Category: Recent News

AI is no longer just a digital concierge that answers basic guest inquiries. Today, AI is capable of acting as a fully-autonomous, artificial travel agent that shapes the entire travel experience, from tailoring booking preferences and suggesting personalised itineraries, to managing real-time updates and gathering feedback through post-stay surveys.

Shiji, a global leader in hospitality technology, proudly announces its partnership with Bergdorf Priesteregg and Mama Thresl, two breathtaking destinations in the picturesque Salzburgerland. The implementation of Shiji’s Property Management System (PMS) will enable these properties to deliver more personalized and seamless guest experiences while driving operational excellence.

Sometimes I speak with marketing people and realize they have no idea how their work affects revenue—and worse, they’re not even interested. It’s surprising, because the whole point of marketing is to sell, so keeping an eye on revenue should be second nature.

PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP, a world leader in luxury expedition cruises in the small ships segment under 500 passengers, proudly announces the acquisition of a majority stake in Aqua Expeditions, the award-winning small ship expedition company renowned for its exceptional river and ocean cruises in South America, Southeast Asia and beyond.

The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. (LHW) proudly welcomes two distinguished hoteliers to its Executive Committee: Pia Djupmark, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Grand Hôtel Stockholm, and Crescenzo Gargano, Co-Owner of Hotel Santa Caterina. Both bring strong industry expertise, strategic vision, and a commitment to independent, luxury hospitality.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), the AHLA Foundation, and the BHN Group/Northstar Travel Group announced today that the co-founders of Procure Impact, the B2B marketplace for products that support workers in overlooked communities, have been named this year’s recipients of the Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award.

A new Memorandum of Understanding signed by UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili and CAF Executive President Sergio Díaz-Granados is focused on enhancing the visibility of the Regional Brand of Latin American and the Caribbean. The Brand was created by CAF with the aim of attracting more investment in tourism, fostering partnerships and developing initiatives that drive the growth of the region and help it achieve a more prominent role on the global stage.

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the world’s premier business travel and meetings trade organization, is strengthening its expanding commitment to global business travel with the formation of a new country-level GBTA Advisory Board in Australia. This initiative is designed to expand GBTA’s presence and foster growth by leveraging local expertise and insights to better support members, partners and the industry sector overall across the country.

From personalized pricing to emerging booking channels, AI is set to reshape revenue management, guest experience, and overall business strategy. Here are my five cents for navigating these changes and positioning your hotel, resort, or casino, for success in an AI-driven world.

I’ve written about creating convenient, frictionless experiences many times in the past, and I will continue to do so in the future as it may be one of the most important customer experience strategies in our arsenal of tactics for getting customers to come back again and again.