Hotel, Technology, Organisations & Operators,

Digitrips, owner of leading French B2B multi-product travel platforms MisterFly and HResa, has enriched its flight booking engine with a new ‘eco-certified accommodation’ filter.The new functionality, now available to B2B2C partners as part of Digitrips’ hotel and dynamic package booking engines, empowers travellers to make informed choices and encourages responsible tourism practices.
The feature already enables customers to narrow their search to eco-certified accommodation options in nearly 1,500 destinations worldwide, based on a variety of sustainable tourism labels recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
Digitrips data shows accommodation options labelled as ‘eco-certified’ have seen a 9% surge in bookings on average since the label was introduced.
Although so far only around 1% of Digitrips’ 1.2 million properties boast the new ‘eco-certified’ label, the tool has quickly become one of the most widely used filtering options across all Digitrips-powered search platforms.
Emilie Dumont, Managing Director of Digitrips, said: “The launch of our new eco-certified accommodation filter is the latest milestone in our ongoing efforts to help travellers make informed decisions about their travel and accommodation options.ADVERTISEMENT“The new feature extends far beyond the realms of green marketing. It is a practical tool for our B2B2C partners and their customers alike, enhancing transparency and providing useful information during the booking process. Over the coming months, users can expect to see the new label appearing on more and more properties across our vast directory of accommodation options.”
The new filter follows other sustainability-focused enhancements from Digitrips, including the addition of estimated CO2 consumption figures to its flight booking engine, as well as the integration of a unique direct flight calendar into its search platforms last month.
Digitrips’ ‘eco-certified accommodation’ filter encompasses a variety of labels validated by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. This includes GSTC-recognised sustainable tourism standards owned by certification bodies, specialised tourism organisations, large tourism businesses, as well as municipal, provincial, and national tourism authorities.

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Cloudbeds, the hospitality management platform powering more reservations and happier guests for independent lodging businesses around the globe, today released its 2024 State of Independent Lodging Report.
The second annual edition of the report offers a unique and data-rich perspective on the global independent lodging segment, shedding light on insights and trends from property types and segments often overlooked in industry reporting.Adam Harris, Co-Founder and CEO of Cloudbeds, said: “The outlook for the travel industry in 2024 looks rather encouraging, with economic forecasts shifting from fears of a global recession to expectations of a soft landing and moderate growth.
“Advanced technologies are likely to usher in a shift in how owners, operators, and hoteliers do business as they chase demand. Unplanned overbookings, front desks staffed 24/7, and marketing or finance degrees to optimize revenue will soon be a thing of the past. So are siloed and disparate legacy systems.
“Today, we’re pleased to unveil our findings from thousands of independent properties worldwide, empowering lodging businesses to benchmark their performance against industry peers.”
Key findings from the report include:ADVERTISEMENTOccupancy patterns are projected to remain consistent in 2024. With demand relatively flat, hotels will need to focus efforts on growing market share and RevPAR.With travelers expected to be more price-sensitive this year, hoteliers may struggle to raise their average daily rates (ADR) and should explore new ways to hedge inflation.Online travel agencies (OTAs) have returned stronger than ever. In 2023, OTAs generated 60.5% of global bookings, a higher proportion than in any of the previous three years and much higher than the 39.5% of bookings generated on direct channels.
By leveraging a wealth of aggregated and anonymized data from across the globe, Cloudbeds has also identified six new trends poised to reshape the travel landscape in 2024. These include a resurgence in lagging market segments, an uptick in inflation-busting travel hacks, and new spins on experiential travel. In addition, Cloudbeds anticipates continued growth in the short-term rental sector (despite rumors to the contrary), new efficiencies driven by generative AI, and growing demand for new skills among next-generation hoteliers.
The new trends complement last year’s five key developments, which are set to continue this year: value-driven decision-making, the shift to virtual front desks, blended travel meeting hybrid hospitality, new technologies to disrupt travel search and inspiration, and a shift from focusing on amenities to guest experiences.
Cloudbeds’ findings are grounded in data from 10,000+ independent properties, encompassing boutique hotels and guest houses, B&Bs, and hotel groups in over 100 countries. The results are divided into four regions: North America, Latin America (including Mexico), Europe, and Asia Pacific (including Australia and New Zealand).
To download a free copy of Cloudbeds’ 2024 State of Independent Lodging Report, visit https://www.cloudbeds.com/hospitality-industry-report.

