Innovation

💳 Only 16% of transactions are cash-based today, with 33% of Americans viewing tipping favorably. In Canada, 37% tip 15-19% for great service. Digital tipping faces challenges due to integration with hotel PMS, yet it's crucial for staff to receive tips directly. Visa gift cards are now a solution for digital tips in hotels, offering transferable balances and no cost to hotels. Digital tipping, integrated with PMS, provides security benefits and the potential for higher tips.

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor at Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality since 1999, previously wrote for The New York Sun (2005-2008) and was a food columnist in Thailand (1992-1997). A Tufts University magna cum laude graduate in history and a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef, he’s known for food and beverage trends and French and Asian cuisines. Awards include the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award and he was inducted into the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014. He's based in Brooklyn, N.Y.

💻 In July 2024, the Top 100 Gen AI Consumer Apps ranked the top 50 AI-first web products by unique monthly visits and top 50 AI-first mobile apps by monthly active users. Nearly 30% of the companies were new since the March 2024 report. On the web, 52% of companies focus on content generation/editing, with 58% of 12 new entrants in the creative tool space. Music generator Suno rose from #36 to #5. ChatGPT remains #1 on web and mobile, while Perplexity is now #3 on the web. Bytedance introduced three new apps: Gauth (#44), Coze (#45), Doubao (#47); Doubao also hit #26 on mobile. New category aesthetics and dating includes LooksMax AI (#43), Umax (#44), and RIZZ (#49) on mobile, with LooksMax claiming over 2 million users and Umax claiming 1 million. Discord traffic indicates trending content generation apps, with 10 AI companies in the top 100 Discord servers by invite traffic.

🏨 ALBIE©, developed by The Anything Group (TAG), is a new booking platform featured on Kickstarter. Aimed to revolutionize travel, ALBIE allows integrated bookings for hotels, activities, and ancillaries in one reservation. Over two years of development ensured compliance with PCI, GDPR, and ADA standards. It promises personalized travel experiences, time and cost savings for travelers, direct revenue, and optimized occupancy for hotels. Features include all-in-one booking, automated enhancements, and a modern interface. Key technology partners include SiteMinder, SHIFT4, ApplePay, and major PMS like Maestro and Mews. An instant gratification loyalty program is expected in 2025.

```html 🏨 ``` The article "Hotel Distribution Channels- Types & Strategies to Optimize" by Suniti Bahl was published on Hotelogix Blog on August 27, 2024. It explores essential hotel distribution channels, both direct and indirect, and discusses how effective channel management can enhance hotel profitability. The visual content includes an image with a URL that indicates a date of 2024/08. The blog includes links to stylesheets and the manifest for the host domain, as well as social media links such as to Hotelogix's Facebook page.

💻 31% of hospitality organizations experienced a data breach in 2023. Cloud-native Property Management Systems (PMS) offer benefits such as mobile access, seamless payment integration with single-click actions, and the absence of connection fees for integrating with other hospitality tools. Advanced features like online check-in, self-serve kiosks, and digital room keys enhance guest experience and operational efficiency. Continuous product updates, role-based learning paths, and revenue maximization through the sale of various space types are advised. Two-factor authentication (2FA) and card tokenization ensure security, with SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certifications providing additional assurance. Regular analysis of performance data and metrics like RevPAG (revenue per available guest) is encouraged for business success.

🍤 Playa Bowl, expanding to 225 shops across 23 states, is set to open 75 new locations in the current year. With accolades including Forbes 30 Under 30 and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award finalist, the franchise focuses on off-premises dining, ranking in the top three on delivery platforms and offering digital ordering through its mobile app. The brand's loyalty program significantly impacts revenue, with personalized offers for members. Technology plays a crucial role in improving customer experience and operational efficiency.

💸 Amex GBT, the world's largest TMC by revenue, is utilizing AI to handle trip requests via email, enhancing efficiency. In 2023, the company facilitated $6.3 billion in travel bookings for 20,000 companies. A merger with CWT worth $570 million, announced in March, is under review by the U.K. authority, delaying the merger till next year. Amex GBT is transitioning from a service-focused company to a software-service hybrid and aims to integrate travel, payment, and expense management systems.

📲 TikTok released a 16-page "Holidays For You" guide on August 27, 2024, featuring holiday hashtags, content trends, and user purchase behaviors. The infographic-style guide offers insights and strategies for brands to tap into user engagement and interests during the holiday season. The full guide is available on TikTok's website.

📱 Enso Connect, a platform for short-term rentals and boutique hotels, enhances their AI-powered Unified Inbox V2 with features aimed at improving speed, quality, and revenue. The update includes AI Messaging, Saved Replies, Knowledge Base, Quick Commands, Powerful Filters, and Multi-Audience Communication. EnsoAI responds instantly in multiple languages, personalizes messages, and offers proactive insights. The performance dashboard offers data-driven insights. The Unified Inbox V2 is now live for all Enso Connect accounts, as confirmed by Co-founder and CEO Francois Gouelo.