Innovation

🏠 In San Francisco on December 11, 2025, 34.3% of short-term rental (STR) hosts reported lost bookings due to staffing issues, according to Hospitable's research. Over 14% face external pressures from labor shortages, with nearly 40% struggling to find reliable cleaners. For larger portfolios, 35.5% find recruiting challenging, targeting reduced costs and staffing pressures in 2026. Hospitable's Cleaner Marketplace, launched in September, features over 150,000 vetted cleaners to improve property care consistency.

🏨 Skift and Mews report reveals that modern hotels are shifting focus from rooms to guest-centric strategies to boost profits. Ennismore earns over 60% of revenue from non-room sources, while Staypineapple exemplifies digital transformation. Metrics like RevPAG (Revenue Per Available Guest) and integrated tech systems are crucial. Staypineapple’s VP notes streamlined operations due to data integration. Mews, with 12,500+ clients in 85+ countries, has raised $410M. The hospitality industry is evolving towards guest-first experiences.

📈 AI is reshaping hotel bookings, enabling direct guest interaction via AI assistants for instant room details and bookings. Yet, AI struggles to interface with diverse Property Management Systems (PMS) or Central Reservation Systems (CRS). The Model Context Protocol (MCP) resolves this by acting as a translator, facilitating seamless AI communication with existing hotel systems without storing data. This approach offers a unified interface, simplifying integrations and benefiting hotel groups with multiple brands and systems.

💳 Capital One is spearheading a shift in the travel industry by integrating payment, inventory, and AI into a powerful transaction block, owning nearly $470 billion in deposits and $660 billion in assets. This move makes banks the "Merchant of Record," controlling the customer experience as global cash usage drops below 50% in transactions. AI search engines struggle with data accuracy, but Capital One's system offers a reliable solution. Google's potential entry into this space could disrupt current dynamics.

📱 Paradise Resort Gold Coast partnered with HiJiffy to streamline guest communication through AI-powered tools. Over six months, 91.1% of guest interactions were automated, resulting in 34,655 conversations and 531 bookings, 85% fully automated. A total booking value exceeded AUD $750K. Five targeted campaigns garnered 17,814 clicks, enhancing guest engagement. Automated messaging improved operations, leading to a 41% online check-in rate, reducing front desk congestion and elevating guest satisfaction.

🛫 OpenAI’s new browser with Agent Mode can now book travel directly, marking a drastic shift in the hospitality industry. This AI-driven tool can complete entire reservations for flights, hotels, and transportation. To stay relevant, hospitality brands must ensure their properties are integrated into AI ecosystems with structured data and machine-readable content. Brands not adapting to AI risk becoming invisible. The next two years will be crucial for those wanting to lead this AI booking revolution.

📱 In 2025, Google prioritizes WhatsApp in mobile search results for hotels, surpassing Booking and Expedia. This update allows guests to directly message hotels, enhancing direct communication. The process is direct and personal, with no commission fees. Hoteliers are encouraged to acquire a WhatsApp number and use services like D3x to guide guests to their booking engines, optimizing engagement and bypassing third-party platforms.

💸 IHG's Q4 fee margins soared to 61.2%, a 190 basis point increase year-over-year. Wyndham's ancillary revenues are up 19%, but their core room revenue is stagnant. Accor may spin off Ennismore due to its lifestyle hotels generating triple the fees of traditional properties. In 2023-2024, major chains are pursuing EV charging, wellness technology, and alternative accommodations. Over $500 million was invested in hotel ancillary technology last year. Are we missing out on ancillary revenue opportunities?

📈 2026 HotelTechReport PMS Impact Study: More than 450 global hotel operators reveal data showing modern property management systems (PMS) save hotels over 500 labor hours annually. 89% of hoteliers reclaim 2-10+ hours weekly, while 92% cut staff onboarding from weeks to days. 91% report revenue growth from PMS features. Surveyed from June to September 2025, this study covered 1,200+ hotels in 47 countries, highlighting PMS as a key driver of efficiency and profitability.