The saying “change is the only constant” is a maxim that applies to the hotel industry. Yet it’s not entirely accurate for our industry, as there’s another constant that’s equally impactful to hoteliers: competition.

Ireckonu, the industry leader in hospitality middleware, CDP, and digital guest relationship systems integration, today announced the appointment of 25-year hospitality industry veteran, Rupert Gutteridge, as their Chief Operations Officer (COO). Gutteridge comes to Ireckonu after successful appointments at Oracle, Guestline, and Oaky where he successfully demonstrated his ability to grow businesses with a hands-on approach by creating great teams to drive a successful sales engine. For Rupert, a key focus has always been building long lasting relationships that keep the customer’s needs at the core of collaborative and productive partnerships.

Cloudbeds, the hospitality management platform powering more reservations and happier guests for lodging businesses around the globe, today announced its integration with Vrbo. Through a full API connection, owners and operators can manage all aspects of their Vrbo listing through the Cloudbeds platform. The integration creates a superior user experience with automation in onboarding, managing rates and availability, reconciliation, and more.

IDeaS, the world’s leading provider of hospitality revenue management software and services, held its annual Converge Hospitality Revenue Summit. The sold-out event was attended by more than 200 global hospitality executives and delivered two days of networking opportunities, education, and strategies for business growth and a look at the future of revenue management (RM) technology.

Expedia’s new loyalty program, “One Key Cash” has sparked interest among hoteliers worldwide, and for good reason. Designed to compete with hotel and brand-centric loyalty programs, One Key Cash will allow travelers to earn points and rewards across all three Expedia platforms: Expedia.com, hotels.com, and Vrbo. Like most reward programs, the platform will rely on tiered membership levels (Blue, Silver, Gold & Platinum), which means advancing to a higher tier offers additional rewards.

Eating in a university dining hall has traditionally been an experience for students, faculty and other staff to unwind from hectic schedules, socialize and enjoy a meal with friends and colleagues. However, according to a recent report by Payments, the rise in mobile ordering, contactless self-service options and other convenience-focused technologies has elevated student dining expectations. College students increasingly expect to have dining options that give them control over where and when they eat with easy, fast one-tap payment options.

‍Mannai Corporation QPSC is a public company listed on Qatar Exchange with a heritage that dates back to 1950. Mannai IT Solutions, one of the foundation pillars of the ICT Division under the Mannai Corporation group, is a turnkey IT solution provider, integrating innovative multi-vendor technologies to provide digital technology services & beyond, across varied service lines.

Part of the Olav Thon Group, Thon Hotels has more than 90 properties across Norway, Sweden, Belgium and The Netherlands. By offering a warm atmosphere at hotels run by knowledgeable staff who guarantee a high standard of service, the overarching ethos of the group is to ensure guests receive a positive experience every time they stay. To guarantee this positive guest experience, the group invests heavily in the business, not only in customer-facing front-of-house services but in vital back office processes and functions too.

When it comes to running a successful hotel, keeping a finger on the pulse of guest feedback is an absolute must. We know the sheer volume of feedback pouring in can feel overwhelming, but trust us, the benefits are well worth the effort. In today’s customer-centric world, guests are no longer satisfied with just a place to lay their heads; they crave a personalized experience that leaves a lasting impression. To deliver that level of service, you need to truly understand your guests – and the best way to do that is by asking them directly. Guest feedback holds the key to unlocking invaluable insights that can drive operational improvements and enhance guest satisfaction. So, let’s dive in and explore how hoteliers can stay on top of guest feedback and reap the rewards of a happy, loyal customer base.

It can be difficult to get a firm overview of what GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) models might mean for the future of the travel industry – or, indeed, humanity. While many commentators have an opinion, there are comparatively few experts in the field able to offer definitive insight.