IHG Hotels & Resorts Teams Up with Google Cloud to Enhance Travel Planning Experience

IHG Hotels & Resorts Teams Up with Google Cloud to Enhance Travel Planning Experience

By Nishang Narayan

Published on April 12, 2024

IHG Hotels & Resorts, in collaboration with Google Cloud, is set to revolutionise the travel planning experience with the introduction of a new feature powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The partnership aims to enhance guest experiences within the IHG One Rewards mobile app, offering personalised travel recommendations to users.

With the integration of Google Cloud's technologies, IHG will unveil a generative AI-powered travel planning capability, allowing guests to easily plan their next vacation directly through the IHG One Rewards mobile app. This suite of new features is scheduled to launch in the second half of 2024, promising a more dynamic digital guest experience.

Jolie Fleming, Chief Product & Technology Officer at IHG Hotels & Resorts, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, emphasising how the customised travel planner will utilise GenAI to help users discover destinations among IHG's extensive portfolio of over 6,000 hotels across 19 brands in more than 100 countries. The IHG One Rewards mobile app will evolve into a comprehensive mobile travel companion, enabling guests to build full itineraries and book hotels with ease.

The new IHG Travel Planner will offer guests personalised recommendations and ideas for their travel needs, from specific dining options near IHG properties to pet-friendly accommodations. Guests will also have access to information about local events and attractions, enhancing their overall travel experience.

image

Investments in the IHG One Rewards mobile app and technology to support IHG's loyalty program are integral to IHG's strategy to foster customer loyalty and engagement. Leveraging Google Cloud's AI platform, Vertex AI, and Gemini models, IHG aims to deploy features loved by guests swiftly and efficiently.

Thomas Kurian, CEO at Google Cloud, highlighted the significance of the partnership, stating that IHG's implementation of generative AI reflects a commitment to reimagining guest experiences in the hospitality industry. The collaboration combines Google's technical expertise with IHG's dedication to service, setting new standards for digital guest interactions.

Google Cloud's comprehensive approach to cybersecurity, data governance, and privacy aligns with IHG's priorities, ensuring that guest data remains secure and compliant with industry standards. Moreover, IHG benefits from Google Cloud's responsible and ethical approach to AI, enabling direct review and optimization of AI models for enhanced performance.

The introduction of the IHG Travel Planner marks another milestone in IHG's journey to enhance guest experiences through innovative technology solutions. As travellers seek more personalised and seamless travel experiences, IHG remains committed to delivering exceptional hospitality through cutting-edge digital solutions.

To explore IHG Hotels & Resorts' global brands or book your next stay, download the IHG One Rewards App today.

About Google Cloud:

Google Cloud offers a comprehensive suite of AI, infrastructure, developer, data, security, and collaboration tools, designed to empower organisations for today and tomorrow's challenges. With customers in over 200 countries and territories, Google Cloud is a trusted technology partner for businesses worldwide.

About IHG:

IHG Hotels & Resorts is a global hospitality company dedicated to providing True Hospitality for Good. With 19 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programs, IHG operates over 6,300 hotels in more than 100 countries, with a robust development pipeline of over 2,000 properties.


Chatlyn Secures €8M Series A to Power AI-Driven Hospitality Communication

Chatlyn Secures €8M Series A to Power AI-Driven Hospitality Communication

By Nishang Narayan

Published on June 26, 2025

Vienna-based AI startup Chatlyn has raised €8 million in Series A funding, as it sets out to build what it calls the "AI brain for hotels"—a powerful communication and operations platform that is transforming how hotels engage with guests across every touchpoint. The round was led by Smedvig Ventures and saw participation from notable investors including AnyDesk founder Andreas Burike, Blaguss Group, and hospitality-focused angels. An innovation grant was also awarded by FFG, Austria's research and development agency.

Chatlyn’s platform is already used by over 1,000 properties across 30 countries, including luxury brands like St. Regis Mauritius, Singer Palace Rome, and InterContinental Vienna. The company recently opened a new Dubai office, strengthening its presence in the fast-growing Middle East market.

