Innovation

📈 PPDS' 50” Philips Signage 3650 EcoDesign achieved EPEAT Climate+ Gold, the first digital signage to do so. It uses an EcoDesign methodology, reducing energy consumption by 50% compared to similar models, and has already received low energy label ratings (E, D, and C). EPEAT certifies electronics based on climate, circularity, chemicals of concern, and responsible supply chains. PPDS is committed to sustainability, using 90% recycled and 100% recyclable packaging, and removing plastic bags and polystyrene. The Philips 3000 Series EcoDesign is part of PPDS' Android SoC family and can be remotely managed.

📈 PPDS announced its 50” Philips Signage 3000 EcoDesign as the first digital signage display awarded EPEAT Climate+ Gold designation. The model consumes 50% less energy than comparable models, achieving an 'E' energy label. EPEAT rates products' environmental impact, with this display meeting 100% of Climate Criteria and 50% of optional criteria. It features 4K performance, recycled packaging, and can be managed remotely. PPDS aims to certify the 55” and 65” models similarly.

🏨 Climia Benidorm Plaza in Europe introduces full team of robotic hospitality assistants to enhance guest experience. Robots assist with check-ins, serve meals, handle room service, and offer recommendations in over 30 languages. They complement staff efforts, allowing more personalized service. The hotel leverages AI for personalization of room settings and dining preferences. Embracing AI and automation positions hotels like Climia Benidorm Plaza as industry leaders, appealing to guests valuing innovation.

📰 OpenAI has introduced Operator, an AI "Computer Use" agent that executes web tasks, including booking hotels. This technology is shifting how travelers book rooms, potentially bypassing hotel websites in favor of OTAs like Booking.com and Expedia. Hotels now need to appeal to four types of website visitors: humans, AI assistants like Operator, on-site AI chatbots, and SEO crawlers. As the AI dictates more of the booking journey, brand recognition, first-party data, AI optimization, and immediate conversion on hotel websites become crucial for success. The AI-first era of travel booking is here, and hotels must adapt to remain visible and competitive.

🏨 UK hotel sector resilient in 2024, nearing pre-pandemic occupancy and profitability. London occupancy rate at 82%, up 3.4% from 2023; average daily rate (ADR) £228. Upper-upscale segment occupancy at 84%, luxury segment at 75% with a 3.6% ADR drop. Regional UK cities occupancy increased to 76%, ADR £105. London hotels saw a 5% increase in gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) over 2019; regional hotels' GOPPAR £38, GOP margin at 30%. Operational costs rise due to higher wages and National Insurance. Knight Frank predicts technology will be key for future efficiency and growth in the sector.

🏡 IHG Hotels & Resorts is expanding in the UK and Ireland with eight new hotels, totaling over 900 rooms. Key openings include Hotel Indigo Leeds with 107 rooms in 2025, voco London - Marylebone (93 rooms) in 2024, voco Corby (104 rooms) and Crowne Plaza East Midlands Airport (114 rooms) in late 2025. Garner Hotel opened in Preston Samlesbury (80 rooms) in March 2024, with further Garner Hotels in Reading (53 rooms) and Nottingham (100 rooms) set to open in early and late 2025, respectively. The Holiday Inn Express London - Woolwich (265 rooms) will launch in 2029. IHG's regional portfolio now stands at 362 properties with 25 more under development, aiming to meet evolving traveller needs and emphasizing sustainability and customer experience.

💰 The Advantage Travel Partnership teams up with Sabre to revamp its technology partner portfolio, aiming for a unified hub. This collaboration allows Sabre to refine multi-source content management and workflow for TMCs, boosting productivity and economic benefits. Andrea Caulfield-Smith highlights the partnership as integral to providing members with diverse tech solutions to optimize operations and client services.

🏆 FinMont partners with Protect Group to provide travel merchants access to refundable ticket and booking technology. FinMont, co-founded by Hahn Air creators, aims to enhance payment technology in the travel industry. Protect Group specializes in booking protection services. Suby Valluri, CEO of FinMont, and Jason Walsh, chief product and marketing officer of Protect Group, emphasize the integration's benefits: optimized payments and unrivaled traveler protection. This collaboration is considered a significant advancement for the travel sector.

💾 SH Hotels & Resorts, recently rebranded to Starwood Hotels, won a 2024 Hotel Visionary Award for overhauling its CRM in Sales & Marketing. The company unified guest data management by partnering with Salesforce/Hapi, reducing duplicate CRM profiles, and synchronizing guest profiles in real-time across departments. This led to increased data accuracy, greater email collection from guests, operational efficiency, and higher staff satisfaction. The initiative has set a new standard in hospitality for personalization and guest-centric experiences.