Innovation

🏠 Amit Shamni, founder of Bridgify, discussed with the Everything AI in Travel podcast about Bridgify’s acquisition by HBX Group. Bridgify, created to streamline booking experiences, was built with an initial app costing $1,150. Despite taking 18 months to make its first dollar, the company thrived by aggregating diverse experiences and prioritizing B2B2C models. The Travel Operating System (TOS) integrates AI to enhance speed in product development. Full agentic travel commerce adoption is anticipated in 18–24 months.

🏨 Enseo, based in Plano, Texas, is now utilized in nearly 200,000 guestrooms and about 25 casino properties across the U.S. Enseo enhances casino hotels' revenue through in-room entertainment, TV marketing, and WiFi. This tech helps promote on-property activities, driving revenue in restaurants, bars, spas, and casinos. CEO Brian Gurley emphasizes Enseo's role in enhancing guest experience and operational efficiency in the 24/7 casino hotel environment.

💻 Venuelocity launched vProposal, an AI-enabled sales platform for the hospitality industry. It addresses inefficiencies by integrating property details and event agendas into a mobile-optimized interface, syncing with CRM systems. It offers AI-driven content and 360-degree tours. Mekell Barker, SVP at Venuelocity, highlights its ability to enhance sales efficiency. Venuelocity is powered by a large network of planners in the U.S., focusing on streamlining the lead lifecycle and increasing productivity. For more details, visit venuelocity.com/vproposal.

🏨 Boutique hotels and luxury resorts must deliver quality experiences despite limited resources. Individual tech solutions like EMS, digital keys, and Wi-Fi often lead to operational silos. Integrated systems enhance guest experiences and operational efficiency. Reliable connectivity supports digital and energy solutions, reducing manual tasks and cutting costs. Nomadix, a trusted supplier for over 25 years, offers scalable Wi-Fi solutions in 150+ countries, enabling properties to seamlessly connect and manage guest experiences.

📅 Rome Future Week 2026 highlights Simone Puorto's thesis on "Humans-as-Luxury," emphasizing the value of human interaction as AI automates hospitality tasks. The GCC and North Africa's hotel pipeline, valued at $90 billion, aims for 200,000 new rooms by 2030, with Saudi Arabia leading construction efforts. Houston hotels enjoyed a 5.8% ADR increase to $131.67 during the FIFA World Cup, despite flat occupancy at 61.6%. Kimpton Tres Ríos launched as Mexico's first all-inclusive resort.

🛌 Avalora, led by Mark Cederloff, introduces VAIA, an AI assistant for hotels, enhancing guest interactions via voice, text, and more. With Avalora’s Cloud PBX and VAIA, hotels gain a unified communication platform, boosting productivity by up to 60%. Avalora supports hotels across North America, the UK, and Europe, ensuring compliance with GDPR. The technology seamlessly integrates with existing hotel systems, improving operations and guest experiences. Avalora provides 24/7 support, aiming to expand its global reach.

🏨 On September 23, 2026, Stayntouch completed a PMS migration across Imperial London Hotels, including the 1,379-room Royal National Hotel—the largest in Western Europe. The migration covered seven properties in Bloomsbury, London, enhancing operations and guest services. Self-service kiosks and digital check-ins were part of the innovation. The process was phased without disruption, proving Stayntouch's capacity to manage large-scale operations. Neil Braude, COO, emphasized the collaborative success with Stayntouch in this technological upgrade.

💻 Fewer than one-third of organizations have scaled AI beyond pilot phases, according to McKinsey's "State of AI 2025". By early 2025, over $1 billion was invested in hospitality-tech ventures, indicating industry interest in AI tools. Challenges include data integration and trust in AI for decision-making, especially in revenue management. Hotels often remain in "AI pilot purgatory," hesitant to let AI influence commercial decisions. Successful AI adoption begins with specific goals and integrating AI into everyday operations.

📅 September 23, 2026, Cloudbeds announced a partnership with Oolio in San Diego and Sydney, connecting 22,000+ Australian venues. The integration links Cloudbeds’ hospitality management with Oolio’s Bepoz, Swiftpos, and Idealpos systems, enhancing guest activity and revenue management. Operators benefit from decreased billing errors and manual processing, supporting multiple venue operations. This partnership extends Cloudbeds’ reach within Australia, simplifying complex hospitality management without added complexity for teams.

🛸 In Rome, Italy, on September 21, 2026, Rome Future Week launched its 2026 edition. The event titled “Humans-as-Luxury” was held at Villa Spalletti Trivelli and featured discussions on human connection's value in AI's age. Simone Puorto, among others, led the discourse on preserving humanity in hospitality amidst automation. Sponsored by Hoxell, participants explored automation's role in hospitality, emphasizing the balance between technology and human interaction. The event was part of a city-wide festival on innovation.