Innovation

💻 Hotel and travel technology buyers conduct in-depth research before contacting sales. They use LinkedIn, podcasts, AI, and trade articles, creating shortlists prior to demos. Companies must adapt sales processes to a more informed buyer, emphasizing concise demos and valuable content. Sales often join late in the buyer's journey, necessitating a focus on understanding implementation and integration. Trust and familiarity, built through content and reputation, precede sales calls, challenging traditional sales and marketing attribution models.

📱 The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona, has enhanced its food and beverage operations with IRIS Mobile Dining, cutting manual processes and boosting guest convenience. Over 60% of orders are now digital, reducing calls and manual entries, while boosting revenue and guest spending. The resort, featuring 735 rooms, has seen increased digital order volumes and commercial benefits. The success has led to plans for expanding mobile ordering throughout the property.

📅 In 2027, UrVenue won the Global Gaming Business Gaming & Technology Award for Best Consumer Service Technology. The award will be presented at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas from September 28 to October 1. The Golden Nugget Lake Charles uses UrVenue's Venue Management Software to enhance its sportsbook experience. UrVenue has been operational since 2011, serving clients like Caesars and MGM Resorts. Their technology improves guest experiences and revenue through efficient venue management.

🏨 Cloudbeds and Preferred Hotels & Resorts announced a partnership on September 29, 2026, in San Diego, CA. Cloudbeds will provide its hotel management technology to Preferred's 625 member hotels in 80+ countries. The platform uses AI-driven insights to optimize pricing and personalize guest experiences, supporting growth and efficiency. Cloudbeds, founded in 2012, operates in 150+ countries and is a top Hotel Management System. Preferred Hotels aims to enhance operational efficiency and business growth through this alliance.

💻 On September 29, 2026, Agilysys expanded its relationship with 7 Cedars Resorts Properties along the Salish Coast, 60 miles north of Seattle. Since installing the Agilysys software, including the Versa PMS and InfoGenesis POS, 7 Cedars saw enhanced staff productivity, increased reservations, and revenue growth. The updates streamlined operations and integrated player offers, reducing manual workloads. Agilysys Book increased direct bookings by unifying hotel and casino reservations. Glenn Smithson praised Agilysys for seamless installations and support.

📱 International travelers face mobile connectivity challenges like airport transfers, digital check-in, and guest messaging. Solutions include eSIMs, roaming, and virtual phone numbers. Hotels should provide pre-arrival guidance about mobile data options, focusing on device compatibility, coverage, and privacy, while maintaining clear communication channels. This approach reduces staff workload and enhances the guest experience by ensuring seamless communication from booking to checkout.

📈 Unifocus unveiled enhancements to its workforce management and operations suites, boosting hotel groups' performance. AI-powered insights improve decision-making, focusing on labour and operational efficiency. New features include a unified operations app and enhanced inspection capabilities with standardized templates and analytics. These updates, driven by 25 years of expertise, aim to meet the growing demand for AI-driven solutions, helping hotels manage costs and guest expectations effectively across their portfolios.

🍴 Hilton's chefs and Winnow launched AI-powered Winnow Foresight on 29 September 2026 in London, UK. This tool helps focused-service hotels predict food demand and reduce waste. Pilots showed Hampton by Hilton Budapest cut leftovers by 69% in six months, while Hilton London Croydon cut 52% in five months. Hilton Frankfurt Airport saw a 66% total reduction in overproduction weight. With 5,000 focused-service hotels globally, the tool is live in 13 Hilton hotels across EMEA.

💻 91% of global travelers rely on AI tools like ChatGPT for trip planning, impacting hotel visibility and recommendations. Accurate data is crucial, as AI combines multiple sources to understand hotels, affecting first impressions. 85% of AI-generated hotel mentions come from third-party sources, highlighting the importance of consistent information. Cendyn's Wayfinder tool helps hotels manage AI representation, ensuring alignment with marketing goals. Cendyn, with 35,000 global customers, supports hotelier success by enhancing digital guest interactions.

🍽 Restaurant profitability in Asia is increasingly reliant on understanding guest value rather than increasing booking volumes. Despite strong tourism, operators face rising costs and economic uncertainties. AI is becoming vital for operational insights, not replacing human expertise. Connecting reservation and POS data is crucial for identifying revenue-generating channels. Successful operators adapt to regional markets while maintaining guest insights. The future relies on data quality and using technology to enhance human interactions in hospitality.