Innovation

💻 IHG and White Elephant Resorts are enhancing guest experiences through advanced technology. IHG’s Auto Connect Wi-Fi integrates with loyalty programs, while White Elephant uses Comcast’s X1 for in-room entertainment, creating a familiar environment. Scalable tech like SD-WAN ensures rapid deployment for IHG, supported by their IT Marketplace. White Elephant leverages Comcast for IT support. Both brands employ sensors for predictive maintenance and sustainability, aiming to reduce carbon footprints by 2030.

📱 Hotels are prioritizing technology investments, with plans to increase by 16% next year, as 72% of guests prefer tech-savvy accommodations. **60% of luxury hotels** have AI-driven smart room automation, enhancing guest experiences with personalized controls and reducing energy costs by up to 30%. **62% of remote workers** find hotels ideal for productivity, and **77% of business travelers** highlight the importance of business travel, emphasizing hotels’ need to adapt to digital demands and operational efficiency.

🍍 June 27th marks National Pineapple Day, a symbol of hospitality in New England, especially Cape Cod. Mews is the first hotel tech platform to partner with the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, aiming to modernize local hospitality without losing its charm. Pelham Hospitality has embraced Mews, improving operations across its three properties in Dennis Port and Harwich. Mews also partners with the New England Inns and Resorts Association, underscoring its commitment to enhancing guest experiences.

🤖 Nearly 80% of companies use generative AI, but 80% report no significant earnings impact. Gen AI, valued at $11-$18 trillion, requires a shift from horizontal to vertical use cases, with only 10% of the latter scaling beyond pilot. AI agents could change this by automating complex processes. AI has potential to add $2.6-$4.4 trillion in value. Organizations must reimagine workflows, with CEOs driving AI transformation for economic gains.

💻 March 11, MURTEC: Elizabeth Hawes, recognized with the Rising Star Award, highlights AI's potential to improve restaurant efficiency and sustainability through data-driven operations. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship and collaboration in her career, thanking her mentors and allies. Hawes envisions customizable, flexible POS systems for the future. The Top Women in Restaurant Technology Awards, sponsored by Milagro, will open nominations for the 2026 awards on December 1.

🏨 Travelodge partners with Katanox to enhance access to 47,000+ rooms in 600+ hotels across the UK, Ireland, and Spain. Katanox's integration allows TMCs to amend bookings and improves room rate display. Navan is the first TMC to benefit from this integration, offering new rate plans and amendable bookings. This partnership aims to expand Travelodge's TMC connections and improve booking experiences, as highlighted by Nick Jacobs from Travelodge and Paul Beukers from Katanox.

✈️ Passengers at Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA) will soon enjoy a streamlined check-in experience with SITA technology. By 2025, the airport will implement SITA’s Flex platform, Smart Path kiosks, and Self Bag Drop, cutting baggage processing time by up to 80% and reducing check-in to 70 seconds. The Asia Pacific region is seeing a 7.9% passenger growth, making these innovations crucial for handling increased traffic efficiently.

📅 Groups360 launched GroupSync Connect, integrating its hotel marketplace capabilities into third-party event platforms. On June 2025, Canapii, an event management platform, became the first integrator, enhancing hotel booking for users globally. GroupSync Connect provides real-time access to hotel rates and availability, eliminating external tools and RFPs. This initiative aims to streamline event planning, offering immediate value and expanding accessibility to instant group bookings. Future rollouts plan to transform traditional hotel sourcing.

📱 Groups360 has launched GroupSync Connect, enabling direct access to real-time hotel booking from third-party event platforms. On June 2025, Canapii became the first to integrate this solution, enhancing planner efficiency and the attendee experience. This integration allows Canapii customers streamlined access to thousands of global hotels with real-time group rates and availability. Groups360 aims to transform traditional hotel sourcing by embedding GroupSync into existing event tools, improving the booking process for diverse events.