The Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) has emerged as a leading force in the recovery and growth of the international hospitality sector, buoyed by rising travel demand from major global markets including the US, France, the UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, China, Turkey, and Portugal. With international travel surging strongly in 2025, GHA has recorded over a ten percent increase in revenue this year, spurred by a mix of resilient Asian outbound tourism, robust American spending power, and sustained European visitation. This growth comes amid a backdrop of increasing loyalty programme activity, which plays a pivotal role in GHA’s strategy to capitalise on the resurgence of global travel and consumer confidence.

During its annual CEO summit held at the Corinthia Hotel in Brussels, GHA brought together over thirty executives representing more than forty-five member brands to chart the future course of global hospitality. The summit highlighted the remarkable uptick in outbound travel from Asia, particularly from China and India, both supported by expanding middle classes and rising disposable incomes. The United States remains GHA’s largest source market, with American travellers continuing to demonstrate high frequency and spending, particularly on European and Asian stays. Europe’s appeal endures too, with 125 million tourists arriving in the first quarter of 2025 alone—a 2% year-on-year increase—driven by strong performances in countries like Spain, which reported a 9% surge, alongside Turkey, Italy, Portugal, and France.

Central to GHA’s business model is its distinctive loyalty programme, GHA DISCOVERY, which has propelled its expansion and guest engagement. Unlike conventional loyalty schemes, GHA DISCOVERY allows member brands to maintain their unique identities while benefiting from a shared digital infrastructure and a global base of loyal travellers. This has not only driven long-term value through personalised experiences and exclusive rewards but also boosted revenues significantly. The programme’s success is evident with 2024’s revenue from GHA DISCOVERY memberships hitting $2.7 billion, a 16% increase, while cross-brand stays surged by nearly a third. Membership also grew 18%, reaching 30 million members, reinforcing the programme’s role as a vital driver of growth.

New market entries and property openings form another pillar of GHA’s strategic expansion. Iconic brands like Corinthia Hotels launched new locations in New York, Bucharest, and Brussels, with Rome anticipated to follow. Meanwhile, Kempinski continues to strengthen its dominance in Germany and attract diverse travellers from the Middle East, the UK, and North America. Minor Hotels, the largest operator in Spain by volume, plans to add thirty more properties, while Pan Pacific Hotels Group is extending its reach into major European capitals. These moves demonstrate GHA’s intent to capture growing demand in both well-established and emerging travel corridors worldwide.

Looking ahead, industry forecasts remain optimistic. The United Nations Tourism Organization projects international arrivals to grow by between three and five percent in 2025. GHA’s own figures reflect this buoyancy, with hotel stay revenues reaching a record $746 million in Q1 2025, up 15% from the previous year. Notably, international stays made up 70% of this revenue, with strong growth driven by members from China, the UK, France, and Spain. Moreover, the inclusion of brands from emerging regions, such as Cinnamon Hotels of Sri Lanka, Sunway Hotels & Resorts of Malaysia, and Rotana from the Middle East and Africa, highlights GHA’s commitment to a globally balanced and culturally diverse portfolio.

GHA’s model of collaboration—retaining brand individuality while harnessing shared resources—emerged as a key theme of the CEO summit, signalling the alliance’s resolve to navigate future market shifts with agility and innovation. The focus on loyalty, technology, and regional growth positions GHA as a blueprint for independent hotel brands seeking to compete with global chains without sacrificing their distinctive identities.

In sum, inspired by robust demand from key markets and underpinned by a strong loyalty programme and strategic global expansion, the Global Hotel Alliance is poised to continue leading a resilient recovery in international travel. Its vision, based on adaptability, inclusion, and innovation, ensures GHA is not just responding to the evolving travel landscape but actively shaping the future of global hospitality.

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Source: Noah Wire Services