Hospitality Trends 2026: How Strong Hospitality Operations Will Define Future Success

As we enter 2026, the U.S. hospitality industry, from full-service hotels and boutique properties to inns, lodges, vacation rentals, and short-term rentals, finds itself in a moment of quiet recalibration. These hospitality trends show that demand remains relatively steady overall. Still, rising costs, sharper competition, and evolving guest expectations are forcing owners and staff at every property size to operate more intentionally. For those running smaller properties, often with lean teams wearing multiple hats, the pressure is particularly real, but so is the opportunity.

Today, success depends less on expansion or scale and more on operational excellence, strategic discipline, and consistency across every guest touchpoint. This blog explores the key dynamics shaping hospitality trends in 2026, offering insights for owners and teams managing a boutique inn, cabin, or full-service hotel on how to position their properties for sustained success.

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Understanding the New U.S. Tariffs: What Hospitality Owners Need to Know

As of May 23, 2025, the United States government has introduced a sweeping new series of tariffs under the administration of President Donald J. Trump. These policy changes are already having a ripple effect across the global economy, raising questions about how they may impact the manufacturing and hospitality industries.

This blog post offers a concise guide for hospitality property owners on the new tariffs. We’ll explain how they work and share essential insights, including timely advice on why now is the ideal time to place orders or make renovations before the 90-day window closes.

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10 Insightful Hotel Industry Trends for 2019

One of the primary goals of the hotel industry is making sure guests get a good night’s rest. They want their guests to have a relaxing experience and memorable stay. The hospitality industry is always looking for improvements to make sure guests are receiving the best experience possible. The following is a list of ten trends that the hotel industry could expect to see for 2019.Continue reading →

Should Hotels Worry About Airbnb?

Is it time for hotels to start worrying about Airbnb?

Or what about its competitors that allow homeowners to rent out their properties to travelers, such as VRBO and FlipKey?

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For Bed Linens, Innkeepers Know Quality Trumps Price

InnStyle’s parent company, County Linen, opened its doors in 1952. That’s a long, long time. Not many businesses can say they have survived for that long.

Like the name suggests, InnStyle started as a linen store, a small family business run by Jack Sternthal. As time went on, Jack’s sons graduated from college and joined the family business. The company eventually had three locations, with the main store moving to a 30,000-sq. foot building where they provided linens, furniture, accessories, flooring, custom window treatments, and bedding.

InnStyle was launched in 1988. Starting with a catalog, they began providing bed and breakfast properties with quality bed linens and other items for their rooms.

InnStyle began with customers who owned bed and breakfast properties in tourist destinations like New Hope, PA, and Lambertville, N.J., coming to shop at their store in Doylestown.

But it eventually morphed into an internet shopping experience, as their innkeepers began to put their businesses online. Visitors to their site can now find wholesale and retail shopping carts.

So why are they talking about all this?

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The Hospitality Industry is Constantly Evolving

We just returned from the AIHP conference in Nashville and I was reflecting on why attending these types of events is so important…

My husband and I have traveled quite often during our 50 years together, staying in a variety of resorts, hotels, bed and breakfasts and “economy hotels”.

And when we began to enjoy longer stays at vacation rental properties in Florida, I noticed many of the “economy” properties we stopped at during our trips to and from the Sunshine State were no longer providing just “economy” quality and service.

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Design Ideas for the Modern Innkeeper

The concept of the “Bed and Breakfast” rose to popularity in United States during the 1800’s to provide respite and sustenance to miners, prospectors, and other pioneers as they made their way across the country in the development of the American West. Even as competition increased as more inns, lodges and hotels were built in the 1900’s, B&B’s remained popular and was seen as an affordable accommodation for people traveling through small towns or in areas that weren’t developed.

In the 21st century, B&B’s offer a cozy and accommodating alternative to the corporate hotel or motel − and are often found in locations that offer historical, leisure or small town attractions. For most travelers, the unique touches that distinguish a B&B were clearly the primary reason for selecting this lodging option. Words like “charm,” ambience,” “quaintness,” and “atmosphere” are often used to describe this intangible appeal.

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