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Mews, the industry-leading hospitality cloud, is now a preferred PMS partner for Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ (SLH).
SLH is a collection of over 560 luxury boutique hotels spanning 90 countries around the globe. Although the collection is bound together by a shared spirit and high service standards, each property provides a unique, intimate guest experience in a beautiful and characterful space.
“We selected Mews as a preferred PMS partner due to its guest-centric platform and innovative approach,” said Richard Hyde, Chief Operating Officer, Small Luxury Hotels of the World. “By incorporating automation and streamlining processes, hotels can reduce administrative burdens during stays, enabling guests and staff to fully immerse themselves in their surroundings.”
With over 1,000 free-to-connect integrations, each hotel can build a tech stack best suited to its operational needs.
SLH guests can book accommodation at any SLH property via their central website, facilitated by the SynXis booking engine, so it is essential that Mews has a robust and reliable two-way connection in place. This is one of the many integrations that are easily accessible through the Mews Marketplace.ADVERTISEMENT“We are delighted to be working with Small Luxury Hotels of the World to bring unforgettable experiences to guests,” said Richard Valtr, Mews Founder. “This incredible community of hotels and hoteliers embodies the type of hospitality we try to champion: immersive, unique, and truly remarkable.”

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Dubai-based Lokalee, an AI-powered content platform for hotels and holiday homes, today announced details on its latest successful round of investment, resulting in USD 5.6 million received in pre-series A funding.
The injection of capital combined with Lokalee’s growth will further fuel the company’s accelerated product development efforts as well as its expansion into European markets.Led by Crown Private Fund, the USD 5.6 million investment also featured contributions from three other strategic investors with hotel and technology background. The increased access to capital is further strengthened by Lokalee’s growth in customer portfolio with 250 hotels currently using the Lokalee solution as well as their expansion into Austria, Germany and Saudi Arabia in 2023. Immediate development plans include the launch of a trip planner combining AI technology with curated data provided by humans, offering the best synthesis of both worlds.Lokalee is a B2B content platform specifically developed for hotels and holiday homes, designed to enhance guest interactions, simplify operations, and increase potential revenue. The customizable white-label platform allows guests to browse and book everything a property and the destination has to offer, sourced by Lokal Curators and supported by global partners. Trusted by over 200 brands across 20 countries, Lokalee’s platform has already been implemented at leading hotel groups such as Movenpick, Sheraton, Rotana, Sofitel, Hilton, Millennium among others.
“We are very pleased with the investor confidence in Lokalee, validating the potential of our platform across the global hospitality industry. With this new source of funding, we are determined to accelerate our ambitious expansion to optimize the digitization of the guest journey for our customers,” said Samir Abi Frem, CEO of Advanced Digital Technology and Lokalee.

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Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), inked a global partnership with IHG Hotel & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies to provide its users with a wider array of hotel offerings across the globe.
Through this collaboration, Wego users will be able to search and book 15 of IHG’s 18 brands – worldwide – Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo, voco hotels, HUALUXE Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, EVEN Hotels, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, avid hotels, Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites. Travellers will get access to over 4,000 open hotels across global destinations and ultimately find the perfect hotel stay that matches their requirements anywhere in the world.
IHG’s latest offering will be promoted across all Wego’s channels, providing travellers with information on the latest properties and trendy destinations.
Commenting on this strategic partnership, Craig Hewett, Chief Hotels Officer and Co-Founder, Wego, said: “Partnering with one of the world’s leading hotel companies, IHG Hotels & Resorts, reflects our commitment to provide our users with global hotel offerings and deals. Through this partnership, we will promote IHG Hotels & Resorts to our large user base in the MENA region and aim to convert more bookings to IHG’s global network of hotels.”
James Britchford, Vice President Commercial, India, Middle East and Africa at IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “We are delighted to partner with Wego, the number one travel app in MENA for flight search and booking. Through this partnership, travellers will enjoy more convenience and access to 15 of our brands across our luxury and lifestyle, premium, essentials and suites portfolio in global destinations when booking their trip on Wego.”ADVERTISEMENTWego compares a range of accommodation options available in the marketplace, to offer competitive rates from local and global travel agencies, hotel direct websites and other accommodation merchants.
With new partners on board, Wego strives to provide its customers with a comprehensive selection of hotel options, enabling users to search and book directly through its website and app.

