PERSPECTIVE
TECH & TALENT
WHAT THE FUTURE OF HOTEL MANAGEMENT LOOKS LIKE.
Contributed by AMELIA ZIMMERMAN, VP OF SALES, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, CRESTLINE HOTELS & RESORTS
T he core of successful hospitality management is flexibility, change and foresight. We live in a world that is in a constant state of evolution and business today is on the cusp of a profound and generational transformation. Radical technological advances led by AI, shifts in guest expectations, a new generation of employees with diverse lifestyle values and economic flux are all affecting business. To be a leader, a successful management company must do more than track macro trends: it must help define and direct those trends by embracing new tools while empowering the people who define the essence of hospitality to deliver an exceptional guest experience.
MACRO TRENDS RESHAPING HOSPITALITY COVID created a seismic lifestyle shift, and like all businesses, hotel owners and investors have reset their expectations. Fluctuating interest rates, inflation and shifts in capital markets are pushing for greater transparency, faster decision-making and stronger accountability from management teams. Financial headwinds create higher borrowing costs that are squeezing returns. Delinquency rates climbed to 6.59 % in July 2025, compared to an average of 1.4 % in 2019, according to the CRE Finance Council. Expenses continue to outpace revenue growth, forcing owners to be more selective
36 hotelsmag. com November 2025