A total of three hotels worldwide are permitted to call themselves ‘Starlight Accommodation’ (Alojamiento Starlight). This curious award is particularly interesting for professional stargazers and amateur astronomers.

Tipping is becoming less common in traditional sectors such as the taxi industry and skilled trades. At the same time, the digital ‘tip button’ is fundamentally changing the psychological contract between guests and service staff.

Boxes full of souvenirs: around 300 years ago, young English aristocrats went on the "Grand Tour". They collected souvenirs from their travels and turned them into a trend. Selfies were also popular back then – just in a different way.

Key boxes for checking into holiday apartments will be banned in Milan in future. The municipal council has passed a regulation on this effect. The ban will come into force in January.

An unusual type of stolen goods is attracting criminal gangs in Germany: they are stealing used cooking oils and fats from restaurants. The damage amounts to millions.

New Year's Eve in Bangkok: Beer and wine are now also available in the afternoon. For the time being, this is on a trial basis. This could lead to the 1972 law being repealed and tourists being allowed to celebrate.

Which modes of transport do people use most often – cars, bikes or walking? That's the focus of a major mobility study.

Who doesn't have that one friend who has been complaining about their job for some time? "This commute is killing me," "I have no free time, I need to be available 24/7"- the solution to these and other problems is to move to Copenhagen. A different approach to recruiting!

Those who collect a lot of points in hotel group loyalty programs receive special discounts or offers. The Starwood brand 1 Hotels is taking a different approach. 

Many physical, neurological or mental illnesses such as autism, anxiety disorders or heart and lung diseases are not immediately apparent. The sunflower serves as a distinguishing feature – especially in the tourism sector.

Souvenirs are particularly popular with cruise guests, but not all of them are legal. During routine checks of arriving travellers and their luggage, the federal police and customs authorities in Bremen repeatedly find illegal souvenirs.

Emigrating to the United States – that dream is over, because for the first time since 2021, more people are moving from the United States to Germany than vice versa.

Washing machines for humans have been developed in Japan. You can relax in a reclining position in the capsules while your body is being cleaned. What initially sounds like a bad joke will actually soon be used in the first hotels.

"Two-thirds of Germany"s population could be living in a smart city within a few months," says Dr Daniel Trauth, who is considered an expert on the "smartisation" of municipalities. The results include cost savings, optimised use of resources and more.

Tourism meets technology. That is the guiding principle of TIS, the Tourism Innovation Summit, which is already one of the most important events in Seville. Hotel exhibitors are rare. The priority is networking between destination managers, event organisers and tech professionals. Not a bad combination. 

Tourism Innovation Summit (TIS) 2025, to be held at the FIBES conference and exhibition centre in Seville from October 22 to 24, will address how tourism brands are reinventing the way they connect with travelers in an increasingly digital and experiential environment. HospitalityInside is accompanying this summit as a media partner for the first time.

The results of the 2025 Investment BAROMETER survey reflect a complex and nuanced mood within the industry. While the outlook for individual companies and the industry as a whole has improved slightly compared to last year, uncertainties remain, particularly regarding hotel revenue development. Accordingly, the Operations Index remains under pressure, while the Development Index has risen significantly, easily offsetting its losses from the previous year.