Innovation

📈 GlobalStar, a global travel management organization, partners with RateHawk, a B2B booking platform, in May 2025. This collaboration grants GlobalStar partners access to RateHawk’s inventory of over 2.7 million accommodations, sourced from 320+ suppliers and 130,000+ directly contracted properties. RateHawk’s AI tools prioritize competitive rates, and support is available in 32 languages. Initial feedback is positive, with plans for further engagement.

💰 European Travel-Tech leader lastminute.com launched a new marketing campaign targeting UK, France, Germany, and Italy, with a strategic entry into Sweden. Leveraging trends of bookings within 30 days of departure, the campaign aims to boost summer bookings and brand awareness. CEO Alessandro Petazzi emphasizes their expertise in last-minute travel deals. Chief Marketing Officer Paul Cumiskey stresses the message's consistency, reassuring travelers of great last-minute deals without stress. The campaign highlights customer convenience and emotional connection.

📖 19 May 2025, Paris: Influence Society releases the second edition of *Societies Quarterly*, a 31-page trend guide for Q2 2025. The publication explores AI, design, and cultural shifts in hospitality, featuring Tomu's modular architecture and Air France’s La Première luxury evolution. Sébastien Félix emphasizes differentiation through taste and emotional connection. The issue highlights community as a new luxury, with brands like Celine and Four Seasons leading the way. Access the full guide on Influence Society’s website.

📱 Agilysys, Inc. and Boyd Gaming Corporation, May 2025, Alpharetta, Georgia. Boyd Gaming signed a SaaS agreement for the InfoGenesis POS system across its 28 U.S. properties. This integration unifies data and transactions via kiosks, mobile ordering, and kitchen displays, enhancing guest experiences and operational efficiency. Johan Martensson from Boyd and Joe Youssef from Agilysys highlighted the system's role in improving guest service and providing operational insights.

💻 Airbnb has launched Airbnb Services, offering on-demand amenities like chefs and trainers, in 260 cities worldwide. The revamped Experiences platform now spans 650 cities, with five new categories such as History & Culture and Food & Drink. Airbnb Originals, featuring celebrity-hosted events, debuts with Sabrina Carpenter and Patrick Mahomes. The Explore tab in the app is updated for seamless trip planning. The company plans to expand services and cities in the future.

📅 Aug 5, 2022, Prabhash Bhatnagar discusses the evolving needs in the hotel industry. In recent years, businesses have recognized the necessity of comprehensive digitization for all processes. Traditional legacy solutions are becoming obsolete, prompting the shift to all-in-one systems for growth. This change is crucial for independent hotels aiming to thrive in a competitive market. Hoteliers need to adopt modern technology to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences effectively.

💳 Manhatta in NYC has introduced "Checkless Payments," a digital payment system eliminating the traditional check process. This innovation, developed in partnership with Clover, debuted at the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show. Spearheaded by Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG) and Fiserv, this technology is live after spring tests. USHG plans to expand it across its locations and nationwide. Danny Meyer highlights this as a solution to enhance hospitality by removing delays in settling bills.

💳 Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG) introduced "Checkless Payments" at Manhatta, a restaurant on the 60th floor in Lower Manhattan, in collaboration with Clover by Fiserv. Launched at the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show, this digital payment system allows guests to skip traditional billing. Initiated by Danny Meyer and former Fiserv CEO Frank Bisignano, the concept aims to enhance the dining experience. Future expansions are planned for USHG locations and Clover Hospitality customers.