Another HITEC is in the books, and we're energized by the conversations, ideas, and connections that made this year's event so memorable.

From hotel leaders looking to bring their technology ecosystems together to solution providers exploring new partnership opportunities, one message came through loud and clear: connected data remains at the center of hospitality innovation.

Over the course of the event, our team spoke with hotel companies, technology providers, partners, and industry experts about the challenges they're tackling today… and where they see the industry heading next.

Here are our biggest takeaways from HITEC 2026.

Hotels continue to invest in new technologies, but many teams are still working with disconnected systems and fragmented information.

Whether the goal is improving guest experiences, gaining clearer business insights, or creating stronger partner relationships, it all starts with data that flows smoothly across platforms.

For technology providers, the conversation focused on making integrations easier to manage and creating stronger connections across the hospitality ecosystem. As innovation cycles continue to speed up, many providers are also looking for ways to scale connectivity more efficiently by working with specialized connectivity partners, allowing their teams to stay focused on strengthening their core products and delivering new capabilities faster rather than dedicating growing resources to maintaining integrations.

AI was impossible to miss at HITEC this year... From eye-catching demonstrations on the show floor to discussions around personalization, operations, and guest engagement.

One of the many AI-powered experiences that sparked conversations across the show floor.

‍

That conversation extended beyond individual booths and into HITEC's new Workforce 20X interactive learning lab, introduced by HFTP. The dedicated showcase gave hoteliers and business leaders the opportunity to experience AI-driven technologies designed to reshape the hospitality workforce… from streamlining operations to augmenting employee capabilities and improving service delivery.

As exhibitors in the Workforce 20X area, we saw firsthand how attendees' questions have evolved. Rather than asking whether AI will impact hospitality, leaders are now focused on how to implement it effectively within their organizations.

How can AI help teams save time? Which use cases deliver real value? What data is needed to make these tools effective?

One challenge came up repeatedly: AI is only as useful as the information behind it. Without accurate, connected data, even the most advanced tools struggle to deliver meaningful results. That’s why the conversation has shifted from what’s possible with AI to a more practical question: "How do organizations build a comprehensive data layer, independent of any one system, that is ready to support their AI future?"

Across hospitality, leaders are increasingly recognizing that long-term AI success depends not only on adopting new tools, but on creating the data foundation that allows those tools to perform effectively.

Hospitality organizations need technology that can grow and adapt alongside their business.

Across HITEC, there was a clear tension in the conversation: while some organizations continue to prioritize all-in-one platforms for simplicity and consolidation, many others are actively seeking best-in-breed solutions that allow them to optimize specific parts of their tech stack.

Hotel groups are ultimately looking for solutions that fit their brand and processes without forcing major operational change... whether through integrated suites or connected, specialized tools.

For enterprise hotel groups with complex ownership structures, that need for flexibility becomes even more important. Many are balancing two competing priorities: giving owners and operators the freedom to choose the systems that work best for their business while still maintaining connected, accessible data across the organization.

At the same time, technology providers are focused on delivering faster, more seamless experiences with hotel systems and expanding partner ecosystems to support both approaches.

Those competing demands were reflected in many of the conversations at HITEC and reinforced the importance of making fragmented systems work together without increasing operational complexity.

The ability to integrate new technologies without adding complexity continues to be a major priority, regardless of the path organizations choose.

Some of the best conversations at HITEC weren't about products. They were about collaboration.

As hospitality technology ecosystems continue to expand, success depends on strong relationships between hotel companies, technology providers, and integration partners.

When information moves smoothly between systems and organizations, everyone benefits…from hoteliers above property to on-property to guests.

While technology took center stage, HITEC reminded us that hospitality remains a people-first industry.

Some of our favorite moments happened away from the demos and meeting rooms… during conversations at Hapi Hour, on the Hapi Boats, and in the spontaneous connections that make events like HITEC so valuable.

These experiences gave us the chance to catch up with customers, meet new partners, exchange ideas, and hear firsthand about the challenges and opportunities shaping hospitality today.

To everyone who joined us at the booth, attended our events, or spent time with our team: thank you for making this year's HITEC one to remember.

Missed us at HITEC? Get in touch to continue the conversation.

‍

‍