Innovation

🗺️ Brits in 2026 are opting for longer short-haul flights, with a 12% rise in travel to Tunisia and increased interest in Georgia's Tblisi. 49% plan trips using VR and vlogs. 52% intend to explore new destinations, while 22% use translation technology. Astronomy tourism is trending, with an eclipse viewable from Spain on August 12. EasyJet reports a 21% rise in longer-leisure destination bookings. 28% choose trips based on TV or books, while padel's popularity boosts sports tourism in Spain.

💻 2026 will spotlight agentic booking in travel as Accor integrates its ALL Accor app into ChatGPT. This allows travelers to use natural language for hotel searches, destination selection, availability checks, and rate comparisons. Thomas Vidal, Accor's VP of Digital Design, emphasizes meeting guests where they are. Key industry shifts include strategic early integration, AI-driven loyalty and personalization, and conversational AI as a necessity. The travel industry is rapidly evolving towards AI-centric distribution and loyalty strategies.

By Tony Loeb, Co-founder of 10 Minutes Hotels You may already know us in France. Over the past few years, 10minhotel.com has grown to become the leading podcast on hotel…

Leading French hospitality podcast opens global chapter by spotlighting LodgIQ’s generative AI approach to modern revenue management As part of its international expansion, 10minhotel.com, France’s top hospitality innovation podcast, has…

💻 LodgIQ, based in Silicon Valley, was selected for France's top hospitality podcast's first global episode in 2026. This marks the international expansion of the "10 Minutes for a Hotelier" show, which reaches 400,000 readers monthly. LodgIQ's AI Wizard helps revenue teams by analyzing data for strategic insights, addressing "analysis paralysis." The episode titled “Hotels Have More Data Than Ever — So Where is Generative AI?” is now live, emphasizing AI's role in commercial strategy.

📈 A volunteer committee in a town of 1,800 used AI prompts to audit a main inn and art gallery, taking under an hour per quarter. Six prompts facilitate tasks like business audits and outreach emails. One-page handouts help businesses update Google listings independently. The guide assumes one hour monthly, breaking tasks into 10-minute chunks. Key tasks include comparing Google and website business hours and sending corrective emails. A successful year involves four to six businesses.

February 19 event convenes senior hospitality executives for high‑level discussions on AI, digital ecosystems, and brand experience at the Consulate General of France in NYC. PARIS, 2 February 2026. Influence…

💻 Shiji achieved its 400th installation of Infrasys POS at Hyatt Regency Greenville, SC, marking a milestone since 2019. The technology, which includes Stellaris Digital Dine and Infrasys POS Move, enhances the guest experience by enabling real-time order management and mobility for staff. Shiji serves over 91,000 hotels globally, ensuring seamless operations with its cloud-based solutions. With more than 5,000 employees, Shiji stands as a technology leader in the hospitality industry.

🔑 Electronic key control systems in hotels enhance security by recording data on each key removal and return, allowing for accountability and data-driven improvements. For instance, a facilities manager identified missing tools using this system and increased security with multi-factor authentication. In housekeeping, adding a networked key control cabinet reduced late returns, saving time and costs. These systems transform keys into strategic tools, optimizing hotel operations through intelligent data analysis.