Innovation Fest 2025: The Future of Hospitality In Partnership With Infor Hospitality And AWS
Published on November 6, 2025
The next wave of hospitality tech isn't about swapping old tools for new ones. It's about building connected systems that learn, communicate, and help teams make better decisions in real time. That's the core message of Innovation Fest 2025 from Infor Hospitality and AWS - AI, automation, and data working together to lift performance and guest satisfaction without losing the human touch.
From tools to connected systems
For years, "innovation" meant digitizing manual work: online check-in, cloud reports, fewer spreadsheets. Useful, but limited. The real gains show up when PMS, RMS, CRM, finance, operations, and marketing share the same data stream.
Infor's research shows 80% of organizations now link success to using new technology effectively. Hotels running integrated data ecosystems are seeing faster decisions, higher profit, and better cross-team alignment. Infor's cloud stack, built on AWS, is pushing exactly that: a unified data flow across the property.
Infor Hospitality and AWS for Hospitality outline a model where systems plug in, not pile up.
Automation that feels human
Automation is shifting from "do it faster" to "serve with empathy at scale." At Innovation Fest, a joint proof of concept shows how AR glasses and facial recognition can identify known guests on arrival, fetch preferences from the CRM, and trigger personalized welcomes. In the background, computer vision checks inventory and room readiness so staff can focus on conversations, not clipboards.
This is not about replacing roles. It's about clearing low-value tasks, so teams can be present, responsive, and proactive. Consent, guest comfort, and clear signage matter here - set those guardrails before rollout.
Culture: where innovation sticks
The biggest shift isn't technical - it's cultural. Innovation can't sit in IT only; it has to be part of daily habits across the property. At Innovation Fest, Camille Oostwegel of the Oostwegel Collection will share how modern technology can protect heritage, not erase it: keep the soul front of house, modernize the back of house.
The takeaway: use tech to amplify what guests value - warmth, memory, service - while quietly tightening the operation.
Collaboration beats silos
The Infor-AWS partnership mirrors a larger industry move: open systems and shared standards over one-off tools. Providers aren't just vendors anymore; they are long-term partners in operations, sustainability, and guest engagement.
The winners will run open APIs, clean data models, and interoperable platforms that let information move across brands and properties. Less swivel chair, more signal.
Why this is strategically important
Three years out, 75% of organizations expect productivity gains above 20% from next-gen tech. That won't happen by buying more software. It happens by using it with intention: clear outcomes, measurable KPIs, and workflows designed around the guest.
Data becomes the currency. AI becomes the operating system that connects pricing, staffing, housekeeping, F&B, and loyalty - so every decision compounds.
What to build now (practical checklist)
- Map your data: list every system (PMS, RMS, CRM, POS, finance) and the fields that matter; kill duplicate entries.
- Choose open tech: require APIs, event streams, and easy data export before signing anything.
- Start with two use cases: e.g., dynamic housekeeping scheduling and real-time upsell based on trip stage.
- Set guardrails: consent flows for biometrics, clear privacy notices, opt-outs, and data retention rules.
- Upskill your team: short, role-based training for front desk, revenue, ops, marketing, and IT.
- Measure impact: pick 5 KPIs (labor cost per occupied room, RevPAR uplift, check-in time, guest recovery time, inventory variance) and review weekly.
Questions to bring to Innovation Fest
- How does your platform unify PMS, RMS, CRM, POS, and finance data without custom glue code?
- What does real-time actually mean (latency in seconds)?
- Which AI decisions are explainable and controllable by my team?
- How do you handle consent and local compliance for facial recognition and computer vision?
- What's the fastest pilot we can run in 60 days, and which KPIs will prove value?
The path forward
Innovation Fest 2025 isn't just a showcase. It's a push to move from standalone systems to connected, learning ecosystems that tie people, process, and data together. Do that, and you get a smarter operation and a more human guest experience - at the same time.
If you're setting up training plans for your team by role, here's a helpful resource: AI training by job role.
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