#325: Hospitality Hot Topics August 2026: Airbnb & Lark Hotels, Hilton & Marriott New Soft Brands, & More! | with Richard Sandoval

What’s happening across the hospitality industry right now? 

In this episode of The Modern Hotelier Hospitality Hot Topics, Steve Carran and David Millili sit down with Richard Sandoval, CEO of Spire Hospitality, to unpack the latest trends and biggest stories shaping the hospitality industry—from Airbnb’s growing move into hotels and OYO’s fake hotel listings to Hilton and Marriott’s push into wellness and experiential travel. They also dive into Google’s $10 million acquisition of Spirit Airlines’ data, the growing value of data and AI in travel, and what automation means for the future of hotel operations. 

Richard also shares his vision for Spire Hospitality, the importance of the owner-operator model, and why, even as AI transforms the industry, genuine human connection, hospitality, and personalized guest experiences will remain at the heart of the business.

 In this episode, you’ll learn more about: 

• Airbnb partners with Lark Hotels
• OYO takes bookings for fake rooms
• Hilton launches Signia Restore & Marriot's Luxury Collection Unveils Expeditions
• Google buys Spirit Airlines data for $10 million
• What's new at Spire Hospitality

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oKdibg8m2z4

Links:
Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-sandoval-434234184
Spire Hospitality: http://www.spirehotels.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/325

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Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.