Hotel Zephyr Uses AI to Handle More Than 800 Guest Calls a Month
San Francisco's Hotel Zephyr has adopted Canary Technologies' AI Voice system to answer guest calls and reduce pressure on front-desk staff. In April, the system handled more than 800 calls, covering nearly 40 hours of conversations, while reducing hold times and missed calls. The AI draws on a hotel knowledge base to answer common questions and route more complex requests to staff with the caller's details already captured. The property also uses Canary's digital payment authorization tools to reduce chargeback work. Its automated upselling program generates around $130,000 in annual additional revenue. Read more
Owners of The Mercer and The Bowery Open The Nora Hotel in Florida
BD Hotels, the company behind well-known New York properties including The Mercer and The Bowery, has opened The Nora Hotel in West Palm Beach, Florida. The 201-room property marks the group's first hotel outside New York and is part of the 40-acre Nora mixed-use district. Its offerings include Pastis, a French brasserie operated by Stephen Starr's restaurant group, and Florida's first Sisley Spa. The hotel also features interiors inspired by Mediterranean and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. A three-part rooftop destination with a pool, bar, and café is planned to open separately. Read more
Sandpiper Hospitality to Add More Than a Dozen Hotels
Sandpiper Hospitality plans to bring more than 12 properties under its management over the next 90 days, expanding its reach across the U.S., particularly in the Southwest and Midwest. The additions introduce four new brands to its portfolio: Homewood Suites, Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn & Suites, and Holiday Inn Express. Other properties will operate under extended-stay brands, including ECHO Suites, Extended Stay America, and WoodSpring Suites. The expansion reflects new client relationships and existing partners adding properties. Sandpiper currently manages more than 75 hotels and aims to support the new additions with a focus on operating performance and investor returns. Read more
Hotel Leaders Warn of Inflationary Pressures as They Look Toward 2027
Hotel executives at the 2026 Lodging Conference in Phoenix discussed rising operating costs and the challenges facing the industry in 2027. Inflation continues to put pressure on expenses, while borrowing costs make hotel development and investment more difficult. Leaders are weighing ways to protect profit margins while maintaining service standards and managing guest expectations. The wider industry outlook also points to slower revenue growth in 2027 after a stronger recovery in 2026. Hotel operators will need to balance pricing decisions with cost control as economic conditions change. Read more
The Warbler Opens in New Orleans' Garden District
The Warbler, a new 58-room boutique hotel, has opened on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans' Garden District. Developed by local real estate firm Verdad and operated by Lark Hotels, the property occupies the former site of the Trolley Stop Cafe, which served the area for 26 years. Its design draws on the city's architectural history and the Art Deco styles of the 1920s and 1930s. Dining options include Mildred's, a seafood-focused restaurant and martini bar, and Milly's café. A rooftop pool and lounge overlook the avenue's oak trees, while suites with up to three bedrooms cater to families and groups. Read more
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