It will be presented at CLIC’s opening session on March 5-6
Apaleo, a property management platform, recently launched Agent Hub, calling it “the first AI agent marketplace for hospitality” to connect industry players and accelerate AI adoption.
Vishnu Rageev R is a journalist with more than 15 years of experience in business journalism. Before joining Asian Media Group in 2022, he worked with BW Businessworld, IMAGES Group, exchange4media Group, DC Books, and Dhanam Publications in India. His coverage includes industry analysis, market trends and corporate developments, focusing on retail, real estate and hospitality. As a senior journalist with Asian Hospitality, he covers the U.S. hospitality industry. He is from Kerala, a state in South India.
APALEO, A PROPERTY management platform, recently launched Agent Hub, which it calls “the first-ever AI agent marketplace for hospitality.” The platform enables industry collaboration by connecting property managers, hoteliers, developers and service providers to accelerate AI adoption.
Agent Hub lets hospitality players select AI solutions suited to their needs and integrate them without costly system overhauls, Apaleo said in a statement.
“Agent Hub is the next step in Apaleo’s evolution—an open, collaborative space where hoteliers can create AI solutions as easily as tech-savvy developers,” said Ulrich Pilau, Apaleo’s CEO. “By helping accommodation providers integrate and scale AI effortlessly, Apaleo makes this technology more practical and accessible for hospitality businesses everywhere.”
Businesses can customize and deploy agents without vendor lock-in, with agents functioning as on-demand staff handling tasks, the statement said. Unlike traditional software that takes months to implement, Agent Hub’s AI agents can be deployed in hours, speeding up AI adoption across the industry.
For AI developers, Agent Hub provides a direct path to market, connecting them with hospitality businesses adopting AI solutions, Apaleo said. The model offers various monetization options, allowing developers to scale and refine their solutions based on real-world use.
Agent Hub launches with a selection of agents developed with technology partners:
Email booking agent – processes emails while creating and editing reservations.
Corporate sales agent – analyzes business data and recommends corporate sales strategies.
Digital twin – migrates property data into Apaleo for seamless setup.
CRM and guest experience agent – identifies VIP guests, birthdays and special requests while answering data-related queries. It replaces traditional CRM solutions.
Early adopters are seeing results from agents on the new marketplace, the statement said. One example is a guest experience agent by TheNew Group, built on Apaleo. It delivers guest insights, enabling property managers and hoteliers to generate briefings, track repeat OTA bookers and export data instantly.
Florian Montag, Apaleo’s vice president of business development, said hospitality professionals face growing pressure to keep up with AI innovation.
“This technology is being deployed at scale across all other industries, so it is important that hospitality also explores how to unlock AI’s full potential,” he said. “The truth is, no one knows what AI will be capable of a few years from now. That’s why it’s so important for businesses to stay adaptable, equipping themselves with open solutions that evolve and flex with their needs. Agent Hub gives hoteliers and developers the freedom the industry needs to experiment, refine, and scale, ensuring businesses can harness the full potential of AI on their own terms.”
In November, Apaleo raised €20 million in Series B funding to accelerate expansion and strengthen its presence in Europe and beyond. The news follows OpenAI’s recent launch of Operator, an AI agent that books travel, fills forms, orders groceries, and creates memes using its own browser.
AHLA's 2025 State of the Industry report found that technology and AI are improving personalized travel experiences in trip planning and bookings.
Duetto launched GameTime, a revenue system for select- and limited-service hotel brands.
GameTime provides rate optimization, pricing, forecasting, and performance tracking.
Alex Zoghlin was named CEO, succeeding David Woolenberg.
DUETTO, A REVENUE management software provider, launched GameTime, a revenue management system for select- and limited-service hotel brands. The company also recently named Alex Zoghlin as chief executive officer, replacing David Woolenberg.
GameTime combines rate optimization, enterprise pricing, forecasting, and performance tracking in one platform, Duetto said in a statement.
“We understand that one size doesn’t fit all,” said Sabrina Jackson, Duetto’s vice president for product management. “GameTime is built for brands operating limited- and select-service hotels, enabling teams to make pricing decisions and manage revenue operations efficiently.”
