Innovation

💸 STAAH's technology solutions have increased online bookings for SwaRa Group's Malhar Machi Mountain Resort and Jalsrushti Island Resort by 50% YOY and stabilized ARR growth at 20%. The resorts offer unique amenities such as Southeast Asia’s longest zipline and a petting farm, emphasizing organic and sustainable living. STAAH's tools include Channel Manager, Booking Engine, PMS Integration, Payment Gateway, and WatchMyRate, aiding SwaRa Group in optimizing their online presence and operations.

📱 Apple has begun implementing hotel room streaming for its users, indicating a shift to the early majority phase in technology diffusion. The integration features simple, Apple-approved design with QR code access, allowing guests to AirPlay content seamlessly to their hotel room TVs. This new era eliminates the need for hardware installations, enhances security and privacy, and aims to replicate a home-from-home experience, potentially increasing guest satisfaction and retention.

🏒 Travel technology software provider Traveltek has been acquired by Juniper Group, part of Vela Software and Constellation Software. The merger will enhance Traveltek's offerings in dynamic packaging and cruise solutions, a sector they've led for over 20 years, and strengthen Juniper’s presence in the UK, North America, and Australia. CEOs Mal Barritt of Traveltek and Jaime Sastre of Juniper have expressed enthusiasm for the growth and opportunities this acquisition presents for customers, partners, and their teams.

🏠 Charles Oswald, CEO of Aperture Hotels, managed $19 million in property improvement plans (PIPs) last year. Aperture oversees 25 properties, focusing on data-driven back-of-house improvements. Tracking guest issues and equipment lifespans is critical for CapEx planning. Ashley Ewing Parrot, principal of AEP Consulting, highlights importance of back-of-house investments, suggesting cost-effective strategies. OTO Hotels & Resorts' president emphasizes cost control by working with trusted designers for brand-mandated PIPs. The Wayback, Pigeon Forge, a renovated hotel, exemplifies successful repositioning. Investing in back-of-house can potentially improve employee retention.

📍 F&B leaders address challenges like labor shortages and cost hikes by revamping traditional hotel restaurant models, focusing on profits, and adopting efficient solutions. Steve Palmer of Indigo Road Hospitality Group aims for "aggressively profitable" restaurants by pinpointing revenue drivers like catering banquets. Jack Paul from Twenty Four Seven Hotels leverages purchasing power through partnerships, while food vendors assist with prepared ingredients. Menu streamlining by Drift Hotel Palm Springs minimizes cost and waste. Flexible staffing is recommended, aligning part-time staff with demand and cross-training. Technology plays an evolving role, with tools like Margin Edge and POS systems aiding cost management, but the human touch in hospitality still holds significant value.

📌 A study of 5,000 travelers showed Chinese travelers 60% focus on major attractions, Europeans at 20%, with the latter preferring unique experiences. The Uber and Expedia deal, speculated for synergies, was called off by Barry Diller. No substantial consumer benefit was seen from the merger, contrasting frequent ride bookings with infrequent travel purchases. Hotel automation is seen more in mundane back-office tasks than in customer-facing robotics, suggesting a rise in AI-driven operations. Connected trips, once the domain of travel agents, are being rebundled, potentially facilitated by AI, but with travel agents retaining value through risk management.

🏡 Ronald, co-founder of Aventra Hospitality, with 25 years of experience, and his partner Richard, with a background in Middle East hotel market and five years as CEO, are introducing innovative and sustainable hotel management solutions. Aventra, with offices in Dubai, Riyadh, and London, caters to investors and developers in global and Central Asian markets, aiming for around 100 hotels under management in a decade. The company supports independent brand setups, offering services from concept to operational management and exit strategy. Recently, Ronald co-organized the Glion Alumni Accelerator competition, launched in 2023, advising student and alumni entrepreneurs. The second Accelerator contest is culminating, with Pitch Battle Day scheduled for 27 November on the Glion campus.

📝 In 2025, a new app to enhance guest experiences will be rolled out, featuring seamless check-in/out and an in-app chat. Mandarin Oriental currently operates 41 hotels, 12 residences, and 24 homes across 26 countries, with 28 projects under development. In 2023, staff volunteered 52,000 hours, a 150% increase from 2022. The group removed 99% of single-use plastics, sources all agricultural commodities ethically, and aims to have all properties GSTC certified by 2025. They won three World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards in 2024.

🔔 Hospitality industry's innovation hindered by CEOs often coming from within the sector; call for new metrics from diverse industries. Example: "On-time Delivery" KPI, successful deliveries/total deliveries * 100 = OTD rate. Proposed hospitality metrics: 'On-time Room Availability Rate' and 'On-time Service Delivery Rate' to enhance punctuality and efficiency, aiming to increase guest satisfaction and loyalty.