Innovation

📨 Guesty launched ReplyAI, an automated messaging tool integrated into its Unified Inbox, for guest-host communication across email, WhatsApp, SMS, and booking channels. ReplyAI uses Generative AI algorithms and Natural Language Processing to analyze and reply to messages, considering the customer's entire history. Over 40% of accounts use ReplyAI since its soft launch in February, with high-usage accounts utilizing it for 50% of incoming messages. This indicates a market need for AI automation to enhance efficiency and guest experience. Guesty CEO Amiad Soto highlights AI's role in elevating guest experience and streamlining host workload. ReplyAI joins Guesty's AI-powered PMS features, including PriceOptimizer.

📱 Guesty, a property management software platform, launched ReplyAI, an automated messaging service, after a soft launch in February. ReplyAI saves over 40% of accounts from writing more than 20% of messages and is used for 50% of incoming messages on high-usage accounts. It uses generative AI algorithms for natural, accurate responses, supporting 12+ languages and designed to streamline guest communications without exiting the Guesty platform. CEO Amiad Soto emphasizes AI's role in enhancing guest experience and operational efficiency. ReplyAI is part of Guesty's intelligent Property Management System which includes other AI tools like PriceOptimizer.

📢 Yum! Brands targets hundreds of U.S. Taco Bell drive-thrus for Voice AI technology implementation by end of 2024, with over 100 locations in 13 states already using it. Benefits include improved order accuracy, reduced wait times, and enhanced team member and customer experiences. The Company's digital sales approached $30 billion, with over 50% through digital channels in Q1 2024, doubling since 2019. Taco Bell's ecosystem, including digital menu boards and the Poseidon POS system, supports this tech which is also being tested in five Australian KFC drive-thrus.

💾 Shiji's enterprise management system supports rapid, large-scale deployment of property management systems (PMS), saving time and costs. TIME Hotels benefited from this by seamlessly integrating new properties with minimal downtime, essential for their expansion plans, as noted by CEO Mohamed Awadalla. Shiji's PMS enables flexible, scalable rollouts contrary to many cloud-based systems that struggle with simultaneous deployments.

💸 Hyatt utilized LinkedIn Sales Navigator to modernize their sales strategy, resulting in 6,200 saved leads and 2,600 new connections over approximately three months. The pilot program saw 100% of participants wanting to continue using the tool, leading to Hyatt's decision to enter a long-term partnership with LinkedIn. The integration of AI features like Account IQ has further empowered Hyatt's sales teams to effectively target and build relationships at scale.

✈ American Airlines renewed its subscription to Sabre's PRISM, a travel contract management solution. PRISM provides 24/7 analytics and reporting, with technical support, optimizing corporate travel contracts by processing data from over 5,000 sources globally. In 2023, PRISM processed more than 2 million individual corporate flight bookings. American Airlines aims to enhance planning, execution, and measurement of corporate contracts leveraging PRISM analytics.

🏡 W Sydney, a five-star hotel with 588 rooms and suites, chose IRIS for mobile ordering and digital guest experiences. Anand Prabeer, W Sydney's B&F Director, noted a significant rise in room service orders and ancillary revenue within the first 6 months of implementing IRIS's app. The app allows guests to access hotel information, menus, and local attractions, enhancing guest experience and operational efficiency. IRIS VP Sales and Marketing, Graham Rushin, emphasized the app's role in boosting F&B revenue and improving service.