Innovation

💻 In a quest to revolutionize the web, a new model is transforming each URL into an interpretable endpoint by layering intelligence on the existing web. Using structured data like Schema.org and JSON-LD, each webpage becomes an API, making the web readable and executable by AI. The Model Context Protocol (MCP) connects AI understanding with business systems. Agentic Hospitality, led by Brad Brewer, implements this model to enhance guest experiences, with support from Google Cloud and Brewer Digital.

📲 DoorDash is piloting "Zesty," an AI-powered app for personalized restaurant discovery, in San Francisco and New York City. Available on iOS, it allows users to search with specific prompts, such as "cozy pasta spots on the Lower East Side under $100" and integrates data from DoorDash, Google Maps, and TikTok. Announced by founder Andy Fang, Zesty is part of DoorDash's September suite of innovations, including delivery robots and smart scales.

📅 Duetto will host its first global summit, PERFORM, on April 16, 2026, at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, Florida. This event will focus on revenue and profit performance for the hotel industry, featuring global industry leaders and technology partners. Attendees will access thought leadership, interactive workshops, and Duetto’s product insights. The summit aims to address the shift in hospitality strategy towards total revenue and profitability, drawing a global audience for networking and knowledge sharing.

📑 roommaster was recognized as a 2025 Trusted Vendor by Crozdesk for its high market presence. The cloud-native software aids over 100 countries' independent hotels by streamlining operations like reservations, payments, and guest engagement. CEO Rachel Douglas emphasizes its reliability and ease of use. Formerly innQuest, roommaster has a 30-year history of simplifying hospitality with innovative tools tailored for independent hoteliers.

🎪 Efteling, a renowned European theme park, has adopted Mews' hospitality operating system to enhance guest experiences at their four hotels: Efteling Grand Hotel, Wonder Hotel, Loonsche Land, and Bosrijk. Mews' open API platform integrates with Efteling's digital ecosystem, offering seamless services like digital room keys and automated check-ins via mobile. This synergy has streamlined operations and empowered staff, setting a new guest-centric standard in European hospitality. Mews supports over 12,500 customers in 85 countries.

💻 Cornell University's research, "Reasoning with Sampling," supports Rebyū's AI hotel review platform's design, emphasizing iterative prompting over model scale for superior reasoning. Rebyū uses a four-step process involving 497-word structured prompts, enhancing personalization and brand alignment. This contrasts with competitors' static templates. Rebyū's method outperforms in personalization and engagement metrics without relying on superior LLM access, validating its approach as a strategic differentiator in AI application.

💻 In 2025, only 28% of hotel chains automate repetitive tasks, while 31% plan to do so. RobosizeME’s automation saves hotels time and money: 1,500 properties save 72 human days monthly by automating rate management, and $10,492 annually per property by automating commission reconciliations. Another client automated 30% of profile suspensions, freeing 20 FTEs. Automation improves efficiency, data quality, and employee satisfaction without major system overhauls.

📈 ChatGPT, now with 800 million weekly users, is reshaping travel planning. The shift involves AI terms like MCP, GEO, and Agentic AI, crucial for direct hotel bookings, bypassing OTAs with their 15-20% commission. Understanding these terms, hotels can leverage AI for real-time data, accurate rate displays, and seamless AI integration. As AI channels like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini evolve, hotels must adapt to maintain competitive advantage and maximize revenue potential.

🏨 Jordi Caralt Coloma, Corporate General Manager of Hidden Hotels, emphasizes the evolution of luxury hospitality towards emotional and authentic experiences over material excess. With over 30 years of industry experience, Jordi advocates for leadership that inspires through authenticity and empathy. Hidden Hotels, with properties like Gran Hotel Inglés and Posada Terra Santa, prioritize personalization and sustainability. The future of luxury hospitality will focus on emotion, sustainability, and meaningful connections, becoming "emotional sanctuaries" that prioritize people and the planet.

💻 Langham Hospitality Group, as of 2025, is deploying AI tools across 31 hotels globally, covering brands like The Langham, Cordis, Eaton Workshop, and Ying’nFlo. The tools, launched after previous tech investments, support guest inquiries via text, offer staff operational data access, and analyze booking data for commercial decisions. Langham's CEO, Bob van den Oord, emphasizes these tools enhance guest care and decision-making by adapting to modern information access trends.