🛎️ Hotiday raises big, Marriott plays it safe and DoorDash buys in

💰 Hotiday lands $5.5M funding to expand into Europe

The company offers a bundled experience that lets users plan trips, book rooms and manage payments on a single app. Hotiday plans to scale operations, especially in Italy, Spain and France.

The goal is to simplify everything around the stay. A smoother and more digital experience for guests and more control for hotels.

CEO Vittorio Gargiulo says Hotiday wants to break away from the old school mindset that still dominates hospitality.

Time will tell if this model can break into a crowded OTA market, but the vision is refreshing.

📉 Marriott expects slower growth in 2025

Marriott is dialing down its expectations for 2025, pointing to slowing demand across some key markets.

While not a panic moment, it’s a clear signal that post-pandemic growth is settling into a new rhythm. And the shift seems most notable in leisure.

For tech vendors, slower demand could put more pressure on pricing tools, upselling systems, and automation tech.

🛒 DoorDash acquires SevenRooms for $1.2 billion

DoorDash is moving beyond takeout with a $1.2 billion purchase of SevenRooms.

This is a big leap into B2B tech and a signal that DoorDash wants a seat at the hotel and restaurant software table.

SevenRooms helps businesses manage reservations, waitlists, and personalized guest data. In other words, it’s a juicy target for any company wanting to deepen ties within the hospitality industry.

💸 After the $1.1B sale, Sabre looks ahead

After the sale we covered a few weeks ago, the company clarifies what’s next.

While they’re shifting focus back to airlines, Sabre won’t disappear from the hospitality space completely.

CEO Kurt Ekert mentioned commercial flexibility, likely meaning partner models or selective investment.

This may open new opportunities with smaller or more specialized vendors who’ve been waiting for a lane to open up.

🤝 Collabs worth watching

These new partnerships might not make headlines, but they’re the ones quietly solving the stuff that still slows teams down:

• Cloudbeds and STAAH are now integrated. This move allows properties using Cloudbeds to sync more easily with STAAH’s distribution tech.

• Duetto and Event Temple just launched an integration that links event space pricing to real-time revenue strategy. The partnership connects both platforms, syncing booking and pricing data to eliminate double entries, boost efficiency and improve forecasting.

• BEONx just announced a partnership with Lighthouse to boost its market intelligence and pricing tools. Lighthouse brings strong benchmarking data to the table, and this integration should help BEONx users get sharper forecasts and faster pricing decisions.

• Agoda is keeping its partnership with Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism, focusing on digital tools and traveler insights to boost inbound travel. The renewed agreement includes efforts to promote lesser-known destinations and run digital marketing campaigns aimed at younger guests.