Innovation

✈️ Travel management company DGI has launched ETHOS, a tech platform enhancing travel for not-for-profits, humanitarian, and academic sectors. ETHOS integrates booking, payment, and analytics through seven modules like ethosSync and ethosGo, boosting efficiency and safety. CEO Christopher Airey and CTO Joanne Bowden emphasize the platform’s sustainability and cybersecurity features. It includes enhanced carbon reporting and multi-factor authentication, reflecting DGI’s commitment to innovation and customer trust.

👨‍💻 AI adoption is high among software developers in Southeast Asia and India, with 95% using AI weekly. Developers mainly use AI for productivity, with 80% citing speed and automation as key motivations. Despite this, 79% face unreliable outputs, leading to 67% reviewing all AI-generated code. Only 28% receive employer-led training, but 87% adapt learning plans. Oversight strengthens innovation, as 72% report productivity gains. Formal AI policies are rare, with only 25% of teams operating under guidelines.

📰 World Travel Market, London, November 5, 2025: RMS, a hospitality platform, and Epos Now, a cloud-based POS provider, announced their integration. This partnership aims to enhance operational efficiency, offering real-time guest billing and POS transaction syncing. RMS serves over 7,000 businesses in 70 countries, while Epos Now supports over 64,000 locations globally. This integration promises reduced errors, faster check-outs, and improved guest experiences. RMS CEO, Adam Seskis, highlights the mission to simplify hospitality technology.

📈 Christian Watts leads in mentions among 133 names from 60 entries in a Travel Tech Essentialist survey. Avi Meir has the highest post engagement, with Lennart Dobravsky excelling relative to audience size. Discussions include a $457M writedown by Kayak and Airbnb's venture into social connections. Key figures mentioned: Nesrine Changuel, Peter Syme, Brennen Bliss, and companies like Expedia and Airbnb. Research highlights the impact of emotion and authenticity on travel bookings.

💻 In the hospitality industry, a shift is happening away from screen-dominated interactions. Carl Pei and Alex Katouzian highlight that tasks like check-ins and orders are still manually intensive, relying on digital interfaces. AI-powered solutions such as smart glasses and voice-enabled devices aim to streamline these processes, reducing screen time and enhancing human connection. Panos Panay emphasizes the power of not relying on phones, suggesting that less screen time could restore genuine connections in the industry.

🗺 British travellers are booking holidays 4.9 months in advance, leading Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In 2026, 77% plan more trips than in 2025, with Gen Z and Millennials averaging six and five trips, respectively, against a national average of four. Notably, 62% of Gen Z and 57% of Millennials use AI for planning. Multi-country travel interest is at 41%, with destinations like Oslo and Rabat gaining popularity. 46% prefer luxury stays, with all-inclusive options at 26%.

💻 Marriott International launches the Marriott Tech Accelerator (MTA) in Hyderabad, India, marking a pivotal step in advancing hospitality technology. The MTA aims to accelerate innovation aligned with Marriott's global tech vision. This strategic move focuses on empowering teams to execute with purpose and precision in the fast-paced AI-driven era.

📈 Revenue leaders in the hospitality sector are now focusing on total profitability. Traditional metrics like RevPAR are outdated. New leaders, known as commercial strategists, are prioritizing total profit optimization and aligning marketing, operations, and finance for long-term success. AI and Business Intelligence are crucial, automating 76% of manual tasks, allowing teams to concentrate on strategy and value creation. LodgIQ supports this shift from revenue management to commercial strategy.