Innovation

Marriott International CEO Anthony Capuano was asked at a Bank of America investor conference today where AI is showing up in practice so far. …

The hotel room TV is becoming something much bigger. Marriott and LG Electronics have announced a strategic collaboration to build a cloud-based …

GDS spent 40 years running a toll booth on airline distribution. Sabre came from American. Apollo came from United. Airlines built these systems …

There was no equivalent of a Hotelbeds, Amadeus or Duffel that they could simply plug into to access multi-day tour inventory.

🏨 Boutique hotels, typically with 10-100 rooms, offer personalized stays shaped by local culture and design, unlike chain hotels with 150+ rooms that prioritize consistency and standardized amenities. Boutique hotels thrive in culturally rich neighborhoods and adapt quickly with sustainable practices. Despite challenges from larger chains, they attract travelers seeking unique experiences through personalized service and creative amenities. Smart technology aids boutique hotels in competing effectively by streamlining operations and enhancing guest experiences without the corporate overhead.

📈 Sircle Collection and Sunday PropTech are teaming up to expand into new markets, enhancing Sircle's 16 hotels across 11 cities in 8 countries. Founded by Liran Wizman in 2011, Sircle is recognized for its design-driven approach and includes Sir Hotels and Max Brown. Sunday PropTech, led by Ritesh Agarwal, provides tech and global reach. In 2026, Sir Prague was listed among UNESCO's 16 most beautiful hotels globally. This partnership aims for further growth through new hotel management agreements.

💸 AAHOA, Folio, and Avendra International launched the AAHOA Marketplace in Durham, NC, and Atlanta, GA, enhancing hotel procurement for 20,000 members. The platform, free for AAHOA members, accelerates purchasing through a centralized catalog and AI-powered features, enabling fast order placement within minutes. AAHOA members own 60% of U.S. hotels, impacting 1.4% of the GDP, employing over 1 million people. The improved marketplace offers streamlined operations, cost savings, and mobile optimization for hotel owners. Access it at AAHOAmarketplace.com.

Behind every exceptional guest experience is a seamless operational network. With the transportation of food, beverages, cleaning supplies, laundry and deliveries comes the challenge of reducing the physical strain placed…

For years, the forecast that underpins much of our Revenue & Profit Operating System ran on historical averages. It was reliable. It got the job done. But it required revenue…

💻 At HITEC 2026 in San Antonio, the focus was on AI governance over connection. Hotels run numerous AI agents across various functions, raising concerns about data access, authority, and audit trails. The average cost of an AI-related data breach reached $4.99 million, a 12% increase, with AI breaches costing $1 million more. A Manhattan hotel incident highlighted the need for structured AI decision-making, as an unauthorized rate change doubled a guest's cost mid-stay.