💽 Accor and Pernod Ricard Launch Data Co-Op

Insider Highlights

• Costar reports hotel website booking chatbots have gone mainstream

• Amadeus invests into group booking software startup

• Barry Sternlicht revives the Starwood brand

• Four Seasons’ growth plan hinges on experiential travel

• Choice Hotels’ unusual decision to incorporate fully independent properties

• Tools spotlight: ⚒️ 6 hotel tech tools you’ve gotta try

• Podcast: How Lark Hotels leveraged tech to build its $1B boutique hotel portfolio

3 TOP NEWS STORIES

1. Hotel Booking Chatbots Go Mainstream

Hotels are increasingly turning to chatbots to handle bookings, answer guest questions, and streamline operations. These AI-powered assistants boost efficiency and improve customer engagement, making the booking process faster and more responsive. But while the benefits are clear, success depends on smart implementation—hotels need to ensure chatbots complement human service, not replace it.

🎯 Why it matters: Chatbots can reduce labor costs, improve response times, and drive higher conversion rates, making them a valuable tool for hoteliers navigating staffing challenges and increasing digital demand.

🔑 Key takeaway: Hoteliers should explore integrating AI-driven chatbot solutions to enhance their direct booking channel, improve customer satisfaction, and optimize operational efficiency. As chatbot technology continues to advance, it offers new opportunities to engage guests and boost revenue. Read More →

2. Amadeus Invests in a Group Booking Startup

Amadeus Ventures, the investment arm of Amadeus, has made a minority investment in Hivr.ai. Hivr.ai, founded in 2020 and based in Germany, provides AI solutions that empower hotels worldwide to automate meeting and group sales across distribution channels. By leveraging artificial intelligence, Hivr.ai enables hotels to streamline their sales processes and increase revenue.

🎯 Why it matters: This move reinforces that AI is not just for guest-facing applications—it’s becoming a core tool for back-office efficiency and revenue optimization. Hotel tech professionals should watch closely for how this investment plays out, as it could shape the next wave of intelligent automation in the industry.

🔑 Key takeaway: Amadeus’s investment in Hivr.ai signals a major shift toward AI-driven automation in hotel group and meeting sales, streamlining inquiries, pricing, and distribution. Earlier this year Duetto acquired Micerate and scale-ups like MeetingPackage have been getting significant traction in this space. Read More →

3. Accor Pioneers Data Sharing Partnership with Pernod Ricard and JCDecaux

Accor has teamed up with Pernod Ricard and JCDecaux to launch a pioneering data-co-op portal that aims to revolutionize how brands collaborate and innovate within the hospitality space. By combining data insights from hospitality, beverage, and advertising sectors, the initiative seeks to deliver enhanced personalization, innovative guest experiences, and more targeted marketing campaigns.

🎯 Why it matters: Data collaboration across industries opens new opportunities for hotels to unlock value and improve operational and marketing efficiency. Accor’s partnership sets a precedent for how hotels can leverage cross-industry data to create impactful guest experiences and business strategies.

🔑 Key takeaway: Hotel executives should consider exploring partnerships that enable data-sharing and innovation. Leveraging insights from diverse industries can help hotels optimize their operations, drive loyalty, and deliver hyper-personalized guest experiences. While enterprise partnerships are reserved for bigger brands even independent hotels can apply these strategies at the local level. Read More →

PRESENTED BY CANARY TECHNOLOGIES

The Swiss Army Knife of Hotel Guest Tech

Are you tired of juggling multiple tools to manage check-ins, payments, and guest requests? With Canary’s all-in-1 guest experience platform you’ll:

• Boost Revenue – Increase direct bookings, upsells, and payments with a seamless digital guest experience.

• Eliminate Fraud – Protect your hotel with PCI-compliant digital payments and advanced fraud prevention.

• Streamline Operations – Automate check-in, checkout, and guest messaging to save time and enhance efficiency.

From digital check-ins to automated payments and e-signatures, Canary helps hotels save time, reduce fraud, and improve guest satisfaction—all while staying fully compliant.

Learn more about what Canary can do for your hotel.

AROUND THE HOTEL INDUSTRY

What’s Happening in Hospitality this Week

📊 Tripadvisor Trendcast report reveals trends like investigative eating, nano-neighborhoods and time tripping

🔁 Barry Sternlicht Is reviving Starwood Hotels beginning with 14 properties and 22 in development

🤖 ChatGPT now enables travelers to search and book trips autonomously.

🌐 Choice Hotels allows Westgate Resorts to join platform fully white labeled without needing to become a soft brand

🗓️ New Hilton’s Meetings & Events Trends Report highlights event attendee preferences, including sustainability, communication, and wellness priorities.

🏗️ New 3D modeling tech streamlines restaurant renovations, enabling faster project turnarounds and more efficient designs.

🛤️ Four Seasons accelerates its aggressive growth plan experiential travel offerings (including yachts, islands and jets).

🧘 Hilton partners with wellness app Calm to deliver in-room meditation and stress-reducing content.

🤖 LG acquires majority stake in Bear Robotics, aiming to expand robot adoption in restaurants.

🚀 Hotel asset manager CHMWarnick launches Proph+IT, a business intelligence tool to help hoteliers make proactive, profit-driven decisions.

TOOLS & TACTICS

⚒️ 6 Hotel Tech Tools You’ve Gotta Try

✅ Canary Technologies: Simplify guest management with innovative digital solutions.

✅ Triptease: Boost revenue with smart tools for hotels and accommodations.

✅ MeetingPackage: Streamline your group bookings with a beautiful online platform.

✅ Everguest: Improve the guest experience with valuable feedback insights.

✅ Ivvy: Elevate venue bookings, manage events, and track revenue easily.

✅ MARA Solutions: Tap insightful feedback analysis and automate review management with AI.

HOTELIER SPOTLIGHT
🎙 Lark Hotels' SVP of Operations on Scaling a $1B Boutique Management Company

How can technology enhance the human touch in hospitality without losing the essence of personal connection? In this episode of the Hotel Tech Insider podcast, Scot Hopps, Senior Vice President of Operations at Lark Hotels, reveals the delicate balance between leveraging technology and maintaining genuine guest interactions.

Key Takeaways:

• Discover how Lark Hotels is revolutionizing the guest experience by integrating technology that enhances service without replacing the human element.

• Learn about the critical role of an effective accounting system in driving operational success and improving financial reporting.

• Understand the strategic decision-making process behind migrating to a new property management system (PMS) and how it empowers staff to deliver exceptional service.

👉🏼 Check out the interview on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

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