Every industry has early warning signals. In hospitality, one of the most reliable ones isn’t found in STR reports, booking pace, or airline schedules. It’s the price of oil. Over the past week, rising tensions involving Iran have pushed oil prices sharply higher, once again reminding markets how quickly geopolitical events can ripple through the global economy. For the travel industry, those movements matter more than most people realize. Hospitality may feel like a local bu

How Hotel Payment Systems Became a Strategic Question On most balance sheets, payment processing appears as a single line item. It is rarely debated in board meetings. It does not inspire conference panels. It lacks the glamour of pricing strategy or brand expansion. Yet, quietly, it has become one of the most consequential economic variables in hospitality. For decades, hotels treated payment infrastructure as background machinery, an invisible current moving beneath the vis

When Price Stops Mattering In a recent social media post by Roberta Seiler, a photograph from Marrakech shows her holding a cup of freshly pressed pomegranate juice, smiling broadly. The caption explains that she paid 60 dirhams for the drink, more than double the typical price. Only later did she learn that most vendors in the Medina charged closer to 25. There was no regret. Only appreciation! The post was not about juice. It was about Marrakech Pricing, perception, and the

A Strategic Perspective for Hoteliers Each November, the hospitality industry prepares for what has traditionally been positioned as a major commercial moment: Black Friday. OTAs launch aggressive marketing campaigns, global brands promote limited-time offers, and independent hotels feel compelled to participate to “stay competitive” during the holiday period. However, when observed through a data-driven, revenue-management lens, Black Friday hotel deals generate far less inc

1. Background: What Was the Deal? In August 2024, Marriott International announced a licensing agreement with Sonder, a bold move to link Marriott’s vast brand and loyalty infrastructure with Sonder’s flexible, apartment-style accommodation model. Under the agreement: Sonder properties would be integrated into Marriott’s network and into the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. More than ~9,000 units (rooms/apartments) were expected to join the Marriott system. For Marriott, thi

For decades, revenue managers have started their mornings the same way: coffee in one hand, STR report in the other, scrolling through competitor rates to see who moved first. The comp set was gospel, a ritual that defined strategy, validated pricing, and dictated how we reacted to the market. But that religion is collapsing. AI doesn’t care what your neighbor charges. It doesn’t need a benchmark or a barometer. It cares about who your guest is, what motivates them, and how m