Innovation

🛌 In 2026, hotels are focusing on practical tech designs, prioritizing wireless charging and accessible power outlets over outdated USB ports. Fast, reliable Wi-Fi, described as essential, should be free. Yotel New York Times Square offers automation through self-service kiosks and a robotic luggage system, Yobot, streamlining check-in and luggage storage. Manager Jorge Tito emphasizes respecting guests' time. The Mosser is another example, offering simplicity and tech-friendly amenities for conference attendees in San Francisco.

📱 Sunborn London's operational efficiency improved with automated, real-time updates for Front Office, F&B, and Housekeeping. Guests now enjoy online check-in, Digital Dine ordering, and personalized service, enhancing their experience. The seamless system rollout by Shiji included responsive support and reduced training time with familiar interfaces. Payment processing is secure and PCI-DSS compliant, involving encrypted transactions and fraud controls. Unified systems ensure data consistency, reduced errors, and effective cross-department communication.

💻 Turneo launched Neo, an AI platform specifically for hotels, on January 2026. It's trained on thousands of hotel guest interactions, supports 95+ languages, and deploys in one day with no technical staff. Neo automates over 80% of hotel requests, integrates with hotel systems for full control over guest interactions, and enhances guest satisfaction by providing instant responses. Founded in 2022 by Matija Marijan and Fran Kauzlaric, Turneo's platform addresses hospitality's unique challenges.

🌎 In 2026, EU Tourism Day in Brussels highlighted AI's impact on travel behavior. With 39% of travelers using AI for planning trips—58% of Millennials and 45% of Gen Z—AI is becoming the primary interface. 41% trust AI over friends for recommendations. Europe, with its rich but fragmented tourism offer, faces challenges in digitization. The shift requires machine-readable data to compete in an AI-driven market. AI governance and strategic data use are essential for sustainable tourism growth.

📱 ONOMO Hotels, with 23 properties across 13 African countries, partners with D-EDGE Hospitality Solutions to digitize guest experiences. The initiative involves automated communication, a guest app, and digital marketing tools, ensuring consistent service in cities like Dakar, Abidjan, Kigali, and Casablanca. This strategy enhances brand loyalty and operational efficiency through multilingual, multi-currency management. ONOMO aims to capture both resident and non-resident guests, leveraging CRM to offer personalized deals, thus diversifying revenue and cementing its position as a Pan-African hospitality leader.

💻 LodgIQ revolutionizes hotel tech with an advanced API integration, moving beyond daily aggregated PMS reports. In 2023, they introduced a near real-time data ingestion system, offering detailed transactional data access. This integration, using OHIP and HTNG-compliant APIs, enables Pace Analytics and Pickup reporting features, enhancing decision-making. The system handles data variances across PMS providers, setting the stage for predictive forecasting and AI-guided strategies. Trustworthy, granular data is crucial for revenue management and strategic agility.

🏨 LodgIQ has revolutionized hotel data integration by engineering a deep API connection to PMS systems in 2025. Unlike traditional systems, which rely on aggregated snapshots, LodgIQ's solution processes individual transactions with full attribute visibility, enabling near real-time data sync. This innovation provides hotels with detailed, actionable insights for revenue management. The platform, based in Silicon Valley, utilizes Oracle Hospitality Integration and HTNG-compliant APIs to offer predictive forecasting and AI-guided strategies for improved decision-making.

💻 In 2026, Mews secured a Series D funding round to enhance its hospitality technology, aiming to reduce screen time and improve guest interactions. Investing in automation and data integration, Mews' platform aims to streamline operations, unify guest data, and minimize staff distractions. Recent acquisitions include Flexkeeping, Atomize, and Quotelo. The goal is to foster genuine human connections by liberating staff from screens, allowing for intentional and memorable hospitality experiences.

📊 After publishing the OTA infographic, 10 Minutes Hotels witnessed unexpected remixing and sharing on LinkedIn. The infographic was reimagined with new designs and color schemes, demonstrating the desired shift from content consumption to contribution. This led to the creation of the "Top OTA List open remix project," encouraging users to post their versions and tag 10 Minutes Hotels. This project aims to credit original creators and expand the gallery of creative remixes.