Innovation

📱 HCN is unveiling its innovative, no-cost tablet technology for hotels at the Nevada Hotel & Lodging Association Technology Conference on December 3 in Chicago. This model, supported by ad revenue, offers free hardware, software, and maintenance. Acquiring Crave Interactive, HCN now delivers advanced guest personalization, AI concierge services, and broad tech integrations. Attendees can explore multilingual voice-enabled AI, in-room tablet synchronization with mobile devices, and unique media and dining features at the event.

💻 Google’s Performance Max (PMax) campaign type optimizes ad delivery across Google channels, without needing keywords. Advertisers provide creative assets and audience signals, while Google’s AI manages targeting and bidding. Requirements include conversion goals, 20 images, and 1 YouTube video. PMax risks include campaign cannibalization and conversion attribution issues. Google has improved features with negative keyword limits now at 10,000, and better search terms and asset reporting. PMax benefits from a consistent budget and a 3-month test period.

🚨 Security technology is critical for hotel emergency preparedness. Electronic key control systems are essential, reducing response times during emergencies like fires, floods, and theft. Implementing seven key strategies, including robust systems, emergency policies, and quarterly audits, enhances safety. First responders need full access for effective rescue operations. These systems, used globally, minimize risk, increase productivity, and prevent insider incidents, protecting hotel guests and staff. Investing in this technology is crucial for safety and security.

🏨 Q3 2025 Shiji Guest Experience Benchmark shows European hotels saw a +0.6-point boost in the Global Review Index (GRI) due to positive "staff" mentions, while globally, the GRI increased by +0.5 points. Positive staff acknowledgments significantly enhance online reputation and revenue. AI aids by handling routine tasks, allowing staff to create exceptional guest experiences. This synergy of technology and human touch results in efficient operations, empowered staff, and memorable guest experiences.

💰 Price and economic uncertainty are driving travelers to seek deals and immediate benefits. Sykes' Bloom loyalty scheme attracted 100,000 members in six months, with app users twice as likely to rebook. Technology and AI are enhancing personalized experiences. Success examples include Booking.com’s Genius tiers, Starbucks Rewards, and Amazon Prime. Sustainability is a growing loyalty driver, with Intrepid Travel benefiting from ethical initiatives. Forge invests in UK biodiversity and community projects, reflecting the rise of values-driven loyalty.

📰 Dec 1, 2025, the NYU SPS Tisch Center report reveals a shift among hoteliers towards Best-in-Class technology stacks. Surveying over 300 hotel professionals, 30% of All-in-One system users plan to switch to specialized systems. Only 34% expressed satisfaction with current support. All-in-One systems face higher guest issues. Larger hotels favor specialized solutions for scalability, while smaller ones prefer All-in-One for cost-effectiveness. Integration challenges persist, noted by 38%, with strong industry-academic partnerships emerging.

📖 135+ reports are available online, paywall-free, for the public. Contributors include Iolanda Carvalho from Portugal, Ci En L. from Singapore, Gonzalo Gregori from China, and Amy Daroukakis, who can be reached anywhere. The initiative encourages sharing through the hashtag #Trend2026 to ensure widespread accessibility.

🏠 In a study of 70 publicly listed hospitality firms in the US and UK over 10 years, outsider CEOs drive more strategic innovation post-transition than internal successors. Older CEOs, with industry experience, are linked to innovation, challenging age-related assumptions. Family-owned firms support innovation post-leadership change, while institutional investor-led firms focus on stability. Gender disparities persist, with only 37 of 620 firm-years led by women. Leadership transitions offer strategic renewal opportunities, especially with external appointees.