Welcome to RemoteHotelier!
Everyone’s talking about automation, but few are actually executing it well. This week, one PMS hit unicorn status and another wants you to chat with your hotel system.
Also, most hotels still rely on manual ID checks at arrival. That might change very soon. Apple’s next update could make check-ins instant and, at the same time, open new doors for startups ready to integrate digital identity.
In today’s newsletter:
🦄 The first short-term rental PMS unicorn
💬 What if you could chat with your hotel PMS?
🪪 What digital passports mean for hotels
🏨 + 5 deals & updates
💼 + 4 new jobs in hotel tech
🗞️ + 3 hotel tech extra news
#1 The first short-term rental PMS unicorn.
Hostaway reaches $1 billion valuation, becoming the first short-term rental PMS unicorn after 10 years of growth, heavy investment in AI, and expanding to more than 90 countries.
Hostaway supports individual hosts and large property managers with scalable tech tools.
They combine global scale with local expertise to meet diverse market needs.
The company operates fully remotely with staff based in 44 countries.
The platform’s user base has doubled since its $365 million funding round in 2024.
The STR market may triple in value over the next decade.
Why this matters: The fact that Hostaway’s user base doubled in a year shows how strong the demand for scalable automation tools really is. This success also shows how professionalized the short-term rental space has become.
#2 What if you could chat with your hotel PMS?
Mews acquires DataChat, a company specialized in AI data analytics and conversational interfaces, to allow hotel teams to get insights and build models using natural language.
Mews recently acquired Flexkeeping, so they continue with its rapid expansion strategy.
This marks its 14th acquisition and focuses on tech integration, not just scaling.
The goal seems to be to enable hotel staff to access complex analytics without technical expertise.
This move is also aligned with growing industry demand for automation and accessible data tools.
Why this matters: Most likely, the PMS of the future won’t just store information, it’ll use that information to guide hotel departments. And makes sense because third parties are already doing this with scrappy integrations. Also, as PMS become conversational, technical skills will stop being a barrier.
#3 What digital passports mean for hotels.
Apple will soon let US users add digital passports to Apple Wallet, expanding its role as a secure identity hub. They already support hotel keys, boarding passes and transit passes across 800 cities worldwide.
These features will allow guests to bypass check-ins using digital keys and digital passports stored securely on their devices.
With 89 global markets supporting Apple Pay and Wallet, hotels gain access to a broad, frictionless ecosystem for identity and payments.
This news reinforces a wider trend toward contactless hospitality and automation.
Hotel keys in Wallet now support over 65,000 rooms, showing rapid hospitality adoption.
Why this matters: As this technology gradually rolls out to more countries, its impact will grow fast. Countries where ID verification is mandatory at check-in could benefit the most, since digital passports make compliance faster and safer. It also opens doors for startups that bridge Apple Wallet with PMS platforms, simplifying both guest identity and payment workflows. Hotels should see this as a sign to rethink processes before digital IDs become the norm.
THE RESOURCE HUB
📍 Next Event: World Travel Market London (4–6 November 2025).
📅 2025/2026 hotel tech event calendar.
💼 Hotel tech companies offering remote jobs.
💻 Cloud PMS comparison spreadsheet.
🏨 DEALS & UPDATES
Quore introduces Quore University, a SaaS learning platform with 12 customizable paths for 40 different roles. They use gamification and mobile access to improve onboarding and employee retention across the hospitality industry.
Inn-Flow launches a new budgeting and forecasting solution that automates data, reduces errors and helps hotel owners and finance teams make better decisions.
Abingdon Software Group acquires DCS Plus, a provider of tech solutions for travel agencies and tour operators, to strengthen its travel technology portfolio and expand global market reach.
DIRECTV Hospitality partners with Google TV to bring streaming, secure personal logins and casting features into hotel rooms starting in 2026.
Basecamp Resorts, managing over 12 properties and more than 800 rooms across Canada, has selected Mews as its PMS to unify operations.
💼 HOTEL TECH JOB BOARD
Customer Growth Manager, EMEA | Remote (based in Europe) | Cloudbeds.
Program Manager, Strategic Sales | Remote (based in UK) | Mews.
Global Field Marketing Manager | Remote (based in Spain or Belgium) | Lighthouse.
Account Manager | Remote (based in USA) | Cloudbeds.
🗞️ HOTEL TECH EXTRAS
According to this study, video content influences 71% of travelers booking decisions. Videos are almost three times more effective than static images, especially when combined with authenticity and structured storytelling.
Travel bookings will reach $1.8 trillion by 2027, driven by strong digital adoption. The report highlights uneven growth across segments and channels, with online and mobile platforms gaining the most share.
According to Marriott Bonvoy’s report, over 66% of travelers now use AI for planning and booking trips, with increasing trust in these tools.
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See you next week!
Jose