Innovation

📈 Cloudbeds spent 13 years developing a unified data model for hospitality. Mews raised $300 million, marking its 14th acquisition. Cloudbeds focuses on simplicity with a single data model. Mews bets on a modular ecosystem, with 20 agents for 20 workflows. The strategic divergence highlights Cloudbeds' all-in-one approach versus Mews' flexible platform. Investors fund Mews for its expansive API potential. The key question for operators: whose roadmap aligns with AI workflows needed by 2028?

🗺 KAYAK, Norwalk, Connecticut—In 2026, KAYAK launched Ask AI, a conversational tool for travel planning, coinciding with the World Cup. The AI allows real-time trip updates and comparisons. Kansas City saw a 168% rise in flight searches. Hotel prices increased by 36% in the U.S., 55% in Canada, and 119% in Mexico. Germany, the UK, and Colombia lead in flight searches to the U.S. during the tournament.

LONDON, 28 April 2026 – RMS, a leading global hospitality technology platform, has announced a new partnership with Pride of Britain Hotels (PoB Hotels), a curated collection of over 50 of the UK’s finest…

🛩 AirAsia Move CEO, Nadia Omer, discusses trends in travel preferences of Gen Z, highlighting their reliance on AI for personalized recommendations. Trust in Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) is expected to grow, driven by improved digital experiences. AirAsia Move is focusing on enhancing AI capabilities to better meet the needs of this demographic. With a strong emphasis on data, the company aims to revolutionize the travel industry, tapping into insights to cater to evolving consumer behaviors.

📊 Apr 28, 2026: Corporate buyers now enter negotiations with AI-benchmarked rates. Tools have shifted rate analysis to buyers in corporate, group, and leisure segments. The traditional hotel sales model, which relied on sellers' informational advantage, is obsolete. AI and data platforms equip buyers to bypass sales intermediaries. Sales tech spend rises, yet conversion rates drop. Remaining sales functions include differentiation, exception handling, and negotiation. The asymmetry that once justified sales roles is gone, demanding a reevaluation of sales strategies.

🏨 High-end hotels are leading the hospitality sector in 2026 by leveraging data-driven revenue management and marketing strategies. Upscale properties are adopting all-inclusive trends to meet guests' demands for simplicity and personalized experiences. "Hushpitality" is a trend focusing on minimal disruptions. Luxury now includes local design themes, as guests value beauty and a connection to the locale. Revenue management is pivotal in shaping demand, ensuring luxury becomes a standard across price points, not just a segment.

💻 London—A joint report by RMS and RoomPriceGenie reveals that over 80% of hospitality professionals face stress from tech issues, as many manage 10+ systems. 42% spend 1-3 hours weekly fixing these problems, with 5% spending over 7 hours. Nearly 70% of operators rate data accuracy poorly. The industry is urged to adopt a "Hospitality Engineer" mindset, blending service with tech skills to minimize manual work and boost efficiency, especially with AI and automation on the rise.