Innovation

💻 Shiji and Minor Hotels commit to AI-first operations. Shiji's AI•R framework will integrate AI across all hotel functions. Minor Hotels, partnering with Google Cloud, Salesforce, and Deloitte, aims for a global AI platform by 2026, covering 640 properties. Madrid's 2025 hotel data shows a 12.8% rise in GOP PAR to €100.8, with RevPAR up 11.2%. Labor costs rose 9.0%, but revenue outpaced expenses, achieving a 49.6% GOP flow-through. Madrid saw 16 new hotel openings adding 601 rooms.

💻 UrVenue plans to expand its AI strategy by developing Model Context Protocol (MCP), aiming for release in Q4 2026. Based in Las Vegas, UrVenue focuses on making experience-based inventory—like cabanas and events—more accessible and adaptable. The company has tested AI over the past year in product development and operations. The goal is to streamline processes and enhance data-driven operations, shaping future hospitality distribution and engagement models.

💻 Agilysys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGYS) announced on April 09, 2026, that Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs in Victoria, Australia, has implemented Agilysys' comprehensive hospitality software solutions. The resort's systems now integrate property management, dining, spa services, and guest activities, enhancing operational efficiency and personalization. Key features include a cloud-native management system, streamlined food and beverage operations, online service booking, and centralized gift card management, all fostering a seamless, wellness-focused guest experience.

🛌 Shiji is transitioning to an AI-first organization to reduce complexity in hotel operations. The focus is on using agentic AI to ease onboarding and training, allowing staff to focus on guests rather than systems. AI solutions aim to make hospitality jobs more attractive by enabling faster and more confident service. This evolution seeks to enhance the industry without replacing human roles, fostering better guest experiences and attracting top talent.

🌍 Mauricio Prieto, founder of Travel Tech Essentialist, emphasizes that value in travel is created by reducing uncertainty and enhancing decision-making. OTAs should focus on reliability and customer trust, rather than solely on brand. AI is reshaping the industry by improving coordination rather than just adding features. The shift towards shared accountability between hotels and OTAs is crucial. Travel leaders should prioritize customer understanding over chasing tech trends, ensuring decisions align with evolving customer expectations.

💻 Crowne Plaza, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, implemented Shiji's technology to enhance dining services across multiple venues. Using Infrasys POS and Stellaris Digital Dine, real-time order management improved accuracy, reducing errors and enhancing guest satisfaction. The study, involving Lynn Clemente and the F&B team, highlighted increased efficiency and centralized data management. 95% of orders are now error-free, boosting staff productivity with seamless mobile processes and eliminating manual inefficiencies.

💰 In marketing, AI's hyper-personalization is debated, with some seeing it as less impactful on revenue. AI's biggest hotel industry win might be automating back-end data entry. P&G is internalizing media planning, shifting from traditional ad agencies. Netflix, favoring ad-supported models, signals a shift in streaming economics. Trust now supersedes price for 83% of travelers when choosing hotels. Finally, the rise of OTA platforms is driven by algorithms, highlighting the need for hotel-specific searches.

🌴 Agilysys, Inc. announced that Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs implemented a suite of Agilysys solutions to enhance operations across their resort. The integration includes Agilysys Versa, InfoGenesis POS, Agilysys Book, Agilysys Reserve, Agilysys Spa, Gift Cards, Digital Marketing, and Eatec, improving staff efficiency, guest personalization, and operational visibility. This comprehensive adoption aims to unify guest experiences, streamline workflows, and maintain a wellness-centric environment at this premier destination.

🛌 Hotels are losing up to 30% of revenue due to 65% front desk staffing shortages, causing missed calls. AI front desk platforms resolve this by handling all inquiries 24/7, increasing booking conversion rates by 30%. These systems, integrated with PMS and CRS, handle tasks in multiple languages and offer real-time insights, reducing labor costs by 30-50% during off-peak hours. AI enhances guest focus and loyalty, automating repetitive tasks and enabling personalized services.

💻 Minor Hotels plans to build a global data and AI platform with Google Cloud, Salesforce, OneTrust, and Deloitte, aiming for full deployment by 2026. This initiative, one of the largest tech investments in its history, covers over 640 properties worldwide. The platform will unify guest data, enhance personalized services, and leverage AI, enabling faster service capabilities. Built on Google Cloud's AI stack, it will manage bookings and guest interactions in real time, establishing Minor Hotels' competitive edge.