Simone Puorto1

💻 In 2024, Google's AI Overviews launched globally, marking a shift from traditional search to a generative internet era. A recent study shows that zero-click searches in the U.S. rose from 24.4% to 27.2% within a year, reducing click-through rates by 30-35%. Meanwhile, AI-assisted coding now accounts for 46% of new code on GitHub. ChatGPT has transformed into a "travel mall," integrating with Expedia and Booking.com, reflecting a move towards conversational commerce.

📱 Two weeks ago, the author struggled with a legacy PMS system at a hotel still awaiting a cloud migration as of 2025. To extract data, the author used AnyDesk, connecting directly to the hotel owner's computer. Despite 14 days of trying and contacting the software staff and founders, the required file remained undelivered. The issue highlighted is not just tech or data silos, but people silos, emphasizing the need for stronger human responses in outdated systems.

💻 "Ben Wolff highlights a pivotal shift in the hospitality industry: traditional booking funnels are obsolete. With 15 years in teaching, 20 in digital marketing, and 26 in hospitality, the realization is clear. Platforms like TikTok Go and AI tools such as ChatGPT transform social platforms into booking engines, merging discovery and booking into one seamless process. As this 'anti-funnel' becomes norm, previous models and systems become outdated, needing urgent updates and adaptations.

📈 At HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis, Natalie Kimball of Shiji Group discussed hotel content management, data accuracy, and distribution in China. Iceportal Content manages non-rate data, offering real-time updates. Shiji's Horizon Distribution provides direct access to Chinese travel agents, addressing transaction complexities. Kimball emphasized AI's reliance on accurate data and warned against eliminating entry-level roles in hospitality. Shiji supports 91,000 hotels globally with over 5,000 employees, ensuring operational flexibility and innovation.

🛌 Sesame Voice AI for hotels, currently English-only, has the potential to replace call centers with its capabilities to handle bookings, answer FAQs, and operate without breaks. Multilingual support is imminent. A future where the best front desk agent is an AI is approaching.