Innovation

📱 Sojern and HotelKey launched a real-time guest feedback integration in May 2024, enhancing HotelKey's PMS with in-stay guest feedback capabilities. Initially announced in April 2024, this partnership aims to modernize guest experience technology, replacing post-stay surveys with proactive feedback resolution. The integration is rolling out across over 16,000 hotels, including Red Roof. This innovation promises improved service and a personalized guest experience, showcased at HITEC to industry leaders.

📸 PPDS introduced the 135” Philips Unite LED 6000 Series All In One at HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis (16-17 June). This foldable, energy-efficient LED display offers mobility and accessibility, fitting through standard doors and elevators. Featuring motorized height adjustment and ultra-low standby mode (under 0.5 watts), it ensures operational efficiency. The integrated Android 11 and System on Chip (SoC) support native apps, simplifying installation and reducing costs, while enhancing sustainability goals.

📺 HITEC 2025, Indianapolis (16-17 June): PPDS unveils the Philips Unite LED 6000 Series All In One, a 135” foldable, height-adjustable display, enhancing hospitality spaces. Featuring energy-efficient design (

💻 Agilysys, Inc. unveiled its latest technology innovations at HITEC 2025 in Alpharetta, Georgia. Highlights include Agilysys Book with S.P.E.N.D. Technology, enabling seamless package reservations, and Intelligent Guest Profile, enhancing guest service across touchpoints. The IG Fly Mobile POS integrates with FreedomPay for secure payments anywhere on property. These solutions aim to enhance revenue and guest experience while improving operational efficiency.

💸 In May 2025, in New York, Infor announced a preferred partnership with Plusgrade to integrate upsell technology into Infor Hospitality Management Solution (HMS). This collaboration allows hotels to monetize offerings such as premium room upgrades, flexible stay options, and experiential add-ons. Plusgrade's AI-powered platform optimizes pricing and timing, enhancing guest experiences and boosting profitability. The partnership aims to help hotels improve margins by integrating ancillary revenue into hotel operations.

💻 HIA, previously known as Hotel Investor Apps, has rebranded to mark its 10th anniversary. Based in Glenwood, Maryland, HIA now encompasses a broader scope, serving the entire hospitality industry with integrated financial and operational solutions. The HIA platform offers a unique ERP tailored for hospitality, featuring tools for business intelligence, finance, and reputation management. It includes 13,000+ bank connections for cash monitoring and 60+ integrated tech partners, enhancing budgeting and forecasting capabilities.

🏠 HITEC 2025, Indiana Convention Center, highlights AI in hospitality. Panelists John D. Burns, Seth Bolt, Martin Chevalley, and Mike Coscetta discussed AI's potential to enhance guest experience and profitability. AI tracks guest preferences, streamlines check-in, and boosts upselling, increasing revenue per room by 40-50% and guest satisfaction by 25%. AI aids staff by automating tasks, improving scheduling, and fostering better guest service, aligning technology with hospitality.

📊 In 2025, hotel groups benefit from integrating Customer Data Platforms (CDPs) with key systems like CRM, PMS, and loyalty platforms. This integration improves data quality, compliance, and guest personalization. Essential connections include CRM tools like Mailchimp, loyalty platforms, and guest feedback tools. Challenges include fragmented data and compliance issues, solvable with AI-powered deduplication and consent management. Success ensures a unified guest profile and efficient marketing, enhancing guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.

💻 Hotels are adopting AI Agents for operational efficiency, handling up to 70% of guest inquiries autonomously while maintaining GDPR compliance. These agents integrate with tech stacks and operate across multiple channels, improving over time with usage analytics. By 2025, the hotel automation market is projected to reach $19.77 billion, driven by a 6.8% CAGR. AI adoption in hospitality is rising, with over 70% of short-term rental operators already using AI tools.

💻 Janette Roush, SVP of Innovation and Chief AI Officer at Brand USA, discusses AI's impact on tourism, initially published December 2024. She shares insights on AI's role in workplace innovation. Key figures include Conor Grennan, Chief AI Architect at the Stern School of Business, and Ethan Mollick, Wharton School Professor. The episode is available on YouTube, with related resources on Brand USA's AI framework, Travel Week leadership alignment, and platforms like Udemy and Every.