Innovation

💻 Michael Chorey, founder of Wendy’s FreshAi, joined Presto to develop Presto IQ, an AI-native dynamic data platform for the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry. This innovation focuses on real-time personalization for customers, crew, and operators. Chorey's expertise enhances Presto's leadership with over 100 years of collective restaurant experience. His role includes growing Presto's drive-thru Voice AI platform, promising a shift in the industry with a responsive, trustworthy approach.

📖 Two weeks in Italy revealed the issue of "overtourism," seen in crowded destinations like Amalfi. The problem lies in tourism distribution, not quantity. AI and data platforms can guide visitors to less crowded areas, like Minori, preventing congestion. Embracing smart content targeting and predictive models can alleviate the imbalance, benefiting local economies and enhancing visitor experiences. This approach not only preserves popular spots but also encourages cultural exchange and economic growth.

💻 MSP interviews reveal challenges in technological and operational strategies. MetTel and Safety NetAccess, focusing on government and hospitality respectively, highlight vendor flexibility and AI adoption as key issues. Managed service provider (MSP) MetTel has grown double digits for 17-18 years, utilizing AI since 2016. Both emphasize interoperability challenges with multiple vendors like Ruckus, Aruba, and Shasta, and the potential of Wi-Fi and cellular network convergence. AI and cybersecurity are crucial for future MSP advancements, yet financial risks persist.

💻 In 2025, 65% of hotel guests will prefer smart room features, reshaping hotel experiences with technology. Key innovations include smart displays like SOLUM’s Newton digital labels, digital menus, and Hilton’s Digital Key. Major brands like Marriott are investing heavily in customer-facing tech. Smart signage in dining areas enhances dining clarity, while retail-inspired Electronic Shelf Labels help manage hotel shop inventories. These digital advancements promise more efficient, personalized services, aligning with guests' connected lifestyles.

📈 CarTrawler has acquired Paris-based insurtech company, Koala, to expand into the insurtech sector. The acquisition aims to enhance CarTrawler's multi-product travel platform, offering integrated insurance solutions. Koala’s products, including ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ and automatic trip disruption cover, serve over 70 travel partners across 17 countries. These insurance solutions will integrate seamlessly into booking processes, enhancing ancillary revenue and customer experience. CarTrawler CEO, Peter O’Donovan, highlights the strategic move to bolster their global travel industry presence.

📈 RateHawk, a B2B online booking system, partnered with EliteTravel Group, a network of UK travel agencies, granting them access to global accommodations and exclusive offers. By October in Guernsey, they've held educational workshops, resulting in a 120% increase in 2025 bookings compared to last year, with half of Elite's branches participating. Wendy Albutt and Chantal Tomlinson emphasize the partnership's success and alignment of shared values.

📈 Revenue managers are shifting from Excel reliance to leveraging AI and machine learning for real-time pricing. They now focus on strategic decisions and human skills like persuasion, negotiation, and leadership. Despite automation’s benefits, the human touch remains crucial for context and empathy, challenging AI-driven insights. Revenue managers must ensure data quality and involve customer feedback. Success lies in interpreting AI data with human judgment, emphasizing soft skills over technical prowess in the age of AI.

📶 Visual AI integrated with existing CCTV can track customer demographics and behavior without new hardware. Key insights include customer footfall, labor efficiency, and drive-thru analytics, aiding in demand forecasting, staffing, and product placement. This technology optimizes employee movement and addresses privacy by sharing only aggregated data. Drive-thru insights improve service flow. Visual AI enhances efficiency and satisfaction in fast-paced food service environments.

📱 Boostly, awarded a U.S. patent, June 2025, enhances restaurant marketing by transforming guest data from POS systems into personalized messaging. This breakthrough aids thousands of restaurants in converting first-time customers into loyal patrons. Boostly's innovation involves collecting guest data, confirming marketing opt-ins, and sending targeted SMS to increase repeat orders. Following a $22 million Series A funding by PeakSpan Capital, Boostly expands with AI-powered tools, empowering independent eateries with enterprise-level marketing capabilities.

📊 In 2024, Rimowa and La Marzocco debuted a limited-edition Linea Mini during Milan Design Week at two pop-up cafes. This collaboration, likened to MSCHF's art stunts, highlights the trend of ironic cultural collaborations. Other notable collaborations include Rosalia with New Balance, Loewe with On, Simone Rocha with Crocs, Fendi with FRGMT and Pokémon, and Tag Heuer with Formula One and Kith, often dismissed as lowbrow yet embraced for their quirky appeal.