The author argues that AI citation share, not just AI query costs, is the next major distribution battleground, with data showing visibility concentrating among a small group of hotel brands across AI platforms.
A hospitality leader argues that operational agility, driven by integrated technology and cross-functional alignment, is now a core competitive advantage as travel demand shifts faster than traditional planning cycles.
We didn't go to HITEC 2026 for the demos. We went for the conversations. We sat down with exhibitors right there on the show floor. No script, no prepared questions, just one starting point: tell us what you do, in plain language. This is where it went with Cendyn's CEO Michael Bennett, Chief Marketing Officer Nicki Graham, and EVP of Product Kevin Duncan.
Industry leaders from Dragonfly Strategists and Duetto argue that hotels must move beyond RevPAR to profitability metrics like GOPAR, with smarter segmentation, ancillary strategy, and personalization at scale.
The article argues that direct booking programs fail because hotels optimize for conversion while ignoring upstream demand control, leaving discovery and customer access in the hands of OTAs and paid platforms.
Mirko Lalli warns that 80% of AI travel suggestions come from OTAs, leaving most hotels invisible, and argues that 70% of the fix is content strategy, not technology.
A critical reading of Booking.com's partner messaging argues its "protection" pitch to independent hotels masks a platform dynamic where independents are the foundation being guarded for Booking's own benefit.
Infor Hospitality previews five HITEC 2026 vendors addressing hotel tech fragmentation, covering loyalty, owner relations, back-office automation, ancillary revenue, and AI-powered distribution.
Highgate will take over management of the 909-room Lotte New York Palace Hotel in June 2026, anchoring a broader partnership covering hotel operations, global distribution, AI technology, and talent exchange across the Americas and Asia.
As AI assistants reshape how travelers research hotels, most properties lack tools to track whether or how they appear in AI responses, ceding bookings and brand narrative to OTAs.
Google's commission-free Universal Cart is a placement play: by owning the AI surface where travel decisions are made, Google charges for consideration rather than transactions, shifting auction dynamics against hotels and OTAs alike.
Google's 2026 agentic search overhaul, built on Gemini 3.5 Flash and autonomous agents, threatens OTA dominance by routing high-intent travelers directly to brand.com via structured hotel data APIs.
Hotels in Southeast Asia pay up to 28% in hidden OTA fees beyond headline commissions, making direct booking strategies essential for profitability.
The comprehensive guide covers OTA business models, commission structures, and strategic advice for hotels to balance OTA distribution with direct booking initiatives.
The article uses a case study of a £35 rate drop mistake to argue for human oversight controls when implementing AI pricing recommendations.
Argues that AI will strengthen rather than disrupt OTAs like Expedia, as these platforms already control the massive datasets and connectivity that power AI recommendations.
Revenue managers interpret identical data differently based on personal filters and context, making decision-making more subjective than objective.
The author argues hotels have misunderstood their core challenge: controlling guest introductions, not just optimizing marketing channels or technology solutions.
Sleeping Bear Hotels reduced OTA bookings from 60% through operational streamlining, strategic partnerships, and direct booking focus.
Ascott partners with Accenture, Amadeus and EHL to build AI infrastructure for agentic commerce, where intelligent agents handle travel planning and bookings.