"We’re building an AI that understands hospitality like a concierge and never sleeps," said Nicolas Vorsteher, CEO & Co-founder, Chatlyn. "Our goal is to eliminate missed opportunities and bring back meaningful guest interactions—instantly, intelligently, and in over 35 languages."

Solving Hospitality’s €10 Billion Communication Gap

Chatlyn tackles one of the hotel industry's biggest pain points: fragmented guest communication across multiple channels like WhatsApp, Booking.com, Airbnb, SMS, and email. This chaos leads to missed revenue, frustrated staff, and unhappy guests.

Chatlyn consolidates these platforms into a single AI-powered hub that doesn’t just automate responses—it learns the brand voice, understands context, and handles everything from booking inquiries to multilingual review replies.

Innovations Driving Adoption

  • AI Visual Webchat: Guests can book rooms via chat, see real-time prices, and complete reservations—all within a conversation.

  • 98% Open Rates: WhatsApp-based messaging far outperforms traditional email marketing.

  • Full Channel Integration: Only platform that combines Airbnb, Booking messenger, social, email, SMS, and more.

  • Language Mastery: Real-time translation in 35+ languages, handling 70%+ of inquiries autonomously.

Industry Voices

"Our AI assistant handles over 70% of queries in English, German, Arabic, and more—freeing our team to focus on delivering exceptional service," said Garry Loefgen, Head of Commercial at InterContinental Vienna.

"Chatlyn is poised to lead hospitality’s biggest transformation since online booking," said Freddie Kalfayan, Principal at Smedvig Ventures.

image

Roadmap: Scaling Intelligence

The new funds will be used to:

  • Develop AI Booking Assistant for seamless omnichannel bookings.

  • Expand into APAC, UAE, and wider Europe, cementing market leadership.

  • Double the AI and development team, enhancing both platform depth and consultative services for hotels.

"We’re not just automating—our AI anticipates needs and creates magical guest moments,” added Michael Urbanek, CTO & Co-founder.

Fast Facts:

  • Funding Raised: €8M Series A

  • Properties Served: 1,000+ in 30 countries

  • Founded: Late 2022

  • Top Integrations: Oracle Opera, Mews, Protel by Planet, Apaleo, Clock PMS

  • Recognition: World Travel Awards 2024 – Best Chatbot Solution Provider

  • Key Clients: The Royal Stable Dubai, InterContinental Vienna, Le Grand Bellevue Gstaad

Chatlyn’s momentum signals a new era of smart hospitality, where AI doesn’t replace staff—it empowers them to deliver faster, more meaningful guest experiences.


Otelier Revamps TruePlan Platform to Streamline Hotel Budgeting and Forecasting

Otelier Revamps TruePlan Platform to Streamline Hotel Budgeting and Forecasting

By Nishang Narayan

Published on June 23, 2025

Otelier, the hospitality data platform, has unveiled a revamped version of its budgeting and forecasting solution TruePlan, designed specifically for the hotel industry. With a refreshed user interface and enhanced functionality, the platform aims to help hotel operators replace cumbersome spreadsheets with a more streamlined and collaborative financial planning experience.

Developed in response to customer feedback, the new TruePlan supports real-time data sync, detailed forecasting, and rapid onboarding, enabling hotel finance teams to move “from data to decisions” faster than ever.

Russell Meek, Senior Director of Product Strategy at Otelier, shared, “Budgeting and forecasting should be powerful, not painful. We’ve rebuilt TruePlan to be faster, scalable, and aligned with the real-world needs of today’s hotel finance teams.”

The updated platform allows daily-level forecasting, bulk action tools, and pre-loaded financial drivers relevant to the hospitality industry. It also fosters cross-department collaboration, reducing revisions and delays, while enabling users to shorten budgeting cycles by up to 30%.

