Fall of the robots: It was pretty obvious that the Henn na Hotel was a lot of – albeit fun – hype, even if the mechanical dream has turned into a bit of a nightmare for guests. “Enjoy conversations with robots with a humanly kind of warmth, while they work efficiently,” said a press release for the Japanese hotel in July 2015. Operating robots, which numbered about 80 at opening, have fallen to about half that, according to the Wall Street Journal. The concierge robot was fired because it didn’t know how to answer guests’ questions; in-room robots, which replaced telephones, couldn’t contact the front desk; and other such problems have plagued the hotel. Newer versions of the concept, owned by the company Strange Hotels, employ robots more subtly and humans, thankfully, more overtly.—Barbara Bohn
The true cost of Airbnb: What does the average Airbnb host make each year? Take this case study of Utah, where about 7,100 hosts in the state advertised lodging on Airbnb in 2018, each earning about US$7,800, according to data released by the company this week. Total revenue for the 761,100 “guest arrivals” was US$97.6 million for all of 2018. The lesson for hotel companies? There’s an opportunity there, both in the experiential and hands-off approach that Airbnb offers. Instead of fighting the company so hard, hotels should be taking the time to listen and act on behalf their own gain. —Chloe Riley
Where Brexit is already a positive: The anxiety over the past months about Brexit and Britain’s not-so-surprising failure to approve a plan this week occasionally has focused on places like Frankfurt and Paris, which could benefit from big banks’ defection from London. (“The greater the uncertainty, the more indecision will prevail,” HVS Chairman Russell Kett told HOTELS after the vote). One country whose hospitality industry is enjoying an actual Brexit dividend: Bulgaria, where British vacation-goers are flocking as more traditional destinations become pricier for the pound. According to the Guardian, southeastern European country’s sunny coastline has become a form of insurance against currency fluctuations if a “no-deal” situation is triggered – right about the time that everyone wants to have their summer holiday plans in place. —B.B.