Innovation

1 in 5 Travel Bookings are throught OTAs in the U.S. per Phocuswright.... "U.S. OTA bookings hit $100.3 billion in 2025, up just 4%, now a fifth of …

We also discuss what happens when travel moves from humans searching websites to agents transacting with agents.

💻 Venuelocity launched vProposal, an AI-enabled sales platform for the hospitality industry. It addresses inefficiencies by integrating property details and event agendas into a mobile-optimized interface, syncing with CRM systems. It offers AI-driven content and 360-degree tours. Mekell Barker, SVP at Venuelocity, highlights its ability to enhance sales efficiency. Venuelocity is powered by a large network of planners in the U.S., focusing on streamlining the lead lifecycle and increasing productivity. For more details, visit venuelocity.com/vproposal.

🏨 Boutique hotels and luxury resorts must deliver quality experiences despite limited resources. Individual tech solutions like EMS, digital keys, and Wi-Fi often lead to operational silos. Integrated systems enhance guest experiences and operational efficiency. Reliable connectivity supports digital and energy solutions, reducing manual tasks and cutting costs. Nomadix, a trusted supplier for over 25 years, offers scalable Wi-Fi solutions in 150+ countries, enabling properties to seamlessly connect and manage guest experiences.

📅 Rome Future Week 2026 highlights Simone Puorto's thesis on "Humans-as-Luxury," emphasizing the value of human interaction as AI automates hospitality tasks. The GCC and North Africa's hotel pipeline, valued at $90 billion, aims for 200,000 new rooms by 2030, with Saudi Arabia leading construction efforts. Houston hotels enjoyed a 5.8% ADR increase to $131.67 during the FIFA World Cup, despite flat occupancy at 61.6%. Kimpton Tres Ríos launched as Mexico's first all-inclusive resort.

🛌 Avalora, led by Mark Cederloff, introduces VAIA, an AI assistant for hotels, enhancing guest interactions via voice, text, and more. With Avalora’s Cloud PBX and VAIA, hotels gain a unified communication platform, boosting productivity by up to 60%. Avalora supports hotels across North America, the UK, and Europe, ensuring compliance with GDPR. The technology seamlessly integrates with existing hotel systems, improving operations and guest experiences. Avalora provides 24/7 support, aiming to expand its global reach.

🏨 On September 23, 2026, Stayntouch completed a PMS migration across Imperial London Hotels, including the 1,379-room Royal National Hotel—the largest in Western Europe. The migration covered seven properties in Bloomsbury, London, enhancing operations and guest services. Self-service kiosks and digital check-ins were part of the innovation. The process was phased without disruption, proving Stayntouch's capacity to manage large-scale operations. Neil Braude, COO, emphasized the collaborative success with Stayntouch in this technological upgrade.

This article was written by Lodging Magazine. Click here to read the original article Hotels are investing significant time and resources in artificial intelligence, yet many are still struggling to…

📅 September 23, 2026, Cloudbeds announced a partnership with Oolio in San Diego and Sydney, connecting 22,000+ Australian venues. The integration links Cloudbeds’ hospitality management with Oolio’s Bepoz, Swiftpos, and Idealpos systems, enhancing guest activity and revenue management. Operators benefit from decreased billing errors and manual processing, supporting multiple venue operations. This partnership extends Cloudbeds’ reach within Australia, simplifying complex hospitality management without added complexity for teams.

🛸 In Rome, Italy, on September 21, 2026, Rome Future Week launched its 2026 edition. The event titled “Humans-as-Luxury” was held at Villa Spalletti Trivelli and featured discussions on human connection's value in AI's age. Simone Puorto, among others, led the discourse on preserving humanity in hospitality amidst automation. Sponsored by Hoxell, participants explored automation's role in hospitality, emphasizing the balance between technology and human interaction. The event was part of a city-wide festival on innovation.