Category: Recent News

Google is preparing to introduce agentic AI tools that can actually book hotels and flights directly within its AI Mode search experience, moving beyond simple trip inspiration and information. Working closely with major hotel and OTA partners like Booking.com, Expedia, Marriott, IHG and Choice, Google aims to deliver more automated, confidence-building booking flows, although no launch date has been set. This push comes as tech giants and leading travel players race to deploy agentic AI, with analysts predicting mature, fully agentic booking experiences within the next two years. While Google already uses AI Mode to handle restaurant, ticketing and appointment bookings, the business model for monetising agentic AI in travel remains unsettled, even as new tools like Canvas offer increasingly powerful, conversational trip-planning capabilities.

Rocco Forte Hotels continues its expansion in Italy and announces the opening of its second hotel in Puglia, Masseria del Cardinale, scheduled to debut in 2028 in Fasano.

During my recent conversation with Emma Catterall, Senior Finance Director at The Belfry, I was reminded that the most powerful transformations in hospitality often occur when technology, people, and place work together in harmony.

Cloudbeds, the leading hospitality management platform powering lodging businesses worldwide, today announced a strategic partnership with IDScan.net, a leader in identity verification and ID scanning technology. The collaboration will deliver fully integrated ID scanning solutions that enhance the guest check-in experience, improve accuracy, and boost operational efficiency for hoteliers.

A new chapter of beauty unfolds for Starhotels Collezione, welcoming Collina d’Oro Resort & SPA into its portfolio. This refined five-star property nestled in a natural oasis just minutes from Lugano is a haven of charm where the slow rhythm of nature meets the art of exceptional hospitality.

In today’s hospitality environment (see our previous article), “do more with less” has become more than a mantra, it’s a structural necessity. Modern workflow automation has reached a mature stage; it’s a practical, proven lever for operational transformation. But for hotel executives, the real question is how to start effectively.

Looking to celebrate the holidays in a way that feels both joyful and environmentally responsible? A few thoughtful choices can make a meaningful difference:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA, December 2, 2025 – Shiji is excited to announce it is a finalist for a 2025 Geography and Global AWS Partner Award, recognizing leaders around the globe that are playing key roles in helping their customers drive innovation and build solutions on Amazon Web Services (AWS). Shiji is excited to announce it has been named a finalist in the category of Industry Partner of the Year – Travel and Hospitality, recognizing top AWS Partner with the AWS Travel and Hospitality Competency who provide technology products and services to accelerate the industry’s modernization and innovation journey from behind-the-scenes operational efficiencies to guest-facing customer experiences.

When FIFA announced that North America would host the 2026 World Cup—describing it as “the largest World Cup in history”—the hospitality sector began preparing for a seismic shift in travel patterns across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Sixteen host cities are expected to see extraordinary visitor influx, new booking behaviors, and intense rate compression. At Hospitality America, we have built a disciplined commercial strategy that integrates revenue science, brand alignment, and local market intelligence to meet this moment.

Mobile ordering has fast evolved from a convenience to an expectation. Guests increasingly want the freedom to order when and how they wish, and hotels are reaping the rewards. From higher guest spend to smoother operations, mobile ordering has become an essential ingredient in delivering modern, seamless hospitality.