Innovation

🎓 NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS) collaborates with the AHLA Foundation to offer credits toward an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Hospitality Management. Apprenticeship participants can earn up to 27 of the required 60 credits. This partnership aids career advancement in the hospitality sector by bridging work experience with academic achievement, providing a pathway to job readiness or further study.

💻 After months of development, Mirai launches Sarai, an AI super-agent transforming guest service, operating 24/7 in up to 100 languages. Sarai offers natural, human-like, multilingual interactions, handles multiple questions, provides voice responses in 33 languages, and integrates with booking engines. Available across various channels, Sarai ensures seamless service with a customizable identity. Clients can use it free for three months, with pricing announced later. Sarai is part of Mirai’s direct-sales ecosystem, enhancing guest experience and revenue.

🏨 Efficient hotel distribution requires an integrated system, not just more OTAs. Key players include PMS, RMS, channel manager, and booking engine. Integration ensures real-time data, operational efficiency, and better guest trust. Missed revenue, manual errors, or inconsistent rates indicate weak technology links. STAAH provides tools for seamless integration, enabling accurate, trustworthy room distribution. Ensure your systems communicate effectively to boost revenue, save time, and enhance guest loyalty. Don’t let fragmented systems hold you back.

💸 September 2025, Chris Hemmeter, co-founder of Thayer Investment Partners, shared a refined investment strategy, "construct and convict," aimed at making smaller investments in early-stage travel startups. Thayer's fifth fund plans to support 40-50 companies. With 5% of entrepreneurs expecting growth under 10% in 2026 and 27% predicting over 100%, 37% of startups aim for acquisition by a travel company. AI advances drive "seed-strapping," fostering rapid scaling, reshaping travel startup success.

📱 Aristara AI launched a multilingual digital assistant at the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) World event, enabling real-time information access in over 50 languages via WhatsApp. Delegates can inquire about sessions, speakers, venues, and schedules, while organizers send notifications. Based in Los Angeles, Aristara aims to enhance hotel operations through automation and personalization. This launch marks their entry into the Arabian Gulf, a significant growth area, according to CEO Rosanna Wang.

💻 Simpson Travel launches the 'Dreamcrafter' holiday finder, a pioneering AI tool, in October 2025. This innovation helps agents find the perfect villa or boutique hotel for clients, offering a personalized, image-led experience. Clients search using terms like 'best infinity pools' or 'uninterrupted sea views.' Managing Director Ed Pyke emphasizes the tool's focus on subjective preferences, enhancing the decision-making process. Head of Trade Sales, Hannah Naylor-Vane, highlights its usefulness for agents and client interaction.

📹 Expedia's "The Science of Wanderlust" study surveyed 7,000 travelers across seven markets, revealing key content preferences. Video influences travel decisions three times more than static images, with 71% favoring video. Authenticity builds trust, with 52% valuing transparency. Optimal video length is 2-9 seconds. 41% value AI content with human input. Generational divides show younger audiences prefer videos and influencers, while older groups favor brand messaging. Partnered destinations include GoTürkiye and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.

✈️ SITA, in partnership with easyJet, launched the SITA Agent App after a year of collaboration, tested at Gatwick and four other UK airports. The app allows ground crew to assist passengers anywhere in the terminal, freeing them from fixed desks. During trials, over 1,000 crew members issued 40,000 boarding passes and checked in over 30,000 passengers, boarding 5 million travelers. At Gatwick, 1.4 million passengers were boarded in eight months, streamlining operations and reducing infrastructure costs.

💻 Mews, a hospitality operating system, acquired US-based AI company DataChat. DataChat's expertise in natural language processing and data-driven automation will enhance Mews’ development of autonomous agents for hotel operations. These agents will optimize reservations, distribution, and guest experiences. Richard Valtr, Mews' founder, emphasized that the integration will unlock data for smarter operations. Viken Eldemir, CEO of DataChat, highlighted the transformational potential for intelligent personalization in hospitality, advancing Mews' AI roadmap for improved revenue and cost optimization.

💻 Kadam Jeet Jain appointed as CTO of the roomangel Foundation. Tasked with enhancing AI capabilities for their Hive platform, Jain's experience includes co-founding Treebo Hotels and scaling it to over 1,000 hotels in 120 cities. Roomangel's Hive analyzes billions of hotel rates daily, aiming to improve yield and reduce intermediary dependency. The platform aspires to be the AI engine for verified hotel data, transforming travel through real-time, authentic information.