Innovation

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OTA players, big tech, and Google I/O keep announcing major updates. It’s hard to keep up. And it should terrify tour operators. Or excite them. Depends on how you play it. Tripadvisor’s CEO just… | Ari Adnan Cibari | 23 comments

🌐 Tripadvisor's CEO reports ongoing declines in "flyby visitors" due to AI overviews. OpenAI partners with Expedia and Booking.com. Google launches Project Mariner, an AI agent for browsing, price monitoring, and booking. Only 15-25 million people pay for AI subscriptions, while 1.3 billion use free tools, leaving over 6 billion untouched by AI. Tour operators need direct booking systems and AI-friendly websites to stay relevant. AI commoditizes generic travel, increasing the value of bespoke experiences.
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Amadeus Sets First Multi-Year Growth Target as AI Reshapes Travel Tech

💰 Amadeus announced its first three-year earnings growth target, detailing expectations of low double-digit growth in earnings per share (EPS) from 2026 to 2028. Released with its 2025 financial results, the company also projects high single-digit revenue growth. This marks a new strategic approach for the travel-technology giant. This information was presented on a Friday in a slide deck, highlighting Amadeus's commitment to transparency with investors.
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Diamond Oaks Ranch

🌲 In Ledbetter, Texas, Diamond Oaks Ranch offers family fun with activities like a swimming pool, arcade, and baseball fields for youth tournaments. Adults can enjoy the beer garden and live music. They've upgraded to the cloud-based WebRezPro Property Management System to enhance guest experiences.
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Choice Hotels Kicks Off 11th Annual Mastery Tech Innovation Summit

💻 Choice Hotels International hosted its 11th annual Mastery tech summit in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 800 associates gathered to engage in workshops and competitions focused on AI, cloud platforms, and cybersecurity. Activities included "Capture the Flag" challenges and an AWS AI league. Engineers participated in Make-a-Thon competitions to develop software for company operations. Winning teams received cash prizes. Brian Kirkland emphasized using emerging tech to enhance business intelligence and operational efficiency at Choice Hotels.
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Airbnb Is Testing Airport Pickups. Are Flights Next? | Dennis Schaal | 23 comments

✈️ Airbnb might eventually launch flights, aiming to expand beyond its core home rentals by becoming a "travel concierge." Unlike hospitality brands like Hilton or Marriott, which don't offer flights, OTAs like Booking see flights enhancing the "connected trip." The question remains if consumers will turn to Airbnb for flights and how it would impact their home and hotel business. Industry reports have hinted at such moves since 2016. Will it succeed like OTAs or not add value like hotels?
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Hapi Announces Launch of Folio Finder

📈 MIAMI, Florida—Hapi launched Folio Finder, allowing hotel brands and technology providers to quickly access guest folios and invoices across properties and PMSs through a standard API. This innovation provides real-time access to billing records, eliminating the need for complex system navigation and reducing guest delays. Hapi's CEO, Jeff Bzdawka, highlights its efficiency in multi-PMS environments, enhancing guest services, finance, and technology systems with a reliable, API-first, cloud-native solution.
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Shiji Deploys Infrasys POS at MICHELIN-Starred Baan Tepa in Thailand

🍴 February 27, 2026, Bangkok, Thailand: Shiji's Infrasys POS is deployed at MICHELIN-starred Baan Tepa Culinary Space. This system integrates operations, managing reservations and inventory, enhancing guest experiences. Chef Tam Chudaree Debhakam highlights its transformation of daily operations. James Liaw, Shiji's General Manager, emphasizes technology's role in Thailand's rapidly evolving F&B sector. Shiji supports 91,000 hotels globally with 5,000 employees, enhancing efficiency and service standards in hospitality.
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We Just Launched an AI Platform Built for Destination Marketing. Here’s Why.

🤖 Swix AI, a new AI automation platform, launched today to streamline destination marketing organizations (DMOs). Developed by a team with 16 years of industry experience, Swix AI reduces manual tasks like board reports and RFP responses via AI Teammates, reducing time from days to minutes. It integrates with tools like Gmail and Outlook and features customizable AI models such as GPT and Claude. Swix AI aims to maintain organizational knowledge, enhance productivity, and minimize onboarding time.
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The Death of Booking.com is Vastly Exaggerated Lately I’ve heard the pitch: “AI will kill the OTA.” The theory is seductive. In the near future, your personal AI agent will know you want a 4-star… | Joni Pekkala

📈 In the early 2000s, the music industry predicted the end of record labels due to digitalization. Similarly, some believe AI will end OTAs like Booking.com. However, OTAs such as Booking.com and Expedia, backed by vast marketing budgets, are evolving with AI. Trust, budget advantages, and user interfaces give them an edge. Locations like Rovaniemi to Tromsø should focus on product superiority and unique branding to attract guests directly, rather than relying on OTA algorithms.
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Guest Post: The Hotel conversion boom

🏨 Across Europe, ageing hotels are being converted into tech-enabled serviced apartments due to rising construction costs, operational inefficiencies, and evolving guest expectations. These conversions, driven by companies like Bob W, offer self-service flexibility, reducing labour and operational costs. Serviced apartments yield better returns than traditional hotels, especially in Germany and the Nordics. Conversions are quicker and cheaper than new builds, offering both financial and environmental benefits, and align well with today’s digital-savvy travelers' preferences.
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