Innovation

💻 Oracle launched Opera Cloud Assistant on Tuesday, integrating AI into hotel management software. The AI tools enhance front desk, revenue, and configuration tasks. Importantly, these tools are available at no additional cost to customers. Hotel staff benefit from reduced interruptions, as the system allows them to quickly find solutions to report generation or guest issues without managerial assistance. This advancement showcases Oracle's commitment to improving operational efficiency in the hospitality sector.

🛫 In June 2026, Marriott International launched Ask Bonvoy in Bethesda, Maryland. This AI-driven, natural language search tool helps travelers explore Marriott's 10,000 properties across 146 countries. Initially in U.S. English, it's available on Marriott.com and mobile apps for select Bonvoy members. The tool, enhancing travel planning ease and personalization, will have a full global release later this year. It allows users to search using conversational language for tailored travel experiences.

💻 June 15, San Antonio, Texas: HITEC conference gathers thousands in the hospitality industry at Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center to explore innovative technologies. AI is a key focus, with discussions on its impact on booking, discovery, and guest experiences. Panelists like Keryn McNamara and Floor Bleeker highlight AI's potential to democratize distribution and enhance guest services. New roles like "agent supervisors" may emerge. Big brands may need to adapt to AI-driven changes.

💻 AI is revolutionizing hotel searches, moving from keyword searches to tailored AI assistant queries. Large Language Models like ChatGPT influence hotel recommendations, highlighting the need for Model Context Protocol (MCP) to connect AI with hotel systems. This shift impacts direct bookings, blending brand.com with AI-driven channels. Hotels must ensure AI-ready content, structured data, and collaboration with tech partners to thrive in this evolving landscape. AI visibility is crucial for hotels to maintain influence in the booking process.

💻 "Open" in hospitality tech is vital, yet its meaning diverges. True openness allows replacing and controlling every stack part freely. This is crucial with AI's rapid evolution, altering needs within 12 months. Apaleo, since its launch, champions an API First architecture, enabling full functionality via API, unlike limited API overlays. Stephan Wiesener explores this in Hotel Yearbook AI Edition 2023. Read more [here](https://lnkd.in/egqZEzXk).

🌍 Spain, DACH, the UK, and Benelux are key markets, while France and Italy are strategic priorities for RateGain's expansion. By April 2026, Oscar Ganuza was appointed Senior VP Revenue, Europe. Since September 2025, the UNO Direct Stack platform, focusing on AI-powered solutions, has seen accelerating adoption. RateGain's region accounts for 31.6% of FY2025 revenue, doubling its European commercial team and expanding to eight countries to support growth. The Sojern acquisition reinforces their European position.

🖥 Oracle announced OPERA Cloud Assistant, a new AI-powered tool for OPERA Cloud. Available worldwide at no extra cost, it streamlines hotel operations, automates guest room assignments, and enhances revenue management across 230 countries. Wyndham Hotels, with over 2,100 properties, utilizes it to boost efficiency and revenue. Visit HITEC booth #842 on June 15-18 to see it in action. The tool offers real-time guidance, supports language translation, and integrates seamlessly into existing workflows, enhancing productivity and service delivery.

💻 On Tuesday at HITEC, Amadeus will unveil AI Commerce and Amadeus Max, enhancing hotel bookings via AI channels. AI Commerce aims to streamline bookings through AI assistants, while Amadeus Max allows hotel staff to access revenue and demand data using plain English. Peter Waters noted Amadeus is Google's sole B2B technical partner in hospitality for the Universal Commerce Protocol, aiming to revolutionize how hotels are found, booked, and paid for by AI agents.

💳 June 16th, 2026, Melbourne: EML Payments partners with OneJourney to enhance hotel operations. The alliance targets luxury hotels, integrating EML's card issuing with OneJourney's automation to innovate payments and gifting. Features include automated virtual cards for supplier payments, reducing manual processes and boosting security. The platform supports QuickBooks, NetSuite, Sage Intacct, and Xero, requiring no integration costs. This modernization replaces paper vouchers with digital cards, improving financial efficiency and guest experience.

💳 June 16th, 2026, Melbourne, Australia: EML Payments partners with OneJourney to revolutionize the hospitality payment ecosystem. They introduce automated supplier payments using virtual cards and digital stored-value cards for gifting. This move targets luxury hotels, facilitating efficient financial operations, while integrating with systems like QuickBooks and Xero. The partnership eliminates integration costs, modernizes gifting, and enhances guest engagement, transforming traditional practices into strategic financial assets. Eric Hoffman and Brian Dass emphasize streamlining hotel finance processes.