Attractions

The growth of OTAs, dynamic pricing and themed experiences –trends for the attractions industry

Kanchan Nath Feb 25, 2024

Ahead of the Arival 360 Conference in Berlin from March 2-4, three of the event’s expert speakers have revealed their top trend for the attractions sector in 2024.

Airlines and Aviation

Nium unveils ‘Closed Loop’ payments alternative for airlines and OTAs

Kanchan Nath Nov 24, 2022

Nium, the global platform for Modern Money Movement announced the launch of Nium Airline Payments (NAP), a closed-loop payments solution powered by Universal Air Travel Plan (UATP).

Global

OTAs raise concern with Penang Govt on short term rental plans

Kanchan Nath Oct 11, 2022

The Asia Travel Technology Industry Association (ATTIA) and its members submitted recommendations to the Penang State Government (Local Government Division) recently, regarding the proposed…

OTAs & Tour Operators

Travellers want to book through OTAs, spend more and stay longer – study

Kristin Mariano May 17, 2021

Half of UK travellers intend to book via an online travel agency (OTA) after COVID-19 with domestic travellers leading the way by staying longer, and spending more on hotel accommodations…

Rethinking OTAs in an uncertain market

Megha Paul Oct 7, 2020

Tracy Dong, senior advisor in Asia Pacific region at IDeaS Revenue Solutions talks about how hoteliers must properly understand the value and costs when engaging with OTAs in this era of…

Technology

Amadeus’ three pieces of advice to OTAs

Alastair Newport Sep 11, 2019

Online travel agents must embrace merchandising and reinvent retail flow to ensure future growth, says Amadeus. The online travel market is evolving – and fast. Asia Pacific travel markets,…

How Celerity’s partnership with Amadeus could hit OTAs where it hurts

Alastair Newport Aug 13, 2019

In June, I had the opportunity to grill Celerity CEO, Ken Quaglio, about the potential of the tech company’s Flight Compare product, at the Amadeus Executive Summit in Istanbul -- but I…

Global

Car rental APIs: Integrations with GDSs, OTAs and tech providers

Altexsoft Team Jun 26, 2019

This article was originally published as a blog post by AltexSoft. It is published here with permission. Exploring foreign places in a rental car offers multiple perks: You can get far…

Flight booking APIs: GDSs, specialised data providers, OTAs, and metasearch engines

Altexsoft Team May 23, 2019

This article was originally published as a blog post by AltexSoft. It is published here with permission. IATA’s recent passenger survey reports reveal interesting data about traveler…

OTAs & Tour Operators

Google stealthily rolls out hotel booking site and annoys OTAs

Kristin Mariano Mar 13, 2019

Tech juggernaut Google just dropped its hotel booking site that enables us to book a hotel room.

OTAs & Tour Operators

These OTAs put element of surprise in travel

Kristin Mariano Feb 19, 2019

Anywhr and ATO Tours are two companies that are continents apart, but are sending travellers on surprise trips.

OTAs & Tour Operators

Why OTAs should be scared of Google

Kristin Mariano Sep 7, 2018

Google continues to augment its travel products and poses a serious threat to online travel agencies (OTAs). It seems that the tech giant has a penchant for the travel industry and has…

How to – and how not to – use OTAs as partners

Brett Henry Jul 31, 2018

Dan Lynn is the co-founder of ZUZU Hospitality Solutions, a distribution and revenue management company for small independent hotels.

Travel Agents

Travellanda adds over 18,000 activities for travel agents and OTAs

Tian Tolentino Jul 25, 2018

UK-based wholesale travel company, Travellanda, has announced the launch of thousands of new activities, from sightseeing and cooking classes, to submarine safaris and Sumo wrestling.

Technology

Here’s how much money OTAs are spending for paid search advertising

Tian Tolentino Jun 8, 2018

A new research by Kantar Media revealed Booking.com as the biggest spender, while TripAdvisor takes the top spot for organic search.

