Innovation

✈️ Travel management company DGI has launched ETHOS, a tech platform enhancing travel for not-for-profits, humanitarian, and academic sectors. ETHOS integrates booking, payment, and analytics through seven modules like ethosSync and ethosGo, boosting efficiency and safety. CEO Christopher Airey and CTO Joanne Bowden emphasize the platform’s sustainability and cybersecurity features. It includes enhanced carbon reporting and multi-factor authentication, reflecting DGI’s commitment to innovation and customer trust.

👨‍💻 AI adoption is high among software developers in Southeast Asia and India, with 95% using AI weekly. Developers mainly use AI for productivity, with 80% citing speed and automation as key motivations. Despite this, 79% face unreliable outputs, leading to 67% reviewing all AI-generated code. Only 28% receive employer-led training, but 87% adapt learning plans. Oversight strengthens innovation, as 72% report productivity gains. Formal AI policies are rare, with only 25% of teams operating under guidelines.

💻 In 2025, the hospitality industry grapples with AI adoption. Trends in Silicon Valley and hotel back offices show AI touted as a solution for demand forecasting and guest engagement. However, expectations often outpace understanding. Successful AI integration is about aligning tech with brand values, not merely adopting tools. One hotel reduced message volume by 40% with AI, gaining an hour daily. The AI Compass framework suggests evaluating AI quarterly, focusing on energy savings and team understanding.

📰 World Travel Market, London, November 5, 2025: RMS, a hospitality platform, and Epos Now, a cloud-based POS provider, announced their integration. This partnership aims to enhance operational efficiency, offering real-time guest billing and POS transaction syncing. RMS serves over 7,000 businesses in 70 countries, while Epos Now supports over 64,000 locations globally. This integration promises reduced errors, faster check-outs, and improved guest experiences. RMS CEO, Adam Seskis, highlights the mission to simplify hospitality technology.

📰 Hotel brands are facing data visibility issues, impacting guest loyalty despite adequate service. Fragmented systems hinder personalization, as shown in the Future of Hotel Data report, where nearly 50% of hoteliers struggle to access their data. Only 23% of guests experience meaningful customization, despite 61% being willing to pay more for it, resulting in substantial revenue losses. Amadeus research indicates 85% of hoteliers believe integrated systems could boost revenue by at least 5%.

📈 Christian Watts leads in mentions among 133 names from 60 entries in a Travel Tech Essentialist survey. Avi Meir has the highest post engagement, with Lennart Dobravsky excelling relative to audience size. Discussions include a $457M writedown by Kayak and Airbnb's venture into social connections. Key figures mentioned: Nesrine Changuel, Peter Syme, Brennen Bliss, and companies like Expedia and Airbnb. Research highlights the impact of emotion and authenticity on travel bookings.

💻 In the hospitality industry, a shift is happening away from screen-dominated interactions. Carl Pei and Alex Katouzian highlight that tasks like check-ins and orders are still manually intensive, relying on digital interfaces. AI-powered solutions such as smart glasses and voice-enabled devices aim to streamline these processes, reducing screen time and enhancing human connection. Panos Panay emphasizes the power of not relying on phones, suggesting that less screen time could restore genuine connections in the industry.

🏨 In 2025, Innovation Fest, held by Infor Hospitality and AWS, explores advancements in hospitality tech at an event with hotel and tech leaders. 80% of organizations see success tied to tech adoption, while 75% expect a 20% productivity rise in three years. Hotels integrating unified data systems, like Infor's AWS cloud architecture, report increased profitability. AI and automation, showcased through AR and facial recognition, enhance guest experience while promoting genuine human connection.