Innovation

💻 AI Mode's agentic booking for U.S. users launches this week, enabling restaurant reservations through partners like OpenTable and Resy. Event ticketing and local appointment bookings are already available for Google Labs users. Future plans include direct flight and hotel bookings, offering comparisons on schedules, prices, and amenities. Collaborations with industry partners aim to streamline travel planning from research to booking.

🏨 Mandarin Oriental plans to more than double its global footprint in the next decade, having added seven properties in two years with over 30 more in development. Laurent Kleitman became the group CEO in September 2023. Luxury hospitality is forecasted to grow nearly 10% per year over the next five years. The company focuses on human connection, investing in talent through initiatives like the Rising Fans program, and integrating AI to enhance guest experiences.

📱 November 18, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA: Shiji unveils Infrasys POS Move, enhancing mobile hospitality. This innovation allows hotel staff to serve guests anywhere (lobby, pool, restaurant) with iOS devices, enhancing service speed and connection. Initial trials processed hundreds of transactions within hours. Shiji, supporting over 91,000 hotels globally with 5,000 employees, focuses on seamless guest service. IPORT's hardware complements this system, ensuring operational reliability in diverse hospitality settings.

🏨 Jeddah is attracting international attention in Saudi Arabia with new major projects. Mandarin Oriental and Kerzner International are leading developments, enhancing the city's appeal as a key destination for hotel groups.

📈 Change management in the hotel industry involves structured methods to implement new processes and tech, enhancing operations and guest experiences. During the pandemic, adaptive hotels thrived. Challenges include staff resistance, tech integration issues, and operational constraints. Solutions: clear communication, staff engagement, tech investment, and standardized processes. Benefits: better guest experiences, employee retention, and profitability. Strategies include setting SMART goals, piloting changes, and celebrating milestones. Tools like Mews PMS aid successful transitions.

🏨 The Hotel Folk, a group of six privately run hotels in Suffolk, has seen its Net Promoter Score rise from 52 in 2021 to 63.5 in 2025. Embracing GuestRevu and AI-powered insights, they’ve improved guest feedback handling and personalisation. Centralised data allows for effective marketing and operational enhancements. AI aids in review management, improving response times and Google rankings, while refurbishment targeting enhances guest experience. The balance of technology and dedicated staff drives their success in hospitality.

✈️ Nov 18, 2025, Google launched a global expansion of its AI travel features. The Flight Deals tool now operates in 200+ countries and supports 60+ languages. Users can describe their travel plans, and AI offers the best fares. AI Mode’s Canvas generates itineraries using real-time data. In the U.S., AI handles restaurant, events, and wellness bookings. Future updates will allow hotel and flight bookings directly in AI Mode. Read more: TechCrunch

🛫 Nov 18, 2025, Europe: Chinese travelers are exploring longer, farther, and more diverse destinations. Trip.com reports a 20% increase in third-quarter outbound bookings, reaching 140% of 2019 levels. Europe, especially Iceland, Norway, Spain, Italy, and Germany, sees significant growth. Flights are at 88% of pre-pandemic capacity. Seniors spend three times more than younger travelers, while revenue from young travelers jumps due to concerts. AI tools like TripGenie enhance personalization with over 200% usage growth.

📈 My Place Hotels partners with IDeaS to implement an automated revenue management system across 80+ extended-stay hotels in 31 U.S. states. The system enhances pricing, forecasting, and operational efficiency using AI-driven insights. This collaboration aims to boost profitability and improve guest experience. Key capabilities include automated rate recommendations and reduced manual effort, enabling focus on local market strategy.