Innovation

📌 Mews, an Amsterdam-based hospitality tech company, secured $75 million for expansion into the US and DACH region. Previously, they closed a $110 million round led by Tiger Global with Kinnevik, Battery Ventures, and Goldman Sachs. In the last year, Mews grew over 50%, processed $10 billion in payments, and generated $200 million in revenue. Recently, Mews acquired Clarity and Quotelo to enhance its AI and revenue management capabilities. The firm has invested over $50 million in the US and plans substantial further investment.

💳 On Mar 4, 2025, Sabre Hospitality released SynXis Pay, offering over 250 payment methods like Apple Pay and PayPal, express checkout, and optimized payouts for hoteliers. Integrating multiple gateways, this solution, powered by CellPoint Digital, will be rolled out in phases to enhance booking experiences and address transaction inefficiencies.

🌍 On Mar 4, 2025, Skift Research identified social media as a primary source for travel inspiration and booking, especially among Gen Z and Millennials, with Instagram and YouTube leading the trend. A significant 57% of travelers trust and are comfortable booking high-priced travel activities via social media. While travelers aged 18-34 are most open to social media bookings, those 35-54 show mixed feelings, and the 55+ demographic remains cautious. Companies like Klook are adapting by integrating bookings on platforms such as TikTok.

📈 Sunnyvale, CA, March 3rd, 2025 – LodgIQ appoints Pascal Schubert as VP Business Development Europe to expand its AI-driven revenue management solutions for the hospitality industry. Schubert's background includes senior roles at SHR Group, D-EDGE Hospitality Solutions, Sabre Corporation, FastBooking, and WIHP, with expertise in CRS, RMS, CRM, and market growth. CEO Vincent Ramelli highlights Schubert's experience as pivotal for LodgIQ's global expansion and innovation in revenue optimization. LodgIQ, serving over 550 hotels, offers advanced analytics and actionable insights for hoteliers.

🏨 RobosizeME, a leading provider of AI-enabled hospitality automation solutions, achieved ISO 27001 certification and GDPR compliance on 3 March 2025 in Prague. The certifications, audited by TÜV SÜD, ensure robust data management and security against evolving threats, vital for hoteliers using guest data. The company's Founder and CEO, Stephen Burke, emphasizes the commitment to data integrity and security. With U.S. and EU locations and an upcoming site in China, RobosizeME is positioned as a secure automation leader for the global hotel industry.

💰 In San Diego, California, Cloudbeds and Duetto announce a partnership for hotel revenue optimization and operational efficiency. The integration of Duetto’s revenue strategy platform with Cloudbeds’ software delivers scalable solutions. Duetto utilizes NiFi for the first two-way integration. Features include automated app onboarding, real-time two-way synchronization, revenue insights, and total property performance tracking. Deployment is set for early Q2 2025, with availability to all joint customers by summer 2025.

🌆 G6 Hospitality plans to open a 295-room Motel 6 near the Las Vegas Strip in May 2025, owned by S.R.E Enterprises LLC. This marks a significant expansion, with Las Vegas welcoming 41.7 million tourists in 2024. The company is investing in a $10 million marketing initiative and partnering with companies like Google and Microsoft. OYO recently acquired G6, aiming to add over 150 hotels in 2025, focusing on Texas, California, Georgia, and Arizona. G6 also partnered with HotelKey to modernize operations.

📱 Almost 5 billion smartphone users globally, estimated to reach 6 billion by 2028. Research suggests smartphones may hinder cognitive ability, sleep, and social skills. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon criticized excessive phone use in meetings. Hotels like Miraval and Vichy Celestins Spa Hotel promote digital detoxes, with Miraval enforcing device-free zones and Vichy locking away guests' devices. Haramara Retreat in Mexico offers rooms without electricity to help guests disconnect.

📈 Bain's survey reveals 80% of consumers use "zero-click" results in at least 40% of searches, dropping organic traffic by 15%-25%. AI search engines and LLMs like ChatGPT, with a 44% traffic increase in November 2024, and Perplexity, reaching 15 million users in late 2024, are changing user behavior. Around 60% of traditional searches don't lead to a click-through, and 40%-70% of LLM users use these platforms for various queries. Marketers must adapt by optimizing content for AI and diversifying formats to maintain relevance amidst these shifts.

📢 Alexa+ introduced as a next-generation assistant with generative AI, offering enhanced conversational abilities and personalized services. It organizes, summarizes, converses, manages home security, makes reservations, tracks new artists, and assists with online searches and purchases. Alexa+ aims to simplify tasks and entertainment through voice commands.