Innovation

📈 In an interview for Net Managers Collection Winter 2025, André-Louis Rochet, Co-founder & CEO of Tw3 Partners, discussed "model merging": a cost-effective AI technique for the tourism industry. It blends two existing AI models (A and B) to create a new model (C). This method reduces costs compared to building a model from scratch, is eco-friendly, enhances data sovereignty by keeping open-source models on company servers, and enables the creation of expert agents through retraining with company-specific data.

📝 Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) acts as a digital storefront on Google, enhancing local store traffic. However, circumstances may require the deletion of a Google My Business listing. The article guides on how to remove a Google establishment card, with a focus on the implications of such an action. It generally takes up to three days to receive email confirmation of deletion. The post advises against deleting listings in situations like negative reviews or relocation, suggesting alternatives like mass collection of positive reviews or updating business details. For definitive business closures or when taking over a poorly reviewed establishment, deletion might be appropriate. Guest Suite is mentioned as a tool assisting with Google listings management and review automation for over 10,000 establishments.

🏥 Chi Longevity, a global leader in healthy longevity, opened its second clinic at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore after the success of its flagship at Camden Medical Centre. Founded in March 2023, Chi Longevity is Singapore's first private clinic dedicated to slowing biological aging, using the latest scientific advances to offer personalized evidence-based programs. The 112 square meter clinic offers health assessments with advanced diagnostic tools, including blood analysis, cognitive tests, and genetic profiling.

🛀 Mybakup, a French startup, has partnered with Orchestra from Travelsoft group, integrating their medical appointment booking service into travel agency platforms. The BtoBtoC solution offers medical appointments in 40 specialties and in 15 languages, enhancing travel packages and pre-departure or in-destination services. Partnered with Accor, Best Western, Carrefour Voyages, and SNCF, Mybakup facilitates medical access for travelers by location and provides consultation costs and local emergency contacts.

🎮 During the Net Managers Collection Hiver event at Méribel, Guillaume Rambourg from Apex Legends (EA) highlighted the video game industry's substantial potential for marketing strategies targeting Generation Z. The global video game revenue in 2023 was $183.9 billion. Mobile gaming is rapidly growing, particularly in Asia, and "live" games generate most revenue. About 90% of French people aged 15-34 play video games yearly, according to SELL's October 2024 study. The video game industry now inspires platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and HBO. Brands can engage this demographic through game-specific marketing, Twitch sponsorships, and co-marketing with video games. In tourism, video games have been used to promote destinations and cultural heritage, with initiatives like the "Centre-Val de Loire Tour" in Fortnite and the Italian Foreign Ministry's "ITALY: Land of Wonders" game to showcase Italy's culture.

🎨 Jessica Willig Rosenstein of Fever, at Museum Connections salon, discusses immersive experiences enhancing visitor engagement, especially among 18-35-year-olds. Immersion, paired with interactive content, complements museum visits, with emotional impact significantly affecting visitor memory and experience.

🎨 Tedi Asher, a neuroscientist at Peabody Essex Museum, develops methods to enhance museum experiences by tracking visitor engagement through eye-tracking and biometric measurements. Marc Williams Debono, neuroscientist, advocates for integrating science into artistic projects to foster learning. Analisa Banzi, art historian at CESPEB, University Bicocca in Milan, Italy, conducts projects aimed at reducing stress and anxiety in museums using neuroscience. The collective goal is to improve visitor well-being and create a synergy between neuroscience and museum organization.

📈 At the Net Managers Collection Hiver event in Méribel, the focus was on generative AI and model merging. André-Louis Rochet, Tw3 Partners CEO, highlighted the technique's ability to combine specialized models to enhance system performance. Erwan Simon, Genial CEO, indicated that the AI agent revolution is underway. In tourism, with 2 out of 3 American travelers using AI, France is catching up. Creating an AI agent typically requires 3 months and a budget of 15,000 to 30,000 euros.

💰 Expedia Group and Microsoft Corp. announced a strategic partnership to integrate their loyalty programs, rewarding Bing users with additional benefits for bookings made through Expedia. Travelers can earn Microsoft rewards and also Expedia Group rewards, including One Key travel rewards in the US and UK. Expedia Group, a 2024 Inc. Power Partner, enables over 60,000 businesses with advanced tech solutions like Rapid API and White Label Template, covering the entire traveler journey. The partnership marks the first time Expedia's sector-leading Rapid API technology pairs with One Key rewards, offering Bing users seamless booking access to over 750,000 hotels and vacation rentals globally.

🏨 Mews, a cloud-based hotel management platform, identified 8 pillars for better service, staff availability, and increased revenue in its white paper. Mews was voted Best PMS in 2024 and 2025 by Hotel Tech Report and began in a Prague hotel in 2012. Now serving thousands of hotels worldwide, Mews continues its mission to develop transformative solutions for hotel brands.