News & Stories

At the beginning of February, the think tank Zukunft der Gastwelt (DZG) established the task force "Digitalisation & Artificial Intelligence". The aim is to accelerate the digital transformation of the hospitality industry and to provide practical support to small and medium-sized businesses.

The compliment comes from the screen this time. Nobody is as nice as ChatGPT. The new generation of "AI natives" is already accustomed to interacting with AI. However, an Austrian robot psychologist warns against placing too much trust in machines. She provides examples from the hotel industry and shares research findings.

Mews has announced the completion of a Series D financing round worth 300 million US dollars. The technology provider intends to use the funds to significantly expand its investments in AI.

The development of artificial intelligence has reached a new level: AI agents are now acting almost autonomously. Consumers are expected to encounter this for the first time this year: while shopping.

It is set to be colourful, interactive and a meeting place for gamers. Console manufacturer Atari is planning a 124 million US dollar-project in Phoenix, Arizona - Atari Hotels.

The OTA landscape is often discussed as a dual monopoly of Booking and Expedia, but who knows how great their actual influence is or their regional significance in the hotel market? An overview attempts to penetrate the OTA jungle.

Hotel guests in Dubai will no longer have to check in at the hotel reception after a one-time identity check and uploading biometric data. The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has introduced a solution to this effect.

By 2035, most hotel discoveries and bookings will happen through a single AI conversation, at least half of back-office tasks will be automated, and most routine guest requests will be handled by AI agents. Human staff will be left to do what algorithms can't.

The Welcome Hotel Darmstadt has launched a pilot project. Together with Hotelbird and Vingcard, NFC-based wallet keys have been introduced in the hotel. These work without a separate app – and even when your smartphone battery is flat.

Hospitality meets technology – and worlds are colliding. The tech chaos among the hotels and hotel groups is enormous. Global chains are putting operators and franchisees under pressure through their brands. The wave of acquisitions is increasing the helplessness. A discussion at the Hogan Lovells Hotel Day reflected this.