Innovation

📲 Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas aims to compete with Google by building a browser named Comet for data collection to sell premium ads, targeting a May launch. Perplexity's partnership with Motorola introduces its app on Razr phones, accessible via Moto AI with "Ask Perplexity". The company also negotiates with Samsung for integration. Google’s market cap is around $2 trillion; it's in court over monopolistic allegations by the DOJ, which may lead to divestment of Chrome. OpenAI and Perplexity show interest in buying Chrome if sold.

🛒 OpenAI announced an update to ChatGPT search on Monday, enhancing online shopping with recommendations, images, reviews, and direct purchase links. This feature, part of GPT-4o, is available to all ChatGPT users globally, including Pro, Plus, Free, and logged-out users. OpenAI, competing with Google, recorded over a billion searches in ChatGPT last week. The shopping results are ad-free and use structured metadata from third parties. CEO Sam Altman considers "tasteful" ads with affiliate fees but rejects priority placement selling. Future updates will include a memory feature for personalized recommendations, except in the EU and some countries due to privacy restrictions. ChatGPT search is also now available on WhatsApp and displays trending searches similar to Google autocomplete.

💰 Independent hotels using Pricing Manager across six continents – mainly in Europe, Asia, and Oceania – reported a 19.25% RevPAR increase, translating to over 50x ROI on the monthly subscription. A 20-room hotel with €100 ADR and 80% occupancy achieved a monthly RevPAR boost of €9,146.51, a 54x ROI. Autopilot users experienced ADR lifts 10 times greater than those not using Autopilot. Results were based on a five-month average study in stable economies, though individual ROI varies due to hotel strategy and external factors. Pricing Manager also offers time savings, enabling hoteliers to focus on service and strategy.

```html ✈ ``` Airlines could unlock up to $45 billion USD in potential revenue over the next five years through modern retailing, with New Offers representing more than $13 billion. Carriers currently using outdated systems can see a revenue uplift of 2% to 3% or up to 15% of EBITDA by leveraging Shopping Data—real-time data from flight searches and corresponding pricing. Approximately 260 carriers, about 80% of IATA members, use dynamic pricing, a 20% increase in two years. In 2024, only one-quarter of ticket offers were dynamically generated. Advanced dynamic pricing includes variables like weather, economic trends, and competitor pricing. Shopping Data provides real-time demand insights and nuanced competitor pricing insights. OAG's dedicated Data Governance department ensures compliance and privacy. Airlines can achieve a 3% revenue uplift with established dynamic offers, potentially increasing to 10% with Shopping Data.

🏨 Choice Hotels International, Inc. opened its 69th Annual Convention in Las Vegas, with President and CEO Patrick Pacious emphasizing "Powering the Future" for hotel owners. The event hosts thousands and features nearly 100 educational sessions and a trade show. Choice Hotels, with over 7,500 hotels globally, reported a 40% business traveler customer base, a 44% growth in upscale room numbers, and a loyalty membership surpassing 70 million. Direct bookers increased by over 6%, with food costs savings averaging 9% since July 2024. Group business revenue surged 45% in Q4 of 2024, and the company continues to invest in AI, with plans to roll out new capabilities over two years. Extended stay brands like Everhome Suites are expanding, with 25 hotels expected by end of 2025, while WoodSpring Suites maintains over 55% gross operating profits.

🏖 Experian and MMGY developed a marketing measurement strategy for Windstar, utilizing pixel tags, Experian's identity graph, and MMGY's Terminal audience modeling platform. This strategy included integration of MMGY's performance data, Experian's consumer intent data, and Windstar's first-party data, enabling custom audience segmentation. Results: 6,500+ bookings, $20 million in revenue, 13:1 Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) on $1.48M ad spend, $236 cost per booking, and a 28:1 ROAS for Terminal Audiences.

📈 Choice Hotels International, Inc. opened its 69th Annual Convention in Las Vegas, with President and CEO Patrick Pacious keynote speaking. Aimed at "Powering the Future," the event featured nearly 100 educational sessions and a trade show. Business travelers now represent 40% of all stays. The upscale brand portfolio grew by 44% last year, and loyalty membership surpassed 70 million. Direct booking conversions increased by over 6%, and area Directors found over $25 million in operational cost savings. A new food purchasing program saved 9% on costs from July 2024 to March 2025. ChoiceROCS consultancy drove $81 million to properties, and group business revenue jumped 45% in Q4 2024. AARP members booked over 1.1 million room nights at Choice hotels in 2024. Choice leads in midscale and extended stay, with half of all economy and midscale extended stay hotels open and under construction. Everhome Suites projected to have 25 hotels by end of 2025, while upscale rooms reached over 110,000 in 2024.

🍦 Brakes, the UK's leading foodservice wholesaler, introduces exclusive gelatos and sorbettos from Hackney Gelato and Jude’s. Hackney Gelato offers 13 varieties in a 4.5L format including 2 Star Great Taste winners and a 3 Star Award-winning Sea Salted Caramel Gelato. Jude’s provides a new 4.75L Napoli range with unique flavours like Bubblegum and Speculoos Caramel Biscuit. The premium range aims to differentiate menus, especially with Summer and National Ice Cream month approaching, and is exclusively available to Brakes customers. Paul Nieduszynski, CEO of Sysco GB, highlights the opportunity for menu differentiation and customer retention.

🏨 Aspire Group will rebrand the former Hotel Kaiserhof in Wuppertal, Germany as Spark by Hilton Wuppertal City Centre on 2 June 2025, following Germany's first Spark by Hilton in Stuttgart-Sindelfingen earlier in 2025. The hotel, with 172 rooms and situated next to Wuppertal Hauptbahnhof, is 35 kilometers from Düsseldorf Airport and features a 24/7 smart Grab & Go store and in-room steamers in its 11,000-square-metre property. This expansion aligns with Aspire Group's strategy of urban hotel repositioning and the market trend of revitalising city-centre hotels under midscale international brands. Spark by Hilton targets business and leisure guests, emphasizing operational simplicity and standardized services.