Innovation

📈 The European Employers’ Institute released a study on the EU–US labor productivity gap from 1995 to 2019. Core EU economies like Germany, France, Italy, and Spain drive the gap due to underinvestment in innovation and digitalization. Newer EU members show faster productivity but can't offset larger economies. The gap, widest in ICT, grew after 2019. The EU must boost innovation and digitalization to remain competitive, as emphasized in the Draghi and Letta reports.

📚 HIT Scotland announced the launch of executive and leadership development programmes at Mar Hall near Glasgow, attended by over 100 industry representatives. Set to begin in 2026, these programmes focus on strategic leadership, AI, cyber security, finance, marketing, and operations. Supported by Crerar Trust and partners, they follow 2024 research to enhance sector resilience. Each year, over 300 professionals benefit from HIT Scotland’s scholarship scheme. Programme Director Dave Allen highlights the initiative’s focus on addressing industry challenges.

📰 Louis Vuitton invests $1B in a flagship hotel on Champs-Élysées, potentially transforming LVMH's luxury hotel ecosystem. WPP is transitioning to a tech provider with AI ad tools. A study suggests AI can predict purchase intent with 90% accuracy. Hotels show strong performance in Q3 with an 87.0% Global Review Index. AI's rise in content creation is leading to increased consumer boredom, pushing brands to diversify marketing strategies rapidly.

📱 Singapore, October 30, 2025 – Siam@Siam Design Hotels in Bangkok and Pattaya partner with Shiji Horizon Distribution to leverage WeChat Booking Engine, strengthening ties with China's 1.4 billion WeChat users. The 2007-founded hotels aim to boost direct bookings and revenue by offering Chinese travelers a native booking experience. Shiji, a hospitality tech leader, supports 91,000 hotels globally with 5,000 employees. This collaboration showcases social media's growing role in hotel distribution strategies.

💻 Noida, 30th October 2025: RateGain partners with FLYR Hospitality to globally offer AI-powered SaaS products, including Navigator. This alliance provides real-time rate intelligence and insights for hotels worldwide. RateGain serves 3,200+ customers across 100+ countries, collaborating with top hotel chains and travel agents. FLYR focuses on AI-driven revenue management. This collaboration enhances pricing decisions and operational efficiency in the hospitality sector. Andrew Rubinacci and Toby March are key spokespeople.

📈 Oct 30, 2025: The Amadeus *Hospitality Demand Generation Playbook* emphasizes aligning marketing, sales, and revenue teams to build sustainable demand. It introduces a five-stage framework guiding hotels from market understanding to post-stay loyalty. Data-driven insights, enhanced digital strategies, and AI automation are key to success. Focus on direct bookings and strategic use of travel agent channels enhances profitability. The playbook stresses creating a cycle of awareness, engagement, and loyalty beyond mere room filling.