TOP NEWS

LONDON, 20 January, 2026 – Hotels that allow guests to curate and book experiences alongside their room reservation can increase Average Order Value (AOV) by as much as 95%, according to a…

🏨 SilverBirch Hotels & Resorts, a leading Canadian hospitality company, revamped its financial planning by adopting FairPlanner and FairPayroll from Fairmas, enhancing accuracy and efficiency. Previously reliant on error-prone Excel spreadsheets, SilverBirch now enjoys improved forecasting, budgeting, and labor cost planning. Key benefits include increased budget accuracy, faster scenario comparisons, and enhanced decision-making. Fairmas, founded in 2003, serves over 5,500 hotels globally, expanding its presence beyond Europe.

📚 roommaster, a leading hospitality software firm, published "The 2026 Hotel Operations Blueprint." This guide helps hoteliers tackle rising guest expectations and operational complexities through digital workflows, automation, AI, and connected tech stacks. roommaster serves over 100 countries, emphasizing innovation and simplicity. The guide aims to streamline front desk, housekeeping, and maintenance operations for efficient hotel management by 2026. Download it at roommaster's website for practical strategies.

💻 2026 is pivotal for hospitality as AI becomes integral, impacting guest communication, housekeeping, and booking. 18 experts predict AI will transform hotel operations. Around 33% of travelers use AI for hotel searches. Ancillary services like parking and spa access become strategic revenue sources. Reviews are essential for AI accuracy. IT leaders must rethink procurement for scalability and AI readiness. Despite AI’s growth, human interaction remains crucial, highlighting soft skills. Mews, powering 12,500 hotels globally, leads in this transformation, raising $410 million.

🌐 Expedia and Booking.com, day-one partners of ChatGPT's App marketplace, spend $14 billion annually on marketing to capture early-stage travelers. Nearly 40% of travelers use AI tools for trip planning, with over half using AI in some capacity. AI is altering OTA economics, reducing their influence as travelers shift to AI interfaces. Connect AI enables hotels to engage directly with travelers on AI platforms, offering direct bookings and full control over guest relationships, bypassing OTAs and their 15-25% commissions.

🏨 Jan 16, 2026, Deloitte's report highlights the hospitality industry's transformation due to shifting consumer behavior, economic challenges, and technological advances. Traditional growth models are strained by AI-driven demand and regulatory scrutiny. Key insights: AI is central to guest journeys; experience-led growth surpasses brand loyalty; portfolio diversification captures fragmented demand; efficiency through real-time data; responsible operations are essential; workforce transformation requires digital skills. The industry faces capital constraints, labor shortages, and social backlash against mass tourism.

📰 Google and Shopify released a new AI-driven commerce protocol last week. CES 2026 recaps highlight robotics, though practical applications remain a decade away. Expedia pivots to infrastructure, gaining European regulatory advantages over Booking.com. Social platforms now influence travel decisions, emphasizing authenticity. A new global distribution chart helps hotels focus on markets with strong reviews. Feedback is welcomed for updates. Google offers free AI courses.

🏨 2026 marks a pivotal shift in the hotel industry. Generative AI is integrating search, chat, and booking into a single flow, transforming guest interactions and visibility. Hotels must have clean, structured content and open APIs to remain visible. Personalized experiences are replacing points-based loyalty, driven by connected systems. Agentic AI is enhancing operations like bookings and housekeeping. Automation will allow staff to focus on connections, adding value and enhancing guest experiences. Hoteliers must adapt swiftly to these changes.

💻 Roiback, part of HBX Group, will launch its AI-powered platform, OdysseIA, at FITUR 2026 in Madrid next week. Designed for hotel marketing, it optimizes advertising and enhances direct-channel growth using first-party data and machine learning. Managing Director Cristina Perea highlights its commitment to privacy and profitability. The debut marks a significant milestone in Roiback’s innovation strategy, aiming for autonomy and intelligence in the hotel industry.

🏨 Jan 15, 2026: The hospitality sector is navigating a stable yet demanding era. Hotels are leveraging AI to enhance revenue management and guest services, while wellness and experiential elements are boosting ADR and RevPAR. Luxury properties outperform due to fewer but more expensive stays. Lower interest rates are accelerating investments. Loyalty programs and soft brands are driving guest choices. Trends like wellness and destination-centric stays are becoming foundational in shaping hotel performance.