Innovation

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🌐 Tripadvisor's CEO reports ongoing declines in "flyby visitors" due to AI overviews. OpenAI partners with Expedia and Booking.com. Google launches Project Mariner, an AI agent for browsing, price monitoring, and booking. Only 15-25 million people pay for AI subscriptions, while 1.3 billion use free tools, leaving over 6 billion untouched by AI. Tour operators need direct booking systems and AI-friendly websites to stay relevant. AI commoditizes generic travel, increasing the value of bespoke experiences.

💻 Choice Hotels International hosted its 11th annual Mastery tech summit in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 800 associates gathered to engage in workshops and competitions focused on AI, cloud platforms, and cybersecurity. Activities included "Capture the Flag" challenges and an AWS AI league. Engineers participated in Make-a-Thon competitions to develop software for company operations. Winning teams received cash prizes. Brian Kirkland emphasized using emerging tech to enhance business intelligence and operational efficiency at Choice Hotels.

✈️ Airbnb might eventually launch flights, aiming to expand beyond its core home rentals by becoming a "travel concierge." Unlike hospitality brands like Hilton or Marriott, which don't offer flights, OTAs like Booking see flights enhancing the "connected trip." The question remains if consumers will turn to Airbnb for flights and how it would impact their home and hotel business. Industry reports have hinted at such moves since 2016. Will it succeed like OTAs or not add value like hotels?

📈 MIAMI, Florida—Hapi launched Folio Finder, allowing hotel brands and technology providers to quickly access guest folios and invoices across properties and PMSs through a standard API. This innovation provides real-time access to billing records, eliminating the need for complex system navigation and reducing guest delays. Hapi's CEO, Jeff Bzdawka, highlights its efficiency in multi-PMS environments, enhancing guest services, finance, and technology systems with a reliable, API-first, cloud-native solution.

🍴 February 27, 2026, Bangkok, Thailand: Shiji's Infrasys POS is deployed at MICHELIN-starred Baan Tepa Culinary Space. This system integrates operations, managing reservations and inventory, enhancing guest experiences. Chef Tam Chudaree Debhakam highlights its transformation of daily operations. James Liaw, Shiji's General Manager, emphasizes technology's role in Thailand's rapidly evolving F&B sector. Shiji supports 91,000 hotels globally with 5,000 employees, enhancing efficiency and service standards in hospitality.

🤖 Swix AI, a new AI automation platform, launched today to streamline destination marketing organizations (DMOs). Developed by a team with 16 years of industry experience, Swix AI reduces manual tasks like board reports and RFP responses via AI Teammates, reducing time from days to minutes. It integrates with tools like Gmail and Outlook and features customizable AI models such as GPT and Claude. Swix AI aims to maintain organizational knowledge, enhance productivity, and minimize onboarding time.

📈 Who? Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) like Booking.com and Expedia. When? Early 2000s to present. Where? Global, with examples from Rovaniemi and Tromsø. What? Despite claims that AI will eliminate OTAs, they continue to thrive due to trust, massive marketing budgets, and superior interfaces. How? OTAs invest billions, ensuring dominance in search results and maintaining customer trust. Why? Direct-to-consumer models struggle without the trust and infrastructure OTAs provide. Regional defense relies on unique product superiority and brand identity.