Innovation

📅 Oct 2023, Microsoft introduced Copilot Cowork within Microsoft 365 for travel management. By Oct 20, Julie Shainock announced its travel version, integrating calendars, travel policies, and loyalty accounts to automate business trip bookings. Despite early access, full trip-building capabilities remain unreleased, with unresolved issues like data standards and security. The tool aims to eliminate manual booking tasks, allowing an AI agent to organize travel logistics based on user preferences and company policies.

The Super 8 and La Quinta franchiser is opening its inventory to Meta's Muse, OpenAI, and Instinct. Morgan Stanley analysts think AI agents could cost hotel groups less per booking than online travel agencies do.

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💻 Who? Thomas McDermott, CMO, Tambourine. When? 1 hour ago. Where? Not specified. What? Hotel websites should function like top-performing salespeople, making strong impressions, providing accurate information, and facilitating smooth bookings. How? Websites should have fast-loading pages, clear booking paths, and updated content to prevent potential guests from turning to OTAs, which charge commission fees. Regular audits are recommended to ensure optimal performance and direct booking rates. Tambourine, a global leader in hotel marketing, provides solutions in over 50 countries.

📈 Hotel technology provider dailypoint has launched a free AI Readiness Check for hotels, revealing a gap in AI adoption. Based on the h2c Global Study 2026, 91% of hotel chains use AI, but only 13% see measurable ROI. While 69% manually handle guest preferences, just 19% use AI for this purpose. Only 42% have a central guest profile database. Visit dailypoint at The Hospitality Show, Miami, November 2-4, 2026, booth 2820.

🏋️ Wellness tourism is projected to grow from $720 billion in 2019 to $1.4 trillion by 2027. The shift towards medical wellness in luxury hospitality includes body composition scans and AI-guided training like PACE from Matrix Fitness. These insights create personalized fitness experiences, encouraging longer stays and repeat visits. Fitness centers evolve from mere amenities to platforms for prevention and sustained wellbeing, linking insight with action to meet growing health-focused guest expectations.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts reported third-quarter earnings on Thursday and raised its full-year global RevPAR outlook on the heels of RevPAR in the quarter growing 2% compared to the same…

📚 The AI travel planner market currently features around 40 applications, divided into categories like inspiration, booking, and assistance. AI travel assistants aim to simplify travel planning by handling destination, hotel, flights, and activities based on user preferences. Despite the allure of AI, travel unpredictability poses challenges. OTAs have thrived without managing issues like cancellations. AI might transform travel booking by prioritizing convenience and cost-effectiveness over personalized service, akin to Ryanair's success through affordability, not service.

🛫 In October 2026, Martin Soler discussed AI travel planners, highlighting 40 products categorized into Inspiration only, Inspiration + Booking, AI research + Human closing, and Human assistant with AI support. He noted that Europe aims to boost tourism revenues by €22 billion annually by 2030. Additionally, Shopify reported AI channels generating nearly twice the buyer rate compared to other channels. Alibaba's Flyzoo Hotel in Hangzhou uses facial recognition for check-in, reflecting how tech evolves hospitality.

💻 Hoteza, a hospitality technology provider in Larnaca, Cyprus, received the EcoVadis Committed Badge 1 hour ago for its sustainability practices in four key areas: environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and procurement. Their digital solutions, used by over 1,000 hotels in 90+ countries, aim to reduce paper use and enhance operational efficiency. Hoteza's framework targets 13 sustainability objectives, promoting digital guest journeys and sustainable hotel operations.