Despite the headlines, JLP are doing many things right. They seem to offer a good user experience across their digital channels and provide superior instore service. So what can they do to turn things around?

As a large and effective loyalty programme is increasingly viewed as a differentiating factor by owners looking to evaluate brand partnerships, what are the recent trends and longer-term outlook for participation in these programmes?

Why are the OTAs gaining ground so quickly? Matt Costin reveals factors behind why intermediaries are on the march as hotels struggle to protect direct bookings.

The defining characteristic of the British hotel sector has become change. Changes in ownership, changes in consumer profile, behaviour and mindset. Further change will be driven by technology. This change is happening at breakneck speed. Making sense of the business implications will separate the winners from the losers. How do we expect these agents of change to shape the sector in 2015 and beyond?

Demand for hotel rooms in Britain from British travellers increased by 2% year-on-year, to an estimated 108 million adult room nights, split almost 50:50 between business and leisure stays.

That is, if relations between the White House and Capitol Hill about budgets don’t deteriorate and nothing gets worse in the Ukraine, South China Sea, the Arabian Gulf and so on. It was ever thus.

President Xi Jinping’s famous phrase encouraging restraint in Chinese government spending has had some effect.

The harshly named Eurozone PIGS (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain) are still taking their bitter medicine – recession.

Whilst Premier Inn’s catchy television adverts helped keep them at the top spot for advertising recall, the budget brand also enjoyed the top spot for business and leisure traveller usage.

While Silvio Berlusconi, three times Italian prime minister, faces prison for fraud, the web of cross-holdings between Italian banks, commerce and industry is unravelling and the economic outlook is bleak.

The hotel industry in France, much like Britain, sees the provinces struggling in comparison with the capital.

Findings from BVA BDRC’s 2013 German Hotel Guest survey report a booming German leisure market – no doubt a welcome relief for European hoteliers.