| |  | | Dolly Parton appears at the grand opening of Dollywood's HeartSong Lodge & Resort in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., in 2023. (The Dollywood Company) |
Country music icon Dolly Parton, who has died at age 80, leaves a significant legacy in hospitality. Parton's ventures include Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., which has more than 3 million visitors and creates more than 19,000 regional jobs annually; Dollywood's DreamMore Resort and Spa; Dollywood's HeartSong Lodge & Resort; and the forthcoming Dolly Parton's
SongTeller Hotel in Nashville.
Full Story: Travel Weekly (8/24)
Hotel owners are increasingly evaluating whether to join a soft brand or remain independent based on economic factors rather than philosophy. While major hotel companies are expanding through acquisitions and conversions, owners seek proof that brand affiliation will yield sufficient financing advantages, incremental business and loyalty-driven demand to justify the operational constraints and costs. While some hoteliers emphasize the importance of profit, advising owners to scrutinize all expenses associated with a brand, others highlight the significance of maintaining a strong local identity and leveraging technology to compete with branded hotels. Full Story: Hotel Management online (8/26)
AAA reports that travelers will experience higher costs over Labor Day as domestic hotel bookings are up 9% over 2025 and domestic airfare averages $750, a 2% increase. Gas prices are also likely to be higher than last year's average of $3.19 per gallon. Full Story: KARE-TV (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.) (8/2
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| |  | | (Twenty47studio/Getty Images) |
Hotel owners and operators are adopting a strategic approach to procurement amid fluctuating tariffs, rising construction costs and supply chain uncertainties. While these challenges have not led to project cancellations, they have prompted owners to revisit budgets and leverage long-term vendor relationships to maintain project timelines. "The goal is to make thoughtful adjustments that preserve the design vision so the guest experience remains unchanged even if the procurement or execution strategy evolves," says Lisa Haude, principal of interior design at Studio RYS. |
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