Innovation

🏩 Lou Zameryka discussed "The AI Revolution in Hospitality" on Jan. 7, 2025, focusing on how AI can help the hotel industry thrive.

🏨 Hotel Traveltine in Downtown Singapore implemented D-EDGE solutions for operational enhancement, including a user-friendly website integrated with its booking and channel management systems, performance-based digital marketing campaigns for increased traffic and bookings, and Global Distribution System (GDS) integration to access the business travel market.

📢 STAAH, a tech company serving hoteliers, released its top distribution channels list for the UK, Middle East, and Sri Lanka. In the UK, Booking.com, Expedia, and Pitchup.com led, with STAAH SwiftBook at number four. The Middle East saw Booking.com, Agoda, and Expedia top, with STAAH GDS climbing to fifth. Sri Lanka's leaders were Booking.com, Agoda, and Expedia. Notably, Trip.com and Hotelbeds emerged across regions, while Airbnb's ranking dropped. Direct bookings through hotel websites stayed strong in all regions, thanks to increased investment in booking engines and conversion tools. STAAH's channel manager network boasts over 500 integrations, and the company now offers access to over 2,000 distribution channels.

🍽 Toast's 2024 survey showed 48% of restaurant decision-makers plan to prioritize catering in the next 12 months. In Q4 2023, catering orders increased before Thanksgiving and peaked in the first three weeks of December. Weekday orders were higher, especially Tuesdays (+25%) and Wednesdays (+26%), while weekend orders declined, with Saturdays 36% and Sundays 53% below the weekly average. Bakery items comprised 32% of Q4 2023 catering orders. The catering industry is projected to grow at a 6.2% compound annual growth rate, reaching $124 billion by 2032. Toast conducted their survey from May 17 to June 2, 2024, with a +/- 4% margin of error at a 95% confidence interval.

📈 Pickpad, a tech startup, is preparing for its initial full-scale pilot test in Chicago, offering POS-integrated solutions for foodservice pickup accuracy and customer notification with a "phygital" display. Integrated with Square, it aims to streamline restaurant operations. Meanwhile, Starfish, a software-as-a-service company launched in October, provides supply chain traceability without blockchain technology, already partnered with IBM Food Trust. Yelp recently launched AI-powered review insights for restaurant operators and predicts voice AI will grow from a $10 billion to a $49 billion industry by 2029, with 71% of operators considering AI implementation.

🏨 STAAH, a tech firm, analyzed hotel booking revenue in Oceania revealing the top distribution channels. Booking.com ranked first in New Zealand and Australia. Direct bookings via STAAH SwiftBook were second in New Zealand and third in Australia. STAAH's channel manager integrates with 500+ systems globally. OTA dominance is noted, though diverse strategies using OTAs, GDS, websites, and wholesalers are evident. New entrants like Trip.com and Hotelbeds appeared on the lists, with STAAH GDS being a significant gainer in both countries.

📃 Brand USA, a destination marketing organization, aims to drive international travel into the US, benefiting American citizens, businesses, and travelers. The organization embraces travel as a tool for diplomacy and empathy. Janette, serving as SVP Innovation and Chief AI Officer, focuses on preparing the industry to leverage new technologies like augmented reality, virtual reality, and AI, including predictive and generative AI. She discusses the transformative potential of AI in content creation and decision-making, emphasizing the importance of staying competitive by being "smart" rather than outspending other destinations. Janette's background in theater and tourism, along with her experience at Broadway.com and NYC Tourism, provides her with a diverse perspective on the use of AI. She became particularly interested in AI following the public release of ChatGPT in November 2022. Her role at Brand USA involves ensuring the industry is AI-ready by 2030, recognizing that knowledge work is continually evolving. The discussion touches on the significance of AI for efficiency and ethical business practices and the need for a framework to guide AI adoption within organizations, encouraging a balance of top-down and bottom-up approaches for successful integration. Janette stresses the importance of leading with wonder and embracing the fun aspects of AI to inspire innovation in the workplace.

🛒 Relentless.com, originally registered by Jeff Bezos, redirects to Amazon, the world's most-trafficked retail website with over 2.5 billion monthly visitors. Founded in 1994, Amazon started as a book seller before search engines like Google existed. In a 1997 letter to shareholders, Bezos emphasized Amazon's customer-focused approach. Lodging giants like Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG are now expanding their offerings beyond traditional lodging, following Amazon's example of offering everything to everyone. Marriott began as a root beer stand, showcasing the necessity of adaptation. As of 2025, the top five hotel companies aim to be more agile in their ventures, echoing Bezos' strategy.