Hotel Interactive

From left, Michael Grisar, Rick Marencic, Hogan Chun, Nicole Dalton and Michael Armocida. June 16, 2026 | From the Hotel Interactive Newsroom SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Casino resort projects are most successful when design, procurement and operations teams are aligned from the start. Assumptions should be tested before selections are finalized. Ownership, facilities and vendors should be engaged before problems reach the job site.

From left, Steve Neely, Randy Beck, Cody Adent and Don Searle. June 12, 2026 | From the Hotel Interactive Newsroom SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Casino and resort operators are trying to solve a complicated equation: how to use technology, automation and AI to relieve staffing pressure and drive revenue without weakening the guest experience.

By Madeline Ravenna-Kavanagh | July 1, 2026 Group sales booking windows are tightening nationwide, in some instances compressing to as little as 30 days, marking a significant departure from the 12-plus-month lead times the industry once relied on. The shift is not limited to one market. Hotels in several destinations are reporting similar short-term demand patterns. Hyatt Centric Park City has seen an increase of more than 25% in short-term bookings in 2026 compared with the same period last year.

June 10, 2026 ZURICH — Swiss food-tech company KITRO is seeing increased demand from hotels and food service operators as the European Union’s new food-waste regulations put more pressure on hospitality businesses to measure and reduce waste. The company said its AI-powered food-waste-reduction technology has been used in more than 500 kitchens in more than 40 countries, including hotels, resorts, restaurants, hospitals, universities, large-scale catering operations and cruise ships.

Morty Valldejuli, Managing Director June 22, 2026 RIO GRANDE, PUERTO RICO — Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico has appointed Morty Valldejuli to serve as managing director and Gabriel Armando Emanuelli to serve as director of sales and marketing. The two executives bring more than 50 years of combined hospitality experience to the 579-key resort, with backgrounds that include Caribbean hotels, branded properties and independent hotels.

NewcrestImage Acquires Graduate by Hilton in Tempe June 16, 2026 TEMPE, ARIZ. — Dallas-based NewcrestImage has acquired Graduate by Hilton in Tempe, a 140-room hotel adjacent to Arizona State University and less than 5 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The seven-floor hotel serves demand from the university, nearby corporate offices and the Mill Avenue district, according to NewcrestImage.

June 21, 2026 LONDON — Lucknam Park, Emblems Collection, has named David Griffin general manager as the estate prepares for updates to its spa and wellness facilities. Griffin brings more than two decades of senior leadership experience at hotels and historic country estates in the U.K. His background includes operations, guest experience and team leadership across large hospitality teams.

June 22, 2026 JW Marriott has appointed Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as global brand ambassador for its “Stay in the Moment” platform. Bachchan will be featured in international brand campaigns across film, print and digital platforms. She also will participate in brand experiences in India and select global markets. The appointment comes as Marriott International continues to focus on India as a growth market.

CORONADO, Calif. — The Bower Coronado, a 39-room boutique hotel in Coronado, Calif., has joined Small Luxury Hotels of the World. The membership is SLH’s first in Coronado. Small Luxury Hotels of the World includes more than 700 independently owned hotels in more than 100 countries. The Bower Coronado is located at 1417 Orange Ave., near the beach, dining and boutiques. The hotel’s design is inspired by the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, which emphasizes natural and understated beauty.

June 22, 2026 LOS ANGELES — Sonnenblick-Eichner Co. has arranged $115 million in first mortgage debt on behalf of Ensemble Investments LLC to refinance La Bahia Hotel & Spa, a 155-room waterfront hotel in Santa Cruz, Calif. The five-year, floating-rate, nonrecourse loan was originated by Madison Realty Capital, working with Newbond Holdings. La Bahia Hotel & Spa opened in September 2025 along Northern California’s Monterey Bay.