Innovation

💻 Christopher Thomas-Moore, ex-SVP and Chief Digital Officer at Domino’s, unveiled tech strategies at MURTEC 2025: Experience Matters. Domino’s achieved digital excellence with innovative e-commerce, loyalty, and retail tech under his leadership. The three-minute video highlights “CTM’s” influence in restaurant technology and digital transformation to boost customer loyalty.

📈 By 2025, CRSs will evolve into centralized distribution hubs, enhancing visibility and market reach. These systems will manage real-time updates and dynamic pricing, leveraging AI for personalization. Voice search integration will improve accessibility, while predictive analytics will optimize revenue. Next-gen CRSs will centralize reservations for additional services like restaurants. Integration with CRMs will enable detailed customer insights and targeted marketing. Optimal performance requires a high-performance channel manager and advanced analytics capabilities.

🏨 Kenyan Sentrim Hotels & Lodges faced backend challenges like manual errors and overbookings. Switching to STAAH's Channel Manager improved efficiency by automating rate updates and availability across all OTAs, reducing errors and increasing direct bookings. Tools like RatesTalk and ReviewMinder enhanced pricing strategies and guest feedback management. As a result, Sentrim saw growth in online visibility and bookings, shifting focus back to enhancing guest experiences.

📈 Hotels adopt AI-driven revenue management by setting goals and providing comprehensive information to optimize pricing. AI systems adjust rates in real time using historical data and trends to handle market changes from events and seasons. AI reacts swiftly to unexpected demand shifts, while hotel teams set and control response rules. The synergy between AI and human strategy enhances efficiency, allowing managers to focus on strategic planning and guest interaction, rather than manual processes.

🗺 May 26, 2025, at Google I/O, AI-centric innovations, including AI Mode, Deep Search, and agentic booking, were unveiled to revolutionize travel. With 400 million Gemini app users, AI now answers queries traditionally handled by search. Google's Project Mariner allows AI to make bookings and track flights. Travel brands must produce AI-friendly content as traditional search and blog referrals diminish. Real-time translation and AI tools enhance the travel experience. Adaptation to AI's 92-keynote mentions is urgent.

🏨 Graduates with a hospitality management degree are increasingly sought after in diverse sectors. According to Deloitte’s 2024 Travel Outlook, today’s travelers prioritize flexibility, personalized service, and sustainability. Career paths include destination marketing managers, luxury brand managers, and eco-resort general managers. The AHLA 2024 State of the Industry Report highlights the demand for eco-friendly and wellness-focused hospitality services. Professionals in this field now integrate technology and sustainability to enhance guest experiences globally.

💻 Hospitality professionals leverage AI to enhance guest experiences. AI systems track interactions, maintaining context across time and channels, allowing staff to offer personalized service without guests repeating requests. AI predicts and addresses issues like late check-ins or tech glitches, improving problem-solving efficiency. Proactive interventions, like tech fixes or digital vouchers, enhance guest satisfaction. In this high-expectation industry, AI empowers staff to deliver seamless service, fostering trust and loyalty.

💸 Profitroom partners with IDeaS, launching integration on May 19th for UK users. Hoteliers gain access to IDeaS' AI-powered tools for revenue forecasting and optimization. This collaboration democratizes advanced revenue management for hotel and pub groups of all sizes, enhancing profitability and efficiency. Michael McCartan and Patryk Luszcz emphasize improving competitiveness and simplifying operations. This initiative supports independent operators amid challenges like National Insurance hikes and employment law changes, focusing on delivering excellent guest experiences.