Innovation - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 92

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DIRECTV Hospitality Announces Strategic Relationship With Google

📺 EL SEGUNDO, California, and DENVER, Colorado—In 2023, DIRECTV Hospitality and Google TV announced a strategic relationship to enhance hotel streaming nationwide by 2026. The integration of Google TV’s Android TV OS with DIRECTV’s Advanced Entertainment Platform will provide hotel guests with expanded access to popular streaming apps like Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney+. Secure personal account integration via QR codes ensures privacy, while universal casting technology allows streaming directly from personal devices to in-room TVs.

2 min

360 hours per employee lost annually due to disconnected systems

📈 Globally, Access Hospitality's survey highlighted inefficiencies in hospitality tech. Disconnected systems result in 16% wasted operational costs and 360 lost hours per year. In the UK and Ireland, managers lose 286 hours annually, while hotels face 322 hours lost. Switzerland tops the list with 470 hours lost, followed by Austria at 382 hours. The US and Indonesia use 4.1 systems, losing 312 hours. Despite this, nearly half of businesses see AI as a solution to enhance efficiency.

2 min

Executive Guide on Hyperautomation for Hospitality Leaders

💻 PRAGUE, 27 October 2025: RobosizeME launches "Hyperautomation in Hospitality" guide. Targeting hotel groups from 5 to thousands, it offers strategies to combat labor shortages, rising costs, and guest expectations through AI and automation. Highlights include a step-by-step framework, case studies, and ROI metrics. Supported by top hotel companies like Design Hotels and Radisson, RobosizeME’s solutions ensure speed, accuracy, and efficiency, backed by ISO 27001, GDPR, and PCI-DSS certifications. Download now on RobosizeME’s website.

2 min

Blacklane and dnata Travel Group shift gears in new partnership

🚗 Blacklane and dnata Travel Group have expanded their partnership to offer luxury chauffeur services across 50 countries, including the UK, Middle East, and Asia. Guests of Pure Luxury, part of Gold Medal, receive complimentary UK airport transfers. The partnership aims to enhance travel experiences for dnata’s 20+ brands, including Arabian Adventures and Travelbag. Blacklane emphasizes reliability and style, with support teams in the UK and UAE, strengthening services for corporate and leisure travelers.

2 min

Chargebacks911 launches…

💳 Chargebacks911 and Fi911 launched the Unified Dispute Management System (UDMS), a 'disputes-as-a-service' platform. UDMS eliminates data silos, offering real-time transparency and AI tools. It integrates seamlessly without system replacements and is subscription-based, with no hidden fees. Aimed at banks, fintechs, and travel networks, early adopters include Sabre Direct Pay. The platform offers tools for merchants, acquirers, and issuers to manage disputes efficiently, ensuring streamlined dispute handling and revenue protection.

The shifting map of EMEA travel

🗺️ Oct 27, 2025. Europe, Middle East, Africa. The 2026 EMEA Ticket to Travel Report reveals 50% of travelers now use AI for trip planning, up from 26% two years ago. Lesser-known cities like Oslo, Muscat, and Zagreb gain popularity. 68% plan trips around personal interests. 58% seek solo-friendly and 47% pet-friendly accommodations. Nearly 75% consider environmental impact, with one-third checking eco-credentials. Travel providers must adapt to AI, authenticity, and sustainability trends to stay competitive.

The rise of virtual travel assistants

💻 Oct 27, 2025: By 2026, AI-powered virtual travel assistants will transform global travel management for individuals and companies by automating bookings, itinerary management, and support. These tools enhance personalization with machine learning, promising up to 40% cost reductions for businesses. AI will streamline logistics while human managers focus on strategy. Travelers benefit from 24/7 support, with traditional processes becoming obsolete. Beyond 2026, these assistants will evolve into autonomous ecosystems, predicting and managing complex itineraries.

Booking.com expands into agentic AI for travel

🛫 Oct 27, 2025, Booking.com launched its first agentic AI tools, Smart Messenger and Auto-Reply, automating guest communication to improve partner satisfaction by 73%. These tools mark a shift to AI-automated experiences, joining the company's existing AI suite like Trip Support and Voice Support. Now, users benefit from voice-powered trip control, smarter search, and rental assistance, enhancing the travel journey. Booking.com seeks a unified AI travel companion, expanding its ecosystem post-ChatGPT integration.

1 min

LG Electronics Expands Casting Capability to Thousands of Hotel TVs

📺 LG Electronics USA announced on October 2025 in Denver, Colorado, a free firmware upgrade for their 2020-23 Pro:Centric Smart hospitality TV models, including US670H, US770H, UR770H, and STB-6500 smartbox, enabling Google Cast functionality. This upgrade allows guests to stream content privately and securely from Android or iOS devices. The update underscores LG's commitment to supporting previous-generation TVs, providing seamless in-room streaming without adding devices.

5 min

Discover Mirai Omnichannel, our comprehensive service to maximize Sarai’s potential in your hotel

💻 Mirai Omnichannel offers expert management of Sarai, an AI agent for hotels. It ensures Sarai's success through continuous data updates, proactive monitoring, and detailed reporting. Mirai Omnichannel provides two services: self-service mode for full control or expert "turnkey" management for hotels lacking resources. For comprehensive communication management, Global Omnichannel Service handles all channels, enhancing customer interactions. Over 500 hotels use Mirai, with services including 24/7 contact center support in 10+ languages.

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