Ben Walker

Italy, United Kingdom

Journalist and Writer at Freelance

Freelance journalist & writer. Former business editor at @thecaterer. Hospitality, travel, music, HR, technology. Mail: [email protected]

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Articles

Do serviced apartments have the edge over hotels?

1 day ago | hospitalityinvestor.com | Ben Walker

With streamlined operations and high GOP conversion rates, serviced apartments can be an attractive asset class for institutional and individual investors alike.
Racing into hospitality: Aston Martin’s next move

4 days ago | hotel.report | Ben Walker

Aston Martin hotels could be a natural successor to the luxury car-maker’s branded residences. Stefano Saporetti, director of brand diversification at Aston Martin Lagonda noted: “Hospitality will probably be the next evolution”, adding that any such project would need to be ground-breaking and visionary.
Racing into hospitality: Aston Martin’s next move

4 days ago | hospitalityinvestor.com | Ben Walker

Aston Martin hotels could be a natural successor to the luxury car-maker’s branded residences. Stefano Saporetti, director of brand diversification at Aston Martin Lagonda noted: “Hospitality will probably be the next evolution”, adding that any such project would need to be ground-breaking and visionary.
Delano and the enduring appeal of historic hotels

1 week ago | hospitalityinvestor.com | Ben Walker

Ennismore, the lifestyle hospitality company and joint venture with Accor (which holds a majority shareholding) and private investment firm Cain International are due to reopen the Delano Miami Beach in November 2025. Completed in 1947, the Delano Miami Beach is a prime example of Miami’s Art Deco architectural heritage.
From spa to bar: How hotel resorts manage multiple technology strands

1 week ago | thecaterer.com | Ben Walker

Whatever type of kitchen you work in, profit or cost sector, if your KP goes that extra mile, then enter them for the KP of the Year.
Long-stay demand powers the rise of hybrid hospitality

3 weeks ago | hospitalityinvestor.com | Ben Walker

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, living in hotels was widespread, especially for the wealthy, artistic, and bohemian. Why bother with the hassle of home ownership when you can rely on the amenities and services of a hotel? Today, this way of living is making something of a comeback, and the hotel industry has reacted to a rising demand for longer stays.
Institutional investment in UK living sectors outstrips office

1 month ago | hospitalityinvestor.com | Ben Walker

Institutional capital allocated to the UK’s living sectors surpassed investment in offices for the first time in 2024, according to Jon Critchley, director at HVS HWE. “Beds are no longer the future. They are the now,” he commented. £10 billion of institutional investment went into UK Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA), Build-to-Rent (BTR), senior living and co-living, compared to £9.5 billion into offices.
How AI agents are turning the promises of AI into reality

1 month ago | hospitalityinvestor.com | Ben Walker

As artificial intelligence continues its rapid evolution, the language used to describe it is changing too. You may have noticed an increasing use of the term ‘AI agent’ as the integration of generative AI capabilities into business operations increases. In short, AI agents are software programmes that use artificial intelligence to perform specific tasks autonomously, or with minimal human input.
What next for tech-first hospitality?

1 month ago | hospitalityinvestor.com | Ben Walker

In the years before the pandemic, a new generation of hospitality companies emerged that acted like tech startups, employing their own teams of software developers and attracting VC funding. Extended stay units, often with kitchens, plus contactless guest technology and lean ops teams, helped companies like Sonder, limehome, Bob W and Numa perform better than their traditional hotel counterparts during the Covid years. Today, has their tech-first approach allowed them to grow differently?
Leadership lessons from the frontlines

2 months ago | hospitalityinvestor.com | Ben Walker

Leadership in today’s hospitality industry and successfully driving change requires clarity in communication, honesty and trust. So said Louvre Hotels Group’s CEO Federico González, speaking on stage at IHIF EMEA 2025. Throughout a distinguished career, including senior management positions at Proctor & Gamble, Disneyland Paris, NH Hotel Group, Federico González has demonstrated a talent for leading transformative change within large organisations.