Innovation

Key Points Ask Maps now enables conversational hotel search with real pricing and availability, combining proximity, routes, nearby businesses, hotel criteria, and — via opt-in Gmail integration — a traveler’s…

Google is now testing agentic hotel booking, a spokesperson confirmed to Skift. Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel referenced the tests on an earnings call this week while discussing partnerships with…

📈 Capital One Travel has expanded its Premier and Lifestyle Collections to over 1,400 hotels, following similar actions by VISA. OTAs, benefiting from decades of expertise, large data sets, and billion-dollar ad budgets, overshadow hotels in spending on AI-powered discovery. During the FIFA World Cup, match days increased ADR more than occupancy. Airbnb is developing a loyalty program, possibly innovating with data and partnerships rather than just rewards. Attention currency is shifting towards trust, crucial in luxury and independent accommodations.

💻 In 2026, hotel platforms are streamlining operations by integrating systems like PMS, RMS, and CRS. Mews raised $300M to merge revenue management and guest services through an AI-native platform, partnering with SiteMinder. Cloudbeds and Oracle Hospitality advance with AI, while specialists like IDeaS and Canary maintain their niche. The strategic focus shifts to irreplaceability and specialization in the tech ecosystem. i5invest connects startups with over 150,000 decision-makers in business development and M&A.

📈 Airbnb's Q2 revenue soared 17% to $3.6 billion, marking a significant growth phase. The number of nights booked surged, with first-time bookings reaching a four-year high. The company is now AI-native, introducing nearly 80% more features and improvements than last year, accelerating from concept to launch by 60%. This isn't just about one quarter; Airbnb's execution has improved markedly, outpacing its largest competitors and tapping into an expanding long-term opportunity.

🗺 Jetstar is adapting to agent-to-agent (A2A) travel, unbundling flights for AI optimization. Wyndham uses AI to enhance owner margins. The EU's AI Transparency laws, effective immediately, require disclosures on AI use. 75% of travelers are influenced by social media. Reely.travel personalizes AI trip planning using saved social media content. Expedia acquires Layla for AI-powered travel planning. Most operators face minimal impact from EU AI laws, needing clear AI disclosures and labeling AI-generated content.

📊 Owners and operators invest in revenue technology to improve financial performance, strategic control, and efficiency. Volatile demand, like a concert or market shifts, poses challenges for manual reporting, affecting decision speed and profitability. Effective RMS should provide a clear view of market occupancy, competitive rates, and demand strength over 30, 90, and 180 days. Automation should complement human judgment, focusing on explainability and total cost of ownership to streamline operations and enhance decision-making.

📈 Owners and operators are investing in revenue technology to enhance financial performance and strategic control. Manual reporting delays decision-making, affecting margins and net income. A fragmented reporting system complicates visibility across different types of hotel assets. An effective Revenue Management System (RMS) should integrate signals such as market occupancy and competitive rates to facilitate quick decisions. The RMS should preserve human judgment, and an evaluation should consider integration, transparency, ROI, and total cost of ownership.

💻 Operational luxury in hospitality emphasizes seamless service through technology, impacting guest experiences without visible friction. The Onyx Collection by Matrix exemplifies this with its Facility Concierge feature, enabling guests to request services like towels or drinks effortlessly while presenting subtle revenue opportunities. Leaders prioritize systems ensuring consistent performance across all times, supporting the brand's value through repeat excellence. The focus is on enhancing wellness, fitness, and overall guest satisfaction without disruption.

📚 GBTA Convention 2026, held August 3-5 at McCormick Place in Chicago, attracted over 5,500 attendees from 47 countries. The event featured 400 exhibitors, 1,300 first-time attendees, and 1,200 buyers from 681 companies managing $46 billion in travel spend. The convention generated an estimated $18.5 million economic impact in Chicago. The 2026 GBTA Business Travel Index projects global business travel spending to reach $1.71 trillion by 2026, with 1.84 billion trips.