Global

New partnership to help agents avoid the “onslaught” of OTAs

Alastair Newport May 31, 2018

After signing a deal earlier this month, Advantage Travel Partnership UK and India’s Pricol Travel created Advantage Asia, India’s very first leisure travel consortium. Intrigued, I spoke to…

Travel Agents

OTAs and agents take note: Travelport reveals how Americans will travel this summer

Tian Tolentino May 17, 2018

According to a new survey from Travelport, Americans are more likely to take a vacation this summer based on their household finances.

Cruise

From rivals to allies: Two cruise OTAs unite to take on the world

Tian Tolentino May 17, 2018

Online cruise portal and OTA, Dreamlines, today announced its acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Cruise 1st, a UK-based cruise specialist, signalling its entry into new key markets.

Air

7 tips for building a successful mobile booking app for OTAs, airlines and hotels

Altexsoft Team Apr 10, 2018

Travel customer expectations have changed significantly over the last several years. As with other consumer-focused industries, near universal smartphone and tablet adoption has affected…

Hotels

Spotlight on Direct Bookings: Triptease report on how OTAs affect the hospitality industry

Alastair Newport Jan 26, 2018

Hotel rates in Asia-Pacific are undercut by OTAs by an average of 11.4%, a new report by Triptease into the Direct Booking Movement in the region reveals...

United States

Travel Technology Europe reveals OTAs are ‘Moderate’ Threat

Simon Willmore Jan 24, 2017 0

A new survey from Travel Technology Europe has revealed that the majority of technology buyers (57%) believe there is a moderate threat from OTAs (online travel agents) to non-proactive…

UK

OTAs present ‘moderate threat’ to hotel industry

Gemma Greenwood Jan 23, 2017

A new survey from Travel Technology Europe has revealed that the majority of technology buyers (57%) believe there is a moderate threat from OTAs (online travel agents) to non-proactive…

Technology

True automated AI in travel is coming: Phocuswright

Kanchan Nath Nov 11, 2024

The travel industry is on the cusp of a major transformation, driven by the rise of autonomous AI agents, according to a new report from Phocuswright. 

Airlines and Aviation

Direct bookings soar as air retailing evolves

Kanchan Nath Nov 11, 2024

The airline industry is increasingly prioritizing direct sales, recognizing the importance of owning the customer relationship in the evolving landscape of air retailing.

Hotel Technology

Sabre Hospitality unveils SynXis Insights

Kanchan Nath Nov 7, 2024

Sabre Hospitality announced the launch of SynXis Insights, an advanced data and analytics tool designed to empower hoteliers with actionable insights to drive decision-making and optimize…

Reports

Italy’s digital travel footprint declines

Kanchan Nath Nov 5, 2024

The Data Appeal Company - Almawave Group has released its latest macro report on Italy’s tourism landscape, revealing a notable decline in the digital footprints tracked across the country.

Tourism

The Advantage Travel Partnership announces new Global Business Travel Advisory Board Membership

Kanchan Nath Nov 1, 2024

Following its announcement in August that it is to establish a new Global Business Travel Advisory Board, The Advantage Travel Partnership has announced the board’s 14-strong membership.

Airlines and Aviation

Euroairlines allies with Ethiopian Airlines 

Kanchan Nath Oct 30, 2024

Ethiopian Airlines has chosen Euroairlines to manage its domestic and international routes, following the signing of a collaboration agreement between the two companies.

Reports

SUNRATE presents white paper on cross-border B2B travel payments at Travel Tech Asia

Marga Manlapig Oct 23, 2024

SUNRATE announced the release of a new white paper titled Navigating the Complexities of Cross-Border B2B Travel Payments: Practical Insights for Travel Intermediaries

Air

Registration opened for ninth South Pacific Tourism Exchange

Marga Manlapig Oct 22, 2024

Registrations are now open for the 9th South Pacific Tourism Exchange (SPTE) scheduled for 9 and 10 May 2025.

