Innovation

📦 Peter Tziahanas, EVP of Hotel Equities, highlights the shift from manual procurement to digital, predictive analytics in the hospitality industry. Labor shortages and fluctuating costs challenge operators, necessitating creative sourcing and ‘just-in-case’ inventory planning. Amazon Business improves efficiency with solutions that integrate shopping, shipping, and analysis. Tools like Business Prime and Spend Visibility facilitate fast, cost-effective purchasing, optimizing time and inventory. These strategies aim to maintain guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.

📈 Traffic to travel sites from AI sources is up 1,700% YoY. 50% of searches are now conversational, driven by large language models. Cloudbeds released the first industry report on AI-driven visibility. They studied hotel recommendations in 6 cities using 800+ prompts. Cloudbeds optimizes websites for AI and traditional search, enhancing reviews with AI. Structured data signals and AI integrations like ChatGPT are coming soon. Read the full report to future-proof your hotel’s digital presence.

🏨 Shamim Ehsani, co-founder of Tribe Hotel in Nairobi, explains how belonging and generosity are key competitive advantages in hospitality amid AI advancements. Hosted by Danica Smith, founder of MorningStar GX, this episode emphasizes the importance of genuine guest engagement, cultural connections, and radical generosity. Music for the show is by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound.

📅 Industry powerhouses Amit Rahav, Leah Rankin, Martin Soler, Frank Trampert, Jens Egemalm, and Jan Popovic discuss AI and real-time data transforming travel booking in a LinkedIn Live session. Moderated by Enzo Aita, the event covers AI-native booking experiences, effective hyper-personalization, and strategies for hoteliers and tech players to avoid obsolescence. Join from anywhere to witness tomorrow’s booking battlefield strategy and technology fusion.

🤖 HyperGuest hosted a #LinkedInLive event on the Future of #TravelBooking, AI, and Hyper-personalization. Jens Egemalm noted the hospitality industry's slow tech adoption, with AI expected to enhance operations, not replace jobs. Martin Soler highlighted AI's current limitations in manual tasks. Amy Read stated around 40% of travelers use AI for hotel research, with nearly 50% trusting AI recommendations. Leah Rankin emphasized AI's role in enhancing hospitality. All speakers agreed on the inevitable AI revolution. 🌐

🗺 June 26 @ 2:00 PM CET, a LinkedInLive event titled "The Future of Travel Booking: AI-Powered, Instant, and Hyper-Personalized" will take place. Industry leaders from HyperGuest, Sabre Corporation, SiteMinder, Pandox, Soler & Associates, and inHotel will discuss how AI and real-time data are revolutionizing hotel bookings. The discussion aims to help hotels appear in AI search results, currently dominated by OTAs. Don't miss this #HospitalityInnovation event!

💻 In June 2025, Lighthouse launched Connect AI, an AI engine to bridge hotels and AI travel platforms. Hotels face missed opportunities without AI strategies, as no hotel brand ranks in the top 10 AI-driven travel search results. Fast AI adoption is evident, with ChatGPT reaching 100 million users in three months. Phocuswright reports 50% of travelers plan to use generative AI for leisure travel in the next year. Connect AI enhances hotel discoverability, offering personalized travel recommendations.

💻 HBX Group, a B2B travel technology marketplace, partners with Wallbid, backed by Fairfax, to offer Cybersential, a cyber risk assessment service. Available to European hospitality businesses, it identifies vulnerabilities, aids compliance, and offers cyber insurance. With rising cyber threats, hotels can secure digital operations, protect guest data, and maintain compliance. HBX's initiative reflects the need for cyber resilience as hotels digitize. Interested partners can access the service through HBX Group's platform.

✈️ ECTAA partners with Travel Ledger to modernize European travel payments. This initiative aims to adopt secure digital payment strategies, cutting costs and risks linked to traditional methods. Travel Ledger's platform enhances efficiency by automating settlements and transactions. The partnership involves national travel associations and industry stakeholders promoting best practices, with activities including webinars and industry events. Leaders Eric Drésin and Roberto Da Re highlight the benefits for travel businesses across Europe.

🛑 June 18 marks China’s 618 Shopping Day, the second-biggest online shopping event of the year. Gareth Matthews, Dida’s CMO, emphasizes that this day triggers Chinese consumers' travel planning. Ignoring it means missing opportunities in the Chinese market. Hotels can gain by offering exclusive deals and flexible cancellations. Travel platforms must use AI for hyper-relevant itineraries. Destinations should align with the Chinese travel calendar for greater impact. Key to success: adapting to Chinese consumer behaviors and important dates.