ChatGPT, Generative AI, and the future of business travel
Since early 2023, ChatGPT has dominated the conversation in technology. Many have described this new AI tool as a “seismic shift” and “the biggest thing since the Internet.”
Press Releases
The Hospitality Show Announces Speakers, Sponsors, and Programming
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Questex announced today an initial list of high-value speakers, industry leading sponsors, and impactful programming for The Hospitality Show (The Show). The Show is a bold, new hospitality operations and technology event to be held June 27-29 at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas.
NYU SPS Tisch Center of Hospitality and Growth Advisors International Network Establish Strategic Collaboration to Accelerate Innovation in The Travel and Hospitality Sectors
The NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS) Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality and Growth Advisors International Network (GAIN), a leading travel and hospitality innovation and growth advisory firm, are delighted to announce a multi-year strategic collaboration with the NYU SPS Tisch Center of Hospitality and its Innovation Hub (HI Hub) Incubator Program. This international collaboration will extend to NYU's campuses in Shanghai and Abu Dhabi, with GAIN serving as an official advisory sponsor for both the NYU Tisch Center of Hospitality and the HI HUB Incubator.
HFTP and Hospitality Upgrade Expand Partnership with Event Management Agreement
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) has finalized an event management agreement with longtime partner Hospitality Upgrade to help coordinate the annual Executive Vendor Summit and CIO Summit, founded by Hospitality Upgrade in 2002. This agreement kicked-off with the 2023 Executive Vendor Summit, which was held last week at The Loews Hotel in New Orleans, La. from March 29–31. HFTP has been a sponsor of the Summits from their beginning and recently the association has contributed its event planning expertise to both events. This recent agreement extends this collaboration through 2026.
BLAH expands its network across South East Asia
BLAH expands its network across South East Asia. BLAH has created a free marketplace for the hospitality industry
7 restaurant technology trends to watch in 2023
The restaurant industry has traditionally been slow to adopt technology and innovative digital solutions. But in 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic and economic instability that spilled into 2022 - and now the anticipated recession in 2023 - changed that and forced food and beverage outlets to look beyond the traditional. Many restaurants have turned to tech in the last couple of years, even if reluctantly, to adapt to a new reality. One which includes more contactless technology, and is realigned with new customer expectations and wants.
Generative AI Startups Attract Investment as Technology Gains Traction Across Industries, Says GlobalData
In recent years, generative artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a game-changing technology with immense potential across various industries. Subsequently, generative AI startups are rapidly gaining traction, and venture capital investors are keen to capitalize on their potential, observes GlobalData, a leading data, and analytics company.
UNWTO Launch Women in Tech Startup Competition: Middle East
Announced at Biban 2023, Saudi Arabia's largest SME conference, the Women in Tech Startup Competition: Middle East, will further advance UNWTO's work to make tourism a pillar of women's empowerment. The initiative gives innovators the chance to compete for enhanced capacity building and visibility. Finalists in each category will join the UNWTO Innovation Network, giving them access to the UNWTO Member States network, mentorship programs and to UNWTO scholarship opportunities.
Yotel Partners With Lumie Globally To Support The Sleep, Waking And Overall Wellbeing Of Guests
In celebration of World Sleep Day (Friday 17th March), YOTEL has announced a global partnership with light therapy experts, Lumie, giving guests the opportunity to loan a wake-up light for free during stays around the world. With a shared passion for innovation and functional technology, the collaboration is empowering YOTEL’s on-the-go guests to reconnect with their natural rhythms and achieve best-ever sleep, mood and energy performance.
Blockchain, Metaverse, ChatGPT - How Is Technological Innovation Changing The Travel Sector?
A packed house at the ITB Berlin Convention: on Tuesday afternoon three experts presented their assessments of the potential offered by new technologies. Caroline Bremner from Euromonitor International reported on the potential for growth of the metaverse, while Leila Summer, CEO of PlayToChange, explained how ChatGPT can suggest a travel route in just seconds. Professor Dr. Alexander Knauer from the Blockchain Competence Center at the college Hochschule Mittweida, explained that, although blockchain technologies are currently in the hype-phase, it will be two to four years before they are in practical use in the travel sector, making it advisable to become acquainted with them now.
