Innovation

💳 Manhatta in NYC has introduced "Checkless Payments," a digital payment system eliminating the traditional check process. This innovation, developed in partnership with Clover, debuted at the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show. Spearheaded by Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG) and Fiserv, this technology is live after spring tests. USHG plans to expand it across its locations and nationwide. Danny Meyer highlights this as a solution to enhance hospitality by removing delays in settling bills.

🏠 Travel technology is transforming the industry, offering simplified experiences. Generative AI can streamline planning and booking, as shown in a report with Globetrender. Biometric systems reduce airport stress, a focus of Amadeus' integration with Vision-Box. In Dubai, collaboration with the Department of Economy and Tourism aims to enhance travel tech innovation. Amadeus' Outpayce supports seamless payment for nearly 100 airlines. These advancements aim to create a simple, efficient travel ecosystem globally.

🏠 Lackford Lakes Barns, located near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, saw a significant booking increase within a year of integrating STAAH SwiftBook. The boutique, four-star/gold-award property offers modern amenities and is surrounded by Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Nature Reserve. STAAH was recommended by their website designer and offers features like secure online transactions, dynamic pricing, and a user-friendly interface. The integration helped improve efficiency and online visibility via OTAs, enhancing overall guest experience and direct booking conversions.

💸 Hotels have been in a co-dependent relationship with Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) for 25 years, often paying commissions as high as 30%. This dynamic began post-9/11 when OTAs offered visibility and bookings. Over time, OTAs imposed rate parity, inventory control, and loyalty schemes, leading to industry dependence. As technology advances and direct booking tools emerge, hotels are encouraged to regain control, reducing OTA reliance, and improving guest relationships. Roomangel offers solutions to support this shift.

📱 Global Payments Inc. announced the release of Genius, a new POS platform, on May 17, 2025, in Chicago at the National Restaurant Association show. Genius caters to restaurants and retail, offering features like real-time reporting, marketing tools, and inventory tracking. Initially available in the U.S. and Canada, with future launches in Germany, Austria, and Czech Republic. Genius aims to simplify operations and enhance customer experiences in various business sectors, including education and consumer services.

💳 Global Payments Inc. launched Genius, a robust new POS command center, on May 17, 2025, at the National Restaurant Association show in Chicago. Genius unifies Global Payments' solutions into a single, scalable platform, initially available in the U.S. and Canada, with expansion to Germany, Austria, and Czech Republic soon. Designed for various business needs, it aids restaurants and retailers with features like reservations, reporting, inventory, and marketing tools, enhancing customer experience across sectors.

🛫 In 2025, Airbnb's Summer Release transforms it from a home-sharing platform into a travel ecosystem with Airbnb Services, Experiences, and a redesigned app. Offering 10 service categories and local experiences, it challenges hotels and OTAs. In 2024, Viator led with $4 billion in bookings, but Airbnb aims for $12 billion by 2030. Hotels like Mandarin Oriental and Marriott are updating programs to compete. Airbnb's unified platform drives personalization and industry-wide innovation.

📈 HDG Legacy, a Florida-based hotel developer, manages nine hotels with a tenth opening mid-2025. In 2024, they partnered with Anacove to reduce energy and water costs using AI-powered IoT solutions. Results included a 35.94% reduction in electricity costs at Holiday Inn Express Crystal River and being 33% and 43% under budget at other locations. Smart thermostats and water leak sensors were key, offering operational improvements and significant savings, leading to plans for broader implementation across their properties.