Tips & Best Practices for Hospitality & Travel Professionals | RateGain Blog

At Destination AI, one theme rose above the rest: if you want to compete in the next era of hospitality, you can’t keep tinkering at the edges. Fragmented “AI islands” aren’t enough. The path forward is a unified AI backbone—a strategy that connects your PMS, CRM, GMS, and distribution systems into a single intelligence layer. Without it, you’re only adding noise while OTAs continue to own the guest relationship.  1. Stop Thinking Incrementally This isn’t about sl...

At the Glass House in New York, leaders from across travel and hospitality came together—Booking, Expedia, Airbnb, RCG, Frontier, Kayak, Air Asia, Oyo, IHG, Marriott, and many others. The discussions were focused, and the themes consistent. 1. Economic Headwinds The North American market appears to be softening. Search volumes are down 15%. OTA and TMC bookings are flat. Margins are under pressure. Niche segments such as Luxury travel and vacation rentals seem ...

If you’re looking to stay ahead in hospitality, HEDNA Lisbon 2025 made one thing clear: the future is arriving fast. Over several days of discussions, workshops, and networking, you could feel how quickly the industry is evolving — and how much opportunity there is for those ready to embrace change. From practical AI to frictionless travel to navigating complexity, the conversations focused on turning innovation into action. Here are four key takeaways you can...

By Mayank Rastogi, Senior Vice President & GM, RateGain Revenue management, at its core, has always been about balance the delicate calibration of price, timing, and demand. For decades, this equilibrium was achieved by revenue managers hunched over spreadsheets, fueled by experience, instinct, and often, last-minute adjustments. But in an industry increasingly defined by data and disruption, those days are fading fast. Today, a new paradigm is emerging. Artificial ...

If the hotel industry had a relationship status with rate parity, it would be: “It’s complicated.” At first glance, rate parity sounds noble. Everyone—your website, OTAs, metasearch—sticks to the same rate. Guests get consistency, you protect your brand, and all is fair in hotel distribution. Except... it’s not. Even in 2025, parity is more of a digital soap opera—complete with betrayal, backchannel deals, and chaotic pricing wars. You’ve got contracts, you’ve got mo...

In an era where rate transparency is just a click away, rate parity violations can silently eat away at your hotel’s direct bookings and revenue margins. Yet, for many hoteliers, pinpointing the source of those violations remains a frustrating game of digital whack-a-mole—until now. Test reservations—often overlooked—are proving to be the linchpin in modern parity management, helping hoteliers not only identify violators but also take corrective action with confidence. ...

Introduction to Rate Intelligence in the Hotel Industry In today’s ultra-competitive hospitality landscape, pricing decisions are not just about intuition—they're about intelligence. Rate intelligence is the continuous monitoring and analysis of competitor pricing, demand signals, and market dynamics to inform smarter pricing strategies. As of 2025, hotels that leverage modern rate intelligence tools consistently outperform those that rely on outdated or manual processes. Ye...

In 2025, hotel revenue managers face a challenging landscape — rapidly shifting demand, increased competition, and pressure to drive higher profitability without escalating costs. Rate shopping tools are no longer optional; they are essential for maintaining a competitive pricing edge. However, the question on every decision-maker’s mind is: Can we find a rate shopping platform that balances affordability with enterprise-grade capabilities? This guide explores the value of...

In today’s volatile travel landscape, demand patterns shift faster than ever. From sudden surges in bookings due to a major event to market slowdowns driven by macroeconomic shifts—hotels are constantly racing to keep pace. Amid this uncertainty, one capability consistently separates revenue leaders from laggards: demand intelligence. This blog unpacks what demand intelligence really means for hotels, how it impacts pricing strategies, and why tools like Navigator by RateG...