Innovation - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 69

2 min

World-first biometric corridors at scale…

🛰 Indonesia's Directorate General of Immigration has launched the world's first large-scale biometric corridors at Jakarta and Surabaya airports. Part of the 'All Indonesia' initiative, this technology from Amadeus uses AI-enabled biometrics for seamless border crossing, initially aiding elderly and disabled travelers. The system supports 220,000 Hajj pilgrims by verifying identities in motion, enhancing travel efficiency. The collaboration includes Amadeus and Sinergi Teknoglobal Perkasa, aiming to empower local teams with technology transfer.

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.

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#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

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.

2 min

If AI Picks the Hotel, You're Not a Brand. You're Inventory. At the Progress Conference, economist Tyler Cowen shared a throwaway anecdote that every hotel commercial leader should lose sleep over:… | Michael J. Goldrich | 15 comments

📈 OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman confirmed future plans for GPT-5 to handle hotel bookings with one-click. At the Progress Conference, economist Tyler Cowen noted GPT-5's role in hotel selections. OpenAI has commerce integrations with Klarna, Shopify, Instacart, and Walmart, with travel next. Hotels must adapt or risk becoming mere inventory, as the AI-driven model bypasses traditional SEO and booking strategies. Booking requires structured offers, live rates, and API access. One-click bookings via AI are imminent.

10 min

The Implementation Playbook: Part 1 of a 5‑Part Series on Hotel PMS Rollouts

📰 Hotel PMS implementation success hinges on clear communication and strong leadership. Ryan King, Senior VP of the Americas, highlights the importance of disciplined planning and alignment among corporate and property teams. Effective change management increases project success by 30-40%. Integration readiness 60 days before go-live is crucial to avoid chaos. Appointing property champions accelerates adoption. Consistent communication and a clear project plan help mitigate resistance and confusion during transitions.

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