Automatic

LAS VEGAS – February 17, 2026 - BirchStreet Systems, a global provider of the complete hospitality operations platform, has announced the launch of BirchStreet Smart AP™, a next-generation solution that automates the entire accounts payable process, from invoice capture to payment execution​. Powered by advanced AI that manages both header and line‑level exceptions, Smart AP allows for faster, more accurate invoice processing with stronger control, higher efficiency, and real-time visibility. As a result, customers will incur significantly reduced manual workloads, faster payment cycles, virtually eliminated processing errors, and robust fraud prevention.

What if a hotel operated less like a hotel, and more like software?

In this conversation, Sloan Dean and Ryan Meliker delve into the current state of the hotel industry, exploring the complex economic dynamics affecting hotel demand, the impact of consumer sentiment, and the challenges of forecasting in an uncertain environment. They discuss the implications of the upcoming World Cup 2026, labor costs, and union dynamics, as well as the future of hotel values and transaction markets. The discussion also touches on the K-shaped economy and its effects on different hotel chains.

Situated in the historic town of Caerleon, The Priory Hotel & Restaurant offers visitors a quaint and unique stay with 27 bedrooms and a 100-cover restaurant. Known for its warm hospitality and charming character, the hotel caters to leisure and business guests who are looking for an unforgettable experience.

Irvine, California – February 17, 2026 — Sencie, a restorative design and sleep health company, has launched today to bring a new, integrated approach to in-room sleep and wellbeing for luxury hospitality. Through its signature "WellSense" design framework, Sencie layers carefully choreographed sensory experiences directly into the guest room—blending scent, sight, sound, touch, and materiality to create immersive experiences that leave guests feeling rested and restored without adding friction to their stay.

There is a lot of noise around hospitality AI right now. Every week brings a new interface, a new demo, a new promise that the “experience” will be revolutionised. But when you listen closely to Daniel Doppler, the founder behind Quinta (formerly Quicktext), the story becomes far less theatrical and far more useful.

SAN FRANCISCO – 17 February 2026 – Sojern, the leading digital marketing platform built for hospitality and recently acquired by RateGain, today announced the launch of its “State of Destination Marketing 2026” report, examining how destination marketing organizations (DMOs) are navigating economic pressure, rising performance expectations, and accelerating AI-driven change across the travel industry.

In 2025, residents across Chicago’s South Side earned more than $15.1 million by hosting visitors in their homes1—income that approximately 60 percent of hosts say helped them stay in their homes and manage the city’s rising cost of living. Nearly 20 percent of hosts report that earnings helped them avoid eviction or foreclosure.2

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) today announces the launch of its new premium collection brand, Noted Collection, with initial discussions already underway with multiple owners, including several with portfolios of hotels, for potential addition into IHG’s system.

LodgIQ, the AI-driven revenue management and commercial strategy platform for the hospitality industry, today announced a new partnership with Quinta da Amendoeira, a boutique farmhouse-style hospitality property near the historic city of Évora in Portugal’s Alentejo region. This collaboration will leverage LodgIQ’s AI-driven revenue intelligence, which not only delivers pricing and demand recommendations but also explains the underlying rationale behind each insight, supporting more confident and transparent decision-making.