Innovation

💸 In 2024, Mews acquired Atomize, a cloud-based Revenue Management System (RMS) offering real-time pricing optimization and integration with the Mews ecosystem. Hotels using Atomize have reported significant benefits, including a 15-20% increase in RevPAR within six months, 20-30 hours saved monthly on manual tasks, and a 4-5% uplift in revenue. Kronen Hotels saw a 35% RevPAR increase, while The Local House achieved a 37% rise in ADR.

💻 Hotel Communication Network (HCN) is launching an AI Concierge tablet at HITEC Indianapolis, June 16-19 at the Indiana Convention Center. This ad-supported, human-like AI platform drives revenue for hotels with a subsidized cost model. Integrating with property-management systems, it achieves over 90% usage rates, far surpassing QR codes and apps. With a $11 trillion travel market, this can lead to significant revenue boosts. Opting out of housekeeping saves $15-$30 per room, covering tablet costs.

💻 Palona AI launched Restaurant AI, an AI sales assistant for the Pizza, Fast Casual, and QSR industry, after a successful pilot with Pizza My Heart. Now partnered with over 20 restaurants, including CaliBBQ and MOTO Pizza. Features include multilingual support, voice cloning, and secure payments. CEO Maria Zhang highlights its accuracy and upselling capabilities. New hires include Martin Briant and Chris Stanton, emphasizing Palona's expansion in hospitality tech. Restaurant AI seamlessly integrates with POS systems, enhancing customer engagement and loyalty.

💻 HCN will showcase its AI Concierge tablet at HITEC Indianapolis on June 16-19 at Booth #2803, Indiana Convention Center. The tablet integrates with hotel systems, offering voice-activated guest services and enabling loyalty program integration. Peer-reviewed research finds guests spend 3.5 hours daily in their rooms, optimizing brand message delivery. HCN's ad-supported model makes the platform affordable, potentially revenue-sharing with hotels. Opting out of housekeeping saves $15-$30 per room, surpassing tablet costs.

📱 June 16-19, Indianapolis: Hotel Communication Network (HCN) debuts its AI Concierge tablet at HITEC. Guests average 3.5 hours in-room, making tablets a key marketing tool, with 90% usage rates. HCN’s ad-supported model subsidizes costs, offering potential revenue shares for hotels. The platform integrates with existing hotel systems, promoting upsells, cross-sells, and loyalty programs. The global travel market is valued at $11 trillion. HCN offers a fee-paid model for those preferring ad-free solutions, saving $15-$30 per room.

🚀 Airports and airlines can now benefit from SITA MIFI, a new mobile Wi-Fi service providing fast and secure connectivity for air transport. Launched worldwide, it offers flexible solutions for tarmacs, cargo areas, and emergencies, addressing challenges like bandwidth limits and system outages. SITA MIFI supports 4G and 5G, includes satellite capabilities, and enhances security with SSE technologies. It reduces costs and speeds up deployment, ensuring smoother operations with 24/7 managed support.

📶 French travel eSIM provider Kolet raised $10 million in Series A funding led by Daphni, with participation from former Expedia CEO Peter Kern and ex-Apple VP Jon Gieselman. Founded in 2024, Kolet partners with airlines like Air France and KLM. The funding includes €1 million from Bpifrance to enhance its app and eSIM ease of use. Kolet plans to hire 10 more employees over 12 months. The eSIM offers affordable connectivity in 190+ countries.

📅 Dubai, April 2025: The world’s largest Visa Application Centre, run by VFS Global, has opened in Dubai’s Wafi City, serving 37 governments with over 200 counters. The facility spans nearly 150,000 square feet and can process up to 10,000 visa applications daily, with support from over 400 staff of 25 nationalities. Featuring tech-enabled kiosks, premium lounges, and advanced AI systems, the centre aligns with Dubai’s strategy for global mobility and community-focused innovation.

📰 AI is revolutionizing travel with 62% of trips planned after online content interaction and 75% influenced by social media. Andrew Harrison-Chinn, CMO of Dragonpass, highlights AI's role in using search data and engagement to predict traveler behavior. Dragonpass, serving over 40 million worldwide, offers personalized travel perks at 1,400+ airport lounges. They leverage digital interactions like Google searches and TikTok likes to enhance travel experiences, transforming journeys with tailor-made perks and intelligent algorithms.

💳 Sabre Corporation partners with WEX to enhance payment solutions for travel agencies using virtual card technology. Sabre Direct Pay users in 210 countries and 20 currencies will benefit from improved payment efficiency, security, and fraud detection. The partnership aims at streamlining transactions across borders, simplifying currency management, and empowering travel intermediaries with flexible payment solutions. As WEX collaborates with eight of the top 10 online travel agencies, this move signifies a shift towards integrated travel payment systems.