Since Cogwheel first participated in the pitch at E20X in 2022, the Cogwheel team has made it a tradition to follow the promising startups showcased each year. E20X (Entrepreneur 20X), hosted during HITEC, is known for spotlighting the most innovative solutions in hospitality tech, and 2025’s competition didn’t disappoint.
Belfry Boosts Staycation Demands This Summer with New Rooms and Fitness & Leisure Opening
The Belfry Hotel & Resort, is set to open 149 new bedrooms at its award-winning resort this August. Launching ahead of schedule, their opening could not be more timely. With research showing that UK staycations are becoming increasingly popular as holidaymakers seek to avoid extreme heat, the resort is the perfect location for a refreshing summer getaway.
IDS Next: First Global Hospitality ERP to Deploy Autonomous AI Support
IDS Next, a global leader in hospitality technology, has collaborated with Salesforce, the world’s #1 AI CRM, to transform customer support by deploying Agentforce, Salesforce’s autonomous AI agent. With this integration, IDS Next becomes the first hospitality ERP provider to embed autonomous AI directly into its product portfolio, ushering in a new standard for intelligent, always-on support in the industry.
Mama Shelter Makes Its Swiss Debut
Mama Shelter will open its first Swiss hotel in Zurich on July 31, 2025. Located in the dynamic Oerlikon district, this 178-room hotel will feature a planted rooftop, restaurant, bar and flexible workspaces, enriching the local hotel offering.
Why It’s Time for Boutique Hotels to Flip the Tech Stack
Independent hoteliers are bombarded daily with technology vendors pitching miracle solutions. Everywhere you turn, there’s another acronym, another platform, another promise to “transform” your property—if only you buy their product first.
Leed Certification for Santo Mine Shines Light on Sustainability for Santorini
As the longtime General Manager of TUI Magic Life Candia Maris Resort in Crete and the recently appointed General Manager of Santo Collection on Santorini – both under Metaxa Hospitality Group, I’ve seen firsthand that no matter a hotelier’s reason for embracing sustainability, the rewards – for the property, our guests, and the broader community and culture – are well worth the effort.
Gold key cards – tangible reflection of your golden standard of service
Does your menu feature a golden cappuccino? Are your interiors adorned with gold leaf?
Ensuring Data Privacy and Compliance in Hospitality CX Platforms
A key challenge hoteliers face today when picking out a CX platform revolves around data privacy in hotels and regulatory compliance. With guest data at the core of reputation, marketing, and revenue strategies, ensuring proper handling and secure storage is a definite must.Ê
From Dream to Departure: What Drives Travelers to Book
When you dream about your next big adventure, what transforms that daydream into action? What takes you from “That would be amazing, someday” to “Let’s book it now”? Maybe it’s a stunning photo on social media that sparks your imagination, a captivating blog post, or an inspiring conversation with a friend or family member. Whatever the trigger, something shifts – and suddenly, the idea of travel starts becoming a plan.
Interview with Ryan King (Shiji Group): Why Experience Is the New Currency
At HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis, we sat down with Ryan King, Senior Vice President for the Americas at Shiji Group, to unpack how hotels can measure, interpret, and act on guest experience data. Ryan explained why reputation now depends as much on real-time feedback analytics as on human service, and how tools like the Guest Review Index (GRI) are helping hoteliers identify both standout moments and systemic breakdowns. He also weighed in on AI’s growing role in the industry – not as a replacement for people, but as a tool to enhance guest experience and operational focus.