Cogwheel Marketing & Analytics

08/21/2026

Anthropic is adding embedded (for text) and C2PA provenance (for images) to -generated content in order to comply with new E.U. transparency requirements.

What are your thoughts on how this could affect the future course of events? Do you think the watermark technology will bring more positive impact and transparency, or will it just trigger even more issues with many third-party platforms positioning themselves to generate content without watermarks or removing existing ones?

Read the full article here: https://tech.yahoo.com/ai/claude/articles/anthropic-adding-watermarks-claude-ai-173423359.html

08/20/2026

📧 Can still deliver exceptional results in 2026? For one Minneapolis , the answer was a resounding yes.

By re-engaging association and non-profit contacts with a , -driven campaign, Cogwheel Marketing helped drive a 57.2% open rate and 32.9% CTR, which is nearly five times the industry average.

The result? Stronger relationships and active discussions in the pipeline.

Let's talk about how and the right messaging can turn a cost-effective channel into a high-impact one for your hotel.

08/12/2026

chains built tools like 's AI Planner and 's Ask Bonvoy serve guests who already start on the brand's own site.

However, are increasingly discovering first through external AI platforms like and 's .

So chains end up misreading their own , crediting "direct bookings" to their website and loyalty programs when the real discovery happened on platforms they don't own and can't measure.

Read the full article from Hospitality.today: https://www.hospitality.today/article/hotel-chains-built-ai-for-the-traveler-who-comes-to-them-first-that-traveler-is-leaving

The law that just fined Google has been running on Booking.com since December 2024. - Booking lost the rate parity clause in December 2024, and the money moved to paid placement. Google's ruling is heading the same way.. Jul 27, 2026 • Hospitality

08/11/2026

Kylie Chen, in her recent article, explains how Google's new AI Max/Performance Max ad automation for AI Mode works and how it can actually backfire for individually branded chain hotels.

Read the full article here: https://cogwheelmarketing.com/google-take-the-wheel-and-the-budget-navigating-ads-hands-off-future-for-hotels/

Every hotel’s paid media strategy is different, and the “set it and forget it” approach isn’t always the win Google makes it out to be. If you want a second opinion on your own Search campaigns, let’s chat.

Google is pushing AI Max for hotels — but is it right for individually branded properties? Here's what to know before opting in.

08/07/2026

Should abandon because of “Zero-Click Search”?

Stephanie Smith, CHDM:

"No. Hoteliers should not abandon Google search marketing but it is evolving. Zero-click search is not new; SparkToro had at 58.5% resulting in no clicks as of 2024. The zero click mentality in the just builds upon it. It is changing how discover and compare , not eliminating the need to be discovered. If anything, it raises the bar on authoritative content that both Google's algorithm and other LLMs can learn from. I think Google's suite of products will continue to evolve, less and more / ."

Read more answers from the Hospitality Net panel:

SimilarWeb reports that nearly 65% of searches on Google end up with “zero clickthroughs” to websites because Google’s Gemini AI provides sufficient answers in its Answer Box, making a click to t

08/06/2026

need to nail their basic fundamentals ( , , presence, accurate listings) before chasing in like ChatGPT.

Stephanie Smith, CHDM, recently joined The AI Reality Check Series with Revenue Hub to explore what actually gets you recommended by .

👉 The main insight:

" is more critical than real-time distribution integration at this time. Connecting your via apps in platforms like is currently nuanced and limited in impact on distribution, so strong presence and foundational remain crucial."

Watch the full episode and read the recap here:

AI can't recommend what it can't find. Discover how hotels can improve AI visibility by nailing digital marketing fundamentals first.

08/05/2026

👉 Question from Revfine.com: How Build -Led That Drive ?



Stephanie Smith, CHDM:

“It depends on where the is you are targeting. If you are going for or , rate is not a consideration. You can’t skip from zero awareness straight into expecting an offer transaction. Most (either on , or ) should be considered based on and to a targeted audience as , not shopping of rates.”



Read more answers here: https://www.revfine.com/experience-led-hotel-marketing-strategies/

Professionals use our strategies and actionable tips to get inspired, optimize revenue, innovate processes, and improve customer experience.

08/05/2026

Navan and Hilton are launching an industry-first direct that gives real-time access to 's reservation system and content, modernizing corporate with better rates, richer content, and streamlined payments.

Read more here: https://stories.hilton.com/releases/navan-and-hilton-to-co-create-hotel-tmc-direct-connect

Do you think direct API integrations like this will become the new standard for corporate booking — or will -based systems hold their ground?

API‑led integration to bring real‑time booking, rich content, and modern retailing to corporate hotel travel.

07/31/2026

HUMAN published its 2026 State of & , which reveals that the internet is undergoing a structural shift: non-human, -driven is now the fastest-growing category online.

With up 7,851% year-over-year alongside quadrupled account-compromise attempts, businesses face a widening gap between legitimate automation and malicious exploitation, one that traditional bot-detection approaches weren't built to handle.

Read the full report here:

AI-driven traffic nearly tripled in 2025. AI agent traffic grew 7,851%. HUMAN's 2026 benchmark report analyzes more than one quadrillion interactions to map the rise of agentic AI, the threat landscape evolving alongside it, and what organizations need to know.

07/30/2026

Call Alert!



Join fellow hotel digital marketers and industry peers on Thursday, August 13 @ 3:00 pm EST.



Want an invite? Drop a comment below, and we'll send one your way.

TOGETHER