Innovation

🚧 Hospitable launched a fully automated Security Deposit feature that combines deposit collection, guest identity verification, and chargeback protection into a single workflow. This marks the first integration of these services without extra tools. Hosts set deposit amounts; the system automates the rest. Chargebacks are resolved within a day. Hospitable charges a flat 2% per deposit. Founded in 2016, Hospitable automates guest messaging and optimizes rental management.

💸 HITEC 2025 highlighted evolving hotel revenue strategies, focusing on profitability across departments with AI integration. Former Duetto CEO, David Woolenberg, noted the shift from traditional RMS to comprehensive profit platforms. Fragmentation in systems remains a challenge, necessitating smarter AI alerts for $10,000 decisions. Clean data is crucial, especially for diverse operations. Olly Lynch, SVP Global Marketing, emphasized margin-aware tools over mere revenue growth, spotlighting ROI demands amid rising costs and labor constraints.

💻 Josh Graham, Head of Market Development at Cloudbeds, highlighted AI's potential at HITEC 2025, focusing on the need for robust infrastructure over mere innovation. He emphasized the importance of integrating hotel tech systems to transform data into actionable insights. Current fragmentation in tech systems limits AI's effectiveness. Graham advocates for AI that acts, not just reports, and believes solutions should be developed within the industry to address unique hospitality challenges.

💰 Hospitable has launched an automated Security Deposit feature, integrating deposit collection, guest ID verification, and chargeback protection. This seamless process begins when a reservation is confirmed, automating deposit requests and verifications. Guests must complete ID checks before check-in. Hospitable charges a flat 2% per security deposit. Issues during stays are resolved quickly, often within a day. Launched in 2016, Hospitable continues to innovate, offering comprehensive, automated property protection.

💻 RoomRaccoon integrates with HiJiffy to automate up to 90% of guest interactions across over 130 languages in Europe. This partnership empowers independent hotels to enhance guest experiences and boost direct bookings. HiJiffy's AI assistant engages guests via live chat on hotel websites and social media, while RoomRaccoon’s PMS data personalizes messages throughout the guest journey. This collaboration enables efficient communication and increases revenue without additional staff effort.

💻 Germany, March 2023: Homelike, a rental platform with over 70,000 furnished properties, ceased operations after 10 years. Now acquired by Roomless Srl, its assets, including the domain and branding, redirect to Spacest.com. This move ensures continuity for users and expands Spacest.com's presence in markets like Germany, Italy, Spain, and more. Spacest.com aims to become Europe's leading flexible rental platform, leveraging Homelike's legacy.

💻 Reconfirm.ai, launched in 2023, offers a 15-day free trial for its AI-powered booking and renewal confirmation tool, targeting travel and membership businesses. It automates tasks like hotel bookings and membership renewals using voice AI, reducing human errors, and operational costs. The system operates 24/7, enabling faster workflows. CEO Mike Putman emphasizes the trial helps businesses experience the benefits without commitment. The platform supports various customer operations, transforming manual processes into efficient, auditable workflows.

📰 Sojern and PubMatic are collaborating to enhance programmatic advertising for the travel industry. By integrating Sojern’s real-time travel data with PubMatic’s inventory, advertisers can create personalized, targeted campaigns. This partnership allows precise audience targeting while ensuring privacy compliance. Josh Beckwith from Sojern and Mark Williams from PubMatic emphasize the benefits of curation for advertisers, publishers, and audiences, leading to improved transparency, control, and performance.

🛫 UK-based 15below acquired Airport AI, an AI platform used by over 80 airports, for an undisclosed sum. This strategic move aims to enhance passenger experiences by integrating airline and airport systems. The solution will improve service through self-service options, reduce costs, and provide more responsive customer support via digital channels like WhatsApp and WeChat. The collaboration is set to expand Airport AI's global reach and foster seamless communication, improving efficiency across the air travel industry.

📈 Duetto and The Hotels Network, based in San Francisco, California, announced a strategic partnership to boost direct bookings for hotels using real-time occupancy data. This integration connects Duetto’s Dynamic Rate Engine API with THN’s segmentation capabilities. Key benefits include increased direct booking conversion, improved customer experience, and optimized marketing spend. Industry leaders, including Victoria Fisher at Penta Hotels, contributed to shaping this innovative solution that maximizes revenue and enhances marketing efficacy.