GameTime offers automated and manual pricing, reporting and forecasting, portfolio management, predefined segmentation and mobile access. Selim Hadj, RM solutions and systems director at Louvre Hotels Group, said GameTime meets the needs of limited-service hotels and aligns with the group’s revenue management strategy.
“It is the tool that delivers all the key features we need without overcomplicating the daily work of our on-site teams,” he said. “Whether general or front desk managers, our staff use it with ease and confidence. GameTime has not only streamlined our operations but also had a direct, measurable impact on our performance. Today, it’s an essential solution for any property looking to combine simplicity, efficiency, and profitability.”
Commenting on his appointment, Zoghlin said he is honored to serve as CEO and work with teams globally to deliver revenue management solutions to the hospitality industry.
“The hospitality industry is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by shifting guest expectations, rising costs, and economic volatility,” he said. “Hoteliers need stronger and more effective technology to meet their needs. With a clear product vision, strong customer ties, and a focused brand strategy, I’m confident in our ability to support hoteliers through this shift and drive the company’s next phase of growth.”
In April, Duetto acquired HotStats, a hotel benchmarking company, to expand revenue and performance tracking across rooms, F&B, and ancillary services.
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97 percent are confident in meeting future cybersecurity goals; stronger threat protection is also needed.
TOP BUSINESS PRIORITIES for hospitality leaders are data security, system integration and growth enablement, according to a joint study by FreedomPay and Toast, two point-of-sale technology platforms. There is a need for secure payment processing, reflecting changes in the enterprise hospitality market and the increasing focus on customer-centric transactions.
The Enterprise Merchants Needs Assessment Study surveyed 200 hospitality decision-makers in April, including C-level executives, IT leaders and other stakeholders, to understand priorities in selecting payment solutions and POS systems.
“Enterprise hospitality leaders are facing increasing pressure to protect sensitive customer data while also delivering seamless and innovative guest experiences,” said Chris Kronenthal, FreedomPay’s president. “Our Next Level Commerce platform is uniquely positioned to address these challenges by providing a secure, integrated and scalable payment solution that empowers merchants to thrive in today’s competitive market and create exceptional customer experiences.”
The survey found that cybersecurity remains a priority in hospitality, with 97 percent of respondents confident in meeting future security goals. They also noted the need for stronger protection against evolving cyber threats.
Kelly Esten, chief marketing officer at Toast, said that with security and integration as priorities, enterprise brands need solutions that scale with their operations.
“These findings highlight the need to understand the specific requirements of the enterprise hospitality segment and to provide solutions that address them,” he said.
The study found that integration drives value, with all merchants indicating an integrated payment solution is valuable to their organization. Additionally, 52 percent cited increased data security as a top benefit, up from 28 percent in 2024.
The survey showed that growth enablement is a top priority for hospitality decision-makers, with 92 percent saying an integrated solution could scale with their business.
Separately, a recent Mews survey found about 70 percent of American travelers prefer checking in via app or kiosk over the front desk.
Red Roof is contracting with FreedomPay to provide payments across its 700+ U.S. hotels.
The company will gain an integrated solution, improved service, cost savings and efficiency.
The company is investing in people and technology to advance the brand, president Zack Gharib told Asian Hospitality.
RED ROOF IS contracting with FreedomPay to provide payments across its portfolio of more than 700 hotels in the U.S. The company will receive an integrated payment solution, upgraded service, cost savings and operational efficiency, according to a statement.
FreedomPay, a payment platform for businesses, enables payments for hotels, guests and Red Roof franchisees, the company said.
“With FreedomPay’s advanced payment gateway, Red Roof is gaining a strategic edge, driving operational efficiency and ensuring our processing is omnichannel-ready,” said Sharee Brell, Red Roof’s senior vice president of technology. “The partnership positions our brand and franchisees for greater success in the years ahead while providing our guests with an elevated experience.”
Chris Kronenthal, FreedomPay’s president, said the company is trusted by major hospitality brands and is partnering with Red Roof to deliver a unified experience for franchisees and guests.
“Our Next Level Commerce technologies will enable secure omnichannel payments at hundreds of Red Roof locations across the U.S.,” he said.
Red Roof is investing in people and technology to advance the brand, Red Roof President Zack Gharib told Asian Hospitality during an interview at AAHOA’s 2025 Convention and Trade Show.
