Innovation

🔍 U.S. lawmakers launched a probe on March 9, 2026, scrutinizing if companies like Booking Holdings, Expedia, Uber, and Lyft use AI for "surveillance pricing" by analyzing consumer data to set prices. The U.S. House Oversight Committee requested detailed information on pricing algorithms and data use from these firms. The inquiry highlights concerns over AI's role in fairness and transparency in pricing, potentially leading to new regulatory actions.

Republished article by @heynavtoor see original here. The people who are “getting” AI in 2026 aren’t the ones writing the cleverest prompts. They’re the ones who figured out Cowork. I…

📈 Global RevPAR increased by 19% since 2019, while booking costs rose by 25%. 2025 flow-through averaged 18% in the Americas and 29% in Europe, half of prior-year levels. Global inflation is projected at 3.2% for 2026. Hospitality labor shortages persist. Revenue & Profit Operating Systems (RP-OS) like those used by Grupo Posadas and Kata Group help manage demand divergences and coordination challenges for multi-property hotel chains, enhancing pricing, forecasting, and profitability.

🏆 Skift IDEA Awards offer early entry options with prices of $449 (Early Bird), $549 (Regular), and $599 (Final) until the July deadline. The awards feature 32 categories across six themes, such as hospitality, tourism, and travel technology. Submissions should include key elements like a challenge, innovation, originality, impact, and supporting materials. Judges assess purpose, innovation, originality, and impact, with strong entries showing measurable value for travelers and the industry.

💻 Novacancy London was held recently, highlighting significant trends in hospitality. Key attendees included Lionel Benjamin and Kalindi Juneja. Discussions emphasized a balance between technology and human touch in hospitality. Hoteliers were advised to choose interconnected tech, consult peers, and explore outside industries like retail for insights. AI content issues were noted, with 21% of YouTube Shorts described as 'AI slop'. For AI effectiveness, clarity, authority, reviews, brand consistency, and machine readability are crucial. The event stressed meaningful metrics over superficial ones for business success.

📈 India, 6th March 2026: RateGain launched Agentic ARI within its UNO CRS. With AI-driven logic, it prioritizes booking urgency, enhancing revenue and reliability. 70% of hotel bookings occur within 30 days of check-in. Agentic ARI reduces ARI traffic by 30-40%, improving booking precision. Bhanu Chopra, Founder of RateGain, highlights its role in reducing revenue leakage and increasing agility. RateGain, a global SaaS leader with 13,000+ customers, aims to expand this intelligence across its distribution portfolio.