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LG Electronics, the leading provider of in-room hotel TVs, is introducing the world’s first commercial television sets to feature Apple AirPlay technology support for hotels, offering guests a seamless and secure way to share content from their iPhone or iPad to their guest room TV.
Speaking in advance of next week’s HITEC hospitality technology trade show, Michael Kosla, hospitality vice president at LG Business Solutions USA, said AirPlay will be available to guests on LG Pro:Centric® Smart Hotel TVs starting later this year at select properties.
“This is a major advancement for in-room entertainment in the travel and hospitality industry, and underscores how closely we are listening to the needs of consumers who increasingly demand simple access to their personal media options on the biggest screen, wherever they are,” Kosla said. “Hotels that offer this feature will have an immediate leg up with travelers who use Apple devices, boosting guest satisfaction while providing real differentiation from local competition.”
LG Electronics and Apple worked together to ensure that AirPlay will be as easy to use as when at home. Guests will connect their iPhone or iPad securely to the LG smart hotel TV by simply scanning a unique QR code. With no logins or passwords to remember and no separate app to download, this will be the simplest way for a hotel to enable guests to access their personal entertainment apps and accounts on the big screen in their room.
Built on a foundation of privacy and security, AirPlay allows guests to stream, control and share videos, photos, music and more from their iPhone or iPad to the smart, in-room LG TV so they can watch popular streaming services* such as Apple TV+, rehearse presentations, enjoy vacation photos, and more, in the comfort of their hotel room.ADVERTISEMENTLG is the first display manufacturer to confirm AirPlay integration following Apple’s announcement at the company’s WWDC23 event earlier this month revealing that AirPlay will be available in hotels. The collaboration demonstrates LG’s dedication to innovations that empower hotels to enhance guest satisfaction.
Hotel operators will be able to start offering AirPlay capability on LG smart hotel TVs later this year. AirPlay capability will be available on 2023 LG smart hotel TVs and on recent year’s models.
For more information about LG’s hospitality-focused products shown at HITEC 2023, click here.  https://b2bmkt.lge.com/us-hitec23

