Innovation

📡 HBX Group partners with Ayesa to launch an AI voice solution for modernizing customer support. This project, built on Google Cloud's CCAI platform, integrates Dialogflow and Gemini AI models, enabling natural language interaction and automated task resolution. Over 30% of requests can be resolved without human intervention, enhancing operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. This innovation is a step towards embedding AI in all processes, transforming telephone support and setting HBX apart from traditional systems.

🏨 Nearly half (49%) of small accommodation providers prioritize property management over guest acquisition, with only 16% focused on bookings. A SiteMinder study highlights these challenges. Despite 53% preferring to target more guests, 40% cite a knowledge gap as a major barrier to tech adoption. SiteMinder's Little Hotelier upgrade introduces Dynamic Revenue Plus for live market intelligence and Channels Plus for broader booking reach, enabling real-time optimization and simplified operations for small hoteliers.

💸 Hospitable raised over $1.5 million from 100 customers and employees across 32 countries to reinforce its independence. A $250,000 agreement with OpenAI will advance AI investment. Serving 18,000 customers in 119 countries with 111 staff across 31 countries, it reports a $22 million ARR and 46% growth. In 2024, $4.6 billion in reservation income was processed. Starting October 2025, the Community $HOST Grant will reward $1,000 monthly to top community contributors.

🌏 Booking.com and FareHarbor team up to add over 150,000 new attractions worldwide, expanding offerings in 5,000 cities across 115 countries. New attractions include the Montserrat Hiking Tour in Spain and the Prague Christmas Market tour. FareHarbor joins partners like Musement and Viator. The Genius loyalty program rewards customers for booking attractions. AI tools aid travelers in finding experiences. Eve Henrikson and Andrea Carini emphasize the partnership's global impact on travelers and operators.

💻 In 2025, a survey of 21,000 hotels worldwide revealed AI ranks last in technology investments. Hotel data remains fragmented, preventing AI from reaching its potential. Unified data is essential for AI to automate processes, reduce costs, and improve guest experiences. Current challenges include duplicate profiles, inconsistent data, and siloed systems. Pressure to adapt is rising with decreasing tech costs and demand for personalized travel experiences. Unified data can help reduce OTA dependence and enhance direct bookings.

💻 2025, Washington, DC – The Destination AI Forum gathered industry leaders like Laura Calin (Oracle), Greg Land (AWS), and Jeff Thoman (Salesforce) to explore AI's role in hospitality. Unlike last year's cautious optimism, this year’s event was marked by enthusiasm and concrete experiences shared by attendees. The forum, now in its second year, has fostered a community embracing GenAI, potentially revolutionizing hospitality technology as IBM PCs are replaced by modern solutions like ChatGPT and Claude.

🏨 Small accommodation businesses globally are spending more time managing operations than attracting guests, with 49% prioritizing property management over bookings, according to SiteMinder’s research. In Dallas, Texas, 53% of small hoteliers prefer to focus on guest acquisition but are hindered by a lack of knowledge (40%) and static pricing (29%). SiteMinder launched an upgraded Little Hotelier platform, offering advanced tools to help hoteliers work smarter, maintaining guest experiences while boosting bookings.

💻 Mews has acquired Flexkeeping, their 13th acquisition, to enhance hotel operations. Founded in 2012, Flexkeeping specializes in housekeeping and staff collaboration technology, offering solutions for properties worldwide. The integration promises 40% higher productivity and 45% fewer guest complaints. The partnership aims to streamline housekeeping within the PMS, improving efficiencies and guest experiences. Mews Marketplace will still offer 1,000+ integrations, giving hoteliers the freedom to choose suitable technologies.

📈 Amanda Frank, VP of Commercial Strategy at Pallet Hotels, discusses her accidental entry into hospitality and her role in digital transformation. She emphasizes thoughtful technology adoption, highlighting progress over perfection to avoid chaos. Pallet Hotels is expanding in the Northeast, focusing on regional directors managing 10-12 hotels. Excitingly, they're implementing Thynk for an improved sales CRM. Amanda stresses balancing people with innovation, advocating for holistic commercial strategies and building strong brand partnerships.

📈 Google Hotel Search limits organic results to 8%, pushing hotels to strategize amid paid listings. Hubspot and Shopify show AI's service potential, with AI handling 50% of bookings at Navan. ChatGPT now facilitates direct purchases from Etsy and Shopify, bypassing Amazon and Walmart. Overtourism myths highlight crowd management challenges in Bruges. Loyalty in hospitality hinges on recognition, not just rewards, underlining the need for integrated systems and training.