Airlines and Aviation

Moove, iJet and Euroairlines Group join forces

Kanchan Nath Oct 18, 2024

As business aviation aims to optimize its scheduled empty sectors, Moove, iJet and Euroairlines are launching a large-scale trial to optimize aircraft occupancy by adding the advantages of…

Hotels

GDS is a cost-effective distribution channel for hotels: D-EDGE

Kanchan Nath Oct 14, 2024

D-EDGE Hospitality Solutions, a provider of Central Reservation Systems (CRS) and GDS connectivity for thousands of hotels worldwide, has released new findings showing that the Global…

Global

80% of our guests are family travellers: Fabien Chesnais

Kanchan Nath Oct 7, 2024

In an interview with Travel Daily Media, Fabien Chesnais, General Manager, Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island tells us more.

Technology

Globick, Juniper Travel Technology, and GoNexus Group have partnered

Kanchan Nath Oct 7, 2024

NexusCube, the B2B division of GoNexus Group, and Juniper Travel Technology, a renowned in travel technology, have formally entered into a strategic agreement with Globick, a prominent B2B…

Airlines and Aviation

Euroairlines signs an agreement with Kam Air for the distribution of all its routes 

Kanchan Nath Oct 1, 2024

Through the signing an interline agreement, the Asian company will be able to access a wide network of travel agents, OTAs, aggregators and consolidators in more than fifty countries that…

Air

Kam Air and Euroairlines sign interline agreement

Marga Manlapig Sep 27, 2024

This alliance enables the Afghan airline to access a wider network of travel professionals

Airlines and Aviation

CitizenPlane launches operating system to shape the future of Airline Growth

Kanchan Nath Sep 26, 2024

CitizenPlane, a distribution software company for airlines and tour operators, announced the launch of the CitizenPlane Operating System (OS) for mid-tier carriers and fast-growing airlines.

Reports

Growth in top travel markets expected to grow between 6-10% per year through 2026

Kanchan Nath Sep 23, 2024

According to new research from Phocuswright, the global travel market is forecasted to grow between 6-10% per year through 2026. 

Awards

RateHawk wins in TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2024 – Middle East for platform innovation

Ana Alejandria Sep 20, 2024

The company was recognised as Online Travel Agency (OTA) of the Year - United Arab Emirates at the prestigious awards programme.

OTAs & Tour Operators

EaseMyTrip launches India’s First Marketplace, ScanMyTrip.com, integrated on ONDC Network

Kanchan Nath Sep 17, 2024

EaseMyTrip.com, one of India’s  online travel tech platforms has unveiled India's first marketplace ScanMyTrip.com.

Reports

Insight Out Consultancy releases Middle East Travel Market Report for this year

Marga Manlapig Sep 10, 2024

Hospitality consultancy Insight Out and global travel research firm Phocuswright presented the 2024 edition of the annual Middle East Travel Market Report.

Golfing

Golf by Journey: Driving commercial success for UK resorts

Kanchan Nath Aug 28, 2024

Hotel technology company Journey is teeing up golf resorts for commercial success with their new Golf module, part of Journey’s Experience Management System (EMS).

Technology

Travel sector needs to protect itself vs cybercriminals

Marga Manlapig Aug 21, 2024

Thales’ cybersecurity firm Imperva warned the travel industry that it has become a hot target for automated threats by cybercriminals over the past year.

Technology

Can autonomous AI bots help travel agents automatically grow their social media?

Marga Manlapig Aug 12, 2024

As travel technologies evolve, AI could prove to be a solution for travel agencies' marketing and promotions initiatives.

Airlines and Aviation

Vistara announces network-wide freedom sale starting from 9 August 2024

Kanchan Nath Aug 10, 2024

Commemorating India’s 78th Independence Day, Vistara - India’s finest full-service carrier and a joint venture of the Tata group and Singapore Airlines,  announced a network-wide ‘Freedom…

TDM Guest Contributor

Overtourism Threatens Santorini: Measures to Preserve the Island’s Beauty

Joe Cusmano Aug 8, 2024 0

Santorini is one of Greece’s most sought-after destinations with its stunning caldera and iconic, blue-domed buildings. However, the island is now facing a significant challenge:

Airlines and Aviation

Euroairlines partners with Tarco Aviation 

Kanchan Nath Aug 7, 2024

African airline Tarco Aviation has selected Euroairlines to manage the distribution of all its domestic and international routes following the signing of a partnership agreement between the…

OTAs & Tour Operators

HappyEasyGo partners with Primer to accelerate regional expansion in Southeast Asia 

Kanchan Nath Aug 5, 2024

HappyEasyGo, one of India’s largest Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), has announced a strategic partnership with Primer, the unified infrastructure for global payments, to support its regional…

OTAs & Tour Operators

TourReview has launched two new features for online review management: Translation and Geolocation

Kanchan Nath Aug 2, 2024

TourReview launches two new features for effective online reputation management for tour operators.