Jumeirah Group Pioneers Industry-First Mobile Check-In Solution in the UAE
Jumeirah Group, the global luxury hospitality company and member of Dubai Holding, in partnership with Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), introduces Jumeirah Mobile Check-In, an industry-first biometric and digital technology solution. The avantgarde solution empowers guests to complete all check-in formalities prior to arrival through their mobile phone, delivering a seamless arrival experience and reducing the check-in process by up to 10 minutes.
ITB Innovation Radar gives voice to the industry’s trailblazers at the world’s leading travel trade show
ITB Innovation Radar premieres in 2023 as a platform for showcasing exhibitors’ innovations – 11 innovative solutions presented, from start-ups to industry majors, such as FREE NOW and Dorint – Participants receive additional promotional benefits in cooperation with ITB Berlin
Marriott International Joins the Internet Watch Foundation; Deploys Cisco Technology to Combat Online Child Sexual Abuse Material
Marriott International announced today it has joined forces with UK-based nonprofit Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) to combat online child exploitation by using technology solutions to restrict guest network access to websites with child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) in its hotels. The collaboration will be the first of its kind for the hotel industry and marks the next step in Marriott’s commitment to address a critical human rights issue for the industry. Marriott recently marked a significant milestone in its anti-trafficking efforts, training one million associates at Marriott hotels to recognize and respond to signs of human trafficking.
Invest in technology today to empower business travel tomorrow
Predicting the future is something that many have claimed the ability to do, but few have ever actually mastered the art. In days gone by, the stars, various omens, and even remnants of a cuppa have all been used to try and dispel the mist of what lies ahead.
Growth Advisors International Network - GAIN partners with Bond Agency to accelerate mutual growth in Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific
Growth Advisors International Network – GAIN, the collective of global advisory leaders in the travel, hospitality and restaurant technology industry, has signed a strategic commercial alliance partnership with Lisbon-based Bond Agency to advise on and deliver to GAIN’s growing industry client base, specialized and efficient European commercial market entry and intelligent growth-related services in the region.
New Cornell Research: Creating Crossover Products Could Lead to Future Growth
New Cornell research shows how the rise of consumers’ influence changed the tune of contemporary country music and led to the creation of more songs that span multiple genres.
Les Roches to incubate UNWTO Winning Start-Ups for “Awake Tourism Challenge”
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has announced the winners of the “Awake Tourism Challenge”, celebrating the start-ups that are reshaping the sector in every global region. The winning start-ups will be offered an incubation period of three months at SPARK Crans-Montana, the Innovation Hub of Les Roches Global Hospitality Education who partnered with the competition.
Taking ‘try before you buy’ to a whole new level - MBA students explore the potential of immersive virtual reality in hospitality
Imagine walking into a travel agent and being virtually transported to your dream destination. You’re fully immersed, by the pool, watching the sunset and completely sold. You book the trip, leave the store and start counting the days. This isn’t science fiction, it’s the power of VR right now, and the only glasses involved are the ones containing freshly made Mojitos.
Walk in: The Adlon is just a "touch" away - Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin launches augmented reality app
"Far Away, So Close!" - this is the title of an iconic film by Werner Herzog about Berlin. However, it could also be used today as a headline for the latest innovation at Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin. Because thanks to augmented reality - AR for short - a visit to the hotel legend is suddenly very close, no matter how far away someone is.
“Animación at Ciclo - A Digital Dining Experience” to launch at the Four Seasons Hotel Austin
Four Seasons Hotel Austin is taking "dinner and a show" one step further as dinner is the show with a new activation set to launch this February. This winter, the Hotel announced the Texas debut of the state-of-the-art animated dining experience by award-winning TableMation Studios.