Innovation

💰 European Travel-Tech leader lastminute.com launched a new marketing campaign targeting UK, France, Germany, and Italy, with a strategic entry into Sweden. Leveraging trends of bookings within 30 days of departure, the campaign aims to boost summer bookings and brand awareness. CEO Alessandro Petazzi emphasizes their expertise in last-minute travel deals. Chief Marketing Officer Paul Cumiskey stresses the message's consistency, reassuring travelers of great last-minute deals without stress. The campaign highlights customer convenience and emotional connection.

📖 19 May 2025, Paris: Influence Society releases the second edition of *Societies Quarterly*, a 31-page trend guide for Q2 2025. The publication explores AI, design, and cultural shifts in hospitality, featuring Tomu's modular architecture and Air France’s La Première luxury evolution. Sébastien Félix emphasizes differentiation through taste and emotional connection. The issue highlights community as a new luxury, with brands like Celine and Four Seasons leading the way. Access the full guide on Influence Society’s website.

📱 Agilysys, Inc. and Boyd Gaming Corporation, May 2025, Alpharetta, Georgia. Boyd Gaming signed a SaaS agreement for the InfoGenesis POS system across its 28 U.S. properties. This integration unifies data and transactions via kiosks, mobile ordering, and kitchen displays, enhancing guest experiences and operational efficiency. Johan Martensson from Boyd and Joe Youssef from Agilysys highlighted the system's role in improving guest service and providing operational insights.

📅 Aug 5, 2022, Prabhash Bhatnagar discusses the evolving needs in the hotel industry. In recent years, businesses have recognized the necessity of comprehensive digitization for all processes. Traditional legacy solutions are becoming obsolete, prompting the shift to all-in-one systems for growth. This change is crucial for independent hotels aiming to thrive in a competitive market. Hoteliers need to adopt modern technology to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences effectively.

💳 Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG) introduced "Checkless Payments" at Manhatta, a restaurant on the 60th floor in Lower Manhattan, in collaboration with Clover by Fiserv. Launched at the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show, this digital payment system allows guests to skip traditional billing. Initiated by Danny Meyer and former Fiserv CEO Frank Bisignano, the concept aims to enhance the dining experience. Future expansions are planned for USHG locations and Clover Hospitality customers.

🏠 Travel technology is transforming the industry, offering simplified experiences. Generative AI can streamline planning and booking, as shown in a report with Globetrender. Biometric systems reduce airport stress, a focus of Amadeus' integration with Vision-Box. In Dubai, collaboration with the Department of Economy and Tourism aims to enhance travel tech innovation. Amadeus' Outpayce supports seamless payment for nearly 100 airlines. These advancements aim to create a simple, efficient travel ecosystem globally.

💸 Hotels have been in a co-dependent relationship with Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) for 25 years, often paying commissions as high as 30%. This dynamic began post-9/11 when OTAs offered visibility and bookings. Over time, OTAs imposed rate parity, inventory control, and loyalty schemes, leading to industry dependence. As technology advances and direct booking tools emerge, hotels are encouraged to regain control, reducing OTA reliance, and improving guest relationships. Roomangel offers solutions to support this shift.

📱 Global Payments Inc. announced the release of Genius, a new POS platform, on May 17, 2025, in Chicago at the National Restaurant Association show. Genius caters to restaurants and retail, offering features like real-time reporting, marketing tools, and inventory tracking. Initially available in the U.S. and Canada, with future launches in Germany, Austria, and Czech Republic. Genius aims to simplify operations and enhance customer experiences in various business sectors, including education and consumer services.

🛫 In 2025, Airbnb's Summer Release transforms it from a home-sharing platform into a travel ecosystem with Airbnb Services, Experiences, and a redesigned app. Offering 10 service categories and local experiences, it challenges hotels and OTAs. In 2024, Viator led with $4 billion in bookings, but Airbnb aims for $12 billion by 2030. Hotels like Mandarin Oriental and Marriott are updating programs to compete. Airbnb's unified platform drives personalization and industry-wide innovation.

📈 HDG Legacy, a Florida-based hotel developer, manages nine hotels with a tenth opening mid-2025. In 2024, they partnered with Anacove to reduce energy and water costs using AI-powered IoT solutions. Results included a 35.94% reduction in electricity costs at Holiday Inn Express Crystal River and being 33% and 43% under budget at other locations. Smart thermostats and water leak sensors were key, offering operational improvements and significant savings, leading to plans for broader implementation across their properties.