Cairo, Egypt – 11 February 2026. The Bench today announced the launch of Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Egypt, taking place 10-11 November 2026 at Sofitel Downtown Cairo Nile. FHS Egypt joins The Bench’s expanding portfolio of hospitality investment summits, including FHS World (Dubai), FHS Saudi Arabia (Riyadh), FHS Africa (Kenya)...
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Element New Orleans Downtown Celebrates Opening in Louisiana
Element New Orleans Downtown opens, introducing a new extended-stay hotel option in the heart of New Orleans’ Central Business District. The newly built property is part of the Element by Marriott brand and is designed to support both short-term visits and longer stays with modern, flexible accommodations.
Hospitality in Healthcare: Improving Employee and Patient Experience
What if the key to better hospital care lies not only in medical excellence but in hospitality-inspired behaviors? This article lays out a strategic conversation that builds on years of research and cross-sector collaboration linking healthcare and hospitality. The hospitality industry, long focused on creating comfort and memorable experiences, offers...
Saudi Arabia’s 171,650 key hotel market set to expand with 94,500 rooms in the pipeline as visitor growth races towards a new 150 million target
The number of hotel rooms in Saudi Arabia is set to expand materially from an existing stock of 171,650 keys, with around 94,500 additional rooms currently under construction or at advanced planning stages, following a stellar year in which the Kingdom’s travel and tourism industry expanded by 32%. The hotel...
Stayntouch Powers Transformation Across 27 Regency Hotel Management Properties
SIOUX FALLS, SD | Wednesday, Feb. 11 – Stayntouch, a global leader in cloud hotel property management systems (PMS), announced a partnership with Regency Hotel Management, a Midwest-based management company with a nationwide portfolio of more than 100 properties. Through the partnership, Regency has deployed Stayntouch’s modern cloud PMS across...
Flexkeeping Launches New Analytics Dashboard to Bring Clarity to Housekeeping Performance
Flexkeeping, a Mews company, has launched a new and improved Analytics Dashboard, designed to give hotel teams a clearer, more accurate view of housekeeping performance. The dashboard turns complex, high-volume housekeeping activity into actionable insights.
Lopota Lake Resort and Spa: Building a Year-Round Destination in Georgia’s Kakheti Wine Region
Set against the vineyards and forests of Georgia’s Kakheti wine region, Lopota Lake Resort and Spa has grown from a family-run retreat into one of Europe’s most ambitious independent resort expansions. Its evolution mirrors a wider shift in leisure hospitality: travellers are increasingly looking beyond the traditional Mediterranean and Alpine...
AI in Hospitality: The 2025 Reality and the 2026 Horizon
The hospitality industry has entered an AI-defined era faster than most anticipated. Discovery, distribution, guest behavior, and hotel operations are shifting at a pace that renders traditional strategies outdated before they reach full implementation. The gap between hotels that adapt and those that hesitate shows in performance metrics and, more...
Craig Smith, CEO of Aimbridge Hospitality, on Leading through a Reset
Craig Smith explains that he returned from retirement to lead Aimbridge Hospitality because he is an operator at heart and wanted to be back in the business of running hotels for owners, rather than working on the brand side. Stepping into the CEO role, he faced unexpected balance sheet and...
AI Won’t Replace Hoteliers. But Hoteliers Who Ignore AI Will Be Replaced
I want to say something out loud that many people in hospitality feel but rarely articulate clearly, partly because it sounds too dramatic for an industry built on calm confidence, operational stability, and a belief that good service will always speak for itself.