Innovation

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HotelRunner and Visa form global partnership

💵 HotelRunner and Visa are uniting to enhance cross-border payments for SMEs in travel and hospitality. This partnership leverages Visa's global payments and HotelRunner's tech reach, benefiting businesses from Morocco to Bali. Ali Beklen highlights the creation of financial rails for the next decade of tourism, while Tania Platt notes the innovation potential. The collaboration aims to support travel companies in Europe, APAC, the Middle East, and Africa, driving safer and smarter global travel commerce.
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Guest Post: Hotels, embrace the technology…

💻 Global hotel operators are expanding brands to meet growing guest demands, risking the "cookie cutter" brand label. Hotels are advised to standardize technology systems to improve operations. The tech stacks in hotels evolve over time, often resulting in inefficient setups. Establishing a unified "brand book" for technology aids in consistent standards. This foundation allows hotels to innovate on top, enhancing guest personalization and experience. Ultimately, consistency in systems simplifies operations and facilitates learning across hotel estates.
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DerbySoft partners with AirAsia Group on…

✈️ Global tech firm DerbySoft partners with AirAsia Group to implement its Global Data Network (GDN) for Flights. The decentralized, API-first network promotes direct connections among airlines, OTAs, and more, enhancing distribution control and access to traveler data. Amanda Woo, AirAsia’s Chief Commercial Officer, emphasizes future growth in Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. DerbySoft’s GDN architecture fosters a continuously expanding, intelligent ecosystem, benefiting all participants and ensuring efficiency and profitability.
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Travolution announces shortlist for…

🏆 The 26th shortlist for the 34 Travolution Awards categories has been released, including the Mastercard B2B Payments Award. Five finalists excelled in innovation and market success. The awards ceremony will occur on Tuesday, December 2, at City Central, HAC, London. Last year's event drew over 450 attendees. Other awards, like Rising Star of the Year, remain unrevealed. Sponsors include Gail Kenny Executive Recruitment, Icelolly.com, TravelSupermarket, HolidayPirates Group, Slalom, Trip.com, and WEX.
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From SEO to GEO: The new playbook for hotel visibility

Blog Post Excerpt 🏨 Oct 8, 2025: Hotels must adapt to AI trends. 89% of consumers want AI in travel planning, with 24% trusting AI over bloggers. Enter Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). To appear in AI-driven suggestions, hotels need structured, clear content. Key strategies include using structured data markup, ensuring consistency, and optimizing site performance. This shift requires clean data and internal AI experimentation. GEO is essential for future visibility in AI-powered travel searches.
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Expedia launches Comet, an AI-powered travel browser

🌐 Oct 8, 2025, Expedia Group and Perplexity unveil Comet, a free AI travel assistant. This tool integrates search, trip planning, and loyalty rewards. Users gain Silver status in Expedia’s OneKey program for using it. Comet offers travel ideas and bookings via natural queries, syncing with Expedia’s AI ecosystem, including a ChatGPT plugin. Currently desktop-only, a mobile version is planned. Expedia joins industry giants like Tripadvisor in embracing AI for seamless travel planning.
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How Expedia and Booking.com now work inside ChatGPT

💻 Oct 8, 2025: OpenAI's ChatGPT now integrates Expedia and Booking.com apps, transforming chat into a live hotel search tool. Travelers can request hotel options using natural language, with real-time pricing and availability shown. Selections are finalized on Expedia or Booking.com. This shift raises visibility for hoteliers but requires enhanced metadata and integration. Though in early stages, this AI-driven booking approach indicates a future shift away from traditional search engines and OTAs.
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How AI became our personal assistant

🤖 Oct 8, 2025 — AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are used by over 10% globally, with 18 billion weekly messages, 70% non-work related. Despite high personal use, companies struggle with integration, fostering a "shadow AI economy." Adoption peaks in the UAE (59%) and Europe, varied by profession. Concerns arise over “cognitive debt.” Tech giants are investing $300 billion in AI this year. Oxford University offers ChatGPT, promoting learning through OpenAI’s "study mode.
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The end of the static hotel website

💻 Oct 8, 2025: As travelers increasingly seek instant, conversational answers, hotels must adapt their websites into interactive concierges. Guest expectations now demand AI-driven, 24/7, contextual service across platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram. Multilingual and multimodal interactions have become essential. Traditional systems risk obsolescence if not restructured around AI. The urgency is real—AI development cycles are now weeks, not years. Failure to adapt quickly may result in loss of visibility and relevance in the hospitality industry.
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BWH Hotels Announces Launch of AutoClerk Atlas Property Management System

💻 Phoenix, Arizona—In February 2025, BWH Hotels introduced AutoClerk Atlas, powered by HotelKey, as their new property management system. Bill Ryan, BWH Hotels' CTO, highlighted its scalability and ease of use, enhancing guest and staff experiences. Features include one-day onboarding, automated payments, and deep connectivity. HotelKey's Aditya Thyagarajan and CEO Fareed Ahmad emphasized operational excellence and innovation. This collaboration aims to simplify hotel processes and improve guest interactions.
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