IHG's new Americas-focused exec on why the brand is 'on the move'

Natalie Harms of CoStar News Hotels speaks with Mark Sergot of IHG Hotels & Resorts about his move from leading global sales into heading development for the Americas. The discussion highlights IHG’s loyalty engine, commercial performance, and the opportunities Mark sees for hotel owners in both new builds and conversions.

Helene Okabe, senior vice president of business development at Concord Hospitality, joined CoStar News Hotels' Trevor Simpson for an interview at the 2026 Hunter Conference.

Newport Hospitality Group President Wayne West unpacks why the real opportunity lies just outside major city centers in this episode with CoStar News reporter Natalie Harms. He dives into deal flow, repositioning strategies, and why talent — not capital — is the real differentiator in today’s hotel landscape.

Mitch Patel, CEO and founder of Vision Hospitality Group, joined CoStar News Hotels' Trevor Simpson for an interview at the 2026 Hunter Conference in Atlanta.

Karim Alibhai, founder and principal of luxury hotel and resort developer Gencom, sits down with CoStar News' Stephanie Ricca at the 2026 Hunter Conference to talk about Gencom's recent hotel deals in New York City. He talks about competition for bids in the city, why his company is focused on asset management for returns, and the future of luxury hotels. 

Ben Campbell, president and CEO at Hospitality America, joined CoStar News Hotels' Natalie Harms in conversation at the 2026 Hunter Conference. In the interview, Campbell discusses Hospitality America's 30-year anniversary and unpacks how the “small but mighty” management company is competing with larger players.

European hoteliers remained optimistic on deals and travel demand during the second day of the International Hospitality Investment Forum, recapped by CoStar News' Sean McCracken and Terence Baker. But they are also more reluctant to give specific expectations for the rest of 2026.

Arriba Capital's Ryan Bosch joined CoStar News Hotels Reporter Natalie Harms at the 2026 Hunter Conference to share what he's seeing in the hotel transactions market in the U.S. He said some submarkets are seeing more activity — even if the market as a whole is distressed — and there's a lot of opportunity for hotel conversions versus ground-up developments. 

CoStar News Hotels' Terence Baker and Sean McCracken share their takeaways from the first day of the International Hospitality Investment Forum EMEA in Berlin. 

American Hotel & Lodging Association Executive Vice President of Public Policy Chirag Shah said while there's significant optimism from major upcoming events such as the World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the hotel industry's top concern is finding a sustainable labor pool.