Mathias Coudert

📰 Amex's new Platinum card, a product of months of R&D, features a mirror finish, UV laser etching, and ink printing to enhance its physical appeal in a digital era. AI is reshaping luxury services by taking over repetitive tasks but can't replace the nuanced touch of human hospitality. Figure AI's Figure 03 robot, intended for hotel service, highlights a gap between technological possibilities and actual industry needs. Concierges remain irreplaceable due to their human touch and connections.

🏨 Marriott's new site, Marriott Bonvoy Outdoor, launches in 2025, reversing Airbnb's removal of categories. It focuses on outdoor activities, aligning with travel trends like wellness, nature, and sustainability. Current AI tools in hospitality struggle due to a lack of first-party data, hindering personalization and insights into guest behavior. In Portland, AI-generated restaurant recommendations fell short compared to human-curated suggestions, highlighting the need for data to realize AI's potential in travel and hospitality.

💻 Toast and Amex announced a partnership to enhance personalized dining experiences at restaurants. This collaboration leverages purchase history to tailor service and implement dynamic pricing. While Amex adds value for cardholders, restaurants gain insights into guest preferences, potentially altering pricing strategies. Additionally, Gen Z's trend of logging life events in digital calendars offers valuable, specific data for AI, paving the way for future hospitality innovations. Concerns about privacy persist, highlighting the importance of responsible data use.

📈 Trip.com is using the "blind box" sales tactic, reminiscent of Dragon Ball Z card buying, to boost travel excitement post-revenge travel era. Starbucks integrates AI for staff efficiency amidst COVID-induced labor shortages. Nearly 50% of Gen Z singles use AI for dating, paralleling hotel guest experiences. Snap acquired a social calendar app, and Tinder offers double-date setups, emphasizing multiplayer modes. U.S. customs processing for 747s involves lengthy queues due to limited agents and fingerprint scans, with hopes for Web3-based identification improvements.

📌 Ronnie Fieg, founder of Kith, faced community backlash in Manhattan for trying to push through a paddle project despite known opposition to racket sports and similar rejections in the past. Alex Wilcox, founder of JSX, is creating an alternative to legacy airlines and pricy private jets by targeting the middle segment. Train travel is resurging due to environmental concerns, convenience in Europe such as Paris to Amsterdam being faster by train, and the appeal of scenic journeys with 70% of Millennials and Gen Z favoring enjoyable journeys. The Not an Hotel brand in Japan offers a hybrid model where members buy into a property portfolio, enabling access to various luxurious properties like Tokyo penthouses and beach villas in Okinawa, reflecting changing attitudes towards property ownership among young professionals who may rent primary residences while investing in vacation homes.

🐶 In 2024, dogs became a rising trend, which is expected to grow in 2025 with hotels pampering pets. Two weeks prior, Sophie Amoruso highlighted that traveling with K9 Airlines from LA to London can be cheaper considering extra costs for standard airlines. Beverage trends are noteworthy for 2025, with Taco Bell emphasizing it at their "Live Más Live" keynote. Speakeasies may see a resurgence due to tariffs, inciting ideas like "SpeakCheesy" for smuggled cheeses. Wine AI raises concerns over cultural homogenization in vineyards. The Rockefeller Center's 2021 Christmas tree was transformed into houses, an extreme Airbnb experience.