✈️ Airlines hacked. Are hotels next?

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Activist investor Starboard Value has taken a nearly 10% stake in Tripadvisor, signaling a push for major changes at the travel giant. The move comes as Tripadvisor struggles with declining relevance in a digital landscape dominated by AI-driven search and younger travelers favoring platforms like Google, TikTok, and Instagram. Starboard is expected to push for product innovation, improved monetization, and possibly a revamp (or sale) of Tripadvisor’s core businesses, including hotel metasearch.

🎯 Why it matters: Tripadvisor remains an important driver of hotel visibility, influencing both direct bookings and AI-powered recommendations through partnerships with AI platforms like Perplexity. But its weakening consumer influence and stagnant product strategy could leave hotels exposed if the platform fails to adapt. An overhaul could create new opportunities or disruptions for how hotels are found, reviewed, and booked.

🔑 Key takeaway: Hotel executives should prepare for shifts in Tripadvisor’s product model and influence. Strengthening presence across multiple discovery channels, including newer platforms and emerging AI tools, is critical. Hotels that rely heavily on Tripadvisor for traffic and trust signals need to diversify and modernize their digital strategy to stay visible and competitive in a rapidly evolving booking landscape. Read More →

Lovable, a buzzy no-code platform, just raised $150 million at a $2 billion valuation, signaling growing investor confidence in AI-powered app builders. The company’s new interface allows non-technical users to design, test, and deploy full-featured internal tools and workflows, entirely through natural language prompts. Think: a custom staff task tracker, guest follow-up automation, or a mobile concierge interface, all built without writing a single line of code.

🎯 Why it matters: Until now, building tech tools in hospitality often meant expensive vendor contracts or months of dev work. Lovable and similar platforms are flipping that script, letting hotel operators prototype, personalize, and layer their own logic on top of existing systems without needing an IT department. The power to innovate in-house just got a lot more accessible.

🔑 Key takeaway: No-code is NOT a replacement for great SaaS but can be a way to augment features or tools that aren’t already in market at a lower cost and faster clip. Forward-thinking hoteliers should start experimenting with no-code development now. It opens the door to faster iteration, more tailored digital experiences, and operational fixes you can control. Whether it’s automating a comp request flow or integrating front desk data with loyalty triggers, the next big idea in hotel tech might come from your own team — no engineers required. Read More →

A wave of coordinated cyberattacks, linked to the notorious Scattered Spider hacking group, is targeting airlines like Hawaiian, WestJet, and Qantas. These breaches aren’t your standard phishing email or malware download. Hackers are using “vishing” (voice phishing) to impersonate employees on the phone and trick help desk staff into resetting passwords or bypassing multi-factor authentication (MFA). As a result, millions of customer records were compromised and urgent warnings were issued by federal authorities.

🎯 Why it matters: Hotels operate on similarly complex tech stacks with outsourced call centers, legacy PMS tools, and a heavy reliance on third-party vendors. If airlines are vulnerable to vishing and human-engineered breaches, the hospitality sector is just as exposed. The attack vector isn’t a firewall, it’s a phone call. And hackers know how to exploit human error.

🔑 Key takeaway: Hotel leaders must take action now to fortify the human layer of security protecting valuable personal data: Protect help desks, upgrade MFA protocols, train front-line staff on the latest cybersecurity tactics, and thoroughly vet your vendors. As hackers shift their focus from retail and finance to airlines, hotels might be next in line. Scattered Spider is targeting sectors with valuable customer data and complex vendor ecosystems, exactly like the hospitality industry. Future-proofing now means treating cybersecurity not just as IT, but as core element of brand protection. Read More →

✅ Inn-flow: Simplify hotel financial management with user-friendly software.

✅ FLYR: Better data analysis for more profitable decision-making.

✅ Otelier: Optimize hotel budgets and forecasts with precise, data-driven insights.

✅ EntryReady: Guests unlock rooms with phones—no cards, lines, or front desk delays.

✅ MeetingPackage: Simplify MICE bookings and boost event revenue.

✅ Canary Technologies: Powerful but simple AI powered digital guest journey platform.

📖 Looking for a new property management system? Check out our Hotel PMS Buying Guide

🧠 Agentic AI and new search tools are reshaping SEO strategies for travel marketers.

💼 TPG finalizes acquisition of Sabre’s hospitality tech unit, expanding its hotel solutions portfolio.

💸 Agoda CEO: Price transparency still outperforms points in building travel loyalty.

📱 TikTok prepares U.S.-compliant version of its app to navigate looming regulatory pressure.

🌍 African hotels unlock growth with alternative financing like diaspora bonds and co-investment platforms.

⚡ New EMS platforms combine powerful analytics and faster installs to reduce hotel energy costs.

📧 Gmail rolls out tools to auto-sort marketing emails, changing how businesses (like your hotel!) reach customers.

🏨 Olive Hospitality launches AI-powered budget hotels for India’s price-conscious, tech-savvy travelers.

🌐 Sonesta adds AKEN Hotels & Resorts, expanding its boutique footprint in Latin America.

🎯 Duetto’s GameTime tool automates real-time pricing decisions for hotels using live data.

🇺🇸 Brand USA reevaluates international marketing strategy following $80M budget cut.

🛎️ Hotels push add-on experiences to increase guest value and diversify revenue beyond rooms.

✈️ The Netherlands uses niche cultural marketing to quietly boost U.S. tourist visits.

🍽️ Restaurant tech sector consolidates rapidly as investors prioritize scale and profitability.

Kasa Living's innovative use of technology and strategic focus on flexible living and institutional partnerships position it as a leader in the evolving hospitality landscape. Led by CEO Roman Pedan, Kasa is revolutionizing hospitality with a tech-centric approach, enhancing profitability and guest experience.

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