Innovation

💻 Oct 9, 2025, hotels witness a booking transformation as OpenAI integrates Stripe for bookings through ChatGPT, shifting from traditional OTAs to AI interfaces. The Agentic Commerce Protocol facilitates real-time transactions, emphasizing the need for structured, machine-readable data. GDS providers like Amadeus gain relevance, offering essential data pipelines. Hotels must optimize for AI visibility instead of traditional SEO. This shift redefines marketing from traffic to conversion-based models, emphasizing AI compatibility for continued success.

📈 IDeaS, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, released the 2026 hospitality tech predictions eBook. Only 54% of hoteliers use integrated tools, despite tech simplification being deemed crucial. 89% plan new AI applications for enhanced operations. The report emphasizes unifying sales, marketing, and revenue management, while still prioritizing sustainability and workforce stability. Insights come from industry experts like Clément Dénarié, Katie Moro, and more. IDeaS aims to empower hoteliers to transform disruption into opportunity.

💻 Valk Exclusief, October 2025, Netherlands and Germany, initiates final digital transformation phase with Apaleo. By December 2025, all 43 hotels (7,100+ rooms, 55 restaurants, 475 meeting spaces) will migrate to Apaleo's platform. The process started September 2024, with 10 hotels live by mid-2025. Valk Digital's custom tech stack enhances guest experiences and reduces staff onboarding from days to hours. Over 11 million guests served annually, supported by 4,000+ staff.

🚿 RoomChecking's Intelligent Skip Rules optimize hotel operations by eliminating redundant room cleanings before guest checkouts. Implementing the "Skip cleaning if less than X days from Check Out" rule led to 8% savings on daily cleanings and linen changes for one property. Staff efficiency increased by removing unnecessary tasks, while flexibility was maintained by allowing manual cleaning requests. This approach enhances operational efficiency, offering control beyond standard automation systems. #HotelOperations #Housekeeping #CostSavings #OperationalEfficiency #HotelTech #Automation

💵 HotelRunner and Visa are uniting to enhance cross-border payments for SMEs in travel and hospitality. This partnership leverages Visa's global payments and HotelRunner's tech reach, benefiting businesses from Morocco to Bali. Ali Beklen highlights the creation of financial rails for the next decade of tourism, while Tania Platt notes the innovation potential. The collaboration aims to support travel companies in Europe, APAC, the Middle East, and Africa, driving safer and smarter global travel commerce.

💻 Global hotel operators are expanding brands to meet growing guest demands, risking the "cookie cutter" brand label. Hotels are advised to standardize technology systems to improve operations. The tech stacks in hotels evolve over time, often resulting in inefficient setups. Establishing a unified "brand book" for technology aids in consistent standards. This foundation allows hotels to innovate on top, enhancing guest personalization and experience. Ultimately, consistency in systems simplifies operations and facilitates learning across hotel estates.

✈️ Global tech firm DerbySoft partners with AirAsia Group to implement its Global Data Network (GDN) for Flights. The decentralized, API-first network promotes direct connections among airlines, OTAs, and more, enhancing distribution control and access to traveler data. Amanda Woo, AirAsia’s Chief Commercial Officer, emphasizes future growth in Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. DerbySoft’s GDN architecture fosters a continuously expanding, intelligent ecosystem, benefiting all participants and ensuring efficiency and profitability.

🏆 The 26th shortlist for the 34 Travolution Awards categories has been released, including the Mastercard B2B Payments Award. Five finalists excelled in innovation and market success. The awards ceremony will occur on Tuesday, December 2, at City Central, HAC, London. Last year's event drew over 450 attendees. Other awards, like Rising Star of the Year, remain unrevealed. Sponsors include Gail Kenny Executive Recruitment, Icelolly.com, TravelSupermarket, HolidayPirates Group, Slalom, Trip.com, and WEX.