Innovation

🚀 Travel Counsellors, a global agency, launched its AI Hub during its inaugural AI Fest. This initiative offers ongoing resources, training, and inspiration, guided by over 20 AI Champions. CEO Steve Byrne emphasized the blend of technology and personal experience. The AI Hub features LinkedIn Learning modules and aims to foster innovation within the community. This effort supports record growth in corporate and leisure travel, enhancing individual AI journeys while maintaining Travel Counsellors' personal touch.

💻 Valk Exclusief, the Netherlands' largest independent full-service hotel group, began a digital transformation in September 2024 using Apaleo's API-first platform. By December 2025, all 43 hotels, covering 7,100 rooms, will migrate. The project includes 55 restaurants and 475 meeting spaces across the Netherlands and Germany. Ten hotels, including Düsseldorf and Amsterdam Zuidas, went live mid-year. The new system enhances guest services and reduces staff onboarding time, benefiting over 11 million guests annually.

💻 AI-powered property management system, Boom, secured $12.7 million in funding led by Avenue Growth Partners. This investment, with contributions from industry leaders like Ian Carter and Scott Srebnick, aims to enhance Boom's next-gen AI for STR and hospitality sectors. Boom, spanning 20 countries across five continents, handles 80% of guest messages via AI, reducing workload and boosting efficiency. The funds will support global expansion, recruitment, and innovation to improve guest experiences and profitability.

AMSTERDAM, 8 October 2025 – Valk Exclusief, the Netherlands’ largest independent full-service hotel group, has entered the final stage of its digital transformation, powered by Apaleo, the open, API-first hospitality platform.  Since…

💵 HotelRunner and Visa are uniting to enhance cross-border payments for SMEs in travel and hospitality. This partnership leverages Visa's global payments and HotelRunner's tech reach, benefiting businesses from Morocco to Bali. Ali Beklen highlights the creation of financial rails for the next decade of tourism, while Tania Platt notes the innovation potential. The collaboration aims to support travel companies in Europe, APAC, the Middle East, and Africa, driving safer and smarter global travel commerce.

💻 Global hotel operators are expanding brands to meet growing guest demands, risking the "cookie cutter" brand label. Hotels are advised to standardize technology systems to improve operations. The tech stacks in hotels evolve over time, often resulting in inefficient setups. Establishing a unified "brand book" for technology aids in consistent standards. This foundation allows hotels to innovate on top, enhancing guest personalization and experience. Ultimately, consistency in systems simplifies operations and facilitates learning across hotel estates.

✈️ Global tech firm DerbySoft partners with AirAsia Group to implement its Global Data Network (GDN) for Flights. The decentralized, API-first network promotes direct connections among airlines, OTAs, and more, enhancing distribution control and access to traveler data. Amanda Woo, AirAsia’s Chief Commercial Officer, emphasizes future growth in Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. DerbySoft’s GDN architecture fosters a continuously expanding, intelligent ecosystem, benefiting all participants and ensuring efficiency and profitability.

🏆 The 26th shortlist for the 34 Travolution Awards categories has been released, including the Mastercard B2B Payments Award. Five finalists excelled in innovation and market success. The awards ceremony will occur on Tuesday, December 2, at City Central, HAC, London. Last year's event drew over 450 attendees. Other awards, like Rising Star of the Year, remain unrevealed. Sponsors include Gail Kenny Executive Recruitment, Icelolly.com, TravelSupermarket, HolidayPirates Group, Slalom, Trip.com, and WEX.

📈 In revenue management, AI excels in operational tasks, raising the debate of in-house vs. outsourced strategic management. In-house teams align AI with hotel vision but are costly, while outsourcing offers expertise but risks cultural disconnect. For marketing, in-house teams ensure authenticity, while outsourcing provides specialist skills. Hotel Business Intelligence systems are essential for data management, with a unified commercial team structure recommended to maximize AI's potential, emphasizing collaboration and data ownership.