Innovation

💻 Septeo Hospitality clinched the Food Hotel Tech 2026 Innovation Award for Witbooking AI, a booking engine integrated with Ulyses Suite, during the 14–15 April event at Porte de Versailles. The AI-driven tool enhances hotel booking journeys, boosting direct bookings and personalizing experiences. Septeo, with 250,000 European professionals, 3,600 employees, and €460 million revenue in 2025, invests €80 million annually in R&D, targeting conversion and revenue growth amid competitive online travel agency landscapes.

🚀 Timeshifter, a circadian tech company, raised $5.3 million in funding on April 15, led by Skip Capital. It is expanding from jet lag solutions, with 1.6 million users, to shift work and healthcare. Strategic backers include Scott Farquhar, Nico Rosberg, and others. The app reports 96.4% of users avoid severe jet lag. The company collaborates with major airlines and aims to address circadian issues in sectors involving around 20% of shift workers globally.

📈 Amadeus published the Travel Dreams 2026 results, based on data from 6,000 travelers and 500 hoteliers across six and nine countries, respectively. It reveals travel's growing role in mental health, with 41% seeking a calmer state and a third eyeing digital detoxes. A 150-room hotel might earn an extra $1 million annually through attribute-based sales. Sustainability influences 75% of hotel choices, with an accepted premium of 11.7%. AI aids 69% in search decisions. Fieldwork was in late 2025.

📰 Apr 17, 2026, AI is integral in hotel marketing for faster content across channels. Risks include generic content and weaker brand identity. Key points: A strong, clear brand voice differentiates hotels; unclear voices suffer. Consistency issues arise with scaling and multiple AI users. Guidelines and human editing are crucial for alignment and accuracy. Hotels using authentic voices can justify pricing better. Effective AI use requires real insights and structured inputs for improved content relevance.

📈 Apr 17, 2026, Expedia Group reports that while 68% of travelers prefer booking through trusted brands, AI is popular for trip discovery and planning. Only a minority use AI like ChatGPT for booking, with 59% relying on search engines and 49% on online travel agencies. Trust issues, including data privacy and post-booking support, hinder AI adoption. Established brands leverage trust, offering reliable customer service and maintaining industry dominance.

🏨 September 16-17, 2026, Miami Beach hosts the Independent Hotel Show Miami, gathering luxury, boutique, and independent hotel communities from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The two-day event offers curated inspiration, meaningful networking, and innovative solutions for hoteliers. An engaging education program with expert insights aims to support the industry's business enhancement efforts.

🏨 Topmast Motel in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, offers a serene stay with clean rooms and scenic views. This family-run property is conveniently located near shops, cafes, a waterfront, and a golf course. To enhance operations, Topmast Motel has implemented the WebRezPro Property Management System.

📈 As of April 15, 2026, Mews launched Mews Business Intelligence (Mews BI), a native data analysis tool for hotel management. 1,000 early customers have already adopted it. Mews BI offers customizable dashboards, automated report delivery, and integrates with external data sources like Google Ads, enhancing decision-making for hotels. Designed to streamline operations, it provides insights on revenue, occupancy, and bookings. Hostels will gain access to Mews BI in the latter half of 2026.

💵 RMS, on May 5, 2025, in London, announced integration with GoCardless to help hospitality operators handle rising payment costs and margin pressures. Card processing fees typically range from 1.5% to 3%, often higher for online or manual transactions. The integration enables direct bank payments, including direct debit and real-time payments, aiming to reduce costs and improve payment reliability for deposits, installments, and longer stays. RMS CEO, Adam Seskis, emphasizes strategic payment methods for cost control.

📈 Storey Hotel Management Group expands its partnership with Stayntouch, utilizing their cloud-based PMS to support six properties with over 500 rooms, including The Fairlane Hotel and The Walton Residence. The platform enhances scalability, accelerates onboarding, and integrates with evolving technologies. Jonathan Holcomb, VP at Storey, emphasizes the strategic growth and maintaining hotel individuality, while Priya Rajamani, SVP at Stayntouch, highlights the focus on efficient scaling and resource support for optimal performance.