Innovation

📈 Apr 17, 2026, Expedia Group reports that while 68% of travelers prefer booking through trusted brands, AI is popular for trip discovery and planning. Only a minority use AI like ChatGPT for booking, with 59% relying on search engines and 49% on online travel agencies. Trust issues, including data privacy and post-booking support, hinder AI adoption. Established brands leverage trust, offering reliable customer service and maintaining industry dominance.

🏨 September 16-17, 2026, Miami Beach hosts the Independent Hotel Show Miami, gathering luxury, boutique, and independent hotel communities from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The two-day event offers curated inspiration, meaningful networking, and innovative solutions for hoteliers. An engaging education program with expert insights aims to support the industry's business enhancement efforts.

🏨 Topmast Motel in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, offers a serene stay with clean rooms and scenic views. This family-run property is conveniently located near shops, cafes, a waterfront, and a golf course. To enhance operations, Topmast Motel has implemented the WebRezPro Property Management System.

📚 Richard Valtr, founder of Mews, criticized AI products in the hotel industry during the International Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin last month. Valtr expressed disappointment at the lack of imagination among entrepreneurs and hotel groups, who he believes are reacting to AI rather than considering its implications. Mews, a cloud-based property management system, serves over 15,000 hotels in 85 countries. Valtr emphasized the importance of understanding consumer engagement with hotel brands rather than merely implementing AI features.

📈 As of April 15, 2026, Mews launched Mews Business Intelligence (Mews BI), a native data analysis tool for hotel management. 1,000 early customers have already adopted it. Mews BI offers customizable dashboards, automated report delivery, and integrates with external data sources like Google Ads, enhancing decision-making for hotels. Designed to streamline operations, it provides insights on revenue, occupancy, and bookings. Hostels will gain access to Mews BI in the latter half of 2026.

💻 From December 2–4, HITEC TOKYO, the first-ever conference of its kind, will be held at Ariake GYM-EX within the Hospitality Tech EXPO by RX Japan LLC. This partnership with HITEC® aims to expand hospitality tech in Asia and transform Tokyo into an industry hub. Targeting hotel management, the event will connect global expertise with growth opportunities in East Asia. HITEC North America 2026 will occur June 15–18 in San Antonio, Texas, expecting over 5,900 attendees and 370 exhibitors.

💻 AIHA, founded by Ira Vouk, launches a global platform to unify AI efforts in hospitality. The AI Hospitality Alliance offers education, news, events, capital connections, research, and a media hub. Stakeholders include hoteliers, tech partners, AI platforms, researchers, and investors. Its goal is to integrate these groups for effective industry evolution. Open to all and free to join, AIHA aims to centralize collaboration and insight-sharing to influence the future of hospitality.

💻 Access Hospitality reports that 47% of hotel businesses use 2-4 systems, and 25% use over five, causing a “toggle tax” issue. UK and Ireland hoteliers average 5.2 systems, wasting 322 hours yearly switching systems. Nicola Longfield from Access Hospitality advises auditing tech stacks for future readiness, consolidating operations for AI efficiency, quizzing tech partners on production capabilities, and reevaluating switching costs to enhance operational outcomes over the next decade.

📈 In 2025, Airbnb's U.S. economic footprint soared to $93 billion, supporting 1.1 million jobs and generating $26 billion in tax revenue. The average host earned $15,600. Six hotel groups now dominate 84% of organic search traffic, with Marriott leading at 76 million monthly visits. Amid rising interest rates, HVS advises hotel owners to focus on operational improvements and creative financing strategies. Meanwhile, AI is reshaping the hospitality workforce, affecting job roles and staffing decisions.

🏨 In a Hotel Moment episode, Dylan Cole interviews Tomas Bäcklund, CMO of Elite Hotels of Sweden, on growth strategies in hospitality. Tomas highlights strengthening brand identity to boost pricing power and direct bookings, countering rising costs and shrinking margins. Host Karen Stephens, with 25 years in hospitality tech, emphasizes brand equity and strategic partnerships for growth. Dylan Cole, Revinate’s Managing Director of Europe, has advanced Revinate’s presence in global markets since 2023.