Innovation - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers

4 min

A case for windowless rooms: mastering the art of the basics

🛌 Zedwell Hotels, led by Halima Aziz at Criterion Hospitality, redefines city stays in London using adaptive reuse of underutilized spaces like former arcades. Their windowless, compact “cocoon” rooms offer rest-focused, clutter-free environments with soundproof doors. Capsule rooms start at £30, targeting budget-conscious travelers. Check-ins are kiosk-based, and communication is via WhatsApp, enhancing guest convenience. Overall, Zedwell innovates through subtraction, providing a cost-effective hotel experience.

2 min

Anthropic is going deeper into financial services: Claude Opus 4.6 just dropped, and it’s basically an AI model that can now do junior analyst work end-to-end 😳 Opus 4.6 is a workflow automation… | Linas Beliūnas | 112 comments

💸 Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.6 revolutionizes financial services with AI-powered junior analyst capabilities. It surpasses OpenAI's GPT-5.2 by ~144 Elo on GDPval, a benchmark for finance/legal knowledge work. The model can handle entire filings and produce spreadsheets and presentations. This shift impacts data incumbents like FactSet and S&P Global. AI transitions from "assistant" to "operator," emphasizing AI-native workflows that lower entry-level work barriers and elevate judgment standards in finance.

collage of various hotel and IT elements with text about Openclaw & Hotels

8 min

OpenClaw and the Rise of AI Agents in Hospitality

💻 Hotels are integrating AI, shifting the focus from replacing core systems to augmenting them. OpenClaw, a new AI agent, listens actively, interprets intent, and executes tasks, enhancing guest communication and operations. While probabilistic systems like OpenClaw excel in language interpretation, deterministic systems ensure reliability in financial tasks. This strategic balance ensures AI can improve efficiency without risking operational integrity. OpenClaw exemplifies AI’s role in handling human-centric tasks, leaving critical systems intact.

2 min

Dreamscape Hospitality Expands Marriott Portfolio with Three Select-Service Hotels Across the South and Midwest

🏨 Dreamscape Hospitality, headquartered in Dallas, takes over management of three Marriott-branded hotels: Residence Inn Tulsa South (90 suites), SpringHill Suites Tulsa (76 suites), and Courtyard Lafayette Airport (89 rooms). These properties, owned by Verge Mobile, expand Dreamscape's national presence. The Courtyard Lafayette offers an indoor pool, hot tub, and airport shuttle. This move aims to enhance performance, guest experience, and long-term value, aligning with Dreamscape's growth strategy across varied hospitality sectors.

7 min

You Won’t Be Replaced by AI but You’ll Be Replaced by Someone Who Uses It

📈 By 2026, the gap between AI-enabled hotel sales and traditional teams will become irreversible. A Director of Sales discovered their competitor's AI responded to RFPs in under two hours, securing deals faster. One resort's AI flagged 62 event-planning companies, resulting in a 34% revenue increase in six months. Another hotel's AI reactivated 28% of dormant accounts in 90 days. AI identifies buying signals and automates tasks, freeing sales teams to focus on value-driven work.

6 min

What’s Next for Hotel Cybersecurity: Emerging Threats to Watch in 2026

💻 Hotels in North America face rising cyber threats, with 82% attacked last summer, over half targeted five times or more. AI-based services like chatbots and mobile check-ins are standard, with 78% using AI now and 84% planning expansion within two years. IoT devices increase vulnerabilities, with 48% of hotel IT leaders lacking confidence in detecting AI-generated attacks. To combat threats, hotels must adopt zero trust systems, boost vendor security, and enhance staff cybersecurity training.

1 min

How to Get Real Performance From Hotel Technology – Stacey Milgram Potzka, Actabl [Sponsor Bonus]

📖 Stacey's role and the implementation process of Actabl in hotel technology were discussed at 02:30. At 05:00, the focus shifted to how hotel technology is implemented, followed by effective collaboration with tech partners at 10:09. By 12:48, tools improving tech setup and adoption were highlighted. Professional services' support was covered at 15:18. Training for technology usage was emphasized at 19:06, and the importance of community in hospitality tech was noted at 22:47. Career reflections and work meaning were explored at 27:40.

6 min

142 – Is this the end of SaaS for hotels

📰 Whatnot's live commerce has reached $8 billion in sales, capturing over 50% of the US market. This trend in fashion and beauty is expanding community-driven, real-time shopping. In the hotel industry, Ian Schrager and Highgate are redefining the boutique model while Simone Puorto and others highlight the challenges of PMS transitions. Amazon is closing 72 stores but maintaining its "Just Walk Out" technology. Hotels face an AI shift, emphasizing the need for structured data for future success.

3 min

The AI Dilemma: Should Hotels Wait or Build?

💻 AI's rapid evolution challenges the hotel industry. OpenClaw, a local AI agent, exemplifies this pace but lacks determinism needed for critical processes like PMS and RMS. Historically, hesitance cost hotels in internet and mobile adoption, benefiting OTAs. Instead of waiting, hotels should engage in small-scale, exploratory projects using anonymized data, building familiarity and adaptability. This approach positions them to swiftly integrate future, more stable AI solutions, gaining a crucial competitive edge.

2 min

Infrasys POS recognized by Software Advice for Best Customer Support in 2026 as 24/7 Hospitality operations raise the bar

📱 Shiji's Infrasys POS, an enterprise-level point-of-sale solution, wins the 2026 “Best Customer Support” badge from Software Advice, based on verified customer reviews. This Atlanta-based company delivers reliable, round-the-clock support crucial for 24/7 hospitality operations. Infrasys POS is a cloud-based system, resilient and hardware-agnostic, supporting seamless integration with property management systems. Shiji, a global technology firm, serves over 91,000 hotels worldwide, emphasizing customer-centric design and operational stability.

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