Two of the world’s largest hotel groups rolled out AI-powered hotel discovery tools on the same day, signaling a rapid shift in how travelers will research and book accommodation over the next decade. Radisson Hotel Group and IHG Hotels & Resorts both unveiled conversational search features built around natural language, moving the industry closer to chat-based travel planning as a default channel.
The twin launches underscore a broader realignment in travel technology: hotel companies are no longer treating AI as an experimental sideline but as core booking infrastructure, competing with traditional metasearch engines and OTAs for the first touchpoint in a traveler’s journey.
Radisson’s ChatGPT App Goes Live
Radisson, working with Accenture, introduced an AI-powered hotel discovery app inside ChatGPT, available as @RadissonHotels. Travelers can search more than 1,000 Radisson properties across 100-plus countries using plain language, with live rates, availability, amenities, maps, and hotel details surfaced before the user is routed to Radisson’s own website to complete the booking.
The group says future updates will add personalized recommendations, loyalty recognition, reservation management, and an AI concierge layer. The move follows similar AI initiatives across the hospitality sector as hotel companies adapt to changing traveler search and booking behavior.
IHG Beta Tests Conversational Search
IHG launched a beta of its own AI-powered conversational search on IHG.com and the IHG One Rewards app, initially available in the United States. The feature returns personalized hotel recommendations, real-time pricing, interactive maps, and booking options using cash, points, or a combination of both.
IHG says the tool is built on verified property data and guest reviews, designed to shorten the path from trip inspiration to booking. A companion AI-optimized content platform is planned, allowing hotels to upload richer assets such as videos and floor plans to improve visibility across AI-powered search channels. The launch builds on IHG’s recent ChatGPT integration.
Monterrey Airport Deploys Real-Time Airfield Monitoring
On the aviation side, Monterrey International Airport (MTY) has introduced a real-time airfield monitoring system developed by AirportLabs for OMA Airports. The platform combines ADS-B aircraft tracking with GPS monitoring of airport vehicles, giving controllers a live view of aircraft and ground movements independent of traditional air traffic control radar.
A “Map Replay” feature allows airport teams to reconstruct past events using detailed movement data, supporting incident investigations and regulatory compliance. Airport officials say the technology has eliminated operational blind spots, improved emergency response analysis, and strengthened coordination across airfield operations.
Nobu Targets Portugal’s Algarve
Nobu Hospitality announced plans for a new luxury hotel and branded residences at Monte Rei Resort in Portugal’s Eastern Algarve. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the 100-room Nobu Hotel, the brand’s signature restaurant, and luxury villas and residences scheduled to open in 2029.
The project, led by investor Norfin, aims to expand Monte Rei into a year-round destination with added leisure facilities including a future beach club. The move marks Nobu’s entry into Portugal and reflects continued growth in branded luxury hospitality across Southern Europe, where international hotel brands are investing in integrated resort destinations.
Jamaica Tourism Minister Heads to Toronto
Jamaica’s Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, departs today for Toronto to deliver the keynote at the Canadian–Caribbean Tourism Resilience Symposium: Co-Designing the Next Decade, hosted by George Brown Polytechnic’s Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre from July 29–30, 2026.
The symposium will convene senior government officials, tourism leaders, academics, and private sector stakeholders from Canada and the Caribbean to examine resilience, climate adaptation, AI, and digital transformation. Bartlett is accompanied by GTRCMC Executive Director Professor Lloyd Waller and Director of Tourism Donovan White. His itinerary also includes a CTV Your Morning interview, a FLOW 98.7 FM radio appearance, and meetings with Canadian business leaders Wes Hall and Donette Chin-Loy Chang. He returns to Jamaica on August 1.
What Happens Next
The simultaneous Radisson and IHG launches suggest AI hotel search will move from beta to mainstream faster than many analysts predicted. Expect Marriott, Hilton, and Accor to accelerate their own conversational search roadmaps within the next two quarters rather than risk ceding the discovery layer to third-party AI agents.
For travelers, the practical impact is a shorter research cycle: natural language queries replacing multi-tab comparison shopping. For hotel groups, the stakes are higher — owning the AI discovery channel means owning the customer relationship before booking, and protecting direct-booking margins against OTAs that are building their own AI assistants. Watch for loyalty integration as the next battleground, since authenticated AI sessions can personalize offers in ways anonymous search never could.
On the infrastructure side, Monterrey’s airfield monitoring deployment is worth tracking as a template for other mid-sized Latin American hubs. And Nobu’s Algarve move confirms that branded residential hospitality in Southern Europe remains a favored play for luxury investors despite broader macro uncertainty.
— Elena Petrov, travel desk, AXO News