommerce revenues generated through the tablet.

Innspire, a leader in digital guest-engagement solutions for hotels and resorts, today announced the successful deployment of its integrated platform at The Statler Hotel at Cornell University, one of the world’s premier teaching hotels. The deployment introduces a seamless digital guest journey (from booking through post-stay) powered by Innspire’s mobile app, AI Concierge, and deep system integrations. The result is faster service, improved operational efficiency, and personalized guest experiences.

As gas prices remain high across the country, Red Roof®, an award-winning leader in the lodging industry, is helping travelers make their summer road trips more affordable, and enjoyable, with its new Finding Your RoutesTM summer promotion.

Qatar Airways is expanding its services across international markets, and is resuming flights operations to Helsinki, Finland, and to Tokyo Haneda, Japan from 15 July.