Choice Hotels: First in Hospitality to Fully Embrace the Cloud

Choice Hotels: First in Hospitality to Fully Embrace the Cloud

By Author

Published on February 1, 2024

Big news in the hotel world! Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) has just hit a major tech milestone. They're now the first hotel company to shift their entire system infrastructure to the cloud. That's right, no more data centres for them – they're fully on Amazon Web Services (AWS) now.

What does this big move mean? For starters, it's a game-changer for how they respond to market conditions. This cloud setup gives Choice Hotels a super flexible, resilient, and scalable platform. It's not just good news for the company; it's great for hotel owners and operators within the Choice system too. They're looking at more efficient hotel-facing operations, management tools, and even the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to boost profitability and guest experiences.

Brian Kirkland, the Chief Information Officer at Choice Hotels, is excited about what this means for their franchisees. "Moving everything to the cloud means our franchisees are always in the loop with the latest tech, saving them time and money. It also keeps us ahead in the competitive hotel booking journey," he says.

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This wasn't an overnight change. It's been a five-year journey, but what a finish line! Over 3,729 servers were decommissioned, more than 300 applications retired, and upwards of 250 applications migrated.

Matt Garman from AWS is praising Choice for their bold cloud-first approach. "They've been able to innovate, scale, pivot, and grow sustainably over these five years, thanks to their cloud-first mindset," he says.

Choice's cloud journey started back in 2015 with their cloud-based central reservation system, choiceEDGE. At that time, it was the first new CRS from a hotel company in over three decades.

Jason Simpson, Vice President of Cloud Engineering for Choice Hotels, is thrilled about leveraging their cloud-first infrastructure. "AWS Cloud was crucial for us to integrate Radisson digitally in record time and increase our traffic and booking revenue," he notes.

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Choice Hotels has been on the forefront of tech innovation in the hospitality industry for a while now:

1995: Launched the first hotel website with real-time rates and availability.

2003: Introduced the first cloud-based property management system, choiceADVANTAGE.

2009: Released the first hotel app for iOS.

2014: First hotel company to offer instant booking on TripAdvisor and listed on Forbes' Top 100 Most Innovative Growth Companies.

2016: First hotel company with instant in-app gift card downloads.

2018: choiceEDGE goes live, the first cloud-based CRS.

2019: First hotel company to commit to 100% AWS Cloud.

2021: Launched ChoiceMAX, an AI mobile-first revenue management solution.

2024: Completed cloud migration.

Fully cloud-based now, Choice Hotels is all set to continue innovating and leveraging AI for greater business value for franchisees.

About Choice Hotels®

One of the largest lodging franchisors in the world, Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) boasts over 7,500 hotels in 46 countries and territories. With 22 diverse brands, Choice Hotels® meets traveller needs across various segments, driving value for franchise owners and shareholders. The Choice Privileges® rewards program and co-brand credit card options offer members fast ways to earn reward nights and personalised perks. Discover more at www.choicehotels.com.


MakeMyTrip Launches AI-Powered Natural Language Search for Hotels and Homestays

MakeMyTrip Launches AI-Powered Natural Language Search for Hotels and Homestays

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on October 19, 2025

MakeMyTrip, India’s leading online travel platform, has introduced Semantic Search, an AI-powered feature designed to simplify the discovery of hotels and homestays. The feature allows travellers to type queries in everyday language, such as “pet-friendly hotels in Manali with a swimming pool” or “heritage stays near Jaipur forts with parking,” eliminating the need to manually navigate through multiple filters.

Built on the same AI framework as MakeMyTrip’s GenAI-enabled assistant, Myra, the Semantic Search system interprets open-ended queries to provide relevant, context-driven results tailored to individual preferences. Users receive personalized recommendations enhanced by property visuals, curated user-generated content, and context-based rankings.

The system also includes AI smart suggestions, offering recommendations like “beachfront hotels in Goa” or “Ooty stays with mountain views,” complete with context tags such as “great for families” or “private pools available.” This ensures faster, simpler, and more intuitive discovery for travellers seeking the perfect stay.

“Our goal is to make travel planning as natural as conversation. With AI Search within the stay booking experience, we’re simplifying one of the most important parts of the traveller journey, finding the right stay. Instead of forcing users to think like a system, we’ve built a system that understands how people naturally express themselves,” said Ankit Khanna, Chief Product Officer, MakeMyTrip.

This development builds on MakeMyTrip’s broader AI innovation strategy. Earlier this year, the company launched the Beta version of its GenAI Trip Planning Assistant, Myra, which supports travellers across the journey, from discovery and booking to in-trip and post-travel assistance. Currently available in English and Hindi, Myra also plans to expand into additional Indian languages based on user feedback.

