Innovation

🚢 03 November 2025, PPDS installed 110 Google Cast and Netflix-ready Philips MediaSuite TVs on Vietnam's 6-star superyacht hotels, Grand Pioneers I & II, located in Halong Bay. Halong Bay, a booming tourist spot, saw visitors triple since 2010 to nearly seven million. Viet Thuan Group's twin superyachts each measure 110x19 meters and weigh 25,400 tons. The yachts focus on sustainability, featuring industrial wood interiors and energy-efficient BMS systems. The Philips MediaSuite enhances guest entertainment with advanced streaming capabilities.

📱 Samsung invites users to submit their email addresses to receive updates on exclusive discounts, new product announcements, technology insights, and special events. The privacy of users is safeguarded as per Samsung's Privacy Policy, which can be accessed online.

🗺️ November 2025, London: Kayak blames a $457M writedown on reduced SEO traffic, linking it to AI and Google’s paid placements reshaping travel search. In travel tech, Christian Watts leads in LinkedIn mentions, while Martin Soler and Lennart Dobravsky excel in engagement. Expedia’s study shows 71% of travelers prefer video content. Airbnb adds social features to Experiences, enhancing community interaction. YC has backed 24 travel startups since 2007, with Airbnb as the standout public company.

💻 PPHE Hotel Group is adopting the Oracle OPERA Cloud hospitality platform as its global property management system across 18 properties with 5,200 rooms in the UK, Netherlands, and Italy. This migration aims to standardize processes, eliminate hardware needs, and enhance guest experiences through mobile access and 1,000+ business integrations. By using the Oracle Hospitality Integration Platform, PPHE optimizes sales, reservations, and loyalty operations, empowering staff with mobile tools for efficient and personalized guest service.

🛫 Nesrine Changuel explores the **Product Delight Model** in the travel industry, emphasizing emotional over functional product design. **Low Delight** covers basic needs like booking, **Surface Delight** involves personal touches like app greetings, while **Deep Delight** integrates function with emotion, like Hilton’s **Digital Key** and **Connected Room** features. Changuel’s framework highlights addressing pain points, anticipating needs, and exceeding expectations, transforming utilitarian tasks into emotionally rich experiences.

🥃 NUDE Glass introduces the Bar/Giani Double Pour Mixing Glass, a world-first with dual-pour capability, allowing two cocktails to be served simultaneously. Conceived by Giorgio Bargiani, Assistant Director of Mixology at The Connaught Bar in London, and developed by NUDE's designers, this innovative glass combines speed and finesse for professional and home use. Available February 2026, it highlights NUDE’s commitment to modern mixology through design-driven functionality.

📅 Shiji and Meetingselect announced a partnership on November 4, 2025, in Barcelona, Spain. The collaboration enables real-time meeting room bookings via hotel websites. Shiji's Daylight PMS integrates with Meetingselect's Hospitality Cloud, facilitating instant proposals and direct bookings. This initiative aims to enhance guest experiences and operational efficiency. Shiji serves over 91,000 hotels globally with 5,000 employees, while Meetingselect connects venues to corporate clients through automated booking solutions.

📶 2025 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index highlights WiFi quality as a top driver of satisfaction. 68% use in-room TV, and 60% demand traditional channels, second to WiFi. In-room tech boosts personalization, driving 8-12% revenue gains in spas and dining. Tech efficiency reduces maintenance costs by 35% and increases ADR premiums by 3-5%. Effective execution yields payback within 18 months. Reliable tech promotes guest loyalty and satisfaction.