Innovation

✈️ Google is developing an AI-powered tool to book flights and hotels, announced Monday. The tool will serve as a travel hub, allowing users to plan trips, compare flights and hotels, and make bookings. Partners include Booking.com, Expedia, and Marriott International. Julie Farago, VP of Engineering, indicated the project is in its early stages. This effort is part of Google's broader initiative to integrate AI into travel planning and booking processes.

📰 MGM Resorts plans to implement digital keys across U.S. hotels next quarter, enhancing the guest experience. Harry Reid International Airport tests AI for smoother passenger flow, reducing wait times. Nevada lawmakers propose a blockchain study for casino auditing. A Las Vegas restaurant partners with a vertical farm for local ingredients. A local plant secures a lunar rover contract, boosting tech jobs. The Sphere debuts an augmented reality app. These initiatives showcase Las Vegas's integration of tech, hospitality, and sustainability.

CHICAGO, IL, 18 November — PriceLabs’ Global Host Report 2025, a new survey of more than 1,400 short-term rental hosts around the world, has found that while technology and AI adoption is rising among…

💻 AI Mode's agentic booking for U.S. users launches this week, enabling restaurant reservations through partners like OpenTable and Resy. Event ticketing and local appointment bookings are already available for Google Labs users. Future plans include direct flight and hotel bookings, offering comparisons on schedules, prices, and amenities. Collaborations with industry partners aim to streamline travel planning from research to booking.

🏨 Mandarin Oriental plans to more than double its global footprint in the next decade, having added seven properties in two years with over 30 more in development. Laurent Kleitman became the group CEO in September 2023. Luxury hospitality is forecasted to grow nearly 10% per year over the next five years. The company focuses on human connection, investing in talent through initiatives like the Rising Fans program, and integrating AI to enhance guest experiences.

📱 November 18, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA: Shiji unveils Infrasys POS Move, enhancing mobile hospitality. This innovation allows hotel staff to serve guests anywhere (lobby, pool, restaurant) with iOS devices, enhancing service speed and connection. Initial trials processed hundreds of transactions within hours. Shiji, supporting over 91,000 hotels globally with 5,000 employees, focuses on seamless guest service. IPORT's hardware complements this system, ensuring operational reliability in diverse hospitality settings.

📈 Change management in the hotel industry involves structured methods to implement new processes and tech, enhancing operations and guest experiences. During the pandemic, adaptive hotels thrived. Challenges include staff resistance, tech integration issues, and operational constraints. Solutions: clear communication, staff engagement, tech investment, and standardized processes. Benefits: better guest experiences, employee retention, and profitability. Strategies include setting SMART goals, piloting changes, and celebrating milestones. Tools like Mews PMS aid successful transitions.

🏨 The Hotel Folk, a group of six privately run hotels in Suffolk, has seen its Net Promoter Score rise from 52 in 2021 to 63.5 in 2025. Embracing GuestRevu and AI-powered insights, they’ve improved guest feedback handling and personalisation. Centralised data allows for effective marketing and operational enhancements. AI aids in review management, improving response times and Google rankings, while refurbishment targeting enhances guest experience. The balance of technology and dedicated staff drives their success in hospitality.

✈️ Nov 18, 2025, Google launched a global expansion of its AI travel features. The Flight Deals tool now operates in 200+ countries and supports 60+ languages. Users can describe their travel plans, and AI offers the best fares. AI Mode’s Canvas generates itineraries using real-time data. In the U.S., AI handles restaurant, events, and wellness bookings. Future updates will allow hotel and flight bookings directly in AI Mode. Read more: TechCrunch