Booking.com began experimenting with conversational recommendations and tool driven automation before most enterprises had a name for agentic systems, and that early start is now shaping a more measured strategy. In a VentureBeat podcast, AI product development lead Pranav Pathak described a layered, modular stack that pairs small travel specific models for fast, low cost inference with larger LLMs for reasoning, plus in house evaluations when precision matters.
Premier Inn Opens Its Doors in Hastings Town Centre
Premier Inn has celebrated its latest hotel opening on the south coast of England in Hastings Town Centre.
Vijay Patel Named Tourism Champion of the Year
A well-deserved honor. Visit Tri-Cities has recognized AAHOA Lifetime Member Vijay Patel, President of A-1 Hospitality Group, with the Kris Watkins Tourism Champion Award—celebrating leaders who elevate the visitor experience and strengthen the region’s tourism economy.
Introducing a City Through Design: GCSTIMES “Hello World” Fridge Magnets
First impressions matter, especially in hospitality. Long before a guest explores a city’s streets, tastes its food, or meets its people, their experience begins at check-in. That moment presents a unique opportunity: not just to welcome, but to introduce the character, language, and identity of the destination itself.
Travel affordability matters: how Booking.com helps consumers save and make informed choices
What does it take for a family to afford a week away? Today, Eurostat estimates that for more than one in four Europeans the answer is that they can’t. Rising prices and tighter household budgets mean that millions are being priced out of the chance to travel — even though travel has never mattered more for connection, culture, and moments of rest and renewal.
Holiday Shopping 2025: More Spending, More Stress, More AI
Holiday shoppers are preparing to spend more this season, but there’s a catch. Accenture’s 19th Annual Holiday Shopping Survey reveals that much of this increased spending reflects higher prices, not higher confidence. The result is a stressed-out shopper base struggling to make every penny count while drowning in a sea of confusing offers and promotions. These consumer behaviors and the rise of AI-driven solutions offer important insights not just for retailers, but for travel and tourism professionals navigating similar challenges in their own industry.
Tivoli Coimbra Reopens in April 2026 with a Five-star Rating after a Complete Renovation
After a full renovation, Tivoli Coimbra will reopen in April 2026 with a five-star rating, offering a sophisticated atmosphere, personalized services, and a renewed Tivoli experience in a prime central city location.
Lighthouse and HotelSpeaker close the guest experience circle
Lighthouse, the leading AI pricing, distribution and operations platform, and HotelSpeaker, the humanized AI service for guest communication and review management, are joining forces to offer a complete A-to-Z solution for independent hoteliers.
The 11 travel and hospitality trends that will shape 2026
Travel and hospitality businesses must now win over a more discerning, AI-armed traveler, while contending with an unstable global economy
Iconic Swiss active lifestyle hotel selects Shiji’s integrated hospitality technology ecosystem
Shiji, the global leader in hospitality technology, has been selected as the technology partner for Le Clay, a highly anticipated active lifestyle hotel opening in the UNESCO-listed Lavaux region overlooking Lake Geneva. Le Clay will implement Shiji’s hospitality ecosystem, including Daylight PMS, Infrasys POS, Meridian Experiences, Reviewpro Reputation, and Stellaris Digital, to deliver a seamless, fully integrated guest experience. The decision reflects the hotel’s vision to offer modern, connected hospitality that blends wellness, nature, and culture.