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By Nishang Narayan
Published on July 23, 2024
IHG Hotels & Resorts, a global leader in hospitality, has announced the launch of its groundbreaking Low Carbon Pioneers programme. This initiative brings together a group of energy-efficient hotels that operate without combusting fossil fuels on-site and are supported by renewable energy sources. This marks the first community of its kind in the hospitality industry, aimed at testing, learning, and sharing sustainability practices to inspire broader adoption of carbon reduction measures.
Initial Low Carbon Pioneer Hotels
The initial Low Carbon Pioneer hotels include:
Holiday Inn Express Madrid Airport, Spain
Iberostar Waves Cristina, Spain
Kimpton BEM Budapest, Hungary
These hotels feature sustainable solutions such as high-efficiency heat pumps for heating and hot water generation, as well as fully electric kitchens. Each property holds an operational sustainability certification recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, such as Green Key, or a sustainable building certification like LEED, BREEAM, or EDGE. Energy data for these hotels will be tracked and measured using IHG’s Green Engage environmental platform.
Expansion and Future Plans
IHG plans to expand the Low Carbon Pioneers programme across all regions, developing a "low-carbon ready" group of hotels in preparation for broader renewable energy availability. The full criteria for a Low Carbon Pioneer hotel can be found here.
CEO's Call to Action
Elie Maalouf, CEO of IHG Hotels & Resorts, expressed excitement about the launch, emphasizing its role in meeting evolving guest expectations, helping hotel owners future-proof their businesses, and reducing carbon emissions across IHG’s estate. He stressed the need for broader government support to accelerate industry-wide change, including increased access to renewable energy, incentives for owners, and reduced costs for green technology.
“This is an important next step in IHG’s sustainability journey, but it remains one of many we must continue to take. Accelerating change at scale for both IHG and the wider industry also requires broader support from governments ranging from greater access to renewable energy and incentives for owners, to a reduction in the cost of technology that speeds up the industry’s transition to a greener, more resilient future. IHG is committed to working with industry bodies and governments to help achieve this, alongside encouraging more owners to adopt carbon reduction practices and become Low Carbon Pioneers,” said Maalouf.
Future-Proofing Properties
The Low Carbon Pioneers programme aims to future-proof IHG’s properties, providing potential benefits such as better alignment with environmental regulations and access to green finance for new projects. These hotels will be marketed as low carbon or low carbon ready across IHG’s booking channels, appealing to guests seeking sustainable stays and corporate clients with net-zero or carbon-neutral targets.
Leading the Way in Sustainability
IHG is committed to reducing carbon emissions through its Journey to Tomorrow responsible business plan. The company continues to develop solutions to measure, manage, and minimize the environmental impact of its hotels, from energy conservation measures to sourcing renewable energy and installing EV chargers. The Low Carbon Pioneers programme builds on IHG’s history of creating ambitious and innovative sustainability solutions, such as replacing bathroom miniatures with bulk amenities and providing properties with renewable energy through a community solar programme in the US. IHG is now setting a new benchmark for reducing operational carbon in the hospitality industry.
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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.
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.
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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