TOP NEWS

💸 IDeaS Chief Evangelist Klaus Kohlmayr highlights key features for advanced revenue management systems (RMS) in the hotel industry: automated pricing, accurate demand forecasts, tools for group business, and exception management workflows. IDeaS' G3 RMS uses AI and machine learning for data-driven revenue enhancement. Duetto, since acquiring MiceRate in 2024, offers full-service revenue solutions including rooms and event space, with applications like GameChanger and BlockBuster optimizing group and transient business. RMSs allow revenue managers to focus on strategy and communication within their organizations.

💻 Kevin King, CEO of Shiji International, discusses the challenges and strategies for modernizing B2B tech in industries like hospitality. Despite the saturation of consumer tech, B2B remains resistant to change due to the "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it" mentality. King emphasizes the need for technology that is affordable, adaptable, and user-friendly, advocating for cloud and API-first architectures. He also stresses the importance of prioritizing privacy and security in design, and collaborating with key customers to tailor solutions to industry-specific challenges.

🔎 Yum! Brands plans to expand voice AI in Taco Bell drive-thrus by end of 2024. Daniel J. Connolly suggests integration with core systems is crucial, and Robert Peterson of Oracle views voice AI as a standard UI evolution. Courtney Radke and Lee Holman discuss efficiency and regional training needs. Surveys report potential for reduced errors and faster service, but franchisee cost concerns remain. Data privacy and security highlighted by Connolly and Peterson. Robert Dawson raises additional deployment questions. McDonald's had previously abandoned AI due to accuracy and customer satisfaction issues.

📌 Minor Hotels, a Bangkok-based group, reported a revenue increase of 11% year-over-year (YOY) in Q2 and a first half (H1) profit jump of 16% from 2023. The company's consolidated core net profit rose 3% YOY to THB 2.6 billion ($72 million) in Q2, and 17% to THB 1.7 billion ($47 million) in H1, backed by a core revenue surge to THB 66.1 billion ($1.86 billion), marking a 14% YOY growth. Occupancy rate growth was noted in Asia, the Indian Ocean, and MEA region by six percentage points to 61% in H1 and 56% in Q2. Globally, occupancy increased modestly. Average Daily Rate (ADR) jumped 11% YOY for the quarter, while Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) saw a 12% increase. In Thailand, RevPAR surged by 14% YOY in Q2. Minor expanded its global hotel portfolio, including brand debuts in Finland, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. With over 50 hotels in 56 countries, Minor aims to add over 200 properties by the end of 2026.

📌 Valor Hospitality Partners, under the leadership of their regional director, prioritizes guest experience, training, and service quality. They conduct biannual inspections and audits, encourage staff to predict guest needs, and value personalized service. The guest experience in the hotel industry has evolved, with a shift towards personalization and technological integration, including AI, AR, and VR. Valor strives to stay ahead by monitoring trends and guest feedback, aiming to provide unique, satisfying experiences.

🏨 A luxury hotel stay is enhanced by seamless technology integration, where settings like lighting, temperature, and entertainment are automatically adjusted upon arrival and throughout the stay. Advanced smart home systems trigger a "grand welcome" scene, with motorized shades, ambient lighting, and preferred music or sounds activating when a guest enters their room. Customizable control options and personalized settings tied to a loyalty program remember guest preferences, ensuring a tailored experience across the hotel's portfolio, creating a sense of true hospitality.

📦 Hoteliers should spend 80% of their time on revenue-generating activities and 20% on converting revenue to profit. Key strategies include understanding guest motivations, providing unique guest experiences, expanding revenue streams through offerings like coworking spaces and personalized recommendations, and maximizing revenue per guest with AI personalization. Digital presence optimization and using revenue management systems are vital. Profitability is enhanced by streamlining operations, fostering innovation, cross-functional teams, employee training, automating routine processes, and energy efficiency measures.

📌 Global business travel spending projected to reach $1.48 trillion by end of 2023, up from 2019's $1.43 trillion. By 2028, spending expected to surpass $2 trillion. The industry likely to see 11.1% growth in 2023, with a compound growth rate of 6.95% from 2025 to 2028. In 2023, spending hit $1.34 trillion: $501 billion on lodging, $282 billion on air travel, $245 billion on food and beverage, $165 billion on ground transportation, and $142 billion on other expenses. Despite recovery, adjusted for inflation, spending remains behind pre-pandemic highs. Business travel recovery varied by region: Asia Pacific grew by 36% in 2023, Eastern Europe 33%, and North America 25%. Financial and insurance sectors may see the largest growth (72%) by 2028, while retail trade (41%) and agriculture (32%) the least. Business travelers' average spend per trip is $834. 81% of travelers found business trips significant for their objectives, with seminars and training being the most common purpose. 76% traveled the same or more compared to 2019, with 58% extending trips for leisure.