Innovation - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 66

2 min

Food-Tech Companies Partner with Cargill to Develop Cocoa Alternatives for Greater Flexibility and Resilience in Chocolate Production

4 September 2026

🍫 Italian food-tech company Foreverland and US-based Voyage Foods are leading the charge in creating cocoa alternatives. Foreverland's Choruba uses carob and plant ingredients, while Voyage Foods' NextCoa employs grape seeds and plants. These innovations aim to future-proof chocolate production by enhancing resilience and flexibility without compromising taste or sustainability. A partnership with Cargill helps commercialize these alternatives. The industry is moving towards hybrid approaches to ensure pricing stability and supply resilience.

3 min

Mike Lee Shares Vision for 2035 Food Industry, Emphasizing Automation, Sustainability, and Post-COVID Innovation at Summit

4 September 2026

🍴 Mike Lee, a food futurist and founder of The Future Market, spoke at the Menus of Change summit in Hyde Park, New York, in September 2023. He predicts that by 2035, automation will support rather than replace human creativity, emphasizing AI's role in enhancing efficiency. Lee's 'Four Ps'—People, Planet, Palate, Profit—will guide future sustainability efforts, promoting 'sustainable hedonism' and biodiversity. Post-COVID resilience will drive innovation, as seen in the adaptation of corporate cafeterias.

1 min

AI Transforms Restaurant Decision-Making, Enhancing Menu Planning and Inventory Management with Data-Driven Insights

4 September 2026

🍽 In 2023, AI increasingly assists the restaurant industry, enhancing decision-making with data analysis. This tech aids in refining menus, forecasting ingredient costs, and identifying flavor trends rapidly. Unlike past systems focusing on logistics, AI now supports menu engineering and inventory planning. While AI boosts efficiency and reduces waste, it doesn't replace chefs; instead, it merges analytical insights with human creativity and expertise. The question remains: where does data end and human judgment begin?

15 min

AI-Powered Flight Booking Faces Uncertainty Over Traveler Trust and Control of Customer Data, Study Finds

✈️ In 2031, AI significantly impacts travel booking, but trust issues remain. A Bain experiment shows AI relies more on OTAs than airlines, with cleaner data from intermediaries. In one scenario, AI assistants recommend itineraries, but human intervention is needed due to incomplete data. Users hesitate to let AI handle transactions due to security concerns. Despite AI advancements, airlines still face rising infrastructure costs without controlling key transactions, highlighting a future where AI owns user intent but not the booking process.

Promotional banner for AI in Travel with Tony Carne; orange background, striped left edge, and circular photo of the host.

9 min

Google's AI Mode Enables U.S. Hotel Bookings Within Chat, Partners Include Booking.com and Expedia

🌎 U.S. travel companies are predicted to spend $1.5 billion on social media marketing in 2025, rising to $2 billion by 2027. Expedia's IShowSpeed campaign increased searches by 70% for Saint Maarten and 50% for Guadeloupe. Virgin Voyages' TikTok campaign generated over 20,000 pieces of content and 200 million views. Google's AI Mode is rolling out hotel booking features with partners like Booking.com and Expedia, aiming to streamline the booking process by integrating flights, rewards, and hotel options.

3 min

Mews Valued at $2.5 Billion Following $300 Million Series D Round, Led by CTO Josef Starýchfojtů

👤 Josef Starýchfojtů, chief product and technology officer at Mews, is a Czech innovator recognized by Forbes' “30 under 30”. Starting at age 12, he has a passion for technology and user experience, managing 15,000 customers in 85 countries. Mews, valued at $2.5 billion, recently raised $300 million. Starýchfojtů emphasizes first-hand experience and cautious AI integration, promoting technology that enhances the guest experience rather than replacing it.

1 min

AI Assistant Instinct Enables Purchase of Nike Running Shoes via Text, Utilizing Stripe Link for Payment

👟 Purchased new Nike running shoes via text, powered by Instinct, a viral AI assistant. The interaction was seamless, asking about my marathon plans and shoe size. Initially out of stock, it found an alternative at a similar price. Payment was completed using Stripe Link and one-time virtual credit cards. The process felt more natural than using apps like ChatGPT and could significantly boost AI adoption in commerce.

8 min

Before Investing in Hotel AI, Evaluate Data Foundations: Connectivity, Currency, Guest Identities, Governance, and Architecture.

3 September 2026

💻 Hotel AI investment requires rigorous data evaluation. 72% of IT leaders report poor infrastructure stalls AI growth. Only 38% of hoteliers cite integration as a major issue. Key inquiries include AI's data scope, latency, guest identity resolution, access governance, actionability of insights, and whether the system is natively built or assembled. These factors ensure AI recommendations are reliable and effective, rather than adding complexity. Ensure the groundwork supports decision-making before committing.

5 min

AI Language Models Revolutionizing Hotel Booking Systems with Conversational Interfaces, Challenging Traditional OTAs

📈 AI language models are reshaping customer interfaces, transitioning from 30 years of point-and-click to conversational searches. Current hotel systems, reliant on basic Availability, Rates, and Inventory (ARI), lack needed granularity, hindering AI integration. A study of 27,360 AI-generated answers revealed Google reviews as a key visibility factor, with hotel websites referenced in only 7% of cases. Booking Holdings surpassed Expedia in B2B room nights, with 196 million versus 170 million as of June 30.

Smart Hotel Rooms Enhance Guest Experience and Operational Efficiency with IoT and Voice-Controlled Features

💻 Smart hotel rooms are reshaping the hospitality sector, emphasizing personalized guest experiences and automation. Utilizing IoT, these rooms allow guests to control lighting, heating, and entertainment through apps or voice commands, enhancing comfort and convenience. This technology also promotes sustainability with energy-efficient solutions. Hotels benefit from increased demand and revenue while reducing costs. Notable examples include Hilton’s thermostat app and Amazon’s Alexa for Hospitality, offering guests seamless connectivity and personalized services.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.