Innovation

📈 Inn-Flow, based in Cary, N.C., received the top honors in the 2026 HotelTechAwards for Hotel Accounting Software and Scheduling & Workforce Management. The company advanced from 2nd and 3rd places in 2025. It's recognized as a "Top 10 Best Places to Work" for 2026, emphasizing a people-first culture. A $45 million investment supports growth. Additionally, Inn-Flow maintained its Level III Certification for Customer Support, showcasing excellence in various support dimensions.

🛠️ Hotel staff are prime targets for social engineering attacks, which exploit human behavior rather than technical vulnerabilities. Phishing, vishing, and in-person impersonation are common tactics. Microsoft reports over 99% of identity attacks are password-based. A 2024 survey states more than one-third of U.S. businesses experienced deepfake incidents. Data breaches cost an average of $3.86 million, as per IBM's 2024 report. 82% of North American hotels were affected by cyberattacks. Hotels should prioritize continuous cybersecurity training and clear protocols.

💸 Jan 12, 2026, at the National Retail Federation conference, Google launched the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP). UCP enables AI-driven transaction management, from discovery to checkout, directly within Google interfaces. Initial focus is on retail, with potential expansion to travel. Major payment players like Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal support UCP. Businesses retain data control, while purchases use Google Wallet. UCP integrates with Google’s Agent Payments Protocol and the Model Context Protocol for travel, positioning Google at the forefront of AI commerce.