#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 HotelsOYO takes bookings for fake roomsHilton launches Signia Restore & Marriot's Luxury Collection Unveils ExpeditionsGoogle buys Spirit Airlines data for $10 millionWhat's new at Spire HospitalityWatch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oKdibg8m2z4Links:Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-sandoval-434234184Spire Hospitality: http://www.spirehotels.com/For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/325Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageConnect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.