Innovation

🏨 PPHE Hotel Group, on 30 June 2026, announced a partnership with Hudini to roll out digital solutions across 17 European properties, including a guest-facing web app and mobile wallet. The project aims to enhance service delivery, empower hotel teams, and improve guest experiences. The initiative already features self-service kiosks in 15 hotels, starting with Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London, promoting a smoother, more connected guest journey while supporting PPHE's long-term technology strategy.

💻 June 30, 2026, in Berlin, Germany: Shiji implemented its Infrasys POS solution for Suncani Hvar Hotels, modernizing food and beverage operations across nine properties and 40 outlets on Hvar Island, Croatia. The cloud-based POS standardizes operations, enhances efficiency, and improves reporting. The project commenced with the official go-live on April 25, 2026. Suncani Hvar aims to strengthen operations and support future growth while maintaining service quality across its diverse hospitality portfolio.

📌 84% of US and European travelers prioritize bed bug-free accommodations over amenities like Wi-Fi and air conditioning. Surveying 1,082 travelers from the US, UK, and France, Phocuswright finds bed bug safety as the top hotel concern, with 57% in the US, 55% in France, and 53% in the UK deeming it an "extreme concern." 78% of guests check reviews for bed bugs, and 84% prefer certified 4-star hotels over non-certified 5-star ones at the same price.

📋 Hotelogix launched the Multi-Property Manager to aid hotel groups in achieving centralized control and visibility. Headquartered in Bangalore, Grand Continent Hotels Ltd. operates 25 properties with over 1,200 rooms, managing 13 directly (12 in India, 1 in Dubai). The tool allows corporate teams to access real-time data on revenue, occupancy, and more, using a single sign-on. The Henry Hotels and Resorts in the Philippines, managing 12 properties, plans to utilize this for real-time performance tracking.

🏨 Google Gemini delivers hotel search results efficiently by providing recommendations, prices, and links, but it does not complete bookings. It passes users to platforms like Google Hotels. This approach reflects Google's advertising business model. While Gemini uses Google's Hotel Ads stack for live rates, newer aggregators face challenges with date-specific queries. The industry's push and pull connectivity remains a challenge; push provides recommendations, while real-time pull is needed for bookings, highlighting a persistent gap in direct-booking processes.

💻 In the hospitality sector, the average hotel operates with over 15 different systems that often don't communicate, leading to data silos. The core issue is not AI, but data management. At Hapi, the focus is on moving the right data to the right place, at the right time, making it accessible across the organization. This enables automations, better decision-making, and more guest-focused service. Conversations on this topic were recently held at HITEC with The Modern Hotelier.

💻 Hotel tech revolves around Property Management Systems (PMS), designed for asset management rather than guest-centric data. Fragmented systems lead to inconsistent guest identification across platforms like CRM and POS. Investing in AI without fixing data issues results in revenue leakage, inefficient marketing, and weakened loyalty programs. Success lies in trusted data infrastructure, with a focus on data ownership and governance. Hotels must prioritize foundational data integrity over flashy AI tools for genuine operational efficiency.

📲 Crafted by GCSTIMES, a floral-shaped wooden hotel key card made from responsibly sourced cherry wood doubles as a 360° rotating phone grip. This multifunctional design offers guests a comfortable hold while engaging in activities like watching videos or taking selfies by the pool. Beyond serving as just an access key, it enhances the guest experience, promoting interaction and convenience. Emphasizing sustainability and thoughtful design, these key cards aim to add value throughout the hotel stay.