Today’s news in brief – 6/2/25
Hilton reported a strong financial performance for 2024, with a net income of $1.54bn (£1.24bn), exceeding expectations. The company’s adjusted EBITDA reached $3.43bn (£2.77bn), with Q4 alone contributing $505m (£408m) in net income. Hilton’s system-wide RevPAR grew by 2.7% for the year, and its development pipeline expanded to 498,600 rooms, an 8% increase. For 2025, Hilton forecasts net income between $1.83bn (£1.48bn) and $1.86bn (£1.5bn) and continued strong growth in leisure, business, and group travel segments.
Starboard Hotels secured a £20m loan from Leumi UK to refinance its Hampton by Hilton London Park Royal property. The 162-room hotel benefits from its location near the Park Royal Business Centre and Wembley Stadium. Leumi UK highlighted its tailored financing approach, while Starboard praised the lender’s flexibility and understanding of their needs.
UKH Cymru has urged the Welsh government to exclude children from its proposed Visitor Levy, arguing it would make Wales less competitive as a family holiday destination. The trade body also called for stricter guidelines on how levy funds are spent, ensuring they directly benefit tourism rather than replacing existing local authority funding.
New research by Bob W and Furthr found that hotel carbon emissions are significantly underestimated—at least five times higher than previously thought. Their new LEGIT methodology considers indirect emissions such as construction materials, cleaning services, and waste, revealing a 419% increase over standard calculations. Bob W’s CEO urged the industry to adopt more transparent and comprehensive sustainability metrics, empowering guests to make informed choices.
