🧭 Marriott’s new strategy: A win for guests or just another corporate play?

Insider Highlights

• A major European country just scrapped paper check-in regulations

• Behind the massive hack on Starbucks IT vendor Blue Yonder

• Marriott brand debuts new digital marketplace

• SF hotel employees demand higher pay and better benefits

• Booking.com and HotelTechReport launch AI Hotel Tech Consultant

• 🔦 Learn what multimodal AI is and what it means for hotel tech

+ Much more!

🪦 Say goodbye to manual reports

Spending too much time sifting through your hotel’s data to get to the actionable insights? Lighthouse’s AI Smart Summaries tool gives you the important takeaways without:

😫 Hours wasted reading through lengthy reports and documents
😬 Overwhelmed teams struggling to pinpoint key points quickly
🤔 Delayed decisions due to information overload

Lighthouse’s generative AI-powered Smart Summaries give you instant, concise overviews of complex data and reports. Save time, enhance decision-making, and empower your team with insights at their fingertips.

👉 Save Time and Unlock Smarter Decisions Today →

3 TOP NEWS STORIES

1. Lighthouse Raises $370M—Hotel Tech Record?

Lighthouse, formerly known as OTA Insight, has raised $370 million in equity funding, achieving a valuation of over $1 billion. This marks the largest travel tech fundraise of 2024 — and one of the largest raises in the travel tech space ever. This investment will fuel the company’s AI-driven platform enhancements and M&A push.

🎯 Why it matters: As hotels increasingly rely on data and automation to drive revenue, Lighthouse’s advancements in AI and revenue management tools could reshape how hoteliers approach pricing, distribution, and operations. This growth also highlights the growing importance of investing in cutting-edge tech solutions to remain competitive.

🔑 Key takeaway: Hoteliers should monitor Lighthouse’s innovations, particularly its next-generation AI tools designed to streamline decision-making and increase profitability. The company’s focus on commercial strategy, not property management, aligns with the evolving needs of modern hoteliers. Read More →

2. Massive IT Vendor Hack Paralyzes Starbucks

A ransomware attack on supply chain software provider Blue Yonder has disrupted operations at companies like Starbucks who has been manually processing payroll and schedules since the attack.

🎯 Why it matters: Hackers aren’t just coming for your hotel, they’re coming for your tech vendors too. Blue Yonder is a $10B software company owned by Panasonic, if they are vulnerable it means everyone is vulnerable.

🔑 Key takeaway: Hotels spend a lot of time on internal training to prevent phishing attacks and malware schemes. You should spend an equal amount or greater time on vetting the cyber security of your tech vendors. On last week’s Hotel Tech Insider podcast hotel tech veteran Howard Phung lays out the cyber checklist you need to vet vendors for things like 2FA, geo-fencing and SOC2. Read More →

3. Germany Axes Paperwork During Hotel Check-In

The German government has passed legislation that allows domestic travelers to complete hotel check-ins digitally, eliminating the need for physical paperwork. Starting in 2025, this initiative will make it easier for guests to bypass traditional reception desks, using apps or kiosks for faster and more convenient arrivals.

🎯 Why it matters: As digital transformation reshapes the hospitality industry, this move highlights a growing global trend toward contactless and self-service technologies. The fact that Germany’s government rolled back long-standing paperwork requirements shows that digital check-in is here to stay.

🔑 Key takeaway: Hoteliers should prioritize investments in digital check-in solutions to stay competitive, enhance guest experiences, and streamline operations. Read More →

AROUND THE HOTEL INDUSTRY

Things Worth Checking Out

🪧 Over 2,500 San Francisco hotel employees strike during Thanksgiving week.

🧑‍💼 Booking.com and HotelTechReport Launch Free AI Hotel Tech Consultant

🤖 You won’t see an AI-powered chatbot on Airbnb anytime soon.

🛍 Renaissance Hotels launches a digital marketplace connecting travelers to unique local experiences and hidden gems.

🥕 Expedia and Hopper are making amends with their latest supply deal.

🎮 Esports-themed hotels surge in China as gamers flock to venues offering immersive experiences.

🔮 Is Skift’s latest direct bookings prediction just wishful thinking?

HOTELIER SPOTLIGHT
🎙 Cloudbeds CEO on Multimodal AI in Hotel Tech

Is the hospitality industry truly ready for a technology revolution? In this episode, Adam Harris, co-founder and CEO of Cloudbeds, reveals how innovative tech solutions are reshaping the guest experience and operational efficiency in hotels worldwide.

Key Takeaways:

• Discover how Cloudbeds' multimodal AI is transforming data into actionable insights, enabling hoteliers to optimize revenue and enhance guest journeys.

• Learn about the five essential pillars of hotel operations that can streamline processes and improve staff efficiency, from guest acquisition to operational intelligence.

• Understand the surprising gap in customer engagement within the hospitality sector, as Adam shares his personal experience of receiving minimal birthday greetings from hotel brands, highlighting the industry's need for better personalization.

👉🏼 Check out the interview on Apple Podcasts or Spotify