Saturday Quick Take: 7 Tech Takeaways For 2026
I just read the new 2026 tech forecast from IDeaS, and here’s the bottom line:
Hospitality keeps getting more complicated, and the properties that win next year will be the ones that simplify.
Fewer tools. Cleaner data. Tighter teams. Tech that actually helps instead of slowing everyone down.
Guests want faster, easier experiences.
Your staff needs relief.
Your business needs clearer insights.
And it all comes down to this:
Simplify your systems. Align your teams. Automate the boring stuff. Make decisions using real data.
Do that, and 2026 gets a whole lot more profitable.
Below is the plain-English version of the report — broken into Value, Strategy, Actions, and Results so you can actually use it.
1. Guests Want Simple, Fast, Helpful Experiences
Value:
Guests don’t reward complexity. They reward ease.
Strategy:
Use tech to remove friction, not create more steps.
Actions:
Mobile check-in
Automated arrival, mid-stay, and checkout messages
A simple chatbot for FAQs
Real photos + clear room details on booking pages
Results:
Faster service
Fewer repeated questions
Higher guest satisfaction
2. Tech Stacks Are Too Messy — And It’s Costing Money
Value:
Too many tools = lost revenue, slow decisions, and frustrated teams.
Strategy:
Simplify and integrate instead of adding “one more tool.”
Actions:
Audit every system you use
Identify overlaps or outdated tools
Ask vendors what they integrate with
Build around one core source of truth (PMS + RMS)
Results:
Lower tech spend
Cleaner reporting
Less staff overwhelm
Better guest experience
3. Revenue, Marketing, and Sales Can’t Work in Silos Anymore
Value:
Disconnected teams lose money — even when demand is strong.
Strategy:
Create one unified commercial team with one shared plan.
Actions:
Weekly commercial alignment meetings
One shared forecast
Use demand signals to time campaigns
Use displacement analysis to guide sales decisions
Results:
More profitable bookings
Better demand shaping
Fewer missed opportunities
4. 2026 Will Be Unpredictable — You Need to Pivot Fast
Value:
Market behavior will be choppy thanks to global events, tariffs, and shifting traveler patterns.
Strategy:
Stay agile; update decisions quickly based on real-time data.
Actions:
Update forecasts weekly
Watch demand signals daily
Adjust your channel mix based on profit, not habit
Plan for surprise demand spikes
Results:
Higher RevPAR
Less panic discounting
More stable margins
5. Sustainability Isn’t Optional — And It Has to Be Real
Value:
Guests, investors, and regulators all expect measurable sustainability.
Strategy:
Focus on efficiency, not marketing fluff.
Actions:
Track energy and water use
Reduce waste through smarter purchasing
Be transparent about sustainability data
Align staffing and resource use with demand
Results:
Lower operating costs
Stronger guest trust
Better long-term financial health
6. Staffing Shortages Aren’t Going Away — Automation Helps
Value:
Teams are burned out. Repetitive tasks drain your best people.
Strategy:
Automate routine work so staff can focus on high-touch service.
Actions:
Automate recurring workflows
Cross-train staff
Use forecasting for smarter scheduling
Train teams on essential data tools
Results:
Better retention
Less burnout
More consistent service
7. The Big Picture: Simpler Systems, Smarter Teams, Stronger Results
Value:
Hospitality isn’t getting easier — but it can get a lot clearer.
Strategy:
Build operations around “less chaos, more clarity.”
Actions (1-Hour Audit):
List every tool
Identify integration gaps
Remove / consolidate two systems
Align the forecast across roles
Automate one process next month
Results:
More profitable bookings
Smoother daily operations
Happier teams and guests
A business ready for 2026