Innovation

💰 Corporate travel management is being revolutionized by AI, with predictive analytics for forecasting trends and costs, automated booking systems, and personalized recommendations. Advanced booking tools offer dynamic pricing and real-time fare adjustments. Expense management solutions automate reporting and streamline reimbursement while adhering to policies. Mobile apps provide updates and manage itineraries, whereas integrated risk management tools ensure traveler safety with real-time assessments and alerts. These technologies are essential for enhancing efficiency, safety, and satisfaction in corporate travel.

💵 Hubby, launched in December 2022, is celebrating its second year with revenues expected to hit €750,000 by year’s end. The company has distributed over 175,000 eSIMs through B2B2C channels, such as travel agencies and tour operators. Initially funded with €450,000 from friends and family, the mobile internet tech provider enhances customer service and opens cross-selling opportunities by offering affordable eSIMs as an added value for travelers in-destination.

🌍 Travel technology company Amadeus and Reed & Mackay launch Cytric Easy platform in mainland Europe, integrated into Microsoft Teams for efficient business travel and event planning. Reed & Mackay, with offices in Spain, France, Sweden, Germany, and Italy, focuses on local-market language specializations and API offerings, enhancing its European presence. The partnership offers clients centralized reporting, profile management, risk management tools, and continuous innovation in booking and mobile app services, aiming to simplify travel logistics and communication within established software channels.

🏡 Hoi An River Beach Resort & Residences in Vietnam uses STAAH's technology for real-time inventory and rate updates, saving staff hours in managing distribution. STAAH's channel manager resolved price parity issues, prevented overbookings, and increased bookings and revenue. Exceptional customer support and analytics insight from STAAH have been crucial in driving the resort's operational improvements and revenue growth.

🏥 Tyler Florence, a chef and restaurateur, announced on Oct. 12, 2024, his plan to open a new hospitality school in San Francisco. The institution aims to rival top culinary schools, cultivating passionate talent for the hospitality industry. He referenced the influence of Charleston's food scene and institutions like Johnson and Wales University on his career. The curriculum will address the industry's current needs. Mentioned figures include former San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and current Mayor London Breed.

💻 Hospitality America is advancing its technology by integrating business intelligence across its hotels, with Wes Cargen as the vice president of business intelligence. The investment aims to provide real-time insights, actionable data, and enhance forecasting for agile management. Leveraging an AI-enabled Microsoft tenant, the company plans to automate processes and enhance personalization and retention strategies. Hospitality America intends to build internal dashboards and reporting tools to support decision-making, predict maintenance needs, and optimize revenue management. Cargen's background includes experience with Actabl (ProfitSword) and a 15-year history with Hospitality America. The enhanced BI capabilities are anticipated to improve asset performance and return on investment for owners and investors.