Innovation

📅 UK travellers are leading Europe in digital holiday planning. By 2026, 52% use AI tools, up from 40% in 2025, marking the fastest growth among European markets. ChatGPT is popular, with 35% usage for travel inspiration. Social media significantly influences UK travel plans, with 46% impacted by platforms, and 32% researching destinations there. YouTube and Instagram are top sources. This reflects a major shift in travel planning, highlighting the growing importance of AI and social media.

🏆 As the FIFA World Cup 2026 unfolds across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, border management innovations mark a historic milestone. The tournament features 48 teams, the largest ever, and leverages digital systems for seamless travel. Over 5.9 million ESTA applications were submitted in the U.S., with more than 5 million approvals, while 1.6 million people enrolled in Trusted Traveller Programmes. Canada’s NEXUS and Mexico’s Viajero Confiable streamline border processes, enabling efficient cross-border movements.

💻 In Lausanne, at the EHL HumanX Summit, Kelly Ommundsen of the World Economic Forum discussed digital transformation in hospitality. The focus: moving beyond guest-facing technology like apps and kiosks to a full ecosystem change, emphasizing inclusive design for all users, not just tech-savvy ones. AI, currently at peak hype, should enhance, not replace, human roles. Ommundsen aims to free up 75% of her time, leveraging AI for tasks like forecasting and database management.

📈 In Amsterdam on May 27, GAIN Advisors earned the Mews 2026 Strategic Star Award at the Mews Unfold forum. The award recognizes a global partner offering long-term strategic value in hospitality technology. GAIN Advisors, selected from Mews' network, excelled through expert-led assessments and actionable guidance, enhancing operational efficiency and guest experiences. Damien Cazabonne of Mews praised their results-driven advisory model, while Michael C. Cohen of GAIN Advisors highlighted their global impact and future potential.

📊 McKinsey’s 2023-2024 research estimates generative AI could boost productivity by $0.8-$1.2 trillion annually in sales and marketing. Salesforce reports 83% of AI-using sales teams saw revenue growth, compared to 66% without. AI adoption is now at 87%. However, senior commercial leaders slow down AI adoption due to identity issues, as AI replicates their judgment at lower costs. This lag contrasts with other sectors where AI integration is smoother.

🍽 Saladplate is the official hub for the Hospitality, Food, and Beverage industry by Informa Markets. It offers weekly news, a monthly newsletter, and a bi-monthly e-magazine. Users gain access to over 10,000 brands and products, exclusive supplier directories, and updates from 35+ international trade events.

📅 Travelport launched TripServices on Thursday, a cloud-native API platform, to integrate flights, hotels, and extras into one system. It aims to reduce complexity for agencies and startups by incorporating it into its own system. Machine learning models rank content for relevance and help manage changes, disruptions, and cancellations. Fahim Khan, the SVP of Product, discussed this at the Skift Data + AI Summit in early June, highlighting 18 months of expanding servicing tools.

💻 Aven Hospitality launched a new booking engine on Wednesday, designed to keep travelers on a hotel’s website through checkout by eliminating redirects. The engine, rebuilt from scratch, aims to reduce abandonment. This marks Aven's second major product release since being acquired by TPG.

💳 DayBlink GPO, headquartered in McLean, VA, partners with OneJourney to enhance payment solutions for over 1,100 luxury independent hotels. This collaboration, announced in 2023, introduces SwiftPay, a B2B payment platform, turning supplier payments into revenue while automating processes. DayBlink, known for reducing costs, now facilitates a revenue boost through payments. Adoption is cost-free, with support from OneJourney, aiming to empower hotels to compete with major brands effectively.

📈 Rahul Patel, AAHOA Chairman for 2026-2027, emphasizes practical innovation for hoteliers. The focus is on solutions enhancing operations and cutting costs, rather than following trends. This approach aims to support the majority of AAHOA members effectively.