Our journey toward global reach just took an exciting new step.

On 27–28 October, ExploreTECH PRO took the stage at the 2025 Hospitality Technology Next Generation (HTNG) TechOvation Awards, held during The Hospitality Show in Denver, Colorado. It marked ExploreTECH’s first physical appearance in the US, and a defining moment in how we’re connecting global hospitality through innovation.

The HTNG TechOvation Awards recognize the most impactful technology innovations shaping the future of hospitality. The process begins months in advance, as companies from around the world submit a 90-second video showcasing their solutions and how they’re transforming hotel operations. After a round of public voting and expert evaluation, ten standout innovations are chosen to present live on stage.

Among this year’s Top 10 semifinalists was ExploreTECH PRO, recognized as the first agentive AI assistant for hospitality procurement. Built to simplify how hotels discover, compare, and manage technology, PRO draws from 150,000+ proprietary data points covering over 2,100 solutions and 1,500 vendors to help decision-makers connect and collaborate smarter.

At the Denver semifinals, our Co-Founder and COO, Ralph Melis, took the stage to present ExploreTECH PRO live before a panel of global hotel technology leaders. His session showcased how ExploreTECH is redefining procurement, turning what was once a complex, manual process into a connected, data-driven experience that helps hoteliers move faster and make more informed choices.

Watch our TechOvation video to see how ExploreTECH PRO is transforming hospitality procurement and powering smarter connections across the industry. 

We were equally proud to see dailypoint™, one of our long-standing platform partners, also on stage presenting its AI Profile Snapshot solution, a perfect example of the innovation and collaboration shaping our shared ecosystem.

“This moment represents much more than a competition,” said Ralph Melis. “It’s proof of how far ExploreTECH has come, from a regional marketplace to a global ecosystem where technology meets opportunity.”

The event also gave us the chance to reconnect with industry friends and partners including FLYR Hospitality and Protect Group, making the Denver experience not just a showcase, but a celebration of collective progress.

While Agilysys claimed this year’s TechOvation Award, and Canary Technologies took home the Tech Acceleration Award, we extend warm congratulations to all fellow finalists, including Glowing.io, MeetingPackage, and dailypoint™, for their inspiring participation.

“We’re proud to see ExploreTECH PRO recognized among such incredible innovators,” said Mona Faraj, CEO of ExploreTECH. “This is only the beginning of our global journey, one built on intelligent connections, collaboration, and a shared vision to make hospitality technology simpler and smarter for everyone.”

From submitting our first video entry to standing on stage in Denver, this experience has been a powerful milestone and a reminder of what drives us forward: helping the hospitality industry discover, decide, and grow through technology that truly connects.