Hotel Management, a division of Questex, has announced its ninth annual 'Influential Women in Hospitality' list, honoring 25 leading women in the hotel industry. The honorees were selected for their strong leadership and dedication to excellence, representing major hospitality companies including Marriott International, Hilton, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Hyatt.

Great Place To Work released the 2026 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list based on surveys from 7.3 million U.S. workers. Companies on the list have delivered 13.4% annualized stock returns over 28 years versus 9.2% for the Russell 3000, with higher employee trust levels (81% vs 56% typical) correlating with better AI adoption and business performance. Synchrony ranks #1, followed by Hilton, Cisco, American Express, and Wegmans in the top 5.

White Lodging has acquired the 353-room Sheraton Raleigh Hotel in downtown Raleigh and plans to convert it to a Westin brand with comprehensive renovations starting in early 2027. The acquisition supports White Lodging's growth strategy in premium urban markets and represents the company's first investment in Raleigh.

Questex's Vibe Conference, dedicated to the on-premise beverage industry, achieved record attendance and sponsor engagement at its 17-year-old event held in San Diego. The conference brought together major hospitality and beverage companies to discuss AI, customer loyalty, and beverage programming strategies, with 30% of attendees experiencing the event for the first time.

Residence Inn Albuquerque North has completed a comprehensive seven-month renovation of its 90 suites, featuring modernized accommodations with full kitchens, updated finishes, expanded fitness center, and mobile key technology. The all-suite extended-stay hotel, originally opened in 2002, continues to serve business and government travelers in Albuquerque's North Corridor.

Questex's Vibe Conference announced winners of its annual awards recognizing excellence in the on-premise beverage industry. Patrick Henry received the Jim Flaherty Industry Legend Award, Nathan Grover won the Innovation Award, and multiple hospitality companies were recognized in Vista Awards categories. Supplier Awards honored beverage companies across beer, wine, spirits, and non-alcohol categories, with Red Bull North America winning Best Overall Supplier and Sazerac Company receiving the new Momentum Award.

LG Electronics USA received Leader-level recognition in the MindClick Sustainability Assessment Program for its hospitality TVs, digital signage displays, and commercial monitors. LG is the only commercial display manufacturer recognized in the program, earning top scores in guest health and responsible supply chain practices. Major hotel brands including Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt use MindClick sustainability scores when evaluating products for new construction and renovation projects.

Markets experienced significant volatility as investors rotated away from mega-cap tech and software stocks into cyclical sectors like energy, materials, and industrials. The shift was triggered by advancements in agentic AI, particularly Anthropic's Claude tools, raising concerns about AI replacing software jobs. However, positive macro signals including a stronger-than-expected January jobs report (130,000 jobs added) and declining inflation (2.4% CPI) provided stabilization. With 74% of S&P 500 companies reporting Q4 2025 earnings showing 13.2% YoY EPS growth, the market awaits retail earnings this week to gauge consumer health.

While Airbnb disrupted the hospitality industry, Marriott has delivered superior investor returns since Airbnb's IPO. The article argues that disruptive business models alone don't guarantee strong returns; instead, investors should prioritize fundamentals like sustainable cash flow, resilient unit economics, and proven business models over disruption hype.

Marriott International announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.67 per share, payable on March 31, 2026, to shareholders of record as of February 26, 2026. The company operates over 9,800 properties across 145 countries and territories.

The travel industry is experiencing a resurgence in 2026 driven by returning business travel, global sporting events (Winter Olympics, World Baseball Classic, FIFA World Cup), and sector rotation from tech stocks. Three premium travel stocks—Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Delta Air Lines, and Marriott International—are positioned to benefit from increased affluent consumer spending and show strong technical momentum.

Lawrence Welk Jr., 85, filed a $30 million lawsuit against his son Kevin Welk, nephew Jonathan Fredricks, and others, alleging he was illegally ousted as CEO and chairman of The Welk Group in November 2022 after 42 years of leadership. The complaint claims the defendants changed company rules to remove him, eliminated his $35,303 monthly salary and benefits, and misappropriated company funds for personal use. Welk Jr. still owns 28.551% of the company and seeks to liquidate it along with compensatory and punitive damages.