Innovation

🏨 Guest technology managed services provider SONIFI is rolling out SONIFI Central, a single dashboard for portfolio-wide monitoring of in-room entertainment, casting and Wi-Fi infrastructure. The platform brings these systems into one operational view.

Backed by new digital investments and delivery optimizations, CEO Bob Wright outlines how kitchen simplification and unified guest data will anchor the chain's path forward.

🏨 Zenzap’s Rebecca Lazar outlines six AI workflows for 24/7 hotel operations: temperature monitoring, shift coverage, procedure guidance, maintenance routing, guest requests and shift handoffs. Agents connect hotel systems to team chats, alerting staff and sharing updates. One example flags a freezer at 18°F at 11 p.m., above its 0°F target; another schedules overnight summaries for 6 a.m. Managers control permissions, while staff retain responsibility for important decisions.

🍔 Amazon’s 180 million Prime members can now order directly through Amazon’s app or website, with fees waived on orders over $25. The move gives Uber Eats’ restaurant partners access to a massive potential customer base.

🍽 A fast-casual scratch kitchen concept is marking its 11th location and first unit outside Chicago. The brand is relying on a newly overhauled, API-driven software stack to support its regional growth.

🛏 Hotel Items’ e-commerce manager Camilo Sosa recommends 200–300-thread-count hotel sheets, prioritizing weave, fabric and fit over inflated counts. Percale feels cool and crisp; sateen feels silky. Cotton-polyester blends offer durability, while 100% cotton provides breathability. Hotels should stock at least three linen sets per room; many target four during busy seasons. Hotel Items, a family-owned supplier founded in 1986 near Miami, Florida, also offers 90 GSM microfiber sheets with 12-inch-deep fitted options.

🏨 Mews announced its Preferred Hotels & Resorts Alliance Partner affiliation in New York on November 9, 2026. Member properties across the Americas and EMEA gain preferential pricing on its AI hospitality platform, connecting reservations, payments and operations to reduce manual work. Preferred represents 650+ properties across 80 countries; more than 15 already use Mews. Mews serves 15,000 customers in 85 countries.