Innovation

📅 MCLEAN, Virginia—In 2026, Hilton's "Why We Gather" Report reveals key trends in meetings and events. Conducted with Ipsos, the survey of over 3,000 adults from the U.S., U.K., and India shows 84% value bringing their authentic selves to work events. Nearly half (49%) attend to meet new people, while 67% find AI assistance beneficial. Wellness and cultural experiences are crucial, with 67% needing downtime to stay engaged, and 38% preferring solo recharging.

🗺️ 78% of travelers using AI book trips based on its recommendations, with 90% aware of AI's travel capabilities. Among AI users, 63% rely on it for most trips, and 94% trust AI as much as traditional sources. AI saves users 1-3 hours per trip, enhancing confidence for 38% and aiding discovery for 35%. For hotels, 84% of travelers are more likely to book if AI recommends them, emphasizing the need for clear, structured property information.

🏖️ Phoenix, Arizona—In late 2026, construction will start on the Atari Hotels Phoenix by Atari Hotels and Intersection Development. The 90,000-square-foot property will feature a 20,000-square-foot concert center for 2,000 people, a 10,000-square-foot esports venue, and nightlife spaces. It will include 19 suites and 72 rooms, symbolizing Atari's founding year, 1972. The design, inspired by “Tron” and “Blade Runner,” will feature responsive surfaces and LED-lit elements.

🎵 Noelle Nashville, located in downtown Nashville, enhances guest experiences by equipping every room with Marshall Bluetooth speakers, distributed by Safemark Systems. This initiative aligns with the hotel's music-centric ethos, featuring a Ryman Vinyl Suite with a curated vinyl collection. Marshall speakers, known for their iconic design and superior sound, are easy to connect via Bluetooth. This partnership reflects a trend in the hospitality industry towards premium, immersive guestroom amenities.

💻 Cloudbeds partners with Ágora POS on January 20, 2026, in San Diego, CA, enhancing hotel operations with integrated systems in Spain. The partnership centralizes revenue, improves regulatory compliance, and ensures reliable operations. Cloudbeds, trusted across 150 countries, and Ágora, with 40 years of POS experience, aim to unify financial flows and enhance guest experiences for hotels, easing operational challenges. Hotel executives benefit from accurate reporting, faster financial processes, and consolidated billing.

By Ryan MacLagan, VP of Business Development at LodgIQ Every revenue manager knows the frustration: performance drops unexpectedly, pickup slows, or ADRs fluctuate without a clear reason. The system shows…

💬 Simone Puorto was featured on Tasto9, an Italian podcast by Bee Family, hosted by Emilio Zorini. He shared his professional journey in hospitality, emphasizing intellectual mobility and the importance of unlearning. In 1999, Puorto developed a proto PMS while working night shifts at a Trappist hotel. He now leads Travel Singularity, advocating for transparency and client-focused consultancy. His career spans over 20 years, consulting for numerous international hotel groups and travel tech vendors.

💻 In 2026, hoteliers need an optimized website, acting as a virtual front desk, to enhance direct bookings and revenue. The Hotel Website Optimisation Checklist provides 8 steps focusing on performance, UX, SEO, and more. USERGUEST, a tech tool, integrates seamlessly with hotel systems, using Rev Marketing Automation to increase bookings and revenue. A 30-day free trial offers complete access to its features, ensuring a user-friendly booking experience and improved inventory management.

🏨 Next week in Los Angeles, the ALIS hotel investment conference will shift focus to AI-native hotel distribution. By 2026, hotels without this tech face structural disadvantages. Agentic systems autonomously manage demand, pricing, and messaging, enhancing revenue. Investors should prioritize AI platforms that act autonomously, impacting cash flow predictability and asset valuation. Legacy systems with AI features don't compare. Agentic Hospitality, leveraging Google Cloud and Vertex AI, exemplifies this transformative approach in the hospitality industry.

💻 SilverDoor has invested in Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to enhance its online booking tool (OBT), which now processes live rates 10 times faster. The digital worker ensures accurate rates and expands the booking inventory. This upgrade addresses client demand for real-time rates and supports decision-making with analytics and currency selection. Hanish Vithal, CTO, highlights the investment’s role in providing a frictionless booking experience and competitive pricing.