Innovation

📱 Hotels are using WhatsApp to enhance guest communication, boosting online check-in rates, improving service, and increasing on-site sales in locations like Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. WhatsApp offers a 24-hour free response window for incoming messages, while outbound messages vary in cost by campaign type and location. Only 12% of hotels currently utilize WhatsApp, suggesting a potential opportunity. The tool is part of a broader communication mix that includes email and SMS, tailored to guest preferences and hotel needs.

📍 Agentic Hospitality, located at 1889 Rutherford Ave, Louisville, KY, offers services to connect via phone at 303-406-1053 or email at sales@agentichospitality.com.

💻 Small hospitality businesses face challenges like economic uncertainty and rising tariffs. With 72% using AI to analyze customer data and 65% for marketing, nearly 9 in 10 are embracing AI. Cybersecurity is crucial; 54% worry about threats, and 46% use fraud prevention tools. Despite this, 76% are optimistic about their business. Investing in technology, these businesses enhance guest experiences and maintain competitive advantages.

📊 TrustYou's SummaryAI, integrated into the Customer Experience Platform (CXP), revolutionizes how hoteliers manage guest feedback. Weekly summaries transform thousands of reviews from platforms like Booking.com and TripAdvisor into actionable insights, saving hours of manual work. This AI tool offers actionable suggestions, aligns HQ with on-site teams, and tracks recurring issues, thus enhancing guest satisfaction and response times. Its seamless integration with CXP features, including SentimentAI and Competitor Benchmarking, ensures comprehensive data flow and improved decision-making. Book a demo to experience this game-changer.

💰 AI-driven upselling is set to revolutionize the hospitality industry by 2026, enhancing customer experience and revenue through smarter, autonomous workflows. Independent hotels face challenges compared to large brands, but can leverage peer networks and regional associations for support. Revinate's platform supports 950+ million Rich Guest Profiles across 12,500+ hotels, generating over $17.2 billion in direct revenue. Hoteliers are advised to run pilots, unify data, and demand real-time vendor integrations to maximize AI benefits.

🤖 Shangri-La Traders and Shanghai Hongqiao Airport Hotel, China, recently inaugurated with KEENON Robotics’ XMAN-R1 humanoid greeter. The hotel, opened earlier this week, marks Shangri-La's fifth Shanghai property and the debut of the refreshed Traders brand. XMAN-R1 uses KEENON's KOM2.0 model for interactive tasks. Supported by robots like W3 for deliveries, S100 for luggage, and C40 for cleaning, the initiative showcases enhanced hotel operations and guest experiences.

🛫 Business travel optimism is up! In October 2025, 43% of professionals expressed optimism, a 15-point rise from previous months. However, concerns about 2025 travel volume and spending remain, with 35% predicting a 19% decline. Travel patterns are shifting, with 39% noting an increase in multi-stop trips. 49% of suppliers are exploring AI. Yet, traveler accessibility efforts lag, with only 18% of managers extensively accommodating needs. The data was gathered from 591 respondents globally.

🏨 Agilysys wins the 2025 HTNG TechOvation Award for its Book with S.P.E.N.D. technology, a game-changer in hospitality booking. This software lets guests book packages online, easing the workload on staff and preventing overbooking. With 24/7 self-service, guests can secure spa, dining, and activity packages in a single session. This innovation boosts hotel revenue, cuts call-center costs, and simplifies operational management, as highlighted by industry leaders David Sjolander and Frank Pitsikalis.

🤖 2025, Boom introduces BAM, the first Business Agentic Manager targeting the Short-Term Rental industry, enhancing autonomy and efficiency. The innovation follows a $12.7 million funding round led by Avenue Growth Partners. BAM automates 75% of guest communications and completes 100% of review management autonomously. Report times drop from hours to under a minute. The shift to Business as a Software (BAaS) allows property managers to focus on growth and strategy, boosting satisfaction and retention.

🗺️ Dida Holdings, a leading AI-driven travel tech group, unveiled a new structure to unify its brands under Travel, Technology, and New Ventures. Following Daryl Lee's appointment as CEO in October, the company aims to be the top travel ecosystem partner using AI and automation. Core divisions—Dida Hotels, Flights, Go, and Experiences—will expand globally. Operating across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, Dida focuses on AI in pricing, connectivity, and sustainability.