Innovation

New solution fuels marketing effectiveness by tapping into advanced demand forecasting power LONDON — 22 April 2025 — IDeaS, a SAS company and the world’s leading provider of hospitality revenue management…

💰 ROH, a hospitality industry payments platform, finished a $9.2 million finance round led by Highgate Technology Ventures and Acrew Capital. The investment will support ROH's platform expansion and improve data processing from contracts, invoices, and payments. Highgate's Raja Goel and Kurien Jacob, along with Acrew's John Gardner, are joining ROH's Board. ROH aims to modernize hotel payment processes, addressing the 80% of the $4 trillion in hotel payments requiring manual intervention. In 2024, ROH managed nearly $250 million in invoices and saw a 523% increase in bookings from its AI application. Highgate's properties piloted ROH, leading to the investment and further commercial use due to improved operational efficiency and profitability.

🍽 Arizona Biltmore (LXR Hotels & Resorts) is debuting Le Petit Chef on May 1, 2025, featuring an immersive 3D dining experience. This will be the only Southwest venue among its 89 global and eight U.S. locations. The resort, a Frank Lloyd Wright-style landmark since 1929, adds to its luxury offerings with this intimate, 18-seat show running Thursdays to Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Tickets are priced at $195 per adult and $79 for the junior menu. Reservations are now open.

A creative hub in the heart of Paris to support visionary hotel brands seeking elevated digital storytelling Influence Society, the creative agency at the crossroads of design, hospitality, and innovation,…

🏥 Gilda Perez-Alvarado, CEO of Orient Express and Group Chief Strategy Officer at Accor, discusses technology and innovation in hospitality on April 22, 2025. She provides insights into the future of luxury travel on the "Hospitality Daily Podcast.

📈 Group bookings drive significant revenue for hotels, but forecasting occupancy and pricing is complex due to "group wash"—unused reserved room blocks. Gerhard Wasem, Director of Product Management, Group Business, remarks on the difficulty of predicting group occupancy. US hoteliers anticipate higher group sales by 2025. In June, an investment was made in BlockBuster, a solution that optimizes revenue and introduces group wash forecasting. This feature uses historical data to predict unbooked rooms within group blocks, helping hotels avoid overestimation, manage availability more efficiently, and enhance rate strategies. Four use cases demonstrate how group wash forecasting allows hotels to adjust pricing and inventory proactively, thereby maximizing revenue and occupancy. Best practices include data accuracy, consistency, and utilizing BlockBuster for real-time adjustments.

🏡 Caesars Republic Scottsdale Hotel by Hilton opened in March 2024 in Scottsdale, AZ, boasting 11 stories, 20,000 sq. ft. of event space, two pools, bars, two signature restaurants, and technologically advanced services. It equipped over 700 PoE automated roller shades from PowerShades across 265 guest rooms and common areas. These shades are integrated with the Hotel’s BMS for energy conservation, adjusting to room occupancy and seasonal conditions. True PoE shades offer up to 6Nm torque, fitting windows up to 171” wide x 117” deep, introduced in 2024.

🔊 At MURTEC 2025, SoundHound AI's VP of Partnerships Mike Lauricella presented AI solutions for restaurant drive-thrus and phones. 50% of restaurant operators plan to implement voice AI, as highlighted in HT's 2025 Restaurant Technology Survey. AI assists with staff shortages, allowing employees to focus on food quality and customer service. Insights were also shared from Domino's Pizza at the 30th MURTEC anniversary event.

💳 ROH, a hospitality industry payments platform, secured $9.2 million in financing led by Highgate Technology Ventures and Acrew Capital, aiming for rapid expansion. The hotel industry sees over 80% of its $4 trillion annual payments requiring manual processing. ROH's solutions offer automation that minimizes errors and boosts efficiency. Highgate's portfolio piloted ROH, leading to this investment and broader roll-out. In 2024, ROH managed nearly $250 million in invoices and saw a 523% increase in bookings through its AI tool.

🌿 Pandan, a Southeast Asian herb described as having vanilla and coconut flavors, is gaining popularity in American cuisine. Thoa Nguyen of Banh & Butter Bakery in Aurora, Colorado, uses it in desserts and drinks. Sweet Piglet Bakery & Cafe in Randolph, Massachusetts, offers pandan cupcakes, while chef Carlo Lamagna serves Basque-style pandan cheesecake at Magna Kusina in Portland, Oregon, and Magna Kainan in Denver. Wanderlust Creamery in Los Angeles created pandan tres leches ice cream. Pandan is sold fresh for under $1 per kilogram, dried leaves for $3 to $4.50 per kilo, and pandan powder between $7 and $13. Upscale pandan offerings include Matcha Pandan Mille Crêpes cake for $100 and Pandan Pistachio Royale for $84.50 at Lady Wong Patisserie in New York City. Drinks featuring pandan, such as pandan lattes and pandan-flavored cocktails, are also on menus, as seen at Hood Famous Bakeshop in Seattle and the Welton Room’s Monkey Bar in Denver.