Innovation

📈 Y2K didn't disrupt travel booking, but hoteliers struggled against online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia and Booking.com for two decades. Brad Brewer, founder of Brewer Digital Marketing, aims to change this by connecting hotels directly to AI platforms such as ChatGPT. His TravelOS MCP system allows hotels to bypass intermediaries, paying a flat fee instead of commissions. Brewer advocates for hotel independence, data ownership, and fair competition in the AI-driven marketplace.

📱 Rohith Kori and Ryan King highlight the evolution of POS (point of sale) systems in hotels, now central to guest experiences beyond transactions. Integrated with cloud technology, these systems connect with hotel platforms for real-time data access, enabling personalized guest services. Modern POS systems offer scalability, flexibility, and extensibility across property types, enhancing efficiency and guest satisfaction. Future advancements may include AI-driven personalized recommendations and augmented reality features. Ensuring resiliency and intuitive interfaces remains crucial for operational continuity and guest engagement.

🏨 roommaster, a hospitality software company, has launched the Premium Booking Engine globally, aiming to boost hotel revenue and reduce OTA costs. This AI-powered tool offers mobile-first design, real-time pricing, and metasearch visibility. Hotels reported a 35% higher conversion rate, 15% increased booking value, and 60% growth in mobile bookings. Established for over 30 years, roommaster serves hotels in over 100 countries, focusing on simplifying operations and enhancing guest experiences.

💻 In 2025, as the U.S. labor market slows, AI is reshaping job applications. Over 50% of organizations use AI for recruitment, with a third of ChatGPT users leveraging it for job searches. Dartmouth and Princeton research reveals post-2022, AI-enhanced cover letters became longer yet less impactful, complicating hiring and reducing average starting wages. The study analyzed thousands of applications on Freelancer.com, highlighting challenges AI poses to identifying qualified candidates.

📱United Airlines launched a new app amid skepticism as 85% of users access it only on flight days. By 2026, Ramp Economic Lab forecasts AI will automate significant customer service roles, particularly in hospitality. Sweetgreen's co-founder Nathaniel Ru departed after 19 years, following a $1 billion failed robot kitchen venture and brand issues in 2025. The future lies in evolving jobs to manage AI systems, reminiscent of how travel agents adapted in the internet era.

🗺 Travelers today face decision fatigue, with 68% using up to 10 websites to plan a trip. AI is revolutionizing travel by personalizing itineraries instantly, as shown by 97% wanting a travel superapp. AI-driven platforms like Booking.com are using AI to simplify bookings, while 66% of travelers find current tools unsatisfactory. AI also addresses labor shortages, with 30% of traditional customer service jobs disappearing, and optimizes revenues, boosting Hilton's by 5-8% through dynamic pricing.

📅 Microsoft is hiring storytellers at $300k, reflecting the narrative's rise in tech. On December 2025, Airbnb's 2026 predictions highlight trends like Gen Z's 1-2 day trips and nature interest. Bill Gurley notes AI's dominance in VC funding. Frontier's "cold" email misfire contrasts with United's personalized post-birthday gesture. Travelers are 20% more likely to shop for cars, according to Rory Sutherland. Ryanair's failed subscription model exemplifies execution flaws in loyalty building.

🚀 Travel industry faces disruption as AI rewires economic value. By 2030, AI will commoditize knowledge, create service abundance, and shift focus from luxury to necessity. Simon Taylor describes three phases: today's AI improves commerce, by 2027 winners commoditize services, and by 2030, AI optimizes human outcomes. Travel can lead by shifting to necessity-based offerings, selling health benefits and self-realization. Future success demands radical customer centricity, emphasizing outcomes over marketing.

💻 Josiah Mackenzie and Danica Smith, founder of MorningStar GX, explore AI's role in "vibe coding" for hoteliers. Danica shares her journey in software development and highlights AI's potential to break technical barriers in hospitality. This episode provides practical insights for hospitality professionals interested in AI.

💻 Josiah Mackenzie speaks with Mark Fancourt, cofounder of TRAVHOTECH. They explore AI's impact on hospitality, including workforce changes, robotics, consumer demand, and sustainability. Mark's insights come from decades in global hospitality and tech. 🎙️