Innovation

💻 In 2026, AI-powered, staffless hotels may become a reality, as Ulrich Pillau, CEO of Apaleo, shares insights on Pillow Talk Sessions with Jessica Gillingham. Apaleo, based in Munich, is revolutionizing hospitality with open, API-first platforms, contrasting legacy brands with agile, digital-first players. Key focuses include AI integration, hybrid hospitality, and leadership mindset. To compete, legacy brands must adopt open systems and tech flexibility, especially in midscale and economy segments. The future thrives on interoperability and real-time guest responsiveness.

📝 Tokyo, Japan, January 15, 2026 — Shiji Japan launches Reviewpro Reputation, aiming to enhance guest experiences across hotels and restaurants. The tool supports over 80 review sites and 45 languages. Japan's 2025 Guest Experience Benchmark showed a GRI™ of 84.20%, improving by 0.7 points from the previous period, but below Asia's average of 89.60%. Globally, Reviewpro serves 60,000 hotels, aiding in transforming feedback into actionable insights. Shiji supports over 90,000 hotels worldwide.

📈 April 16 is the date of PERFORM, a global summit for hotel leaders. HotStats data reveals a 19% increase in Global RevPAR since 2019, but booking costs rose by 25%. Labor cost inflation contributes to low flow-through, challenging hoteliers to focus on profitability, not just revenue. The summit offers strategies from various industries and encourages team participation. Early bird registration ends January 31. PERFORM invites hotel owners, executives, and leaders to shape future profitability strategies.

📈 2025 saw Mews host a series of events focusing on the future of hospitality, with gatherings in multiple locations. These included larger Hospitality Horizons events and smaller roundtables, which fostered deeper conversations on AI, automation, and industry changes. Key topics included Mews Payments, RMS advancements, and agentic AI. The events emphasized transparency, trust, and collaboration, with consultants sharing insights. As 2026 approaches, these partnerships aim to drive transformation in the hospitality industry.

🏨 Global Asset Solutions expanded globally in 2025, appointing key leaders like David Ordoñez and Leanne Reddie. Assets managed rose 35% to USD 6.6 billion in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific. The firm advised on over USD 27 billion since 2007, reopening its Singapore office and merging with Perception Hospitality. New services include M&A advisory and strategic consulting. The firm advanced projects in Paris, Venice, and Australia's Gold Coast, launching over 60 leadership pieces and a redesigned website.

📱 Barceló Hotel Group, H10 Hotels, Palladium Hotel Group, and Vincci Hoteles are early adopters of STAY's Corporate App. This app, launched by STAY, enables hotel groups to manage and personalize the guest experience directly through a branded mobile channel, enhancing direct bookings and loyalty. With integration to existing systems, hotel groups retain control over content and configuration. STAY is utilized by more than 1,300 properties worldwide to streamline operations and boost revenue.

📈 Hotel owners face challenges due to "Strategic Blindness" caused by misaligned incentives and information asymmetry. Operators focus on gross revenue, often overlooking net profit. Legacy contracts limit owner intervention, delaying vital data. Demand Calendar offers real-time data, enabling instant visibility, strategic execution, and integration beyond spreadsheets. This solution aligns operators and owners, fostering transparency and efficiency. Transition to this model for proactive, data-driven decision-making in hospitality.

🛫 Passengers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) can now complete immigration in under 20 seconds with new biometric terminals. The airport, handling over 50 million passengers annually, installed 24 eGates last month. The $3B modernization project, led by New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC), aims to enhance efficiency and security. Amadeus technology plays a key role, with an additional 54 eGates expected early this year. The initiative involves collaboration between airport operators, border authorities, and tech partners.