Innovation

4721 posts

Innovation and technology news for the hospitality industry: AI, digital tools and how hotels are transforming, from 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers.

Mews launches instant guest card…

💳 Mews launched a Zero Dollar Authorization feature to verify guest cards without charging, reducing failed payments and chargebacks for hotels. The feature aims to provide smoother payments and protect revenue without third-party providers. Susanne Sandler of Mews emphasizes its frictionless nature and profitability. Lacey King from Seattle's The Maxwell Hotel highlights time-saving and reliability benefits. Mews also introduces preauthorization to ensure funds availability.
View Post
Share

Google keeps commercial model for agentic hotel booking

🌐 Nov 25, 2025: Google plans to implement agentic booking in AI Mode, maintaining its current commercial model to minimize structural changes for partners. In 2026, Google will focus on learning user preferences with major partners like Booking.com and Expedia. The launch date is still undecided, with seamless booking experience and traveler expectations as main challenges. This initiative extends Google's AI expansion into travel, following similar ventures in restaurants and events.
View Post
Share
View Post
  • 1 min

Cendyn brings hotel direct rates into AI search platforms

💻 Nov 25, 2025, Cendyn introduces AI Connect, enabling direct hotel data integration into AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude via the Model Context Protocol (MCP). This move, in collaboration with DirectBooker, addresses the OTA dominance in AI travel searches, ensuring hotels are visible with their best rates. Their selective beta program helps hotels capture early demand and track AI channel performance. Cendyn serves 32,000 clients, generating $20B+ annually, aiming to reduce OTA reliance.
View Post
Share

Asia Pacific hotel loyalty programs need a reset

🏨 Nov 25, 2025: Accenture's research highlights challenges in Asia Pacific hotel loyalty programs, revealing they don't align with guest expectations. Outdated points systems fail to offer instant rewards, and 94% of hotel leaders aim to diversify revenue through retail and e-commerce. Technology barriers and diverse market habits necessitate locally adapted strategies. By 2030, integrated loyalty and commerce are expected to drive value, emphasizing a shift from just room sales.
View Post
Share

Personalization transforms Caribbean hotels

🏝️ Nov 25, 2025, Caribbean hotels are shifting to direct channels to meet guest expectations and reduce reliance on OTAs. The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association and Sailrock South Caicos highlight personalization using data, AI, and direct booking strategies. There's a rise in demand from digital nomads and younger travelers. Efforts include dynamic pricing, loyalty programs, AI-driven tools, and trust-building initiatives like SafeDirect Travel Assistance to improve engagement and conversions.
View Post
Share
View Post
  • 3 min

Entries Open for Springboard Awards for Excellence 2026 – Celebrating the Best in Hospitality

🏆 Springboard Awards for Excellence 2026 🎉 When? 30 April 2026. Where? Park Plaza London Riverbank. Who? Hosted by Park Plaza, sponsored by industry leaders like Nestlé, HIT Training, and Sybron. What? Celebrates excellence in hospitality with categories like the new Hospitality Careers Champion Award. How? Free and easy nominations via the Springboard website by 9 January 2026. Why? To recognize and inspire talent, supporting Springboard’s mission to bolster hospitality careers. Goals: Close skills gaps and create one million new skills by 2030.
View Post
Share
View Post
  • 2 min

Emirates signs AI deal with OpenAI

🛩 Emirates and OpenAI have formed a strategic partnership to integrate AI across the airline. They will deploy ChatGPT Enterprise and develop an AI centre of excellence. The collaboration focuses on enhancing AI capabilities, exploring use cases, and creating an AI champion network. Leadership sessions and technology team collaborations aim to optimize AI integration. Ali Serdar Yakut of Emirates and Rod Solaimani of OpenAI emphasize the transformative potential of AI in aviation and customer experience.
View Post
Share
View Post
  • 3 min

AI-driven booking could become costly for hotels

🛅 Nov 24, 2025, ChatGPT partners with Booking.com and Expedia, sidelining direct hotel integration due to AI query loads and fragmented room data. OTAs gain leverage as hotels lose visibility and control, facing rising acquisition costs (up over 30%). AI-driven distribution may introduce new fees, increasing expenses for hotels. To compete, hotels must modernize data and booking strategies. AI simplifies travel planning but complicates supplier economics, posing challenges for hotels unless they adapt quickly.
View Post
Share
View Post
  • 2 min

Hotels rethink pricing around total guest value

💸 Nov 24, 2025, hotels worldwide are shifting focus from merely filling rooms to maximizing total guest value and ancillary spending. Revenue managers now use diverse data sources, such as airline searches and spa bookings, to inform pricing strategies. This change elevates revenue managers to strategic roles collaborating across marketing, sales, and operations. Integrated data systems support this evolution, replacing manual forecasts with advanced analytics and machine learning for holistic revenue management. Read more on this transformation at Skift.
View Post
Share