Accommodation Tech
10/28/2025
Mews acquires AI company DataChat
Mews announced the acquisition of Data Chat, a U.S.-based AI company. The move supports Mews’ goal to build agentic hospitality systems where intelligent agents manage operations, optimize performance, and allow staff to focus on guests. Data Chat was founded by AI engineers and data scientists with experience in retail, financial services, and telecommunications. Its conversational intelligence platform enables users to interact with business data through natural language, producing insights, workflows, and predictive models without technical expertise. Read More
10/27/2025
DIRECTV HOSPITALITY and Google TV announce new strategic partnership
DIRECTV HOSPITALITY and Google TV have announced a new strategic relationship to bring an enhanced, personalized streaming experience to hotels across the U.S. by integrating Google TV’s business-to-business version of the Android TV operating system into DIRECTV’s Advanced Entertainment Platform. Full deployment is scheduled for 2026. The Advanced Entertainment Platform (AEP) is DIRECTV’s customizable in-room entertainment solution that allows hotel guests to access entertainment multiple ways, similar to the way they access programming at home, by giving them access to live TV, popular streaming apps and on-demand content. Read More
10/27/2025
EOS Hospitality partners with IDeaS to power commercial and revenue management solutions
IDeaS, a SAS company and a provider of hospitality revenue management software, announced a new technology partnership agreement with EOS Hospitality, a hotel management firm overseeing a growing collection of 60 hotels, resorts and outdoor accommodations located in destinations across the U.S. As the travel landscape continues to evolve, asset managers are increasingly prioritizing data-driven strategies to enhance profitability and operational efficiency. In this landscape, EOS Hospitality selected IDeaS to replace its previous provider and lead its next stage of commercial transformation by leveraging integrated, AI-powered solutions to optimize asset performance and align operations with long-term financial goals. Read More
10/29/2025
Sonesta Expands Technology Partnership with Visual Matrix PMS
Sonesta International Hotels is celebrating a milestone by being the first to adopt the Visual Matrix Property Management System (PMS) for its 100th hotel. This partnership exemplifies the increasing need for better technology in the hospitality industry-distributed among travel and hotel management. It is also the strategic answer to operational efficiency while enhancing guest experience as Sonesta continues to expand globally. Read More
10/20/2025
HMS Otel Announces Cloud-Based Hotel Management System Driving Türkiye’s Digital Transformation in Hospitality
HMS Otel, developed by HMS Hotel Software Inc., is driving Türkiye’s leadership in hospitality technology through its fully integrated, cloud-based management platform. Founded by Nurettin Sezer in 2010, HMS has grown into a trusted technology partner for hotels, universities, and public institutions across more than 20 countries, powering 4,000+ properties. Read More
10/30/2025
Canary Technologies Leads Hospitality Innovation with AHLA Technology Acceleration Award
Canary Technologies, the front-runner in AI-powered guest management solutions for the hospitality industry, has been awarded the remarkable Technology Acceleration Award 2025 of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), which is the highest recognition from the said Association’s T100 leadership team. This prestigious award not only reflects the recognition of AHLA’s T100 leadership team but also the companies that are making a great impact in facilitating the adoption of technology through the implementation of the Hospitality Technology Next Generation (HTNG) standards. Read More
11/03/2025
Henderson Technology makes move into hospitality market with Power EPOS acquisition
Northern Ireland-based retail tech specialist Henderson Technology has announced its acquisition of the hospitality Point of Sale company, Power EPOS. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Power EPOS, based in London and Liverpool, has been supplying POS and back-office technology to hospitality companies for 38 years. All 13 support and install staff based across two premises in England, alongside developers based in Australia and Portugal will remain in employment. The acquisition sees the formation of a new company, Power EPOS Technologies. Read More
10/23/2025
Hotels push live ChatGPT integrations as AI search goes bookable
Eyeing an opportunity to grow direct bookings, hotels are pushing their technology partners to integrate live availability and pricing data into artificial intelligence (AI)-search platforms. ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and others have become popular tools for vacation research, but to date, results have been limited to hotel descriptions and links. But following OpenAI’s launch of “ChatGPT apps,” experts are predicting AI search platforms will soon be able to display real-time availability and rates. Once live, a dramatic shift in booking behaviors and patterns is expected, representing a real gamechanger for the accommodation sector. Read More
