Innovation

🍦 Wendy's is launching Frosty Fusions next week. In Q1, Wendy's app engagement metrics soared, with a digital sales mix over 20%. The brand introduced gamification to its mobile app, enhancing customer engagement. Wendy's also pilots technology to improve order accuracy with sandwich label printers and smart delivery scales, significantly improving performance in participating restaurants. Upcoming promotions include 100 Days of Summer, Frosty swirls, and a Takis collaboration. CFO Ken Cook emphasizes focus on controllable factors amidst an uncertain economic environment.

🏨 In Dubai at the Arabian Travel Market 2025, Riyadh Air and Verteil Technologies announced a strategic partnership, making Verteil the launch NDC aggregator for Riyadh Air's NDC content. Riyadh Air aims to revolutionize airline connectivity and innovation. Verteil will provide scalable NDC solutions for real-time availability, fare options, services, and instant ticketing to global travel sellers via its Verteil Direct Connect platform, enhancing transparency and personalisation.

💰 Hotiday, an Italian traveltech start-up founded in 2022, announces a €5.5 million capital raise led by P101 SGR, with participation from 40Jemz and Italian and international business angels. The funding will help expand its European portfolio, enter new markets, strengthen presence, enhance hotelier services, establish premium partnerships, and grow the team. Hotiday experienced a 500% revenue growth compared to 2023, operates across over 90 destinations, partners with 65+ hospitality businesses, and introduced a decentralized hotel model with a proprietary algorithm. This investment marks P101 SGR's twelfth through Programma 103, backed by the EU's InvestEU Fund and CDP Venture Capital SGR via the Digital Transition Fund – PNRR.

💾 Hospitable launched a dynamic pricing tool for hosts and property managers, becoming the first PMS with built-in dynamic pricing at no extra cost. The tool previews 30 days of pricing trends, with 24 months of insights accessible upon activation. All customers can explore the full 24-month preview for the first month post-launch. The release follows an industry report revealing 57.2% of hosts struggle with occupancy goals and 28.9% with pricing. Hospitable's dynamic pricing is available on their Host, Professional, or Mogul plans. The full industry report will be released this week.

🏨 Sabre has integrated Iberia's New Distribution Capability (NDC) offers into its Global Distribution System (GDS), enhancing travel retailing. Iberia's Commercial Strategy and Distribution Director, Celia Muñoz Espín, sees this as a milestone in their distribution strategy, allowing global access to their NDC products and fares. Sabre's Senior Vice President Kathy Morgan highlights the goal of making NDC work at scale for seamless agency integration, offering personalized airline content. This partnership strengthens Sabre's platform by providing more choice and value across the travel ecosystem.

📦 STAAH, a hospitality technology provider and part of The Access Group, earned Booking.com's “Seamless Product” badge, ranking #1 globally and joining an elite group of only 16 out of over 600 to receive this honor. This achievement highlights STAAH's innovation and dedication to offering hoteliers smooth connectivity. The recognition reflects a transformative 2024, as STAAH partners with Booking.com's teams in New Zealand, India, and Europe to further their shared mission.

💸 Amid tariff-driven inflation and rising living costs, one-third of Americans have under $100 in monthly expendable funds, with nearly one in five having less than $50. Attest's 2025 US Consumer Spending Trends Report shows 51.5% spend on dining out and 57% on takeout monthly. Only 27% spend over $100 at restaurants and 20% on takeouts. Over 38% feel financially insecure, 29% have disposable incomes below $100, and 42% carry no credit card debt. Tipping has inclined toward 20%, with 60% tipping bartenders, and 45% tipping $5 or more. Hospitality tech, such as AI, seamless payments, and personalization, is crucial for addressing sparse disposable funds.

🏨 Choice Hotels International held its 69th Annual Convention in Las Vegas with keynote by CEO Patrick Pacious. The convention aims to empower hotel owners, offering 100 educational sessions and a trade show. Choice Hotels reports a 44% growth in upscale room count last year, now operating over 7,500 hotels globally. Loyalty membership surpassed 70 million, with a 30% increase in redemptions. The company saw a 6% increase in direct online bookings, with a significant $25 million identified in operational cost savings for owners. The ChoiceROCS program delivered a 100-basis-point premium in RevPAR Index and $81 million in incremental revenue. Group business revenue surged by 45% in Q4 2024, with upscale transient business revenue up 20%. Through partnerships (AAA, AARP, Preferred Hotels & Resorts), the company booked over 1.1 million room nights in 2024 and achieved an average ROI of $50,000 for hotels with an AAA appointment. The company leads in midscale, extended stay with 500 properties, and the Everhome Suites brand is expected to reach 25 hotels by end of 2025. WoodSpring Suites brand maintains over 55% gross operating profits, while upscale room count reached over 110,000 in 2024.

📆 Choice Hotels International, Inc. opened its 69th Annual Convention in Las Vegas, featuring a keynote by CEO Patrick Pacious. The upscale brand portfolio grew its rooms by 44% last year. Loyalty members surpassed 70 million, driving a 30% redemption increase and a 13% longer average stay. Direct bookings grew over 6% year-over-year, with an online upscale booking surge of 14% in Q1 of 2025. Owners saved $25 million in operational costs and 9% on food costs since July 2024. ChoiceROCS generated $81 million in added revenue. Group and transient business revenues jumped 45% and 20%, respectively, in Q4 of 2024. AARP members booked 1.1 million room nights in 2024, and AAA appointments yielded a $50,000 average return. The company plans to enhance franchisee rate management, business travel platforms, AI-powered marketing, and group travel systems over the next two years. Comfort and Country Inn & Suites introduced new prototypes, and the Quality Inn brand marked its 85th anniversary. In the extended stay sector, Choice celebrated the opening of its 500th property in 2024, with over half of economy and midscale extended stay hotels in the pipeline. The upscale room count exceeded 110,000 in 2024, with Choice Privileges offering access to 180,000 upscale rooms.

📍 LXR Hotels & Resorts launches the Pursuit of Adventure program, offering immersive experiences to luxury travelers. Nearly 70% of global travelers seek active trips, with over 75% favoring accommodations with immersive experiences. The program includes private hiking in Oahu, hot air ballooning over the Sonoran Desert, washi paper-making in Kyoto, and a soul blessing ceremony in Bali. LXR's portfolio has grown to 16 properties since 2018, with expansion planned through 2025 in locations such as Southern California, Morocco, Italy, and Abu Dhabi.