Innovation

🎓 Nemacolin celebrated the first year of the Nemacolin Hospitality Lab at West Virginia University (WVU) in Farmington, Pennsylvania. The lab achieved a 100% job and internship placement rate for its students. CEO Maggie Hardy praised the lab's role in preparing students for the luxury hospitality sector. Director Meridith Balas highlighted the lab's impact on students' growth and confidence. This initiative is enhancing the tourism industry and empowering future hospitality leaders.

🌎 G20 South Africa Summit (22-23 November 2025): The summit focuses on tourism's role in prosperity and sustainability. G20 economies represent 70% of international tourism. Key efforts include promoting innovation and investment, enhancing air connectivity, supporting digitalization of tourism MSMEs, and unlocking financing for sustainable tourism. Tourism accounts for 3.1% of G20 GDP, 5% of exports, and 21% of service exports. UN Tourism partnered with South Africa for discussions.

🏨 Accor shined at the 2025 HM Awards in Sydney on 21 November, winning three major awards. It was named Accommodation Chain of the Year for the fourth time, with COO Adrian Williams awarded Australasian Hotelier of the Year. Benjamin Nesbitt from Sydney Olympic Park earned Australian General Manager of the Year. Accor operates over 400 hotels in the Pacific and has more than 5,600 globally. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is listed on Euronext Paris.

📸 PPDS will showcase its latest innovations at ISE 2026 in Barcelona, February 3-6. The event at Philips booth 3N500 includes new AI-ready digital signage models and MediaSuite TV upgrades with Ambilight. PPDS emphasizes sustainability by supporting the ISE Sustainability Hackathon. Visitors can explore advanced AV solutions and take part in interactive experiences. Contact Michael Garwood for meetings or register with code PHILIPS for free entry. Last year, ISE 2025 attracted 61,882 visitors and 711 media representatives.

🌐 November 2025, AI platforms like OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and Meta emerge as new middlemen between travelers and hotels. The hospitality industry pushes for a centralized yet federated system using the Model Context Protocol (MCP) to reclaim data control and visibility. Industry groups like AHLA and HTNG aim to establish an AI Distribution Federation Committee. This initiative seeks to replicate successful models like IATA and W3C, ensuring fair, transparent, and trusted hotel data exchange.

💳 Maestro PMS, based in Markham, Ontario, has enhanced its Online Gift Card module for independent hotels and luxury resorts to boost guest loyalty and brand visibility. According to the 2025 Consumer Holiday Retail Shopping Survey, 81% of consumers plan to buy gift cards this holiday season. The improved module features customizable branded designs and seamless integration across all resort services. This flexibility increases total guest spending and strengthens brand identity through personalized gifting options.

💻 McKinsey's roadmap highlights AI's transition from an assistant to an autonomous decision-maker by focusing on architecture, not just technology. Key actions include mapping journeys, breaking down processes, and deploying AI agents at task levels. Forward-thinking leaders integrate AI with human teams to enhance speed, precision, and outcomes. Emphasis is on transforming operations rather than mere task automation. Explore AI’s potential in your sector to leverage its capabilities. #AI #BusinessStrategy #Automation #TechNews

🌐 On the Phocuswright stage in San Diego, the discussion shifted to the impact of AI on destinations managing changing expectations. By 2025, data sources have expanded, yet challenges remain in utilizing this data effectively. The journey from dashboards to dialogue, and then to delegation, introduces AI agents for specialized tasks like marketing and sustainability. These agents, supported by curated tourism data, empower destinations towards better management and strategic decision-making.

🤖 Over the past quarter, Semrush conducted a major AI visibility study analyzing 230,000 prompts across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, and Perplexity. ChatGPT notably reduced citations to Reddit and Wikipedia, indicating a shift in its citation model. Only about one-third of Reddit's rankings would have been impacted by the num=100 parameter change, suggesting a deeper recalibration. Google AI and Perplexity were stable, underlining that this shift was specific to ChatGPT aiming for more diverse and unbiased information sources.

🚪 Cloudbeds introduced their 2026 Preferred Partners to enhance hospitality via trusted innovations. WOT Ericeira Lodge in Portugal leverages FLEXIPASS Webkeys for stress-free guest experiences. TESA Hotel, powered by TESA ASSA ABLOY, offers keyless access with secure wireless door locks. Upcoming events include FITUR in Portugal (21-25 January), StayWyse in Hungary (4-5 February), and ITB Berlin in Germany (3-5 March). FLEXIPASS, a leader in keyless solutions, boosts hotel efficiency and guest satisfaction.