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Tourism innovations of tomorrow: ITB Berlin opens call to submit innovations for the eTravel Stage and ITB Innovators

Innovations are decisive for the success of developing and securing the future of the tourism industry. As the World’s Largest Travel Trade Show, ITB Berlin offers these innovations a groundbreaking platform. From 4 to 6 March 2025 the eTravel Stage, an integral part of the ITB Berlin Convention, will be focusing on technological change and digital progress in the travel industry. Experts can share their knowledge with an international audience of trade visitors at a total of five theme tracks. With the ITB Innovators, ITB Berlin puts the spotlight on the visionaries in the travel industry. The future-oriented platform presents the latest products, innovations and services by ITB Berlin’s exhibitors that have the potential to make a long-term impact on the industry.

ITB Berlin
Germany
Press Release

HSMAI Europe Announces Its Official Launch In Spain As Part Of Southern Europe Expansion Strategy

HSMAI Europe has announced its official launch in Spain, marking a significant milestone in its strategy to expand and strengthen its membership in southern Europe. Following an introduction into Greece earlier this year, the expansion into Spain reinforces HSMAI’s mission to grow its influence and foster collaboration in Europe’s most dynamic hospitality markets.

HSMAI Europe
Spain
Press Release

Insolito Marsala: Where Sicily Meets the Future

From October 2 to 6, Marsala will host the inaugural edition of Insolito Marsala, a festival that blends wine tourism, art, technology, and next-generation hospitality. Insolito Marsala aims to propel Sicily into the future, transforming the region into a stage for innovation, all within a setting steeped in tradition. With educational sessions, tastings, artistic installations, and exclusive dinners, Insolito Marsala offers a cutting-edge cultural laboratory, breaking away from the conventional food and wine festival format.

Insolito Marsala
Italy
Simone Puorto
By Simone Puorto
Expert Views (10)
Martin Soler
Martin Soler, Partner, Soler & Associates

Search based ads are going to change, a lot. They're great for bottom of the funnel marketing. The low hanging fruit. But they're not great for discovery. However with AI there's a possible mix of intent and discovery which could be the most powerful of both world.

Frederic Gonzalo
Frederic Gonzalo, Travel & Hospitality expert. Digital Marketing & Strategy Speaker and Consultant, Gonzo Marketing

These are interesting times, indeed, when it comes to search. Specially when it comes to itineraries and travel recommendations suggested by GenAI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity or Claude. Traditionnally, when you asked Google for accommodations in New York City, you would get a listing with a bunch of hotels, and you'd have to use filters in order to get anything interesting.

Nick Slavin
Nick Slavin, CEO and Co-Founder, Curacity

Perplexity's shift to CPM is validating for luxury and lifestyle hospitality marketers. Attribution broke long ago for high-consideration, high-value travel purchases like hotels, resorts, and cruises. 7-14 day click windows work for a $20 t-shirt (no dependencies), not a $1,000/night hotel room (plenty of dependencies like booking flights, etc.).

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Press Release

IHG Hotels & Resorts launches NOMO (Night On My Own) package as 68% of parents say they need a solo break after the summer holidays

As summer comes to an end, 70% of parents admit to feeling exhausted after the summer holidays. To help people rest and recharge, solo, IHG Hotels & Resorts is launching a new NOMO (Night On My Own) package. No kids, no partner, no pets, no housemates, just some time to unwind and be taken care of at a hotel - a discounted stay, 20% off food and drink (including room service), extra late check-out until 2pm plus other perks at IHG Hotels & Resorts properties across the UK & Ireland.

IHG
United Kingdom
Press Release

Insolito Marsala: The New Face of Sicilian Hospitality

In Sicily, summer is known to last longer. This year, in a city historically tied to hospitality and welcome, the atmosphere of vacation and relaxation will linger until October. The city of Marsala is ready to host the first edition of "Insolito Marsala"; a festival that weaves together wine tourism, Ho.Re.Ca 3.0, art, and technology into a single experience. From October 2nd to 6th, Marsala will transform into a stage for events, standing out in an increasingly crowded and oversaturated landscape through its unique combination of tradition and modernity, positioning itself as a national and international point of reference.

Insolito Marsala
Marsala, Italy
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Tambourine
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How to increase conversion rates on a hotel website

Today's consumers expect online experiences comparable to top-tier eCommerce brands. The guest's first touchpoint with the hotel is almost always the website, and too often hoteliers overlook this digital real estate. Getting users to book direct requires a few different things: the website needs to provide relevant information and value, inspire trust and credibility, and reduce friction during the process.

Tina Markowitz
View by Tina Markowitz, Vice President, Global Strategy, Cendyn™
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How Hotels Can Increase Their Website Conversion Rate in 2024

There is no magic formula to drive direct reservations. There's no one, perfect booking engine that will immediately increase conversions exponentially. If there were a single, proven fix that works every time, you'd have done it by now. The truth is that improving conversion rate takes dedication. It requires focus. And, it takes a willingness to invest in your property's future. 