10/16/2025
HotelPORT Secures More Than One Million Growth Financing to Revolutionize Hospitality Tech with AI and Verified Content Solutions
HotelPORT, a trailblazer in content verification and guest engagement solutions, has secured $1.5 million in growth financing from Hum Capital. This investment will accelerate its operations across enterprise hotel brands and enhance its AI-driven platform, making it a leading force in the hospitality industry. HotelPORT, known for its expertise in data verification, distribution, and digital guest engagement, is on the fast track to revolutionize the hospitality industry. The $1.5 million growth financing secured from Hum Capital will significantly bolster its efforts to scale operations across major hotel brands. Read More
Travel Tech
10/31/2025
Navan’s $6.2B valuation marks a turning point for corporate travel tech
Founded in 2015 by Ariel Cohen and Ilan Twig, Navan set out to change that by building a unified platform that brings together travel booking, expense management, and corporate payments in a single streamlined tool. On October 31, 2025, Navan went public with an IPO valuation of $6.2 billion, raising $923 million. The company offered nearly 37 million shares at $25 each, with 30 million new shares sold to raise $750 million and existing shareholders selling 6.9 million shares worth $172.5 million. Read More
11/02/2025
Talma Travel Solutions Expands Global Footprint into Australia with the Acquisition of Bay Travel Group
Talma Travel Solutions – one of the 25 largest travel management companies in the world – has acquired Sydney-based Bay Travel Group in a US$10 million deal, expanding its footprint in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. This move strengthens Talma’s luxury and corporate travel offerings, aligns with its international growth strategy, and keeps Bay Travel’s leadership. Talma aims for continued APAC growth through acquisitions and tech innovation in 2026. Read More
10/29/2025
B2B visa processing startup StampMyVisa raises Rs 4 crore (US$482K) from Unicorn India Ventures
StampMyVisa, a Mumbai-based AI platform for visa processing, has secured Rs 4 crore (US$482K) funding led by Unicorn India Ventures. The investment will drive company growth, marketing, and support its acquisition of travel-tech startup Teleport. With AI-driven error reduction, StampMyVisa serves travel agents and corporates, processing 75,000+ visas for 80 countries in six months. The company is entering the GCC region and expanding fintech and product lines for trip protection and global roaming. Read More
11/03/2025
Tunisian travel tech WildyNess closes pre-seed round
In contrast to mass-market giants selling standardized attractions, Tunisian startup WildyNess has established itself as the leading platform for authentic travel experiences and Community-Based Tourism (CBT). The startup announced the closing of its first strategic pre-seed funding round for an undisclosed amount. It was co-led by the Bridging Angels network and the African Diaspora Network. This investment is a first for the regional travel tech ecosystem. It positions WildyNess as the first and only B2C/B2B2C travel marketplace in North Africa to announce a pre-seed fundraising round. While local venture capital has overwhelmingly focused on FinTech, WildyNess has successfully proven a new, high-potential vertical: the sustainable experiences market. Read More
10/29/2025
MakeMyTrip reports robust domestic and international demand, updates on AI
MakeMyTrip reported a 9% increase to revenue of $229 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, attributing the growth to “robust travel demand” domestically as well as outbound. Gross bookings for the quarter were up 13% to $2.4 billion while adjusted operating profit totaled $44 million, up from $37.5 million for the same quarter in 2024. Read More
10/21/2025
Digital wallets, crypto and payment developments in travel
Cryptocurrency is carving out a role in travel—from B2C bookings to B2B settlements—through stablecoin-powered payments and crypto-savvy consumers making high-value transactions. Although cryptocurrency still represents a small portion of global travel spending, industry leaders believe change is coming quickly. “Travel is an emotional and high-value purchase,” said Damien Cramer, senior vice president of global travel at Nuvei. “Seventy-four percent of customers won’t complete a booking if their preferred payment method isn’t offered.” Read More
10/28/2025
AI’s new gatekeepers: How Booking.com and Expedia are hijacking the future of travel
Just days into OpenAI’s new app marketplace, Booking.com and Expedia have seized a commanding lead. They’re not solely experimenting with artificial intelligence – they’re embedding themselves directly into the core of how travelers search, discover and book stays at your hotels. And because they’ve moved first, they are about to become the default middlemen of the AI age. If that happens, hoteliers will spend the next decade paying for access to their own guests. Read More
10/27/2025
Grab, May Mobility partner to bring robotaxis to Southeast Asia
