Innovation

📡 Mabrian launched AILA (Artificial Intelligence Live Assistant), a Generative AI-based virtual analyst for optimizing tourism planning and management. AILA, a B2B Gen AI tool, uses Mabrian's travel intelligence database in real-time responses to tourism trends. It integrates with seven data modules: Air Capacity, Traveller Behaviour, Accommodation, Spending, Telecommunications, Mobile Data, and Sustainability. AILA provides personalized insights through natural language interaction in any language. The tool will evolve into an advanced agent for predictive analysis and action plans. AILA will debut at FITUR 2025, aligning with Mabrian's vision to enhance decision-making in tourism with advanced analytics capabilities.

🛏 One in 10 hotel guests have experienced payment fraud, with an average loss of £564.08 per victim in 2024. Adyen's Hospitality Report indicates 71% of travelers fear booking scams, and nearly half of hotels (47%) still offer phone payments. Despite only 11% of guests preferring this method, 51% of business leaders consider it popular. Over a third (38%) of businesses reported increased fraud in 2024, with average losses reaching £845,111.06. Safer payment options at check-in (43%) and direct online booking (36%) are preferred by travelers.

🏨 Hotels allowing OTAs to undercut their rates pay 47% more for PPC leads, with CPC at $0.97 when undercut versus $0.66 when offering the lowest rate themselves, as per SHR's analysis of 27 million impressions. Rate parity still costs hotels 35.9% more at $0.89 per click. These costs affect marketing budgets and profitability, urging a balanced strategy for direct bookings and OTA partnerships. The hospitality industry expects more direct bookings than OTA bookings by 2030, stressing the importance of direct channels. Steve Collins, VP of SHR, emphasizes the need for a holistic digital strategy.

🔔 Hotel security managers use electronic key control systems for asset management and guest safety. Quarterly audits of key control policies and master security plans coincide with hotel renovations and key changes. Staff members get assigned specific keys, enhancing productivity and security. Multi-factor authentication may be required for sensitive keys, involving PINs, card readers, or biometrics. Regular training ensures all employees understand key control policies and maintain system accuracy, especially when staff changes occur. Proper key control management contributes to theft reduction and heightened hotel profitability and security.

🏨 The Doctor of Hotel and Tourism Management (D.HTM) is a competitive, dynamic program focusing on innovation, creativity, and research skills development within the Asian hotel and tourism context. It targets academics, senior industry executives, and senior tourism organization staff, requiring a Master's degree or equivalent qualification. Offered in a mixed study mode, the D.HTM caters to mature industry leaders and educators, providing experiential exercises, seminars, and self-guided study to foster participant-centred learning.

📦 HOTREC's 2024 Hotel Distribution Study highlights Booking.com's market dominance in the European hotel sector, with a 71% OTA market share, an increase of 10% over 10 years. Direct hotel bookings continue to decrease, and OTAs underprice hotels in 40% of cases. European hotels' reliance on OTAs, especially smaller ones, is significant, with OTAs responsible for 45% of online overnight stays. The study, in collaboration with HES-SO Valais Wallis, surveyed over 3000 hotels and focused on OTA roles, advocating for the DMA to ensure fair digital rules.

🏨 In the hospitality industry, 73% of hoteliers believe AI will significantly impact their field. A study by Canary Technologies indicates 61% see AI shaping the industry now or within the next year, yet 40% think it will take longer. Investment is strong, with 77% of hoteliers planning to allocate 5-50% of IT budgets to AI tools in the upcoming year. Larger hotels are more committed, with properties over 500 rooms dedicating over 50% of their IT budget to AI. AI's potential lies in automated guest responses, revenue boosts, front desk relief, and 24/7 multilingual support. Luxury hotels, particularly optimistic, with 67% investing more than 10% of their budget in AI. The survey included over 325 North American, APAC, and European professionals from various sectors, including IT, sales, marketing, and operations.

📊 The Martech industry is witnessing a shift with key players Lytics and mParticle, founded in 2013, being acquired respectively by Contentstack and Rokt. Lytics raised $58M in total funds, a modest sum compared to Klaviyo's $778M, and before acquisition had only 26 employees left. mParticle, on the other hand, successfully raised $272M, with the latest $150M round in late 2021. Rokt's $300M investment in mParticle signifies a major influx of capital despite a 9% staff reduction over two years. These acquisitions and mergers question the viability of independent CDPs and indicate a possible trend towards re-bundling in the Martech space.