Innovation

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Innovation and technology news for the hospitality industry: AI, digital tools and how hotels are transforming, from 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers.

Uber Partners with Expedia to Expand Travel Services, Projects $1.5 Billion in Advertising Revenue for 2025

📱 Uber's collaboration with Expedia allows hotel bookings through its app, announced during the "Go — Get" keynote by CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Uber seeks to become a travel super-app, contrasting with former CEO Travis Kalanick's AI-focused ATOM. Uber's "Book with Voice" feature leverages AI for travel planning, amid a rise in AI-powered services. Eats advertising drives $1.5 billion annually by Q1 2025. Building custom AI solutions is now efficient and cost-effective, with potential high returns.
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  • 4 min

Hotel Revenue Strategies Must Shift from Competitive Set Analysis to Unified Demand Forecasting for Profitability

📈 Three teams, three forecasts, one loss: Sales, Revenue, and Marketing teams at a hotel operated separately, causing a missed opportunity of €11,000 when a 200-room group was priced at €110 instead of €165. Despite RGI being up, profit decreased due to a shift to OTAs and increased CAC. A unified forecast approach across all revenue streams, including F&B and ancillary services, is needed to prevent these inconsistencies and optimize revenue.
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12Go Launches ChatGPT App to Simplify Search for 730,000+ Asian Routes with Over 20,000 Operators

🛸 12Go launched a ChatGPT app to search Asia's transport routes using natural language. The app lets users find buses, ferries, and trains from local providers, completing bookings on 12Go's site or app. Travelier CEO Noam Toister highlights its potential to enhance Asian travel accessibility. 12Go reports selling over 8.7 million tickets in 2025, covering 730,000+ routes and 20,000 operators in 140+ markets, streamlining trip planning and reducing friction.
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Uber Expands Travel Services with Uber Boat Launch in Europe and Hotel Booking Partnership in the U.S.

🚀 Uber will launch Uber Boat in June 2026 across Croatia, Spain, France, Italy, and Portugal, with 50,000 vessels via Click&Boat. In the U.S., Uber will offer over 700,000 hotel bookings with Expedia and Vrbo rentals by late 2026. Uber One members get 20% off select hotels and 10% back in credits. A partnership with Accor allows earning points in Europe and the Middle East. The Travel Mode concierge will debut in the U.S., Canada, UK, Mexico, and Australia.
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  • 2 min

Uber Partners with Expedia to Enable Hotel Bookings for Over 700,000 Properties via Uber App

🏨 Uber, during its annual GO–GET event, announced new features including hotel bookings through a partnership with Expedia Group. This collaboration aims to offer U.S. users access to over 700,000 hotels globally, with Uber One members receiving 10% back on bookings and savings on 10,000 hotels. Vacation rentals via Vrbo will be added. Integration into Expedia's app begins in June, enhancing travel convenience. Uber also launched Travel Mode for curated local recommendations.
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Accor Entrusts Interior Architect Maxime d'Angeac with Designing 220-Metre Orient Express Sailing Ship

🛳 In April 2026, the 220-meter Orient Express Corinthian sailing ship, with interiors by architect Maxime d'Angeac, was christened in Saint-Nazaire. Notable features include 54 suites, a 230 m² Presidential Suite, and 600 custom furniture pieces. The ship boasts wind propulsion via SolidSail technology and a hybrid LNG system, cutting 9,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. Mediterranean and Caribbean cruises start in May 2026. The sister ship, Orient Express Olympian, launches in April 2027.
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