Innovation

💸 ROH, a New York-based startup founded in 2023, secures €8 million in funding to automate hotel payment procedures. The round led by Highgate Technology Ventures and Acrew Capital adds Raja Goel, Kurien Jacob, and John Gardner to ROH's board. ROH's platform, which includes AI tools launched in 2024, addresses the manual intervention required in over 80% of the hotel industry's annual $4 trillion in payments, encompassing OTAs, corporate bookings, and event revenues. The investment will help ROH expand its platform and enhance data processing from contracts, invoices, and payments.

🏨 Brussels Airport unveils a major investment plan including the construction of a new four-star hotel with over 300 rooms, enhancing its hospitality vision. This development is part of a larger transformation aiming to accommodate passenger growth, with expansions to the terminal, a new intermodal hub, a green boulevard with a landscaped park, and improved transport links (train, tram, bus, bike, taxi). The new hotel is designed to meet the increasing demand, particularly from business and MICE segments, and to support the Zaventem hub's anticipated growth by 2032. It complements the existing Sheraton Hotel, offering a sophisticated extension of the premium airport experience.

🎭 TeamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, a 17,000 m² cultural landmark offering a revolutionary multi-sensory artistic experience, was officially inaugurated on April 17 by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. The VIP opening featured Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett, Hollywood's Andrew Garfield, Stranger Things' Natalia Dyer, DC Comics' Grant Gustin, spiritual leader Sadhguru, and a spectacular show with 6,000 synchronized drones and pyrotechnics, set in Saadiyat's cultural district.

📱 Evancy residences, located on the Côte d'Azur and Côte d'Opale, offer 401 apartments blending comfort and authenticity, focusing on digital experience with high-quality Wifi. The main clientele, families with children, prioritizes reliable connectivity. Evancy addressed this by implementing Passman's connected solutions, leveraging Aruba's high-quality equipment to ensure a seamless digital experience in their coastal properties.

📱 Santa Monica launched an AI-powered travel assistant using Guidegeek by Matador Network, offering real-time pricing data and personalized itineraries. SK Telecom introduced hassle-free, automatic roaming Wi-Fi on South Korean domestic flights, starting with Korean Air, and plans to expand nationwide. Tour Partner Group partnered with Nezasa's TripBuilder platform for a three-year term to streamline operations and launch a B2B portal, aiming to reduce request processing time by 25%. Zenmer from India released Zenia V2, an AI-based travel assistant for business travel management, enabling natural language planning and one-click booking. Hilton, in collaboration with Conferma, rolled out a cardless payment solution for business travel across its global properties. NextTrip acquired luxury online travel agency Five Star Alliance, with its inventory of over 5,000 five-star properties and 35 cruise lines, in April 2025, after initially purchasing a 49% stake in February, aiming to enhance its upscale travel segment.

✈ Archer Aviation begins testing flying taxis in New York, targeting connections between major airports and heliports in under 15 minutes. Adam Goldstein, Archer's co-founder, targets “9 main nodes”: JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, plus three major heliports and regional airports Teterboro, Westchester, and Republic Airport. Partnership with United Airlines aims to use 'vertiports' for the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft called 'Midnight,' which carries 4 passengers. Pending FAA certification, commercial operation could start in 2026. Archer raised $301 million in February 2025 and $3.36 billion since its 2021 IPO.

🍴 Florent Malbranche and Jean Lebrument, co-founders of Brigad, introduced Rosk, a job facilitation tool for the catering industry aiming to make the sector more attractive, simplify access to temporary work opportunities, and provide companies with the flexibility they need. Rosk was born out of the challenge of finding qualified staff and the desire for more job flexibility, evolution, and recognition in the hospitality sector.

💰 Goulu(e) restaurant in Paris's 15th arrondissement, led by chef Jérôme Penanhoat and Betzuhara Penanhoat, partners with Console SecretBox to enhance gift box sales. The platform offers an intuitive e-commerce store, simplified client purchasing, multiple payment options, and a CSE feature for bulk corporate sales, boasting over 100 features for easy management. Goulu(e) receives 100% of sales directly to their bank account without commission, increasing yearly revenue and simplifying team operations.

🔍 Google launched the Search Generative Experience (SGE), using AI to provide more personalized and detailed search results. SGE allows for more specific queries and follows up questions, enhancing local search with features like a "pack of 5" similar to the Local Pack, colorful result blocks, and embedded maps. Google is also testing the integration of Google Ads and Shopping into AI-generated responses, with further SEO implications for local businesses to increase visibility and relevance.

📱 CRM platforms help brands manage customer relationships by centralizing client information, enabling tailored communications to guide customers towards purchase. They provide access to client history, preferences, and issues, facilitating a better understanding of customers to enhance their satisfaction. CRM software centralizes all client interactions, including emails and social media, to personalize messages and anticipate expectations, aiming to improve customer loyalty. The customer experience encompasses all emotions felt before, during, and after a purchase and is critical for developing brand loyalty. CRM tools are vital in digitally transforming businesses, allowing them to track customer journey and address demands, ultimately boosting client retention and optimizing the overall customer experience. Guest Suite offers a comprehensive platform for Review Management to ensure an optimal customer experience and strengthen brand image through strategic omnichannel interaction analysis.