The landscape of business travel and vacations would look very different today were it not for hotel franchising. This model of operating hotels dominates the lodging industry (70% – 80% of hotels are franchised) and has allowed for its rapid expansion and diversification.

COP30, hosted for the first time in history inside the Amazon, in Belém (Brazil) , has become a symbolic and strategic moment for global climate governance. It brought together nearly 200 countries, along with businesses, indigenous communities, local governments and NGOs, to discuss how the world will adapt to the accelerating climate crisis. Although expectations were high, the outcomes were mixed: some tangible steps forward, but also major gaps in ambition, especially regarding the future of fossil fuels.

The decision arrived quietly, as these things often do. The appeals board released its written findings early on a Friday morning, and shortly afterward, a message came from litigation counsel: “They pretty much rubber-stamped our proposed findings.” Another email followed minutes later: “We got every dollar. Assessment dropped from about 195 million to 156 million. Nearly 40 million off the roll.”

Luxury travel is evolving, and the traditional divide between five-star hotels and private residences is quickly disappearing. In destinations such as Park City, Utah, travellers now expect the comfort and scale of a home combined with the seamless service of a luxury hotel. At the same time, hotels are embracing a more residential feel – prioritising space, privacy, and thoughtful design. In a new article for Branded Residential, Bryan Younge explores these themes.

Sustainability is no longer a voluntary extra for hotels, but a necessary obligation for long-term competitiveness. “Many corporate clients who book with hotels have to account for the sustainability of the properties they use and are actively requesting sustainability reports,” explains Brigitte Gruber, Managing Partner of Horwath HTL Austria.