STR News.

Douglas Elliman's expansion into New Hampshire with The Sarkis Team signals a potential increase in luxury real estate and new development opportunities. The team's track record includes closing over $312 million in transactions in 2024. The LOOKOUT Lake Winnipesaukee community is mentioned, with only a few units remaining, indicating a strong market in the Lakes Region.

Luxury hospitality is increasingly relying on AI agents to find and book properties, with human web traffic decreasing. Agents like Perplexity and OpenAI are now significant traffic sources, researching and comparing options for guests. This shift requires brands to optimize listings for AI discoverability and understand these new booking dynamics.

Under Canvas, a luxury outdoor hospitality group, appoints a new CEO, Noah Brodsky, with experience in scaling premium travel brands. The company is expanding to 17 destinations, including new locations in California and New Hampshire. This leadership change aims to drive growth while maintaining a focus on high-end outdoor experiences.

Plum Guide homes are now bookable via Chase Travel, increasing visibility for hosts. This integration provides access to Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders and expands distribution for over 20,000 luxury properties. Hosts maintain their current booking management through Plum Guide without any new system setup.

The luxury travel market's rapid growth since 2020 necessitates larger-scale operations. Global Travel Collection, a $2.4 billion agency, is unifying its brands to capitalize on this trend. Advisors can leverage scale for better access to resources and technology, but must adapt to industry changes for success.