TOP NEWS

🏨 Florencia Cueto and Xavier López discuss digital transformation in hotel operations on Shiji Insights podcast's fourth episode. EISI Soft, co-founded by Xavier in 2012 and officially established in December 2016, overcomes challenges, including the global pandemic, to innovate hotel maintenance. Key takeaways include the integration of operational tools for strategic decisions, dynamic data collection for real-time feedback, immersive management via digital twins, and operational benchmarking against similar hotels to improve asset management strategies.

💰 In the U.S., corporate travel spend is projected to rise by 8-12% by end of the year, potentially surpassing pre-COVID levels, as per a Deloitte study. In 2023, 77% of business travelers took one to five trips, 15% six to 10, and 7% more than 10; in comparison, 20% plan six to 10 trips and 10% more than 10 in 2024. Companies expect a 14-15% yearly increase in travel spend, with 73% of travel managers predicting a rise in 2024 and 58% in 2025. The main growth drivers are industry events and sales/client work, with conferences being a top driver, and 60% planning business travel for them this year. Travel managers anticipate a slight increase in international trips' share of spend in 2025. High prices impact trip volume, with 22% of travel managers stating it as a primary concern, and 55% of them relying on booking compliance to control costs. Corporate sustainability efforts are evident, with 46% of companies having travel emission budgets in 2024, up from 30% in 2023.

🟢 U.S. corporate travel spend expected to grow 8%-12%, potentially surpassing pre-COVID levels by 2023 end. Deloitte study reveals 77% of business travelers made 1-5 trips in 2023, with 20% planning 6-10 trips and 10% over 10 trips in 2024. Travel managers predict a 14-15% annual increase in spend for 2024 and 2025. Conferences and industry events drive business travel, with 60% planning to attend in 2024. Return to office influences travel resurgence, but less so over time. High prices impact trip volume, with 22% of managers citing it as the most significant factor, leading to strategies like booking compliance (55%) and lower-cost flights. Sustainability is a concern, with 46% of companies having travel emission strategies in 2024, up from 30% in 2023.

💸 Guestline, part of Access Group, enhances its GuestStay product with self-service options and AI, saving time for hotel staff and elevating guest autonomy. The platform lets guests manage reservations, order services like breakfast or parking, and secure restaurant bookings via ResDiary integration. Trials show corporate travelers enjoy the ease of use. Some properties report 25% of restaurant bookings through GuestStay, with plans to add more upsell features in 2024. Digital registration completion averages 31%, and hotels collect more real guest email addresses, encouraging direct repeat bookings over OTAs.

🏢 Oslofjord Convention Center in Norway, Europe’s largest event village, automates over 30,000 bookings annually with RMS Cloud's property management software to streamline and error-proof the process. The venue hosts up to 12,000 guests with a variety of accommodations, including cabins, cottages, hotel rooms, and suites. The new system, implemented in February, enhances upselling capabilities and is user-friendly for the fluctuating staff numbers, ranging from 300 to 10,000. RMS Cloud was selected after analyzing 15 vendors and offers competitive pricing and functionality.

🛫 Travelport's 2024 State of Modern Retailing Report shows a 1,900% increase in air travel options since 2010, with over 10,000 options now available. 58% of travelers are overwhelmed by choice, 56% find offers harder to understand, and 61% think there are more penalties for flight changes. Most travelers (71%) feel anxious about getting the best deal, while 80% find fare comparison time-consuming. Travelers prefer to see all options on one screen (88%), and many use OTAs, especially Millennials (70%) and Gen X (64%). Key amenities include luggage allowance (63%), cancellation policies (50%), and seat selection (50%). In contrast, US travelers struggle more with flight shopping (49%) than hotel, car rental, or restaurant comparisons.

📣 Beef 'O' Brady's, operating in more than 20 US states, partners with SoundHoundAI to introduce voice AI for phone orders. The tech is live at all corporate locations, set for franchise integration, and efficiently handles 100% of calls—even during peak periods like the 2024 Summer Olympics. SoundHound's AI can manage orders, answer menu queries, and cover FAQs, offering seamless ordering for customers. SoundHound AI's solutions are used in over 10,000 restaurants and recently acquired the Allset ordering platform, signaling a growing trend where 80% of US diners expect AI voice assistants to dominate food ordering soon.

🍴 Chef John Tesar's Knife Italian opened on March 19 at The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas following a $55 million property renovation. The restaurant features diverse menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, combining traditional Italian flavors with modern touches. Steak options are sourced from 44 Farms and include dry-aged cuts ranging from 45 to 240 days. Tesar's fusion of steakhouse experience and Italian roots manifests in a vibrant, ingredient-driven culinary venture.