Wyndham Upgrades 6,000+ Hotels with Cloud Payment Interface
WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS deployed payment processor Elavon’s cloud payments interface to more than 6,000 franchisees in the U.S. and Canada. Hotels under Wyndham’s 25 brands can use CPI without on-site hardware for their property management systems.
The cloud-based solution is designed to reduce operational overhead, limit hardware-related security issues and support mobile check-in, Elavon said in a statement.
“The shift to Elavon’s cloud payments interface helps ensure our franchisees have access to modern, secure, and reliable payment processing solutions,” said Scott Strickland, Wyndham’s chief commercial officer. “This is more than just a technological upgrade; it’s about enabling a seamless guest experience and reducing complexity. With CPI, we can support faster check-ins, touchless payments and a secure, PCI DSS-compliant environment across all our properties.”
Wyndham franchisees can use CPI to access payment services that adjust to changing operational needs, the statement said. Benefits include integration with cloud-based third-party software—such as property management systems, reservation platforms and loyalty programs—as well as encryption and tokenization technologies to protect transactions.
Noble Tackett, Elavon’s head of merchant, institutional client group and global airlines, said CPI enables Wyndham franchisees to maintain a streamlined, secure payment process that can adapt to future growth.
“We’re excited to help Wyndham’s properties stay ahead of the curve by offering flexible solutions, such as mobile check-in, that meet the evolving needs of both franchisees and guests,” he said.
Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, recently announced new initiatives at the company’s 2025 Global Conference at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, including technology, marketing, loyalty program updates and expansion in India.
Why Do Most U.S. Travelers Prefer Hotel Self Check-In?
APPROXIMATELY 70 PERCENT of American travelers are likely to check into a hotel using an app or self-service kiosk instead of a front desk, according to Mews Systems, Inc., a hospitality cloud provider. The figure rises to 82 percent among Gen Z travelers.
A Mews-commissioned survey of 2,000 U.S. travelers did not highlight frustrations with traditional hotel operations but found that 82 percent of current hotel loyalty members report issues with existing systems, including long check-in times, limited flexibility and service models that do not meet current needs.
"Since bringing Mews Kiosks to hotels in the U.S., 30 percent of guests check in via the kiosk, cutting check-in time by a third and freeing up staff to truly welcome their guests and provide better experiences throughout their stay,” said Richard Valtr, Mews founder. “Not to mention, Kiosks drive 25 percent higher upsells in our hotels today. Waiting in the lobby queue is simply not a hospitable experience for today's travelers—it's another example of how, when the technology works, guests value convenience over tradition."
U.S. leads in digital adoption
Mews data showed that U.S. hotels using self-service technology have higher adoption rates than the global average. Around 30 percent of reservations at kiosk-enabled hotels are checked in through Mews kiosk in the U.S., compared to 20 percent globally. Additionally, 10.5 percent of total U.S. reservations use the Mews guest portal for check-in, a 20 percent higher rate than the global average of 8.6 percent.
Hotels in the U.S. also are seeing results, the report said. Guests who check in via kiosk are three times more likely to purchase an upsell and generate nearly 70 percent more upsell revenue per check-in compared to those who use the front desk.
Additionally, nearly 80 percent of guests most likely to return to a hotel cite personalized amenities as the reason, Mews said. Among Gen Z travelers, 89 percent say this influences their decision.
Ninety-three percent of travelers are willing to share personal data to improve their experience with hotels, the report found. This includes preferences such as check-in and check-out times at 60 percent, gender preferences at 49 percent, food and beverage choices at 48 percent, age at 47 percent and desired amenities and activities at 46 percent.
Valtr said the message from travelers is clear: frictionless convenience is the new standard.
“This isn't about eliminating human interaction – it's about empowering both guests and staff to create more meaningful touchpoints and experiences,” he said. “Hotels embracing this evolution will earn the loyalty of tomorrow's most valuable guests."
A Mews survey in 2024 found that about three out of four travelers agree Americans are prioritizing travel and prefer a digital, self-service experience for hotel stays. Nearly 80 percent of U.S. travelers favor hotels with fully automated front desks or self-service kiosks and more than 40 percent prefer checking in through a hotel's website, app, or digital kiosk.