Innovation - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 61

Booking.com’s new Genius push reshapes loyalty expectations

📅 Nov 4, 2025: Booking.com enhances its Genius loyalty program with a no-fee rewards card, aiming for a seamless travel experience. Lifetime Genius tiers retain benefits, encouraging loyalty and consistent use. The new Genius card auto-upgrades holders to Level 3, boosting bookings. AI personalization aids targeted placements, benefiting niche hotels. The program appeals to diverse travelers, increasing bookings for different trip types and durations. Consistent perk delivery is crucial for hotels to maintain visibility and positive reviews.

2 min

Victor Lugger of Big Mamma brings restaurant payments into the 21st century

💳 Victor Lugger, co-founder of Big Mamma, developed the Sunday app during the pandemic to improve restaurant payment experiences. Implementing a QR-code payment system allowed guests to pay by phone, increasing convenience and tips. It freed servers for more guest interaction. With over 3,000 restaurants in the U.S. and Europe using it, Sunday integrates with POS systems and offers features like check splitting and Google reviews. Lugger raised $100 million to expand, planning a Miami opening soon.

2 min

Embergrove Hospitality Group Selects Canary to Modernize the Guest Journey

💻 Embergrove Hospitality Group, with 12 properties in the Midwest U.S., enhances guest experiences with Canary Technologies' solutions. Announced on October 30, 2025, this partnership uses mobile-first workflows and AI in 100+ languages to improve efficiency and revenue. Canary Technologies, used by over 20,000 hotels globally, is recognized as a top guest experience platform. Embergrove, previously Stoney Creek Hospitality, continues its commitment to personalized service and modern solutions.

5 min

From Revenue Manager to Commercial Strategist — A New Era for Hotel Profitability?

📈 Hotels are shifting from room rate focus to total profitability. The guide "From Revenue Manager to Commercial Strategist" emphasizes strategic planning over tactical pricing. 76% of revenue managers' tasks are non-revenue generating. AI and BI systems are freeing this time, allowing strategy focus. By 2025, profitability is about total guest contribution, not just room revenue. Nicole Young of Rosewood Hotel Group highlights revenue optimization as key for new trends in hospitality.

1 min

2025 AI Adoption Report: Gen AI Fast-Tracks Into the Enterprise

📈 In its third year, a cross-sectional study, led by Jeremy Korst, Stefano Puntoni, and Prasanna (Sonny) Tambe, tracks Gen AI's transition to enterprise adoption. The study identifies common use cases and emerging returns, providing benchmarks for executives. The focus is on integrating AI into budgets, processes, and training to achieve sustainable ROI. This research, linked to Wharton Human-AI Research, highlights people and process levers essential for mainstream AI implementation.

2 min

Cross Hotels & Resorts to Join Sono International Group

📍 Bangkok, 2025: Cross Hotels & Resorts, part of the Flight Centre Travel Group, has been sold to South Korea’s Sono International Co. Ltd. Cross operates 28 hotels in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Japan, focusing on lifestyle, wellness, and luxury. This acquisition aims to leverage Sono’s expertise for Asian market expansion. Cross will continue operations from Bangkok, enhancing its portfolio and growth strategy. Further updates on new openings and initiatives will follow.

2 min

From Heritage to Hospitality Innovation: The Corby of Windsor Journey

💬 Founded in 1930, Corby of Windsor has been enhancing the hotel guest experience for over 90 years. Known for the iconic Corby trouser press, their products are now in over 60 countries, including garment care, welcome trays, and minibars. Emphasizing sustainability, Corby offers innovations like battery-free scales and recycling bins. All electrical items feature a four-year guarantee. The brand continues to focus on comfort, convenience, and eco-friendly practices while working towards a Net Zero plan.

2 min

LukeW | AI Has Flipped Software Development

🚀 Software development is being revolutionized by AI coding tools, accelerating development by 10x, reversing traditional roles. Typically, design teams led with mockups while engineering lagged. Designers averaged a 1:20 ratio to developers. Now, AI tools like Augment Code enable engineers to swiftly create features, necessitating designers to refine UX post-coding. This shift, seen across several companies, promotes rapid iteration and real-time learning, evolving the process from "design to build" to "prototype to productize.

3 min

WTTC Welcomes HiSEAS International as Its Newest Global Member at WTM

🌎 London welcomes HiSEAS International as the latest Global Member of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) at the World Travel Market (WTM) event. Founded in Switzerland in 2011, HiSEAS operates over 40 offices in 20+ countries, supported by 800 staff and 45,000 partners. Annually, they cater to 13,000+ international groups. HiSEAS leverages AI for innovation in travel solutions, aligning with WTTC's goals for digital transformation, sustainability, and global cooperation.

SuitePad Launches SuitePad AI to Enhance In-Room Guest Service and Reduce Staff Workload

💻 SuitePad launched SuitePad AI, a voice-activated hotel-room assistant, available on all SuitePad devices. During the beta phase, tested in 30+ European hotels, SuitePad AI achieved an 83% chat resolution at Romy by Amano and answered 1,700+ questions at Amano Grand Central, reducing front desk workload by 80-90%. This system, integrated with real-time data, delivers hotel-specific answers while respecting privacy. SuitePad, serving over 1,000 clients worldwide, enhances guest service with smart technology.

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