In this episode, Jeanelle Johnson, Managing Partner at PwC, and Abhi Jain, Partner at PwC, break down what defined 2025 and what hotel leaders must focus on in 2026. From the rise of a two-speed market to persistent margin compression, they explain why operational excellence is now the primary driver of asset value. We explore how AI, "synthetic customers," and stronger data governance are reshaping pricing, product development, and time-to-market. If you own, operate, or invest in hotels, this conversation will help you compete in a structurally different hotel economy.

Reports mentioned in the conversation:

PwC Hospitality Directions US - the hotel industry outlook report discussed
PwC & ULI Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2026 - the report that identified operational excellence as the driving force for value creation
PwC Holiday 2025 Spending Signals for 2026 - the post-holiday data showing the income-based spending divergence

A few more resources:

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Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Winning in the New Hotel Economy - Jeanelle Johnson & Abhi Jain, PwC