“Omotenashi” is a Japanese term signifying the traditionally correct way to treat a guest, and it’s the guiding principle for much of the country’s hospitality industry. That sector has seen increased interest in recent years among domestic and international investors, according to a 2016 report by real estate firm CBRE, and new hotel developments are accelerating against the growing number of inbound tourists.

Some pretty major hotel chains are heading into battle with the very people that helped them boost their business Ð Online Travel Agents. According to Wall Street JournalÕs Chris Kirkham, Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, and InterContinental Hotels Group are trying some new marketing tactics, namely ones that steer travellers away from OTAs like Expedia, Priceline and more.

Minibars are on the way out, or so suggests a report in The New York Times.ÊHotels have really transformed from the good ol’ days when everything you wanted was in the room. They’re now catering to millennials, who the industry believes wantÊeverything out of the roomÊin communally shared spacesÑeven work environments.Ê

For the upcoming summer vacation season, travelers have an array of choices: Beach or mountains? Fly or drive? Hotel or Airbnb? ItÕs that last choice Ñ between traditional lodging providers and upstart short-term rental services Ñ that has upset the hotel industry, which claims Airbnb and similar operations unfairly cut into its market share with unregulated accommodations and unlicensed vendors.

Google has confirmed with Search Engine Land that it is now rolling out a new user interface and feature set around local reviews for hotels. Earlier this month, we saw Google begin testing new hotel review features, and now Google has begun to roll them out.

On the heels of last weekÕs inaugural SAHIC Cuba conference in Havana, Expedia officially launched its Cuba product on Monday. The online travel agency’s customers can now book Cuba hotels on Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Travelocity, Orbitz and CheapTickets.

Arguably, one of the biggest perks of staying in an extended stay hotel is the use of a kitchen, and enterprising brands within the space are looking for innovative ways to help guests take advantage of this unique amenity. One of those brands includes Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham. Last year, the brand launched a ÒHomemade @ HawthornÓÊprogram that features a collection of chef-designed recipes for guests to use during their stay.

If, after a guest checks into his or her room at theÊAloft Boston Seaport Hotel, something isnÕt quite rightÑthe heat needs to be cranked up or a light dimmedÑthereÕs no need to call the front desk or even move. The worldÕs first voice-activated hotel room takes voice commands. Powered through an in-room iPad, Project Jetson employs a custom app and HomeKit-enabled accessories.

Travel company Thomas Cook has described Greece as the ÒstandoutÓ destination this year, driving demand while ÒfullÓ Spain is flattening. The country has seen an increase in transactions in the first quarter as investors hope for reforms in the countryÕs laws to allow the sale of non-performing loans and drive further deals.

QHotels has signed a four-year deal with Xn protel Systems to extend its use of xmsEnterprise CRS, following a strategic development partnership. The agreement covers global-distribution-system, channel-management and direct web bookings.