In Aspen, Colorado, a once-private lodge has transformed into an ultra-exclusive hotel experience. The Aspen Street Lodge – the first boutique hotel to open in Aspen in over 25 years – features just nine guest rooms and a penthouse, blending a residential-style design with five-star amenities like a rooftop deck, private chef, and even an in-house adventure concierge. This evolution from luxury vacation rental to boutique hotel is no anomaly. Around the world, entrepreneurs who cut their teeth managing high-end vacation homes are now scaling new heights in hospitality by developing intimate hotels and branded residences. It’s a trend fueled by surging demand for experiential travel and lifestyle-driven stays, especially in elite destinations such as Aspen, Vail, and Park City.

The first half of 2025 has made one thing unmistakably clear: the hospitality industry is no longer expanding under the luxury of time. Between rising development costs and intensifying brand crowding in traditional markets, hotel growth now demands speed, precision, and – above all else – context.

Even if they don’t always generate the highest returns, they contribute by making the broader portfolio more relevant and appealing – especially to younger, experience-driven travellers. In many ways, lifestyle brands are the front-facing ambassadors of modern hospitality, bringing energy, identity, and fresh perspective to the mix.

The debut of ALIS CALA 2025 marked a significant milestone for the hospitality industry in the Caribbean and Latin America. Merging the former CHRIS and HOLA conferences, this unified platform brought together more than 100 hospitality leaders, investors, and developers in Coral Gables, Florida to chart the future of travel and investment across the region.

Global leisure travel patterns are undergoing a notable realignment as economic and political headwinds emanating from the United States redirect international tourists toward more accessible and stable destinations. The Caribbean, in particular, has emerged as a prime beneficiary of this shift. Factors such as U.S. trade tariffs, policy uncertainty, and geopolitical tensions have dampened the appeal of U.S. travel for many overseas visitors, resulting in a “travel diversion” effect in which sun-seeking travelers opt for Caribbean getaways over U.S. holidays. At the same time, the Caribbean region’s robust tourism recovery and relative political stability have positioned its islands as attractive havens for both vacationers and investors.