Innovation

💻 IHG and White Elephant Resorts are enhancing guest experiences through advanced technology. IHG’s Auto Connect Wi-Fi integrates with loyalty programs, while White Elephant uses Comcast’s X1 for in-room entertainment, creating a familiar environment. Scalable tech like SD-WAN ensures rapid deployment for IHG, supported by their IT Marketplace. White Elephant leverages Comcast for IT support. Both brands employ sensors for predictive maintenance and sustainability, aiming to reduce carbon footprints by 2030.

📱 Hotels are prioritizing technology investments, with plans to increase by 16% next year, as 72% of guests prefer tech-savvy accommodations. **60% of luxury hotels** have AI-driven smart room automation, enhancing guest experiences with personalized controls and reducing energy costs by up to 30%. **62% of remote workers** find hotels ideal for productivity, and **77% of business travelers** highlight the importance of business travel, emphasizing hotels’ need to adapt to digital demands and operational efficiency.

🍍 June 27th marks National Pineapple Day, a symbol of hospitality in New England, especially Cape Cod. Mews is the first hotel tech platform to partner with the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, aiming to modernize local hospitality without losing its charm. Pelham Hospitality has embraced Mews, improving operations across its three properties in Dennis Port and Harwich. Mews also partners with the New England Inns and Resorts Association, underscoring its commitment to enhancing guest experiences.

💸 G6 Hospitality's Revenue Management Services (RMS) program showed significant results in Q1 2025, achieving 11% year-over-year revenue growth and a 10% higher Average Daily Rate (ADR) compared to non-RMS properties. Revenue-managed properties saw an 11.5% web and app channel growth, while non-RMS properties declined by 4.4%. April 2025 continued this trend with a 9% revenue growth for RMS properties. The ADR for RMS properties was $78.24 versus $66.68 for non-managed ones. The newly launched My6 app increased direct bookings by 14%.

🤖 Nearly 80% of companies use generative AI, but 80% report no significant earnings impact. Gen AI, valued at $11-$18 trillion, requires a shift from horizontal to vertical use cases, with only 10% of the latter scaling beyond pilot. AI agents could change this by automating complex processes. AI has potential to add $2.6-$4.4 trillion in value. Organizations must reimagine workflows, with CEOs driving AI transformation for economic gains.

💻 March 11, MURTEC: Elizabeth Hawes, recognized with the Rising Star Award, highlights AI's potential to improve restaurant efficiency and sustainability through data-driven operations. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship and collaboration in her career, thanking her mentors and allies. Hawes envisions customizable, flexible POS systems for the future. The Top Women in Restaurant Technology Awards, sponsored by Milagro, will open nominations for the 2026 awards on December 1.

💻 HiJiffy survey shows AI is reshaping hospitality: 86% of hotel professionals report time savings through automation, notably in handling FAQs and routine tasks, based on data from 16 million guest messages. Over 26% find repetitive questions tedious. The report, featuring insights from Mews, Oaky, and Bookline, explores balancing AI and human touch. Special requests and personal interactions should remain human-led. A practical AI Readiness Checklist aids hoteliers in evaluating strategies.

🏨 Travelodge partners with Katanox to enhance access to 47,000+ rooms in 600+ hotels across the UK, Ireland, and Spain. Katanox's integration allows TMCs to amend bookings and improves room rate display. Navan is the first TMC to benefit from this integration, offering new rate plans and amendable bookings. This partnership aims to expand Travelodge's TMC connections and improve booking experiences, as highlighted by Nick Jacobs from Travelodge and Paul Beukers from Katanox.

✈️ Passengers at Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA) will soon enjoy a streamlined check-in experience with SITA technology. By 2025, the airport will implement SITA’s Flex platform, Smart Path kiosks, and Self Bag Drop, cutting baggage processing time by up to 80% and reducing check-in to 70 seconds. The Asia Pacific region is seeing a 7.9% passenger growth, making these innovations crucial for handling increased traffic efficiently.