Innovation

🏦 Barcelona, Spain, November 21, 2024 – Paradores, a renowned Spanish hotel chain, continues to bank on Shiji ReviewPro since 2016 for enhancing guest satisfaction and streamlining operations. In 2023, Paradores achieved a record revenue of €328 million and a profit of €25 million, with an NPS score of 66.2% (industry average: 36%) and an average occupancy rate of 71%. Shiji ReviewPro's ORM and GSS tools have been instrumental in these accomplishments, aligning with Paradores' strategy for digital innovation and sustainability for future growth.

📋 The article discusses the challenges and strategies for technology vendors entering the hospitality market, focusing on startups and early-stage companies. The author, former CEO of HTNG with over a decade of experience, has advised hundreds of market entrants. Key points include the complexity of the industry's structure, where technology purchases require agreement among owners, managers, and brands, with brands only buying 10-15% of hotel tech. Successful strategies involve identifying direct customers, understanding the roles of stakeholders, navigating brand integration processes, considering direct or indirect sales approaches, and having sufficient financial runway with sales cycles typically lasting 12-24 months. Practical advice includes focusing on ROI calculations, targeting independents or developers, and dealing with brand relationships and fees. Companies need to be aware of the fragmented, slow decision-making process in the hospitality industry and prepare for high selling costs.

📈 Noida, 21st November 2024: RateGain introduced Demand Booster, a digital marketing solution to increase direct hotel bookings and improve ROAS. It simplifies marketing across search, metasearch, and social media with features like auto budget management. Demand Booster integrates campaign management, performance tracking, and demand intelligence from 1100+ data sources into one platform. Bhanu Chopra, RateGain's Founder, emphasizes the strategic advantages and operational efficiency of the solution. RateGain serves 3,200+ customers in over 100 countries.

📍 Club MCA, launched by McAlister’s in May 2023, achieved a significant increase in satisfaction scores, employee experience, and franchisee adoption during its beta test in select locations. Mid-year chainwide rollout led to a noticeable surge in numbers, highlighting the program's effectiveness and scalability. The initiative, aimed at enhancing McAlister's as a community hub, also improved value perception, a crucial KPI, especially in an inflationary economy. Future plans include expanding Club MCA to cater to off-premises customers and refining loyalty tiers using customer data.

```html 📈 ``` STAAH released product updates in November 2024, enhancing user experience in anticipation of 2025. New "Quick Access" login simplifies the Max V2 Channel Manager process, while search features improve channel mapping efficiency. A bulk creation tool for linked room types streamlines rate management. The Max Booking Engine introduces a password-free OTP login for travel agents and simplified booking management for guests. SwiftBook now sets maximum days for advance purchase, offering flexibility for deal creation. Traveloka, Jumboline, Emerging Travel, My Travel Bazaar, and TBO are integrated or upgraded, expanding channel options for properties.

🛫 In 2024, Amadeus' U.S. traveler survey "Friction Removed" revealed that 68% of travelers are distressed by delays/cancellations, 50% by travel costs, 47% by planning for multiple people, and 46% by airport security. Business travelers experience more frustration than leisure travelers, with 44% troubled by price comparison and 45% by accommodation options. Gen Z travelers, at 49%, find route scheduling stressful, versus 35% of those 65+. Technology is seen as a solution, with 89% valuing planning apps and 86% favoring automatic rebooking and digital tracking. Leisure travelers desire human interaction, especially for family and accessibility trips (47%), and during airport and hotel processes (44-43%). Amadeus emphasizes technology and collaboration to reduce travel friction.

🏕️ WeRoad expands its WeRoadX marketplace to the UK, France, and Germany, designed by seasoned travellers for small groups of 8-15 people. Over 800 new itineraries were created in Spain and Italy, including unique experiences like Día de Los Muertos celebrations in Yucatán and Harry Potter-themed tours in the UK. Coordinators can earn up to €60,000 annually. In Italy, 30% of WeRoad travellers chose WeRoadX, contributing to one-third of WeRoad's business in Italy and Spain. Twenty new WeRoadX trips are now available in the new markets.

📊 PredictX launched an Internal Carbon Pricing tool for corporates to set carbon prices and encourage sustainable travel. The feature, added to PredictX's AI-driven Sustainability Module, provides insights into carbon emissions' financial impact and is integrated with data from over 200 sources. This tool aims to help organizations meet carbon reduction targets by monetizing emissions and stimulating behavior change.