Innovation

🚀 In 2025, Travel and Mobility Tech funding hit a low with $13.2B across fewer than 400 deals, marking the weakest year since 2016. While global VC rebounded, this sector underperformed. Average deal sizes increased, favoring established companies. AI funding is strong, yet enterprise adoption remains low. Aviation Tech attracted nearly 50% of VC dollars, driven by space and defense. Notably, sustainable aviation sees early-stage activity. Despite weak aggregate numbers, innovation persists in niche markets and segments.

🇰🇷 APAC's flow-through is leading globally at 91%, surpassing MEA at 49%, Europe at 29%, and the Americas at 12%. Key markets like Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia show strong GOPPAR growth through 2025. New hotel developments are significant in Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Australia. The Iran war has disrupted airspace through the Gulf, affecting travel between Europe and Asia-Pacific. Duetto's real-time intelligence aids in navigating these challenges, enhancing revenue management and profitability.

📅 March 9, 2026 - Brussels, Belgium: Thynk and ShowCycle are launching an integrated Exhibition Center Solution, targeting large-scale convention and event venues. This Salesforce-powered platform unifies sales and operations, offering real-time data visibility and a seamless transition from legacy systems. It allows venues to manage complex events and exhibitor needs efficiently, with rapid implementation under six months. This partnership marks a shift towards total asset optimization and strategic growth, enhancing venue profitability per square meter.

📅 October 2023: Booking.com and Expedia launch as day-one partners in the ChatGPT App Store, positioning themselves as primary gateways to hotel inventory. AI-driven travel search is growing 50% faster than traditional search, with 43% of travelers already using AI for trip planning. ChatGPT reaches 800 million users, vastly exceeding the six million the App Store had at launch in 2008. AI could account for 35% of travel searches worldwide, revolutionizing hotel visibility strategies.

💸 In 2026, Canary Technologies, based in San Francisco, was named the Best Upselling Software at the HotelTechAwards by HotelTechReport, evaluated from over 25,000 hotel operator reviews globally. Their upselling platform, utilized by 20,000+ hotels, enhances guest experiences and boosts revenue with AI-driven personalized offers. Key features include automated pre-arrival upsells and seamless PMS integration, facilitating new revenue streams without additional operational burden.

📹 Aven Hospitality and Hovr announced a strategic partnership in Southlake, Texas, to integrate Hovr's video technology into Aven's Booking Engine. This collaboration aims to enhance guest experiences and improve conversion rates across various hotel market tiers. Both companies are aligned in addressing the evolving demands of the travel industry, where video content plays a crucial role. Aven's Ethan Wiseman and Hovr's Jason Craparo emphasize the partnership's potential to boost customer satisfaction and loyalty.

🏨 Hotels are facing challenges as AI becomes essential infrastructure for operations, impacting discovery, revenue, and guest experience. AIDURIX introduces the "AI Compass for Hotels" with free educational resources. There are three levels: SETTLER (Foundation), MIGRANT (Signals), and PIONEER (Governance), aiming to transform hospitality through education. This initiative helps hotels navigate AI effectively, focusing on clarity, operational intelligence, and leadership, promoting growth without additional costs.