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Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is pleased to announce two champions of hospitality technology, Sherry Marek and Mark Heymann as the 2023 HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame inductees, both recognized for innovating a pioneering technology solution specific to hospitality.Marek is co-founder of Datavision Technologies, retired and continues to share her experience as owner of Aiken Street Consulting and a mentor for women in the technology profession. Mark Heymann is founder of Unifocus and currently the managing director at Mark Heymann & Associates. The 2023 inductees will be honored at the upcoming Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®) in Toronto on June 26, 2023.
The International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame is HFTP’s highest level of recognition in the area of technology. Since 1989, 53 individuals have received this award as a reflection of their contributions to the hospitality industry.
“This recognition is a true career honor, especially because it is the outcome of a professional endeavor I have a real passion for, which is a privilege itself,” said Marek. “I am pleased to be alongside a group of outstanding professionals, each with their own specialties all culminating in the excellence and progress of the hospitality technology industry. As I look forward, I am excited to be able to share my decades of expertise as a mentor to other women coming up in the field.”
Marek started her career in the mid-’80s at Hilton International and InterContinental Hotels, focusing primarily on front of house systems where she worked extensively with system users and vendors at properties across the globe. This experience led her to recognize a struggle with reporting – whether it was tapping into the data inside a single system or consolidating data across systems.
This insight led her to co-found Datavision Technologies and create the first true business intelligence (BI) system for hospitality. Even though the system was Initially designed to create automated daily flash reports for general managers and controllers, Marek soon realized that it would be more effective if the information was put in the hands of all users, not just management. Today, Datavision ingests detailed data from a variety of on-premise and cloud data sources (PMS, POS, Back Office, Comp Set, Labor, Guest Survey, Google Analytics, etc.) and is used across the enterprise to solve different business needs.ADVERTISEMENTOver the last decade, Marek has been focused on promoting women in STEM fields as well as within the hospitality industry. She is working with the Business Analytics department at the University of Iowa, planning and speaking at the Women in Analytics and Leadership conference. For the past few years, she has been a contributor to Hospitality Upgrade’s “MentorSeries” — articles focused on hearing from women at different ages and at different stages of their career. Marek is also a member of various industry councils, including the HITEC Educational Advisory Council.
“I am truly honored by this recognition from HFTP,” said Heymann. “Since the start of the PC age, myself and other individuals that I’ve worked with have striven to present to the industry advanced decision-making tools that help managers and staff improve their overall work-life balance. While at the same time helping the industry progress to meet the challenges of yesterday’s and today’s diverse workforce. I would be remiss in not pointing out that I share this honor with all the individuals that contributed over the years to the advancements of this type of technology and specifically to my career. I look forward to sharing this knowledge in the future with the industry as it continues to address the new labor demands that it is facing.”
Since the 1970s, Mark Heymann has served as the pioneering face of labor management technology innovation for hospitality-based organizations. A graduate of both Brown University and Columbia University, Heymann was the first to relate service quality levels to a business’s ability to effectively manage their labor resources.
Leveraging his years of experience in serving as an industry consultant as well as his expertise in software and asset management, Heymann as founder and president of Heymann Group, Inc. spearheaded the development of modern labor management system technology. Initially introduced in the early-’80s, it wasn’t until around 1991 under the name Watson R.M™, Heymann’s resource and labor management solution served as a catalyst for providing hotels and restaurants with data-driven insight into how they could staff according to fluctuations in service demand.
Following his successes, Heymann went on to found Unifocus following a merger between Heymann Group, Inc. and Strategic Quantitative Solutions in 1998. As founder and CEO of Unifocus, Heymann helmed the first company to ever focus its efforts on developing the full array of labor and performance management systems specifically intended for the needs of the hospitality industry.
Under the Unifocus brand, industry firsts achieved by Heymann include automated scheduling technology equipped with intelligent algorithms that eliminate guesswork in the creating of optimized schedules. Other advancements credited to Heymann include the development of one of the industry’s first touch-screen time clocks and task-based labor platforms for meetings and conventions.
HITEC North America will take place on June 26–29 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ont. Canada. Produced by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals, HITEC is the world’s largest and longest-running hospitality technology exposition and conference. It offers a unique combination of top-notch hospitality technology education, led by industry peers and experts, and an unparalleled trade show showcasing the latest hospitality technology products and services. The 2023 event is expecting 6,000+ attendees and 320+ exhibiting companies. Registration for HITEC Toronto is open.

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IDS Next, a leading hotel software providing smart solutions to hospitality businesses in Southeast Asia, has entered a collaboration with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts to provide a new loyalty enrolment interface to its branded hotels in the Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa & South East Asia and Pacific regions. Powered by IDS Next’s certified cloud solutions, the new technology will help hotels to improve the enrolment of new members into its loyalty programme Wyndham Rewards, either post-reservation or during their stay in a more convenient, flexible and efficient way. IDS Next will also offer cloud, mobile, and on-premises enterprise hotel full-stack solutions. “This is a significant milestone for both parties, and we are proud to be the first property management solution provider to implement the loyalty enrolment-certified interface across all Wyndham Hotels & Resorts properties in this region,” says Binu Mathews, the CEO of IDS Next.  Nikhil Sharma, Market Managing Director Eurasia of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts adds, “IDS Next is one of most recognised software solutions providers in Asia and adding its advanced interface to our suite of property management tools is testament to our commitment to bring the most innovative technology to our hotels and ultimately providing guests with the best possible experience.”“IDS next is a holistic ERP solution both on premise and cloud that has full two-way integration into Wyndham Central Reservations Systems and Wyndham Rewards. Their impeccable support has been a key driver of our future IT roadmap,” adds Atul Gupta, Sr. Director Hotel Technology Strategy & Services, Global Hotel Systems Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. IDS NEXT also has certified interfaces for TWI (Travel Web Integrator), EDW (Enterprise Data Warehouse), STR (Smith Travel Research) and OTA (Online Travel Agency) insights. This certified and integrated solution will empower Wyndham Hotels & Resorts to efficiently manage its operations in India, satisfy the demands of the contemporary hospitality industry and provide guests with a seamless journey during every interaction. 

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