Innovation - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 66

2 min

Protect Group rolls out new platform

💸 Protect Group has launched the Agent Platform, a tool enabling offline travel agents to sell refund protection without technical integration. It offers a new revenue stream and commission structure for agents. Offline bookings, crucial in sectors like cruises where 80% of transactions occur, now benefit from refund protection capabilities. Stephen Joyce emphasizes this platform's importance in meeting demand for booking flexibility. Currently, it’s being introduced to selected agencies, with broader access planned.

2 min

More than 1,400 hosts find AI ‘overwhelming’

📈 Hosts in the short-term rental industry are spending 8.3 hours/week managing listings, with AI aiding only 14% as of 2025. Despite AI's promise, 47% find it overwhelming. Administrative tasks consume time for 76%, and 72% are bogged down by property servicing. Only 10% plan to invest in cleaning tech, while 48% still use spreadsheets. Airbnb use remains high at 98%, with a satisfaction score of 4.1/5. Direct bookings are emphasized by 90% of hosts for future investment.

1 min

eDreams ODIGEO subscriber base up by a fifth

💰 Popular travel platform eDreams ODIGEO recorded an 18% increase in Prime membership in the first half of 2026, reaching 7.7 million members. The company added 1.2 million new members in the past year, with 457,000 net additions in the first half. This resulted in a 16% rise in profitability, hitting €94 million. CEO Dana Dunne highlighted the platform's unique value and shareholder benefits. A new plan aims to boost Prime membership growth through 2030.

From room types to experiences — how AI is quietly rewriting the rules of hotel merchandising

🏨 November 20, 2025: AI travel assistants revolutionize hotel room selections by focusing on travelers' intentions rather than standard categories like Superior or Deluxe. Experience-based selling enhances pricing, demand, and direct bookings by making hotel rooms emotionally relatable and machine-readable. Hotels with rich experiential data gain a competitive edge, surfacing more frequently in AI recommendations. This shift offers branding opportunities, especially for boutique and design-led hotels, allowing them to showcase their unique identities and stories.

1 min

#luxuryhospitality #wellness #innovation #sustainability | Tamara Taveri

💄 Ritz Carlton Los Angeles is revolutionizing luxury hospitality by introducing personalized in-room skincare, featuring the “beauty fridge” filled with high-tech masks and custom skincare consultations ready upon guest check-in. This blend of wellness and technology highlights the industry's shift but emphasizes sustainability challenges. The focus is on delivering unique experiences while reducing waste and single-use packaging. #LuxuryHospitality #Wellness #Innovation #Sustainability

2 min

Amadeus and SmartRyde team up to make airport transfers easier — starting with Japan and South Korea based travel agents

🛫 SmartRyde and Amadeus partner to streamline airport transfers in Japan and South Korea, launching this month. Travelers gain access to pre-booked transfers via Amadeus Transfers at over 1,000 airports worldwide, with upfront pricing and real-time availability. This collaboration integrates SmartRyde’s services into Amadeus, enhancing travel itineraries with seamless transportation options. The partnership aims to offer a full-service experience, expanding global airport transfer solutions across 150+ countries.

3 min

Shiji CEO, Kevin King, receives Lifetime Achievement Visionary Award from Hospitality Technology

🏆 Kevin King, CEO of Shiji, received the Lifetime Achievement Visionary Award at the 2025 Hotel Visionary Awards in Atlanta, Georgia, recognizing over 30 years in hospitality and nearly 30 years in hospitality technology. Under his leadership, Shiji expanded globally, providing cloud solutions to over 91,000 hotels, including IHG and Peninsula Hotels. The awards, now in their 20th year, honor transformative leaders in the industry. Shiji employs over 5,000 people worldwide.

4 min

How ChatGPT Plans to Book Hotels (And Why Your Property Might Be Invisible)

💻 In October 2025, ChatGPT launched Apps reaching 800 million users on the first day, revolutionizing hotel bookings with AI-driven recommendations. Expedia and Booking.com integrated early, emphasizing trust over ads. AI mentions in travel company reports rose from 4% in 2022 to 35% in 2024, with 45% of startup funding now AI-focused. Only 2% of travelers currently let AI book for them, but this is expected to grow. Hotels must quickly build App infrastructure for direct AI integration or risk being excluded.

1 min

Behind Google’s push, the new battle for hotel distribution

💻 Google is revolutionizing travel search and booking with its latest AI advancements. This shift necessitates rapid adaptation by hotels to maintain control, reminiscent of challenges faced during the online travel agency boom.

3 min

Popular campground sees surge in online bookings and slashes admin time with RMS

🛔 MAINE, 19 November 2025 – Acres of Wildlife campground enhanced operations by adopting RMS, saving over 32 staff hours weekly and boosting upsell revenue. With RMS, online bookings surged tenfold. Unregistered visitor detection increased fee revenue by 15-20%. In July 2024, ADR rose 36.8% from 2020. The switch streamlined bookings, automated pricing, and reduced RV move disruptions. RMS's tools and support optimized operations, benefiting staff and guests alike.

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