Innovation

🌎 In 2026, EU Tourism Day in Brussels highlighted AI's impact on travel behavior. With 39% of travelers using AI for planning trips—58% of Millennials and 45% of Gen Z—AI is becoming the primary interface. 41% trust AI over friends for recommendations. Europe, with its rich but fragmented tourism offer, faces challenges in digitization. The shift requires machine-readable data to compete in an AI-driven market. AI governance and strategic data use are essential for sustainable tourism growth.

The Pan-African hotel group ONOMO is accelerating its innovation strategy by modernising its guest journey through the full digitalisation of its operations. With a presence in 13 countries and a…

By Hrishikesh Bapat, Senior Product Manager at LodgIQ In hotel technology, a term such as “API integration” often appears to be overused or misunderstood. On paper, most Revenue Management Systems…

🏨 LodgIQ has revolutionized hotel data integration by engineering a deep API connection to PMS systems in 2025. Unlike traditional systems, which rely on aggregated snapshots, LodgIQ's solution processes individual transactions with full attribute visibility, enabling near real-time data sync. This innovation provides hotels with detailed, actionable insights for revenue management. The platform, based in Silicon Valley, utilizes Oracle Hospitality Integration and HTNG-compliant APIs to offer predictive forecasting and AI-guided strategies for improved decision-making.

💻 In 2026, Mews secured a Series D funding round to enhance its hospitality technology, aiming to reduce screen time and improve guest interactions. Investing in automation and data integration, Mews' platform aims to streamline operations, unify guest data, and minimize staff distractions. Recent acquisitions include Flexkeeping, Atomize, and Quotelo. The goal is to foster genuine human connections by liberating staff from screens, allowing for intentional and memorable hospitality experiences.

After we published our OTAs of the World infographic and dataset, the result of many hours of research, verification, and data cleanup. Then something unexpected happened. The infographic started showing…

💰 Worldwide, in 2026, Mews raised $300 million in Series D funding, valuing the company at $2.5 billion. Lead investor EQT Growth was joined by Atomico and HarbourVest Partners, along with existing backers like Kinnevik, Battery Ventures, and Tiger Global. The funds will be used to enhance AI capabilities and expand Mews Payments. Mews aims to revolutionize the hospitality industry by simplifying operations for hoteliers with advanced, AI-driven systems.

📅 2026 sees AI shift to operational use, with 66% of event professionals indicating AI lets them focus on high-value work. Trust is a key differentiator in a low-trust digital world, while personalization becomes attendee-led. Event costs are expected to rise 20% compared to 2025, prompting a focus on value. First-party data gains importance due to digital attribution challenges. Lastly, 48% of professionals are sourcing non-hotel venues, with restaurants at 45%.

🏨 Roomzzz, since 2006, now operates 11 aparthotels in 8 UK cities. To manage growing operational complexity, they chose RMS as their property management system after evaluating 20 providers. RMS offers real-time visibility, automates 40% of payments, saves up to 11 hours daily, and benefits 60% of long-stay guests with automated VAT drops. All 10 properties migrated in under a week. RMS Pay improves efficiency and guest experience by automating processes.

🏨 ChatGPT for hotels enhances search visibility by integrating listings, brand authority, and referrals. Key components include Local SEO (e.g., "Top hotels in Orlando"), brand consistency (e.g., "Show me rates"), and brand mentions (e.g., "Is IHG better?"). To succeed, hotels should balance listings with direct authority and referrals, effectively navigating the ecosystem influenced by Google Local data.