Singapore-based superapp Grab has partnered with autonomous vehicle (AV) company May Mobility to launch AV services in Southeast Asia. As part of the multiyear partnership, Grab invested an undisclosed amount in Michigan-based May Mobility as the company expands operations beyond the U.S. and Japan. May Mobility’s AV driving technology will be integrated into Grab’s “core ecosystem,” while May Mobility will have access to GrabMaps, the superapp’s proprietary mapping technology. Read More
10/27/2025
From $1.6T to $1.8T: How global travel will grow, shift, go digital by 2027
Fully recovered and returning to growth, the global travel industry reached $1.6 trillion in gross bookings in 2024 and is on track to approach $1.8 trillion by 2027, according to Phocuswright’s Global Travel Market Report 2025. Fueled by digital adoption and steady leisure demand, this new era of travel is marked by structural transformation on multiple fronts. Read More
10/31/2025
More EMEA travelers trust AI for vacation planning
Travelers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence when researching vacations. A large survey from Marriott Bonvoy of more than 22,000 EMEA travelers found that 50% have used AI to research or plan a trip. This marked a 9% increase from last year, and a 24% increase from 2023. Additionally, 14% of respondents said they use AI “all the time” for travel planning. Read More
F&B Tech
10/20/2025
Magic raises $10 million to advance AI restaurant CRM
Magic has raised $10 million in a seed round to develop its AI-powered software for restaurants. The company builds customer relationship management (CRM) tools for the hospitality industry. New York venture firm Lerer Hippeau led the investment, with participation from Major Food Group. Magic uses artificial intelligence to help personalize the guest experience. The platform can craft marketing messages that match a restaurant’s unique brand voice. Read More
10/30/2025
Food solution startup Fambo raises Rs. 21.55 crore (US$2.58M) funding led by AgriSURE Fund
Food solutions startup Fambo has raised Rs. 21.55 crore (US$2.58M) from AgriSURE and EV2 Ventures to accelerate its next phase of growth. The fresh capital will be used for geographical expansion, product line diversification, team building, and strengthening its technology stack. This marks Fambo’s second fundraise in 2025, following a Rs. 21 crore (US$2.5M) round in January led by EV2 Ventures and a clutch of ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Read More
11/02/2025
Will Toast’s (TOST) AI-Powered Platform Redefine Its Edge in Restaurant Technology?
In late October 2025, Toast announced a significant expansion of its Toast IQ ecosystem by launching a conversational AI assistant for restaurants and food and beverage retailers, providing real-time insights and the ability to execute actions across its platform. This AI integration, developed in partnership with customers and complemented by an exclusive feature collaboration with The Coca-Cola Company, highlights Toast’s commitment to operational innovation and deepening its value proposition for hospitality operators. Read More
11/01/2025
Ben’s Soft Pretzels Sees 40% Higher Spend and 64% More Visits with Square’s All-in-One Restaurant Platform
Ben’s Soft Pretzels, America’s fastest-growing premium pretzel franchise, has partnered with Square to power its nationwide operations. With Square’s all-in-one restaurant platform, Ben’s has transformed its customer engagement and operational efficiency – from loyalty programs to back-of-house insights – giving its teams the tools needed to scale while maintaining the authentic pretzel experience that started on an Amish homestead. Read More
10/29/2025
Yelp Expands AI Portfolio with New Tools to Handle Restaurant Calls, Bookings and Guest Inquiries
Yelp has rolled out a major expansion of its AI-powered product lineup with the launch of Yelp Host and Yelp Receptionist, two new voice-driven tools designed to answer calls, take reservations, and manage bookings for restaurants and other local businesses. The announcement, part of Yelp’s Fall 2025 product release, signals a broader move by the company — and the industry — toward automating customer management and front-of-house communication. Read More
11/01/2025
Online Ordering Continues to Fuel Restaurant Growth
The Online Ordering Revolution: How Digital Dining Continues to Fuel Restaurant Growth and Economic Expansion in 2025
Restaurant Growth – The restaurant industry in 2025 continues to evolve at a pace few could have predicted just a decade ago. What began as a convenience trend has become a structural pillar of modern food service. Online ordering is now as vital as a kitchen or a dining room. Across the nation and throughout the St. Louis region, restaurants of all sizes are discovering that a digital presence can make the difference between survival and sustained success. Read More
10/23/2025
How AI Is reshaping the F&B industry – And what companies must do next
Artificial intelligence is quietly revolutionizing the food and beverage industry – from spotting defects faster than human inspectors to discovering novel ingredients at lightning speed. Yannick Verry, brand director at FI Europe, explains how companies are harnessing artificial intelligence to boost efficiency, reduce waste and innovate smarter, showing that the future of food isn’t just digital...it’s intelligent. Read More