A lot of hoteliers today will feel like they are treading water, grasping for clarity over what kind of impact AI agents will ultimately have on their businesses.
The first observation is that things are developing very quickly. As compared to Moore's law, the pace of next generation AI capablities are developing at a speed that is hard to fathom based upon our species past technical endeavours.
AI Agents are a fundamentally different way to interact with data and knowledge. We are now in the phase of replicating the current status with agents (for example, to build a travel itinerary), like the first TV programs were radio shows with a camera, but pretty quickly we'll evolve to find new ways of doing the same things.
No, most hoteliers are not ready for the new era of personal AI agents. Hotels have historically been cautious about new technology, and for good reason. But AI-driven hotel discovery isn't necessarily about tech adoption. It's about storytelling.AI relies on natural language processing, so hotels should publish blog posts and substantive content that answer traveler queries on their websites.
Vagabond Inn, a renowned hotel chain with properties across the Western United States, has announced the launch of its newly redesigned website, https://www.vagabondinn.com/. This digital transformation marks a significant milestone in the company's commitment to providing exceptional service and value to both leisure and business travelers.
RateGain Travel Technologies Limited (RateGain), a global provider of AI-powered SaaS solutions for the travel and hospitality industry, today announced the appointment of Toby March as Executive Vice President – Americas. In this strategic role, Toby will lead RateGain’s initiatives to boost revenue growth and strengthen partnerships across the Americas. This appointment highlights RateGain’s dedication to expanding its presence and enhancing its impact on the Americas to drive growth and deliver greater value to the region.
The term "robot" comes from the Czech word robota, meaning forced labor or drudgery. Introduced by Karel Čapek in his 1920 play R.U.R. and inspired by his brother Josef, the word encapsulated a grim vision of mechanized subjugation. Ironically, a century later, robots have flipped the script: they're no longer merely laborers but liberators, reshaping how industries—from logistics to hospitality—operate.
By 2025, over 85 million existing jobs will be lost due to the seismic shift toward AI, robotization and automation, according to WEF, McKinsey and OECD. Last year labor costs exceeded 1/3 of hotel revenue and AI, robotization and automation are becoming increasingly appealing to hotel owners and operators.
Could we see digital workers comprising half of the hospitality workforce, as they already do at Amazon in this decade? Yes. This model aligns perfectly with the limited and select service layer of the industry. Under such a model I would call it the 'no service' or dormitory management layer.
To thrive in an increasingly digital world, hotels must embrace AI to deliver the highly personalized experiences modern guests demand. However, as with any transformation, it's critical not to put the cart before the horse. Before investing in advanced AI-driven solutions, hotels should first establish a strong, sustainable data foundation—a Central Guest Profile (CGP) that aggregates guest information across all touchpoints of the customer journey.
To deliver personalized experiences and boost direct bookings, hotels must first build a solid data foundation through a Central Guest Profile (CGP). Without clean, unified data, AI-driven tools underperform. Fixing data issues before adopting advanced solutions enables hotels to unlock AI"s full potential, enhance loyalty, and outpace OTAs.
Reeco, the leading AI-driven procure-to-pay platform for the hospitality industry, announced today it has secured $15 million in Series A funding. This investment will fuel the company's strategic growth initiatives, including the accelerated advancement of the Reeco platform.
G6 Hospitality, operator of the iconic Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands, today announced a strategic partnership with HotelKey, a leading hospitality technology provider, to enhance the technological capabilities across its network of properties in the US and Canada. G6 Hospitality, now part of OYO's global portfolio, will maintain HotelKey as its core Property Management System (PMS) across all Motel 6 and Studio 6 properties.
Airbnb got its start in 2007 as a way for our co-founders to make rent. Since then, over 5 million people have become Airbnb hosts, who have opened their doors to over 2 billion guests in nearly every country in the world. One billion of those guest arrivals took place in just the last three years.
Canary Technologies today announced that it has been recognized on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500™, a ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies in North America, now in its 30th year.
HotelKey, a leading all-in-one cloud-based system for hotel operations, announced today that IHG Hotels & Resorts has named the company’s technology platform as its first approved cloud-based Property Management System (PMS) solution for limited-service brands in the United States and Canada.
InnQuest Software, a leading provider of hotel management solutions, proudly celebrates its 30th anniversary, commemorating three decades of transforming the hospitality industry. Since its establishment in 1994, InnQuest has empowered over 5,500 properties worldwide, offering cutting-edge tools designed to streamline operations and enhance guest satisfaction.
CODA Hotel Williamsburg is an independent boutique hotel in Brooklyn featuring 64 guestrooms and the largest outdoor pool in the borough. As CODA’s flagship property, the location embodies a guest-centric approach to hospitality, designing furnishings based on real-life guest interactions. With a focus on creating inviting spaces rather than just walls, CODA provides an environment where guests can truly relax and rejuvenate, emphasizing that hospitality goes beyond structures to the experience within.
Today, Hapi, the leading provider of hospitality data and connectivity solutions, announced its work with the Nemacolin Resort, which resulted in winning the prestigious 2024 Hotel Visionary Partnership Award from Hospitality Technology. The Partnership Award is presented to a hotelier-vendor team that demonstrated exceptional collaborative ideation and execution of a technology solution over 12 months or longer.
Maestro, the hotel industry’s leading Web Browser-based cloud and on-premises All-In-One property-management system, teamed with preeminent commercial strategy platform LodgIQ to improve operations, communications and business forecasting at the Olde Mill Inn in Basking Ridge, N.J. Integration between Maestro’s PMS and LodgIQ’s AI platform is enabling the hotel’s operations team to access property information on the go, maximize profits, streamlining efficiencies, and unburden staff. By giving guests access to contactless check-in capabilities through kiosk installations at the front desk, the Olde Mill Inn is reducing traffic in the lobby and improving operations.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) today announced its 2024 General Managers of the Year, TechOvation, and Technology Acceleration Award winners during The Hospitality Show in San Antonio, Texas.
Agilysys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGYS), a leading global provider of hospitality software solutions and services, today announced that Lajitas Golf Resort has implemented 14 Agilysys solutions to connect and modernize guest experiences property-wide. These solutions also work together to share data, insights and processes to improve staff efficiencies and optimize revenue across the resort’s many amenities. All 14 Agilysys solutions were implemented and in production use within a 48-hour period!
Inspiration, innovation, and co-creation: Extending PPDS’ global network of PPDS Studios to nine – and the second of the company’s regional Master Showrooms – the new, state-of-the-art, 2,368 ft² PPDS Studio NYC Metro opens new opportunities for partners and hotel owners to discover and experience the benefits and capabilities of Philips Professional Displays.
Growth Advisors International Network (GAIN), a leading global hospitality, travel, and MICE industry technology and innovation advisory group, proudly announces the appointment of Skip Kimpel as Global Director of Restaurant Technology and Innovation.