Innovation

📲 Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas aims to compete with Google by building a browser named Comet for data collection to sell premium ads, targeting a May launch. Perplexity's partnership with Motorola introduces its app on Razr phones, accessible via Moto AI with "Ask Perplexity". The company also negotiates with Samsung for integration. Google’s market cap is around $2 trillion; it's in court over monopolistic allegations by the DOJ, which may lead to divestment of Chrome. OpenAI and Perplexity show interest in buying Chrome if sold.

🛒 OpenAI announced an update to ChatGPT search on Monday, enhancing online shopping with recommendations, images, reviews, and direct purchase links. This feature, part of GPT-4o, is available to all ChatGPT users globally, including Pro, Plus, Free, and logged-out users. OpenAI, competing with Google, recorded over a billion searches in ChatGPT last week. The shopping results are ad-free and use structured metadata from third parties. CEO Sam Altman considers "tasteful" ads with affiliate fees but rejects priority placement selling. Future updates will include a memory feature for personalized recommendations, except in the EU and some countries due to privacy restrictions. ChatGPT search is also now available on WhatsApp and displays trending searches similar to Google autocomplete.

💰 Independent hotels using Pricing Manager across six continents – mainly in Europe, Asia, and Oceania – reported a 19.25% RevPAR increase, translating to over 50x ROI on the monthly subscription. A 20-room hotel with €100 ADR and 80% occupancy achieved a monthly RevPAR boost of €9,146.51, a 54x ROI. Autopilot users experienced ADR lifts 10 times greater than those not using Autopilot. Results were based on a five-month average study in stable economies, though individual ROI varies due to hotel strategy and external factors. Pricing Manager also offers time savings, enabling hoteliers to focus on service and strategy.

```html ✈ ``` Airlines could unlock up to $45 billion USD in potential revenue over the next five years through modern retailing, with New Offers representing more than $13 billion. Carriers currently using outdated systems can see a revenue uplift of 2% to 3% or up to 15% of EBITDA by leveraging Shopping Data—real-time data from flight searches and corresponding pricing. Approximately 260 carriers, about 80% of IATA members, use dynamic pricing, a 20% increase in two years. In 2024, only one-quarter of ticket offers were dynamically generated. Advanced dynamic pricing includes variables like weather, economic trends, and competitor pricing. Shopping Data provides real-time demand insights and nuanced competitor pricing insights. OAG's dedicated Data Governance department ensures compliance and privacy. Airlines can achieve a 3% revenue uplift with established dynamic offers, potentially increasing to 10% with Shopping Data.

🏨 At FHT Paris 2025, hospitality experts discussed digital transformation in the industry, emphasizing back-office efficiency and guest experience enhancement. Digital tools streamline inventory and operations, with France set to eliminate paper invoices by September 2026. Real-time apps and sensors improve service quality, while data analytics from tools like Reviewpro’s GRI™ inform customer satisfaction and revenue strategies—a 1-point GRI increase correlates with a 0.89% rise in ADR and 0.54% in occupancy. Sustainability initiatives, like Groupe Madeho's Clé Verte certification, also benefit from digital advancements. The industry is urged to embrace continuous improvement and digital culture.

🏨 Choice Hotels International, Inc. opened its 69th Annual Convention in Las Vegas, with President and CEO Patrick Pacious emphasizing "Powering the Future" for hotel owners. The event hosts thousands and features nearly 100 educational sessions and a trade show. Choice Hotels, with over 7,500 hotels globally, reported a 40% business traveler customer base, a 44% growth in upscale room numbers, and a loyalty membership surpassing 70 million. Direct bookers increased by over 6%, with food costs savings averaging 9% since July 2024. Group business revenue surged 45% in Q4 of 2024, and the company continues to invest in AI, with plans to roll out new capabilities over two years. Extended stay brands like Everhome Suites are expanding, with 25 hotels expected by end of 2025, while WoodSpring Suites maintains over 55% gross operating profits.

🏖 Experian and MMGY developed a marketing measurement strategy for Windstar, utilizing pixel tags, Experian's identity graph, and MMGY's Terminal audience modeling platform. This strategy included integration of MMGY's performance data, Experian's consumer intent data, and Windstar's first-party data, enabling custom audience segmentation. Results: 6,500+ bookings, $20 million in revenue, 13:1 Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) on $1.48M ad spend, $236 cost per booking, and a 28:1 ROAS for Terminal Audiences.

📈 Choice Hotels International, Inc. opened its 69th Annual Convention in Las Vegas, with President and CEO Patrick Pacious keynote speaking. Aimed at "Powering the Future," the event featured nearly 100 educational sessions and a trade show. Business travelers now represent 40% of all stays. The upscale brand portfolio grew by 44% last year, and loyalty membership surpassed 70 million. Direct booking conversions increased by over 6%, and area Directors found over $25 million in operational cost savings. A new food purchasing program saved 9% on costs from July 2024 to March 2025. ChoiceROCS consultancy drove $81 million to properties, and group business revenue jumped 45% in Q4 2024. AARP members booked over 1.1 million room nights at Choice hotels in 2024. Choice leads in midscale and extended stay, with half of all economy and midscale extended stay hotels open and under construction. Everhome Suites projected to have 25 hotels by end of 2025, while upscale rooms reached over 110,000 in 2024.

💾 Hospitable, a property management software, launches a proprietary dynamic pricing tool designed for hosts and property managers to automate rate-setting and respond to real-time market trends. The tool, embedded in the platform, is the first in the industry to be included without an additional fee. New data shows 57.2% of hosts struggle to meet occupancy goals and 28.9% face difficulty managing pricing. Hospitable’s dynamic pricing offers a 30-day pricing trend preview and a one-time 24-month insight access for the first month post-launch. The tool is available on Host, Professional, or Mogul plans from today. Hospitable was launched in 2016, providing a suite of services including AI messaging automation, rate optimization, and built-in payments for direct booking websites.

💾 Hospitable, a property management software, launched its built-in dynamic pricing tool aiming to aid hosts and property managers in increasing revenue by automating rate-setting and responding to market trends without extra charges. Data reveals 57.2% of hosts struggle with occupancy goals; 28.9% find pricing management difficult. The new tool provides real-time, hyperlocal pricing recommendations, utilizes market data, and allows customization of strategy. A 30-day pricing trend preview is standard, but a one-time offer grants access to full 24-month insights immediately post-launch. This release further positions Hospitable as a short-term rental super app, offering diverse business solutions. Pierre-Camille Hamana, CEO, emphasizes the tool's intuitive design and accessibility on any of Hospitable's plans. The full industry report is slated for release next week, while the dynamic pricing tool is available now, reflecting Hospitable's evolution since 2016 from PMS to a comprehensive toolkit for property management.