Innovation

📈 Actabl launched Digital Night Audit, a product developed over several years to digitize the labor-intensive night audit process in hotels. Previously, night audit involved printing 50-60 pages nightly, requiring manual reviews and multiple approvals. The digital solution offers real-time portfolio-wide visibility, instant access to past audits, customized automation, and significantly reduces paper use, offering eco-friendly benefits. This enhances process efficiency, accountability, and audit readiness, aligning with the modern push for digitization in hospitality.

💼 L'Escale Royale, founded by the Dumont brothers, won the 2024 innovation award for its luxury floating suites in France, made from 98% sustainable materials. They aim for 1,000 suites by 2028. Kopster Hotels, a finalist, offers eco-friendly urban chic stays in Lyon, Colombes, and soon Paris. B&B HOME launched in 2024 in Saint-Ouen, focuses on sustainability with 31 rooms featuring kitchenettes. It plans expansions while promoting local initiatives. Join the Hospitality Awards 2025 for industry recognition!

💸 In 2024, Mews acquired Atomize, a cloud-based Revenue Management System (RMS) offering real-time pricing optimization and integration with the Mews ecosystem. Hotels using Atomize have reported significant benefits, including a 15-20% increase in RevPAR within six months, 20-30 hours saved monthly on manual tasks, and a 4-5% uplift in revenue. Kronen Hotels saw a 35% RevPAR increase, while The Local House achieved a 37% rise in ADR.

💻 Hotel Communication Network (HCN) is launching an AI Concierge tablet at HITEC Indianapolis, June 16-19 at the Indiana Convention Center. This ad-supported, human-like AI platform drives revenue for hotels with a subsidized cost model. Integrating with property-management systems, it achieves over 90% usage rates, far surpassing QR codes and apps. With a $11 trillion travel market, this can lead to significant revenue boosts. Opting out of housekeeping saves $15-$30 per room, covering tablet costs.

💻 Palona AI launched Restaurant AI, an AI sales assistant for the Pizza, Fast Casual, and QSR industry, after a successful pilot with Pizza My Heart. Now partnered with over 20 restaurants, including CaliBBQ and MOTO Pizza. Features include multilingual support, voice cloning, and secure payments. CEO Maria Zhang highlights its accuracy and upselling capabilities. New hires include Martin Briant and Chris Stanton, emphasizing Palona's expansion in hospitality tech. Restaurant AI seamlessly integrates with POS systems, enhancing customer engagement and loyalty.

💻 HCN will showcase its AI Concierge tablet at HITEC Indianapolis on June 16-19 at Booth #2803, Indiana Convention Center. The tablet integrates with hotel systems, offering voice-activated guest services and enabling loyalty program integration. Peer-reviewed research finds guests spend 3.5 hours daily in their rooms, optimizing brand message delivery. HCN's ad-supported model makes the platform affordable, potentially revenue-sharing with hotels. Opting out of housekeeping saves $15-$30 per room, surpassing tablet costs.

📱 June 16-19, Indianapolis: Hotel Communication Network (HCN) debuts its AI Concierge tablet at HITEC. Guests average 3.5 hours in-room, making tablets a key marketing tool, with 90% usage rates. HCN’s ad-supported model subsidizes costs, offering potential revenue shares for hotels. The platform integrates with existing hotel systems, promoting upsells, cross-sells, and loyalty programs. The global travel market is valued at $11 trillion. HCN offers a fee-paid model for those preferring ad-free solutions, saving $15-$30 per room.

📅 Dubai, April 2025: The world’s largest Visa Application Centre, run by VFS Global, has opened in Dubai’s Wafi City, serving 37 governments with over 200 counters. The facility spans nearly 150,000 square feet and can process up to 10,000 visa applications daily, with support from over 400 staff of 25 nationalities. Featuring tech-enabled kiosks, premium lounges, and advanced AI systems, the centre aligns with Dubai’s strategy for global mobility and community-focused innovation.

📰 AI is revolutionizing travel with 62% of trips planned after online content interaction and 75% influenced by social media. Andrew Harrison-Chinn, CMO of Dragonpass, highlights AI's role in using search data and engagement to predict traveler behavior. Dragonpass, serving over 40 million worldwide, offers personalized travel perks at 1,400+ airport lounges. They leverage digital interactions like Google searches and TikTok likes to enhance travel experiences, transforming journeys with tailor-made perks and intelligent algorithms.