With Semantic Search, MakeMyTrip aims to deliver a more natural, personalised, and efficient experience for travellers, taking the frustration out of finding the ideal stay and setting a new benchmark for AI-driven travel planning in India.


The First Group Hospitality Partners with Inntelo AI to Elevate Guest Experiences with AI-Powered Innovation

The First Group Hospitality Partners with Inntelo AI to Elevate Guest Experiences with AI-Powered Innovation

By Hariharan U

Published on October 16, 2025

The First Group Hospitality has announced a strategic partnership with Inntelo AI, a next-generation guest experience and operations platform, to introduce AI-native technology across its expanding portfolio of hotels. The collaboration aims to redefine how guests interact, communicate, and experience hospitality through advanced artificial intelligence.

Following a successful implementation at TRYP by Wyndham Dubai, The First Group is now set to integrate Inntelo AI across all its properties including the much-anticipated Ciel Dubai Marina – Vignette Collection by IHG, which is soon to claim the title of the world’s tallest hotel.

Through this integration, guests can look forward to a seamless digital concierge experience. From ordering room service and making restaurant bookings to scheduling local excursions or requesting amenities, everything can be done effortlessly via phone, WhatsApp, or voice commands in over 40 languages. This platform merges convenience, personalisation, and innovation, giving guests more control over their stay.

The collaboration aligns with The First Group Hospitality’s broader vision of embedding AI-driven intelligence throughout its business operations. The company already uses AI tools for revenue forecasting, rate optimisation, restaurant reservations, team scheduling, and guest satisfaction monitoring. This partnership with Inntelo extends that innovation into real-time service delivery and operational insights, connecting guest needs directly to hotel teams.

The First Group has always been at the forefront of innovation, carefully evaluating and implementing the latest solutions; having worked with Inntelo AI over recent months, we are incredibly excited and ambitious about how this cutting-edge AI technology sets us apart in the hotel management field,” said Tom Stevens, Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations, The First Group Hospitality. “This partnership with Inntelo AI will ensure every guest interaction, from arrival to departure, is powered by intelligence, efficiency, and personalisation.”

Echoing this sentiment, Asif Alidina, Co-Founder and CEO of Inntelo AI, added, “We are delighted to partner with the team at The First Group Hospitality, who truly understand the value of being a first mover in this space using an AI-native platform. This project future-proofs their operations and positions them to rapidly leverage the power of agentic and conversational AI across their portfolio long before many of their competitors. Our platform doesn’t just enhance service; it transforms how hotels operate, think, and scale.”

The First Group Hospitality and Inntelo AI’s partnership represents more than just a technology upgrade — it signals a new phase for the hospitality sector where data-driven insights and personalisation work hand-in-hand to elevate the guest journey.


BWH Hotels Launches AutoClerk Atlas to Redefine Property Management

BWH Hotels Launches AutoClerk Atlas to Redefine Property Management

By Hariharan U

Published on October 11, 2025

BWH® Hotels, the global hospitality group behind WorldHotels™, Best Western® Hotels & Resorts, and SureStay® Hotels, has introduced AutoClerk® Atlas, a next-generation Property Management System (PMS) developed in partnership with HotelKey.

This marks a major milestone in BWH Hotels’ technology journey, aimed at transforming hotel operations, improving guest experiences, and driving efficiency across its worldwide network.

AutoClerk Atlas is a reimagined version of the long-standing AutoClerk system, combining BWH Hotels’ expertise with HotelKey’s modern cloud-based platform. The collaboration brings together scalability, reliability, and smart automation to create a PMS that’s simple, powerful, and ready for the future of hospitality.

AutoClerk Atlas marks a pivotal step forward in our journey to reimagine both the guest and hotel team experience. Through partnering with HotelKey, we're introducing a world-class Property Management System that's scalable, intuitive, and future-ready,” said Bill Ryan, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, BWH Hotels.

Built to address today’s operational challenges, AutoClerk Atlas delivers, One-day onboarding with built-in training modules for quick adoption, Automated payments and reconciliation to streamline daily tasks, Actionable guest insights that empower teams to offer personalized service, Deep integration with existing and third-party systems for seamless connectivity.

Aditya Thyagarajan, Co-Founder and President of HotelKey, said, “We are excited to bring AutoClerk Atlas powered by HotelKey to BWH Hotels, driving operational excellence and delivering a seamless, elevated guest experience.”

Fareed Ahmad, Co-Founder and CEO of HotelKey, added, “Our partnership with BWH Hotels reflects a shared commitment to innovation and long-term success. We’re focused on delivering a smooth transition and giving hotel teams the tools they need to thrive in an evolving industry.”

With AutoClerk Atlas, BWH Hotels continues to invest in technology that supports growth, enhances guest satisfaction, and simplifies operations for its vast network of nearly 4,300 hotels worldwide.

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