5 stories about the AI-powered chatbots transforming travel planning

Expedia, Kayak, Priceline, Booking.com and HotelPlanner have all integrated generative AI to help consumers find accommodations.

By Noelle Mateer • June 30, 2023

Hotel Tech-in: Holograms put receptionists in multiple places at once

Holoconnects founder Andre Smith believes holograms can help hotels facing staffing shortages without losing the human touch.

By Noelle Mateer • June 30, 2023

Booking.com launches ChatGPT trip planning feature

The company's app integrates the generative AI tool directly into its accommodation booking experience.

By Jenna Walters • June 27, 2023

Hotel guests open to AI usage but cautious about ethics, benefits: study

As hotels embrace AI, hoteliers need to acknowledge the benefit-risk tradeoff guests face and communicate how their information is being used, according to new research.

By Michele Laufik • June 26, 2023

How hotels are embracing the “sleep tourism” trend

Hotels are offering everything from smart mattresses to doctor consultations to attract wellness-oriented guests.

By Noelle Mateer • June 22, 2023

Sojern releases AI enhancements for hotel marketers

The digital marketing platform launched software improvements intended to help hoteliers target potential guests more effectively.

By Noelle Mateer • June 21, 2023

Travel app aims to amplify Black-owned hospitality businesses

Martinique Lewis turned her modern-day “Green Book” into an app, connecting travelers with Black-owned hotels, communities and destinations across the globe.

By Jenna Walters • June 15, 2023

Marriott partners with Toast for restaurant payments tech in select service hotels

The company is the largest to date that has approved Toast for Hotel Restaurants for use in its brands.

By Noelle Mateer • June 14, 2023

How a spa in Iceland is using technology to transform the guest experience

This top spa destination in Iceland is using self-service and more to meet guest expectations.

June 12, 2023

Priceline, Google Cloud partner on AI tech aimed at simplifying trip planning, booking

The online travel agency joins other industry players like Expedia and Kayak by launching an AI-powered chatbot that will serve as a virtual travel assistant.

By Jenna Walters • June 8, 2023

Marriott seeks improved efficiency, higher revenue amid tech overhaul

The hotel chain is re-platforming systems, investing in tech infrastructure and enhancing its mobile app as it boosts its yearly technology spending by around $150 million.

By Lindsey Wilkinson • May 23, 2023

Marriott taps SevenRooms as preferred restaurant technology provider

The software, which leverages customer data to cultivate stronger relationships with guests, will be rolled out to an additional 8,500 Marriott properties.

By Noelle Mateer • May 19, 2023

LNG Electric to bring EV chargers to 13,000 US hotels

The rollout is aimed at combating a lack of available electric vehicle charging stations across the country and the stress that brings travelers.

By Jenna Walters • May 17, 2023

Google starts testing generative AI in search, ads included

Ad placements will come with a “Sponsored” label similar to conventional search as the AI arms race kicks into high gear.

By Peter Adams • May 12, 2023

Hotel Tech-in: An AI-assisted kitchen solution to help hotels tackle food waste

Winnow provides hotels with a cost-saving tool to track, measure and control the amount of food that’s wasted in commercial kitchens.

By Jenna Walters • May 5, 2023

Travelpass launches booking platform with ‘insider’ discounted room rates

Users will have access to exclusive lodging deals and personalized travel agent support through a free member account.

By Michele Laufik • May 4, 2023

Resy ‘drops’ exclusive reservations in new campaign

“Reservationships” offere exlusive experiences with limited availability at in-demand eateries in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and Washington, D.C.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • May 3, 2023

Hilton, HotelKey co-develop cloud-based property management system

Hilton takes a leap into a new tech era by replacing its legacy system at more than 7,000 properties.

By Jenna Walters • April 28, 2023

Google ad revenue slides again as platform’s dominance is challenged

Search saw a slight uptick in revenue thanks to healthy demand from the travel and retail verticals.

By Peter Adams • April 27, 2023

Choice Hotels partners with Groups360 for small group bookings

The hotel’s integration of Groups360’s GroupSync technology will allow event planners to shop and book small group event space and guest rooms more efficiently.

By Jenna Walters • April 27, 2023

Data protection becomes a priority as hotels lean into digital transformation

As hotels continue to adopt digital solutions, they create new potential attack points to entice bad actors.

By Kelly McSweeney • April 25, 2023

HotelPlanner launches loyalty program with ChatGPT integration

HotelPlanner follows suit with other major travel players like Expedia and Kayak using the technology.

By Jenna Walters • April 21, 2023

NCR in recovery as ransomware disrupts widely used point-of-sale system

In-restaurant purchases are still being processed on NCR Aloha, but other capabilities and business processes remain down, the company said Monday.

By Matt Kapko • April 20, 2023

Radisson expands digital strategy with virtual tours for guests

The immersive experiences are part of the hotel brand’s ongoing efforts to drive increased customer engagement and booking conversions.

By Michele Laufik • April 19, 2023

Google’s latest cookie alternative tests show promise — and loads of caveats

Shifting to interest-based solutions like the Topics API delivered a “relatively small” impact on performance, but the research parameters were limited.

By Peter Adams • April 18, 2023