Innovation

💻 March 17, 2026, Hilton launched an AI-powered trip planner on Hilton.com to control the booking journey. This tool targets the inspiration phase, guiding decisions and personalizing recommendations, reducing reliance on OTAs. Direct bookings enhance margins by cutting commission costs. The strategy aligns with industry trends of reclaiming control with technology, amidst rising competitive pressure from Marriott, IHG, and OTAs. Independent hotels may need to adapt their strategies in response to these changes.

🌍 Mar 17, 2026, Expedia adapts to AI-driven travel planning by embedding AI across its products, ensuring visibility on third-party AI platforms beyond its own. CEO Ariane Gorin emphasizes the shift from traditional searches to conversational interfaces. Expedia’s strategy includes integrating AI in customer experience, internal tools, and core technology to stay competitive. The goal is to become part of an AI-powered travel ecosystem, crucial for surfacing content in AI journeys and accelerating product development.

🗺 Mar 17, 2026. Google expands Google Maps with Gemini-powered features: Ask Maps and Immersive Navigation. Ask Maps uses conversational search for intuitive trip planning, while Immersive Navigation offers 3D visuals for enhanced driving guidance. These updates simplify user transition from inspiration to action within the app, integrating seamless journey execution. AI-driven, context-aware updates tailor experiences using user history and preferences, improving clarity with 3D terrain and situational awareness.

🍵 JING, a UK brand, unveiled its new luxury tea identity at the "Intrepid Infusions" exhibition, highlighting authentic, crafted tea experiences. The redesign emphasizes storytelling through bespoke illustrations and an updated logo. JING's Head of Tea samples thousands of teas annually, focusing on quality and unique flavors. They offer innovations for hospitality, like concentrated infusions and recipes, aiming to transform tea service into an immersive luxury experience. Discover more at jingtea.com.

📈 Five luxury hotels in London garnered 57% of AI recommendations from 2,700 queries, as revealed on Monday. Google's AI Mode shows a preference for OTAs over direct bookings. In a related development, RoomPriceGenie introduced Revenue Intelligence in collaboration with 15 PMS partners, enhancing pricing strategies.

For the first time, a hotel booking engine can operate fully through conversation and complete a reservation without redirecting to the website, including secure payment. We are not talking about…

📍 The soft brand doubled its U.S. portfolio in five years, growing to nearly 350 hotels globally. Over 100 additional hotels are in development.

📈 In a study of 2,700 AI queries, five luxury hotels in London garnered 57% of AI recommendations. Google AI Mode showed a preference for Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) over direct hotel bookings.

💻 At ITB Berlin 2026, Wolfgang Emperger and Otto K. Lindner discussed a "front desk-less" hotel future. HospitalityX, managing eight properties across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, is moving towards individualized brands. Their approach includes mobile check-ins at Düsseldorf's Zipper Hotel and maintaining traditional desks in the Black Forest resort. The emphasis is on harmonizing tech systems and investing in change management for a seamless guest experience, enhancing service and flexibility.