Insights

In 2025, the business travel industry is placing a strong emphasis on sustainability. Corporate Requests for Proposals (RFPs) now consider sustainability data not only for compliance but also for long-term business competitiveness. Federico Vignati, Principal Executive at CAF - Development Bank of Latin America, underscores this shift. Natasha Montesalvo, Principal Consultant at Earthcheck, highlights how this change is reshaping hotel competitiveness towards sustainability, necessitating sustainability data in corporate RFPs and fostering new business models for business events.

Boutique hotels are at the forefront of innovation by pushing boundaries, setting trends, and creating memorable experiences in comparison to larger brands that struggle to replicate. This spirit of innovation at boutique properties will continue in 2025 by driving changes in both demand side and supply side. The demand side trends include AI-driven personalization, transformative and customized wellness experience that align with personal health goals, hyper-personalization, hyper-local, hyper-seasonal F&B offerings, membership-driven hospitality and preference for independent hotels either newly built or renovated. On the supply side, while AI will reshape operations and marketing, employee education and development cannot be overlooked due to the human connection that boutique hospitality is known for. Frances Kiradjian Founder/CEO of Boutique & Luxury Lodging Association (BLLA) reports following trends;