Innovation

🍴 Hotel food and beverage (F&B) remains a major revenue source, with luxury properties making up about one-third of total hotel revenue. Post-pandemic, 2024 F&B revenue is 81% of 2019 levels, after inflation. Labor costs rose nearly 15% in 2024, affecting margins. Innovative F&B strategies, like those at Wind Creek Chicago Southland, emphasize creating distinctive dining experiences with renowned chefs like Fabio Viviani. Hotels must optimize real estate for F&B to boost revenue, using creative, data-driven approaches.

🚢 In Saint-Nazaire, France, the keel for Orient Express Olympian was laid at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, marking the start of its construction. The yacht will be 220 meters long, featuring 17 sections and utilizing SolidSail technology. It will be powered by 4,500m² sails and LNG engines, with delivery slated for spring 2027. Meanwhile, Orient Express Corinthian begins sea trials in December, with its Mediterranean voyage set for May 2026. Reservations for 2026 and 2027 are now open.

📈 Europe faces increasing tourism disruptions due to climate extremes like floods and heatwaves. The Horizon MYRIAD-EU project, notably supported by HOTREC, promotes a multi-risk resilience framework, aligning with the EU Green Deal. Key strategies include mapping interdependencies across sectors and adopting dynamic scenario-based modelling. Policy recommendations urge integrating MYRIAD-EU’s framework into tourism planning and enhancing public-private cooperation with incentives. A call to action emphasizes proactive, customized crisis management to safeguard tourism ecosystems.

💻 Global travel tech firm, Sabre, unveiled SabreMosaic Concierge IQ, an AI-driven chat solution aiding travel plans, bookings, and management. Featuring LLM AI, it offers personalized packages, loyalty integration, and seamless itinerary management. Virgin Australia is the first adopter. Concierge IQ enhances customer experiences through fast, accurate responses and real-time data analysis. According to Garry Wiseman, Sabre's Chief Product & Technology Officer, it revolutionizes travel retailing, increasing loyalty and conversions.

📈 The Data Appeal Company has launched a revolutionary management tool for Destination Management Organisations (DMOs), tourism boards, and travel authorities, addressing the challenge of processing vast tourism data. It integrates geo-referenced, behavioral, and sentiment indicators and is supported by hundreds of datasets. Unlike generic AI solutions, it delivers context-specific insights and actionable recommendations, enabling faster and smarter decisions. The tool simplifies operations by replacing multiple dashboards, empowering teams to focus on strategic decisions.

💸 Verified My Booking Rewards agents will access MyAgentRates.com in early 2026, an exclusive B2B platform for FAM trips at discounted rates. Targeting UK and Ireland agents, it extends MyBookingRewards.com, connecting 150,000 agents with suppliers. Preferred partners include Royalton Hotels & Resorts and Temptation Resorts. The platform offers API connectivity for real-time bookings. In the past year, MBR generated $1.3 billion in supplier revenue and awarded $4 million in agent rewards.

🗺 Nov 21, 2025: Booking.com launches its largest-ever Black Friday promotion, offering discounts across six categories: accommodations, flights, car rentals, attractions, airport transfers, and cruises. With travel costs expected to rise in 2026, the campaign provides flexible options like free cancellation and book now, pay later. Emphasizing restorative travel, especially among Gen Z, and leveraging AI tools, the deals encourage early planning for trips through December 2026.