Innovation

🏗️ Three companies, including Eversendai and Webuild, have withdrawn from the NEOM megaproject's Line and Trojena ski resort in Saudi Arabia, impacting construction in the Tabuk mountains. Hyundai Engineering & Consulting's tunnel contract for the Line was also canceled. Meanwhile, the Trojena ski resort will no longer host the 2029 Asian Winter Games. Despite these setbacks, Eversendai reports stability in its other regional projects.

📺 Google Ads' Veo tool offers early access for video ad creation. It generates up to 10-second videos from static images, allowing two variations per generation. Users can add headlines, logos, and branding details. Music selection is automated, with five text and transition templates available. Tests with a grocer showed strong results, while wet shaving kits had mixed outcomes. Mechanical models impressed with appropriate animation. Veo suits consumer brands with clear visuals but lacks feedback mechanisms and consistency for reliable results.

🎧 Spotify introduces new ad formats and tools, enhancing engagement for brands. Sponsored Playlists now allow brands like Cricket Wireless 100% share of voice on popular playlists such as RapCaviar and New Music Friday. Carousel Ads, tested by brands like Priceline, offer a swipeable format with up to six cards. New campaign tools include split testing and automated bidding, improving performance. The Sound-On Era report, based on 5,000 consumers and 105 advertisers, highlights evolving consumer audio engagement.

💻 At Actabl, AI asset setup is transforming hotel workflows by speeding up technology setup and time-to-value. Snap equipment photos, and AI quickly builds asset profiles, enabling preventive maintenance and avoiding outages and expenses. This offering showcases AI's real value in the hotel industry. Special thanks to Emma Christensen, Roger Robles, Jerimi Ford, Stephen German, and the Actabl team for their efforts. Explore more at: [link](https://lnkd.in/eK9A96a7).

💻 In 2025, OTAs are projected to hold 63% of online hotel bookings for independents, with AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini citing OTAs over 50% of the time, primarily Booking.com. While hotels can secure 56% of direct AI-assisted bookings by controlling their content, most miss out due to lack of visibility. OTAs currently hold 55% of global online bookings. The challenge is mastering structured content to bypass the 15–25% commission channels.

🏨 In hospitality, guest ownership is a myth. The real battle is for influence, which is fragmented across platforms like Instagram, ChatGPT, TripAdvisor, and Booking.com. Hotels often err by focusing on control through direct bookings, CRM, and loyalty programs, missing the fact that decisions form much earlier. Successful hotels build preference, clarity, and trust before booking, ensuring they become the obvious choice rather than a mere commodity. The key question: "Where are we losing the decision?

🏨 Apr 3, 2026, hotels face significant data fragmentation costs, affecting productivity and revenue. A HEDNA survey reveals 80% of hotels spend 1-2 days weekly on data reconciliation, costing $10,000-$22,000 annually per staff. Labor costs, mispricing, and guest complaints are common issues. AI can help, but only 41% of independent hotels use it effectively. Most need better data infrastructure to leverage AI benefits, unlike larger chains, which have unified systems.

🏨 HD Expo, presented by *Hospitality Design* magazine, unveiled a new brand identity in partnership with forceMajeure. The refreshed look is inspired by architectural thresholds and features vibrant coral and magenta tones. This rebrand reflects the evolution of the event, which includes conference programming, product sourcing, and relationship building. Attendees can experience the new identity at HD Expo, taking place from May 5-7 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

💻 Independent hotels face challenges as AI, including Google's AI Mode, favors booking through OTAs like Booking.com due to cost efficiency and data clarity. AI simplifies hotel profiles, often overlooking unique attributes and directly impacting branding and customer relationships. Independent hotels can counter this by providing clear, machine-readable information on their own domains, ensuring AI recognizes and prioritizes their direct booking paths to maintain brand integrity and margins.