Key features include:

  • Modern user interface for intuitive use

  • Self-service onboarding

  • Built-in collaboration tools

  • Power BI integration for dynamic reporting

  • Integration with PMS, labour, BI, and accounting systems for live data planning

TruePlan is built on Otelier’s centralised integration framework, which ensures synchronised data flow across various hospitality tech solutions such as accounts payable automation, financial reconciliations, and night audit compliance.

This latest launch marks another step in Otelier’s mission to optimise hotel performance, following its strategic partnership with Repay Holdings last year to enhance payment and financial workflows across the industry.

With TruePlan, Otelier is not only improving financial forecasting but also redefining the way hoteliers collaborate and make critical planning decisions.


HKSTP Leads Landmark Innovation Delegation at VivaTech 2025 in Paris

HKSTP Leads Landmark Innovation Delegation at VivaTech 2025 in Paris

By Nishang Narayan

Published on June 16, 2025

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has made a powerful debut at VivaTech 2025, Europe’s premier startup and tech showcase, by leading a delegation of 18 of Hong Kong’s most promising innovators in AI, robotics, healthtech, greentech, and fintech.

The delegation was hosted at the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion, co-organised with Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), highlighting a unified effort to bridge the innovation ecosystems of Hong Kong and France.

This milestone participation marks HKSTP’s mission of taking home-grown talent global and bringing international opportunities back to Asia. VivaTech provided an ideal launchpad to form meaningful partnerships and adapt breakthrough technologies for evolving global markets.

Standout Innovations from Hong Kong at VivaTech 2025:

  • Ailytics: Winner of the EDF Startup Challenge and named among the Top 30 VivaTech Innovations, thanks to its AI-powered video analytics for safety and efficiency in heavy industries.

  • AQUMON and Midas Analytics: Nominated as Top 12 FinTech Trail for their advanced AI-driven data solutions.

  • Imsight, OKOsix, and Vismed: Finalists in the Tech for Change Award, recognized for innovative strides in cancer diagnostics, biomaterials, and medical training, respectively.

Strategic Partnerships Formed:

  • Westwell Technology partnered with Logicor, a leading European logistics provider, to co-host an innovation showcase on autonomous driving and green logistics in Paris.

  • PointFit announced a collaboration with Kinomap, a French indoor-training platform, bringing wearable fitness tech to Europe.

Adding to this momentum, HKSTP signed a partnership agreement with Startup Genome, further committing to global ecosystem building through cross-border networking and innovation-centric events.

Hilda Chan, Chief Marketing Officer at HKSTP, shared,

“Hong Kong’s innovation scene is ripe with global potential. With deep connectivity, globally fluent talent, and trusted systems, we’re enabling new tech frontiers to rise from Asia, and VivaTech is a key milestone in that journey.”

image

The delegation arrives at a time when both France and Hong Kong are stepping up as global I&T leaders—France through its AI unicorn ambitions, and Hong Kong as the 2nd most innovative economy globally, according to WIPO.

To continue this global engagement, HKSTP is hosting EPIC 2025—the Elevator Pitch Competition—in November in Hong Kong. With US$100 million in targeted investment funding, and over 600 applicants from 47 economies in previous years, the competition is open for entries till 17 June 2025: https://epic.hkstp.org

About HKSTP

Founded in 2001, HKSTP has nurtured over 2,300 tech companies from 25+ countries, including 13 unicorns. It supports innovations across AI, healthtech, fintech, smart city, and more via its major hubs—Science Park, InnoCentre, and InnoParks in Hong Kong and its Shenzhen branch. With access to labs, funding, and global networks, HKSTP aims to anchor innovation as a pillar of Hong Kong’s economic future.

From Paris to Hong Kong, HKSTP is redefining how tech talent and ecosystems connect—and the world is watching.

Stay up-to-date with the latest Hospitality news and trends in the Hospitality industry!

Subscribe to Hospitality news e-magazine for free and never miss an issue.

By clicking subscribe for free you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.

Advertise With Us

We have various options to advertise with us including Events, Advertorials, Banners, Mailers, etc.