Innovation

💻 As of summer 2025, 82% of North American hotels faced successful cyberattacks during the 2024 peak season. Attacks increased by 66% in frequency and 50% in severity. Key vulnerabilities include POS systems, guest Wi-Fi, and front desk tech, causing downtime over 12 hours. Only a fraction have advanced cybersecurity, while 40% cite outdated technology as a risk. 30% lack plans with MSSPs, despite their benefits in reducing recovery time. Cybersecurity now directly impacts guest experience and business continuity.

📈 Sarah Dinger, Executive Vice President of Franchise Operations at My Place Hotels, discusses strategies for building profitable hotel owner relationships using technology. The focus is on engaging owners strategically to enhance bottom-line results and deliver value for stakeholders.

📈 44% globally mistrust the travel industry's AI fraud protection, rising to 50% for sharing economy users. In the UK, that figure is 55%. AI-enabled fraud is considered a greater threat by 69% of respondents. 74% globally are open to extended identity verification for increased security, up from 71% in 2024. Sharing economy support stands at 70%, while 80% in banking prefer stricter checks. Enhanced security measures are crucial, especially in the sharing economy.

🛅 2025: Jumio's report highlights 44% of consumers globally distrust the travel industry's security against AI fraud. In the sharing economy, distrust rises to 50% globally and 55% in the UK. 69% believe AI fraud is a bigger threat than traditional identity theft. 74% of global consumers are willing to spend more time on identity verification for security, rising to 80% in banking. IT teams should enhance AI-driven fraud prevention and improve digital ID processes for better consumer trust.

🚀 Accenture and Google Cloud partnered with Air France-KLM in 2023 to establish a generative AI (gen AI) factory on Google Cloud. This initiative enables the airline to streamline AI deployment, enhancing areas like ground operations and customer service, with a 35% faster development cycle. Innovations include a private gen AI assistant and retrieval-augmented generation use cases. GenAI Days event fostered cost-cutting and revenue growth ideas. This collaboration aims to boost resilience and competitiveness.

🏨 Frenchospitality partnered with eviivo to centralize operations in Paris and beyond. By switching to eviivo, the boutique hotel operator cut tech costs from 4% to just over 1% of annual revenue, saving up to €9,000 monthly for a 40-room hotel. They achieved a 35% direct booking rate, surpassing the 20% global average, thanks to eviivo's tools like advanced API, OTA connections, and WhatsApp integration, which also reduced credit card fees by over 1%.

🛫 Global airport automation is projected to grow from £40 billion in 2025 to £63 billion by 2033, driven by digital innovations. Over 12,000 surveyed travellers highlight digital boarding passes (71%) and fast-track security (68%) as impactful in the UK. Biometric ID and automation enhance experiences, with 60% globally spending more at airports. UK travellers enjoy dining (55%), shopping (48%), and lounges (40%). Human interaction remains crucial for service (67%) and security (59%).

🛫 In 2025, Jumio’s report highlights that 44% of global consumers lack trust in the travel industry’s fraud protection, with concerns rising to 50% in the sharing economy and 55% in the UK. Alarmingly, 69% view AI-enabled fraud as a greater threat than traditional theft. A notable 74% of global consumers are willing to spend more time on identity verification if it enhances security, up from 71% in 2024. Sharing economy services saw 70% willing, while banking hit 80%.

🍗 Orbital Kitchens launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, evolving from a food hall to a delivery-only service in Union Square, Manhattan. It operates three Manhattan locations with three more planned by 2025. Handling 3,000 orders daily, Orbital offers diverse cuisines like poke and birria tacos and relies on its own couriers and third-party platforms. The company focuses on corporate catering and local events, emphasizing high-quality delivery food, leveraging brand visibility through partnerships and events.

📣 Peter Piper Pizza, in collaboration with SoundHound AI, has introduced a voice AI system for phone orders at all locations in Arizona and Albuquerque, NM. The AI understands natural speech and is trained on the full menu, enhancing order efficiency. This system, implemented for summer, supports simultaneous calls and provides information on store hours and services. Genaro Perez, CMO, highlights convenience, while James Hom, CPO of SoundHound, emphasizes the technological innovation in customer interactions.