Innovation

🏩 Peter Feeney, DISH Business VP, highlights the importance of integrating live TV and streaming services in hotel in-room entertainment systems to meet the expectations of Millennial and Gen Z travelers, who are increasingly dominating bookings and prefer content outside traditional broadcast channels. No specific dates or numbers provided.

🖥 Autonomous agents in GenAI emerged over the past year, offering decision-making without constant human supervision. Precursors like Auto-GPT and BabyAGI, launched in early 2023, faced practical limitations. Boosts followed: November 2023, Bill Gates blogged about AI agents; February 2024, OpenAI confirmed development, hinting at a release aligning with GPT-5 in mid-2024, expected to be smarter than GPT-4. Autonomous agents may soon control computers directly, raising questions about autonomy, liability, and agent-to-agent interactions without human involvement.

🛫 Thai Airways, the flag carrier of Thailand, has announced an upgrade in their modernization process through advanced Amadeus technology solutions. The airline renewed and expanded its distribution agreement with Amadeus, aiming to increase revenue and improve the passenger experience post-pandemic. Thai Airways' website and mobile booking channels will be revamped for a smoother, personalized experience, including a more robust booking flow. The Amadeus Reference Experience will provide a new user interface, and Amadeus Travel Ready will enable document verification during online check-in to expedite airport processes. Additionally, Thai Airways will employ Amadeus Network Revenue Management to optimize pricing and accept various payment methods through Outpayce's Xchange Payment Platform. Nuthaphol Amawatana, head of pricing and revenue management, envisions this as a significant step in Thai Airways' business transformation.

📊 Custom Business Solutions (CBS) celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2024. Jeremy Julian, the CRO, discusses 2024 innovations like a new all-in-one kiosk solution, tipped distribution model, and earned wage access. He highlights that 90% of restaurant employees live within 10 miles of their workplace. The average restaurant integrates over 10 solutions to their Point of Sale (POS) system, presenting significant integration challenges that CBS Northstar aims to address.

💸 Otamiser, an OTA ranking management platform, raised $3 million USD in funding led by Pitchdrive VC, targeting global expansion to 1,000 hotels and 100,000 short-term rentals. Achieving $1.9 million USD in ARR and expanding to a 32-employee team, Otamiser promises an average occupancy rate increase of 11% and profit rise of 24% for their clients. The investment will enhance data-driven tools and launch a new AI product for Airbnb operators.

🚀 Otamiser, an OTA ranking management platform, secured $3 million USD in its initial funding led by Pitchdrive VC. The platform plans to grow to 1,000 hotels and 100,000 short-term rentals globally. Currently, over 76 hoteliers and PMCs in nine countries use Otamiser, generating an ARR of €1.8 million ($1.9 million USD) with a 32-employee team. Customers have seen occupancy rates increase by 11% and profits by 24%. The capital will enhance tools, launch a new AI product for Airbnb, and expand the commercial team.

🏖️ HBX Group partners with PerfectStay to lead B2B2C package travel solutions globally. Collaboration since 2023 aims to enhance airline, hotel, and bank offerings in EMEA, focusing on customer loyalty and user experience. Brands like Air France, Emirates, and American Express are clients, with Kenya Airways being the latest addition. HBX Group's investment in PerfectStay comes through its TravelTech Lab venture, supporting innovative startups in travel technology.

💻 At HITEC 2020, cybersecurity threats in the hospitality industry were showcased, highlighting the psychological tactics and AI used by cybercriminals. Daniel Johnson and Lyle Worthington emphasized the human vulnerability, citing employee apathy and lack of cybersecurity knowledge as key risk factors. Executives often underestimate risks, with common industry excuses leading to inadequate protection measures. Cyberattacks average a 22-day downtime with costs of $5,000 per minute. Cybersecurity insurance policies are now stricter, and claims are more frequently denied without proof of proactive security efforts. Artificial Intelligence is a double-edged sword, used by criminals for social engineering attacks but also offering potential defensive benefits for hoteliers through continuous monitoring and pattern recognition.

Une enquête de Mews, datée du 2 juillet 2024, révèle que près de 80% des voyageurs américains préféreraient séjourner dans des hôtels équipés d'une réception automatisée ou de bornes en libre-service, et 36% ont déjà utilisé l'IA pour obtenir des recommandations lors de la réservation de leurs voyages. Les éléments souhaités comprennent notamment des dispositifs domestiques intelligents dans la chambre (43%), l'entrée sans clé (34%), l'accès mobile à la chambre (27%) et la commande numérique (24%).

📢 Otamiser raised $3 million USD in its first funding round, led by Pitchdrive VC. The funds will help expand to 1,000 hotels and 100,000 short-term rentals globally. The platform, launched in 2022, boasts an ARR of €1.8 million ($1.9 million USD), 32 employees, and is used by over 76 hoteliers in nine countries. Otamiser’s services lead to an 11% increase in occupancy and a 24% average profit rise for clients. A new AI-driven product for Airbnb operators is forthcoming, as part of their growth and development plan.