Innovation

🏨 Marriott International announced a partnership with Sonder Holdings Inc. to add over 9,000 rooms to its portfolio by the end of 2024, with an additional 1,500 rooms in the pipeline, under "Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy" collection. This deal is expected to achieve Marriott's net rooms growth of 6-6.5% for the full year of 2024. Sonder, founded in 2014, operates in North America, Europe, and the Middle East, catering to longer stays. Integration with Marriott’s digital platforms is planned for 2025, offering Bonvoy members the ability to earn and redeem points at around 200 properties.

📊 A US federal judge declared Google a monopolist and ruled against its practice of paying Apple billions to remain the default search engine on its devices. This stance may slow Google's innovation, already challenged by AI advancements like OpenAI's ChatGPT. Google's "10 blue links" model faces existential threats from AI competitors capable of providing direct answers. Despite Google's early AI developments and $165 billion in revenue from search ads in the first six months of 2024, talent departures and lack of new hit products suggest potential decline, similar to the fate of once-dominant companies like IBM and AT&T. The shift towards AI interaction models and voice/gesture commands could reshape the internet, diminishing the relevance of traditional search.

🚗 Uber and BYD announced a multi-year strategic partnership to deploy 100,000 BYD electric vehicles (EVs) across global markets including Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Uber, with the largest on-demand EV network, and BYD, a leader in EV production, aim to lower EV ownership costs and promote their use on the Uber platform. The collaboration extends to future autonomous-capable BYD vehicles for Uber, enhancing urban mobility and sustainability.

🎉 Transavia's birthday celebration campaign, in collaboration with Deployteq, garnered a 23% click-through rate, surpassing the industry benchmark of 8.68%. The campaign aimed at enhancing customer loyalty and increasing email engagement for Transavia Holidays. It achieved a 54% open rate and a 48% click-to-open rate. An accompanying voucher email obtained a 93% open rate, a 12% click-to-open rate, and a 9% click-through rate. Deployteq's CEO praised the integration of AI and personalised content for the campaign's success.

🚀 Alex Saint, founder & CEO of Secret Escapes, appointed chairman of Holibob’s Board of Directors, replacing Richard Sowerby. Holibob, which added Andreas Nau and Malcolm King to its board last year and earlier this month, recently raised £3.5M. The new appointees will support Holibob's "eCommerce Engine for Experiences", as the company enters its next growth phase. Saint has informally advised Holibob for years and praises its unique, powerful solution for the travel industry.

🏦 Nada Zrikem joins AltoVita as director of client partnerships for Middle East expansion, bringing a decade of luxury hospitality sales experience from JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton. Her role focuses on regional growth and increasing demand. AltoVita aims to blend global reach with advanced technology and 24/7 personalized support, meeting the diverse needs of the fast-paced Middle Eastern corporate accommodation market. CEO Vivi Himmel highlights AltoVita's commitment to personalization and bespoke technology for navigating the Middle Eastern landscape.

💳 Book on Wego (BOW) partners with UATP to extend its Online Travel Agency platform beyond the MENA region. This collaboration enables BOW to be accessible to more airlines and travel partners globally, simplifying payment processes and expanding payment capabilities. Customers will benefit from a user-friendly interface and an extensive network of partners, leading to better price comparisons and travel decisions. Wego's Chief Flights Officer, Dean Wicks, emphasizes the commitment to simplifying travel and fostering tourism growth.

🏨 On August 19, 2024, Search Engine Roundtable reported hackers manipulating Google Hotel listings, marking some hotels as permanently closed and altering contact details, including phone numbers switched to WhatsApp contacts.

📈 Otelier and Stayntouch partnered for hotel data integration, offering reservation, guest, and financial information via IntelliSight software. The collaboration enables hoteliers to normalize data across their properties, aiding decision-making with actionable insights. Stayntouch’s cloud PMS enhances guest engagement and operational efficiency. The Otelier suite includes DigiAudit, TruePlan, IntelliSight, DigiPay, and Rec for comprehensive hotel management, focusing on audit compliance, budgeting, business intelligence, accounts payable automation, and financial reconciliation.

🏨 Hotels are leveraging amenities to attract non-guests, offering day passes and memberships. ResortPass, with 1,500 hotel partners in 27 countries, controls 95% of the day pass market. Day passes average $65, with luxury options over $200. Hyatt's pilot program with Way technology saw increased bookings, and The Royalton increased ResortPass bookings by 50%, revenue by 80% in a year. CitizenM offers memberships across 34 hotels. Careful management ensures paying guests' experiences aren't impacted.