Innovation

🏡 Hostaway, a vacation rental software developer, closed a funding round of $365 million at a post-funding valuation of $925 million, after a 10x growth in revenue and property numbers. General Atlantic led the round, with participation from initial funder PSG Equity. Hostaway was co-founded by CEO Marcus Räder, CSO Saber Kordestanchi, and Mikko Nurminen, targeting fragmented management across platforms like Airbnb and VRBO.

🏨 Puneet Chhatwal, CEO of The Indian Hotels Company Limited, highlighted the company's successful transformation, consistent growth, expansion strategies, and innovation. The company, established as the oldest operational entity of the Tata group, India's largest business conglomerate, now boasts over 350 hotels and employs 40,000 people. Indian Hotels Company has recently announced accelerated ambitions, including expanding its hotel portfolio and committing to sustainability and ESG goals.

🎬 CES 2025 in Las Vegas from January 7-10, focusing on artificial intelligence, robotics, and new mobility, centering on themes of enterprise, society, and individuals. Health sector less represented with fewer exhibitors. AI will be prevalent, particularly generative AI. Key trends include agentification in AI, humanoid and articulated arm robots, and connected health advancements like brain-machine interfaces. Over 130 French startups, including Tested4You, will attend, supported by French Tech, Business France, and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

🎬 Caleb, 26-year-old coder at BlueBook, wins a trip to the CEO's mountain residence for an AI interaction experiment with a robot named Ava. In near-future Los Angeles, Theodore Twombly falls in love with Samantha, an AI system. In 2035, Detective Del Spooner investigates a robot named Sonny for murder, challenging Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics. Mathematician Alan Turing is recruited to break the German Enigma code in 1940. A Hong Kong nuclear plant is sabotaged by a cyberattack in an unknown year, prompting Captain Dawai Chen to find the perpetrator. In 2019, Blade Runner is tasked to hunt rebellious "replicants" in Los Angeles. By 2049, Officer K seeks a long-hidden secret affecting society and finds former Blade Runner Rick Deckard. Astronaut Mark Watney is stranded on Mars, left to survive alone. The 22nd-century spaceship C 57 D discovers Robby the robot and the survivor of a vanished expedition on Altair 4. In the 21st century, an 11-year-old android named David embarks on a journey to find humanity within himself. The film "Lucy" showcases a student's infinitely expanding intellectual capacities. In a near future, a scientist's consciousness is uploaded to a supercomputer. In 1984 Los Angeles, the Terminator is sent to assassinate Sarah Connor. By 2054, Washington's

🌍 La SNCF, depuis 8 mois, expérimente l'Apple Vision Pro, un casque de réalité mixte avec mode "réalité virtuelle" et 3 heures d'autonomie, pour transformer les TGV en bureaux virtuels et cinémas immersifs à 320 km/h. Utilisant la technologie EyeSight, il assure la confidentialité des données et interaction avec les contrôleurs. Le casque, coûtant 3 999 euros, n'est pas destiné à un usage généralisé, mais une version plus accessible pourrait émerger d'ici 2026 ou 2027. Parallèlement, la SNCF teste ChatGPT "Vision" pour guider les voyageurs en temps réel, mettant l'accent sur l'accessibilité et la consommation énergétique des technologies.

💰 Porsche's new Macan, now fully electric, offers up to 600 km of range and is part of the brand's shift towards 80% electric vehicle sales by 2030. The second-generation Macan, eschewing traditional combustion engines, boasts a turbo version with 639 hp, achieving 0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds. The base model, priced at €82,959 before options, provides 360 hp and a 0-100 km/h time of 5.7 seconds. It features a 95 kWh battery with an expected 644 km range in optimal conditions and practicalities such as a 100% digital dashboard and passenger multimedia access. Expect 350-400 km on highways, where high-power electric charging stations are now standard at service stations.

✈ Vueling's IT Director, Javier Alvarez, discusses leveraging AI and quantum computing to enhance operations and customer experience. Already adept with 30 developed algorithms, Vueling introduced a 24/7 virtual assistant a month ago and plans to include transactional features. The airline has 25 data scientists and aims for 9-10 generative AI initiatives by next year. Quantum computing could reduce data processing from 24 hours to 1-2 hours. Vueling, pioneering mobile app and Apple Pay integrations, eyes a digital airport experience with potential augmented reality applications.

🏨 Chadi Antoine Hachem, with over 20 years in the hotel industry and a 2001 graduate of Ecole hôtelière de Paris – Jean Drouant, has been appointed Hotel Manager of the upcoming voco Malta, St. Julian's, set to open late March/early April 2025. Previously holding the Director of Rooms position at InterContinental Marseille – Hôtel Dieu for three years, Hachem is known for his customer service, managing multinational teams, and optimizing hotel operations. His international experience includes key roles at HMH – Hospitality Management Holding in Dubai and Golden Tulip Al Jazira in Abu Dhabi.

🎭 Museum Connections, the international trade fair for museum equipment and enhancement, will return to Porte de Versailles, Paris, on January 14-15, 2025. Last year's event attracted 5,414 participants and 383 exhibitors. Highlighted are conferences on digital impact and innovation in cultural venues on January 14 from 14:00-15:00 and 16:00-16:45, and on cultural innovation on January 15 from 15:00-15:45. Three exhibition spaces include Museum Life, Museum Shop, and Museum Tech, featuring key players such as Ask Mona, Affluences, Cultival, and others. Opening hours are 9:30-18:30 on January 14 and 9:30-18:00 on January 15.

📍 Skyscanner, a global travel leader, launched Skyscanner Ads, a new advertising platform that leverages proprietary data from over 110 million monthly visitors. The platform, developed in collaboration with airlines, online travel agencies, media agencies, and key industry players, aims to help partners adapt to the ever-changing digital advertising landscape. It offers a way to reach qualified new audiences while respecting data privacy, catering especially to the 51% of users who are undecided on their next destination and do not rely on third-party cookies or tracking technologies.