The Davenport Grand Hotel in Spokane, Wash., is taking reservations for private rooftop igloos with stellar views of the city and riverfront. The lighted, transparent structures can seat up to six for socializing and feature tables, blankets and speakers -- though their heating only bumps the interior temperature up about 5 degrees above the outdoor temperature.

Millennials' desires have made the travel industry better for older generations in several ways, the most important of which is an Amazon-esque expectation of personalization -- knowing what individual guests want and providing it immediately. In the coming years, travelers of all ages also will continue to place importance on vastly improved technology, sustainability and food as a destination, not an afterthought.

More than a dozen luxury hotels around the world are auctioning off stays at their properties as part of a high-end auction to support the rescue of Australian wildlife, and bids are being accepted through Jan. 27. The unprecedented fires have cost Australia's tourism industry $690 million as of Thursday.

Work to expand the Island Resort & Casino in Harris, Mich., is expected to start in June with completion set for 2021 after the Hannahville Indian Community Tribal Council approved the project. The $30 million expansion will feature a pool with water park features, a high-end dining venue and convention space and more than 100 new hotel rooms.

Improving virtual concierges, taking a more holistic approach to design, weaving in local customs and providing kitchen access are among the many ways several experts recommend for increasing hotel bookings.

Small Luxury Hotels of the World has added five new properties to its portfolio, including Barcelona's The Wittmore and Montenegro's Villa Geba. Susafa in Sicily, Italy; Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton, N.Y.; and Angkor Village Hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia, also are now Small Luxury Hotels.

In another five years hotels may be a bit different, with more companies like BrewDog and Nutella opening their own hotels or pop-up hotels. Properties composed of shipping containers and other upcycled materials will be more popular, and space hotels may not be much farther behind, Dan Kubacki writes.

Guests are more engaged with hotels when they find spots that will make for great social media pictures. The AtholPlace Hotel & Villa in South Africa; the Conrad Maldives; the Sina Centurion Palace in Venice, Italy; and Chedi Lustica Bay in Montenegro are among several hotels in this list of Instagrammable favorites.

A number of New York restaurants are prioritizing sustainable menus and diverse and inclusive workforces, driven by a growing number of consumers who consider more than just taste and price when choosing where to dine. "We seek out the best talent available, and more often than not that includes people of all genders, ethnicities, and sexual orientations," says restaurateur Ravi DeRossi.

OLS Hotels & Resorts has boosted its Hawaii portfolio to nine properties with the acquisition of two in Waikiki and one in Kahului. The Hawaii-based management firm has partnerships with 30 US hotels.