Innovation

📈 Navan's 2026 report shows 90% of business travelers view trips as essential, up 8% from 2025. 80% sometimes book outside platforms, while 77% of managers find current expense tools lacking. 77% seek all-in-one AI solutions. NDC adoption leads to savings and better booking options for 88% of managers. 76% of travelers trust AI for simple tasks, up from 59% in 2024. The report highlights the growing importance of AI in business travel management.

💻 77% of French travelers prefer human-managed hotel services, while 74% support a hybrid model combining personal interaction and self-service options. Only 26% opt for fully automated hotels, viewing them as impersonal. 52% like booking online, and 31% handle their own check-outs. 33% are willing to pay up to 10% more for 24/7 human assistance. The survey by Ipsos.Digital for Mews highlights a desire for technology that enhances, not replaces, human interaction.

🏢 Kevin White and Noam Toister discussed the Travolution Innovation Report 2025 in London, highlighting key travel trends. Since 2019, travel has seen continuous growth with longer business trips—averaging over 10 days in 2024 compared to 8.8 days in 2019. An estimated 3,000-4,000 transport operators are digitized yearly. The report accents digital investments and B2B advancements, focusing on user experience and automation, indicating major travel industry shifts in 2026.

🏊‍♀️ Septeo Hospitality acquires AquaO to reinforce its Wellness software leadership, covering thalasso, thermal baths, spas, and balneotherapy. AquaO, a key French player for over 35 years, serves nearly 100 establishments with comprehensive solutions. Septeo's Nymphea software dominates the market, equipping around 200 establishments. This strategic move bolsters Septeo's European expansion and strengthens its position as the prime tech partner for wellness providers.

🛅 Travelsoft and Gekko Group form a partnership in December 2025 to connect Teldar Travel and Infinite hotel inventories to Travelgate and Travel Compositor platforms. This offers real-time access to over 2 million accommodations globally for agencies and tour operators. Teldar Travel provides an operational service and proactive hotel confirmations, while Infinite ensures contract reliability. This move enhances choice, simplifies processes, and emphasizes Travelsoft's central role in tourism technology.

📈 Septeo Hospitality acquires AquaO on December 4, 2025, in Montpellier, enhancing its leadership in Wellness software. AquaO, a key player for 35+ years, manages 100 French wellness centers. Septeo's Nymphea serves 200 establishments. Septeo, with 3,200 employees, invests €80 million annually in R&D. In 2024, it earned €420 million. Septeo aims to revolutionize Wellness in Europe using AI for client optimization and operational excellence. The acquisition supports their European expansion strategy.

💰 Présente pour la première fois au Salon SETT 2025, Dunlopillo a dévoilé sa gamme Holi’D dédiée à l’hôtellerie de plein air. Avec plus de 100 prospects séduits et commandes prometteuses, la collection inclut des matelas réversibles et des housses lavables. Dunlopillo, une marque française iconique, offre des solutions de literie durables et pratiques, soutenues par le groupe Finadorm, qui a généré 230 millions d'euros de chiffre d'affaires en 2024.

📈 Le PriceLabs Global Host Report 2025 révèle que l'IA n'allège pas le travail des hôtes de locations courte durée. Sur plus de 1,400 hôtes mondiaux, seulement 14% trouvent l'IA utile, tandis que 43% la trouvent écrasante. En moyenne, les hôtes passent 8.3 heures par semaine à gérer leurs propriétés. 76% des hôtes estiment que l'administratif prend le plus de temps. 90% envisagent d’investir dans des outils de réservations directes pour réduire la dépendance à Airbnb.

🚀 En 2025, le tourisme spatial progresse avec des vols suborbitaux et orbitaux. Coûtant entre 250 000 € et 55 millions d’euros, des entreprises comme Virgin Galactic et SpaceX mènent la course. Les infrastructures incluent des spatioports et des fusées réutilisables. Cela impacte le tourisme terrestre, créant un segment ultra-premium. Les spatioports deviennent des pôles touristiques, influençant les attentes technologiques et marketing des locations de vacances. Un futur interplanétaire est envisagé.

💻 Charles Gombert founded Ezus in 2019 to address inefficiencies in custom travel production, where agents spent excessive time using Excel. Ezus, a SaaS solution, automates and expedites the entire travel planning process, from client request to billing. Present in 75 countries, Ezus serves around 600 agencies, primarily small businesses with 10-15 employees, with some larger clients up to 200 staff. Ezus integrates AI for personalized content and supports travel producers in scalability and operational excellence.