Innovation

📚 Career Fest 2026 by Radisson Hotel Group kicks off throughout October, engaging over 12,000 participants across 100+ countries. The event highlights career mobility, AI, and transformative opportunities within hospitality, building on the success of 2025's edition that reached 26.77 million people. With 75,000 employees and 1,600 hotels globally, Radisson emphasizes non-linear career paths, leadership growth, and AI's role in evolving hospitality. Participants can access workshops, leadership talks, and global sessions to enhance future-ready skills.

Jean-Dominique Brivet, Chief Product Officer at D‑EDGE: We see AI as a fundamental shift in the distribution value chain, comparable in some ways to what happened with the arrival of…

The Independent Hotel Show, in partnership with James Hallam Insurance Brokers, has announced the studios creating its key hospitality spaces for the 2026 edition, taking place at Olympia London on…

This article was written by Lodging Magazine. Click here to read the original article dormakaba announced that it has signed a binding agreement to acquire Alliants, the guest experience technology…

📱 In 2027, hotels aim to enhance F&B profits by leveraging mobile ordering technology. Reports show a 20-40% increase in average transaction value with digital ordering. Integrating multilingual, digital menus and upselling features simplifies guest experiences and boosts revenue. Additionally, IRIS clients reported delivery-time savings of over 10 minutes per order. This shift turns all hotel areas into potential F&B revenue opportunities, while reducing staff workload and improving operational efficiency.

📚 Bethesda, MD | September 16, 2026 | Stayntouch achieved a Level 4 Global Customer Support Certification from Hotel Tech Report, scoring a perfect 34/34. Valid from July 2026 to July 2027, it reflects their robust support ecosystem, which includes 24/7 multilingual assistance, real-time SLA monitoring, and a strong NPS score. Over 100 reviews give them an average support rating above 4.5/5. Their customer-centric approach ensures seamless hotel PMS implementation and ongoing customer success.

🏨 IDS Next celebrates over 25 years of partnership with ITC Hotels, facilitating operations across 150+ hotels in 90+ locations, including India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. The collaboration, noted for its use of cloud and AI technologies, has evolved to encompass wellness, sales, and catering. Amandeep Singh Sarna, ITC Hotels’ Chief Digital Officer, highlights IDS Next's understanding of hospitality needs. IDS Next's platform aids visibility, standardization, and data-driven decisions across ITC Hotels' seven brands.

💳 Hapi and Upgrade partnered to integrate modern payment options like Flex Pay into hotels' systems, automating Virtual Credit Card processes. The solution is already used in thousands of hotels, reducing payment errors and mishandlings. According to NerdWallet, 17% of travelers in summer 2026 plan to use Buy Now, Pay Later for travel. This integration streamlines payment processing, enabling hotels to support flexible payment options without changing existing systems, addressing an estimated $1.5 billion in reconciliation inefficiencies.

🤖 84% of U.S. customers believe AI in customer service should allow easy access to humans. 71% think AI makes reaching a person harder. Companies with accessible human support can gain a competitive edge. Shep Hyken emphasizes that while customers appreciate self-service, they value human interaction when needed. The notion of a “premium experience” emerges as human support becomes rarer. This balance can influence customer preferences and justify higher pricing for enhanced service.

💻 AI's integration with Property Management Systems (PMS) and Point of Sale (POS) systems in hotels is transforming operations. PMS data offers insights into guests' stay details, while POS data reveals their spending habits. AI can process these data points in real time to enhance decision-making. As hotels rely more on AI, they must consider operational events, permissions, and the timing of data availability. The focus is shifting from data collection to crafting the right operational context for decision-making.