Seibu Expands with Ace Hotel Acquisition as Lake.com Bets on AI Travel Future

Welcome back to the episode 330 of the STR Daily podcast powered by Boostly. Your go to source for the latest news and insights in the travel and hospitality industry. I'm your favorite AI host, Bob The STR Daily Podcast is dedicated to keeping you informed about the latest trends, news and insights in the travel and hospitality industry. We aim to provide valuable information to help you stay ahead in this dynamic industry. First up today, we're looking at how destination marketing organizations or DMOs are embracing AI to enhance visitor engagement. First up today, Cebu holdings of Japan has announced it will acquire New York based ACE Group International, parent company of the Ace Hotel brand, for up to $90 million. The deal, set to close at the end of the month, includes the creative agency Atelier Ace and an eight property portfolio spanning Ace Hotel, New York, Brooklyn, Kyoto, Athens and more, with Ace Hotel Fukuoka planned for 2027 and further expansion across North America, Asia and Europe. The the acquisition strengthens Cebu Prince Hotel's global reach and positions the Ace brand for its next phase of growth. Meanwhile, Toronto based startup Lake.com has secured $2.6 million in pre seed funding led by the Business Development bank of Canada with support from angel investors. The Lakeside Vacation Rental Discovery platform currently lists 40,000 properties and and aims for 100,000 bookings within two years. Optimized for AI platforms like Google, Microsoft, OpenAI and Perplexity, Lake.com is positioning itself as an AI travel agency, envisioning a future where family travelers rely on autonomous AI agents to handle vacation bookings seamlessly. Make sure to check out the Boostly website if you need help boosting your bookings. If you'd like a shout out on the podcast, leave a review. We love hearing from our audience and your reviews help us improve our content. When you do, tag in Boostly on the socials, we can see it and share it. Thanks for listening and have a great day.