Tim Peter
View by Tim Peter, Founder & President, Tim Peter & Associates, Tim Peter & Associates, LLC
Max Starkov
By Max Starkov
Expert Views (16)
Erik Muñoz
Erik Muñoz, Business Development Director EMEA, TrustYou

Many hoteliers have adopted interactive widgets on their homepage as well as on pages deeper in the hotel booking funnel. The benefit of using widget technologies such as Userguest, The Hotels Network and TripTease (to name a few) is to attract and convert the website visitors into hotel bookers.

Charlie Osmond
Charlie Osmond, Co-Founder & Chief Tease, Triptease

For those languishing under 2% CVR, the answer is usually pretty obvious. The best way to increase your conversion rate is to 'think like a booker'. Find ten minutes. Make a cup of tea, and before you pick up your phone or open a browser window, think about your ideal guest.

Frederic Gonzalo
Frederic Gonzalo, Travel & Hospitality expert. Digital Marketing & Strategy Speaker and Consultant, Gonzo Marketing

Improving conversion rates on a hotel website should ALWAYS be a priority, not just in 2024. Indeed, hoteliers invest quite a bit into SEO, paid search, paid social media as well as content strategies across various digital outposts (newsletter, blog, social media, SMS, etc.).

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Press Release

Questex Rebrands The Annual Hotel Conference to The Annual Hospitality Conference, Expands Event Scope to Include a Broader Spectrum of Hospitality

Questex today announces the rebranding of The Annual Hotel Conference to The Annual Hospitality Conference (AHC). The new brand reflects the focus on a broader spectrum of hospitality such as hotels, F&B, restaurants, pubs, co-living spaces, venues, and more. For the 21st year, the brightest of UK hospitality gather to learn, network and be inspired at the conference. The AHC takes place 30 September - 1 October 2024 at the Manchester Central Convention Complex, UK. Register here.

Questex
United Kingdom
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Two main reasons why Amazon will not become a major player in travel

Amazon missed their one and only chance to enter the travel space by not acquiring Orbitz or Travelocity when these OTAs were for up for grabs. Now it is too late - the consolidation In the travel intermediary space has already happened. Unless Amazon acquires Expedia with its $18.5 billion market cap, I don't see Amazon entering the travel space organically, though many hoteliers would love to have another player in addition to the current OTA duopoly Booking-Expedia.

Two main reasons why Amazon will not become a major player in travel:

Max Starkov
View by Max Starkov, Hospitality & travel technologist and digital strategist, Hospitality Net
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Mews
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Amazon is sure to partner to conquer travel!

With its massive traffic, incredible insights into customer behaviour, and powerful consumer brand, Amazon has the potential to disrupt practically any market it chooses to attack. However, travel may be the exception given its unique double-sided natue.  In addition to cost effectively finding customers (something with which Amazon should have had little problem, given its existing customer base to who travel products could easily and effectively be cross sold), to be successful a travel intermediary must also assure cost effective access to sufficient and suitable inventory to meet customer demand, with "full" coverage of the market a key success factor. 

Peter O’Connor
View by Peter O’Connor, Professor of Strategy, University of South Australia
Max Starkov
By Max Starkov
Expert Views (8)
Max Starkov
Max Starkov, Hospitality & travel technologist and digital strategist, Hospitality Net

Amazon missed their one and only chance to enter the travel space by not acquiring Orbitz or Travelocity when these OTAs were for up for grabs. Now it is too late - the consolidation In the travel intermediary space has already happened.

Erik Muñoz
Erik Muñoz, Business Development Director EMEA, TrustYou

Today Amazon has approximately 200 million Amazon Prime members globally. To put this into perspective, if Amazon Prime was a country, it would be the 8th biggest in the world measured by population. With this enormous membership size, or 'captive audience', Amazon has the necessary market reach to monetize any travel-related product or service.

Frederic Gonzalo
Frederic Gonzalo, Travel & Hospitality expert. Digital Marketing & Strategy Speaker and Consultant, Gonzo Marketing

I laughed at first when I saw this topic, as I recall vividly having had this discussion in the past. In fact, I wrote a blog post titled Will You Book Your Next Hotel on Amazon?... back in 2014!! Amazon did indeed tip its toes into travel distribution but the journey was short-lived.

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Supplier News

Renowned Spanish Hotel Brand Globales Adopts SiteMinder Revenue Technology Across 54-Property Portfolio

Majorca-headquartered Globales has adopted SiteMinder, the name behind the only software platform that unlocks the full revenue potential of hotels, across its expanding 54-property portfolio. The partnership, which comes amid a summer that is expected to see international travellers to Spain grow by 8% from last year’s record season, will enhance the powerhouse hotel brand’s financial performance and streamline its operations.

SiteMinder
Spain