Airlines and Aviation

Euroairlines Group aligns with Surinam Airways 

Kanchan Nath Aug 2, 2024

Surinam Airways has chosen Euroairlines Group to manage the distribution of all its routes.

Airlines and Aviation

Akasa Air announces Kuwait as its fifth international destination from 23rd August

Kanchan Nath Jul 30, 2024

Starting 23rd August 2024, Akasa Air will operate daily direct flights between Kuwait City and Mumbai, in response to the demand for enhanced and affordable connectivity on the route.

Hotel Technology

Guestline integrates ResDiary and AI to boost sales of ancillary products via guest portal

Kanchan Nath Jul 27, 2024

Guestline, part of Access Group, has introduced a host of self-service options to its GuestStay offering, incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) to further reduce pressure on hotel staff…

Reports

Travelport releases first annual 2024 state of modern retailing report

Kanchan Nath Jul 24, 2024

Travelport, a global technology company that powers bookings for hundreds of thousands of travel suppliers worldwide, released its 2024 State of Modern Retailing Report.

Breaking News

Nations issue travel advisories in light of Bangladesh crisis

Marga Manlapig Jul 22, 2024

Several countries are advising their nationals to avoid unnecessary travel to Bangladesh in light of increasing public unrest.

Finance

FlixBus announces strategic partnership with Paytm, to expand distribution network

Kanchan Nath Jul 17, 2024

FlixBus, a global leader in affordable and sustainable travel, which entered India earlier this year, has now announced a strategic partnership with Paytm, the country’s leading payments and…

Awards

Arival and TourReview announce 2024 Spotlight Awards finalists

Kanchan Nath Jul 14, 2024

Arival and TourReview are thrilled to announce the finalists for the second annual North American Arival TourReview Spotlight Awards.

Tourism

Servantrip CEO urges agencies to ride on dupe destinations trend

Marga Manlapig Jul 8, 2024

Global B2B tours platform Servantrip recently responded to the growing trend for travellers visiting ‘dupe destinations’ through tips on how travel agencies and intermediaries could use it…

Guest Column

Europe Sees a 27.9% Growth in the LGBTQ+ Travel Market, Generating $59 Billion in 2023

Mario Almonte Jul 5, 2024

The LGBTQ+ travel market is valued at an impressive $200 billion globally. With over 10% of travelers identifying as LGBTQ+, this community seeks welcoming and…

Hotels

Sun Siyam Resorts chooses comprehensive technology suite from Sabre Hospitality

Kanchan Nath Jun 20, 2024

Sabre Corporation announced a new agreement with esteemed Maldivian owned and founded hospitality group Sun Siyam Resorts.

Tourism

Sonders & Beach launches exclusive AI-Powered LGBTQ+ Travel Index

Kanchan Nath Jun 19, 2024

AI-Powered Index enhances company’s QueerVadis LGBTQ+ Certification Program for the Travel and Hospitality Industry.

Technology

TourReview transforms tours and activities customer feedback management with launch of Review Collector

Kanchan Nath Jun 15, 2024

TourReview, the AI-driven travel review platform for the tours and activities sector, proudly announces the launch of its latest innovation, the Review Collector.

Global

AI-powered solutions will change the way travel partners create, retail, and service offers for travellers: Brett Thorstad

Kanchan Nath Jun 14, 2024

In an interview with Travel Daily Media, Brett Thorstad, Vice President, Agency Sales & Airline Distribution, Asia Pacific, Sabre Travel Solutions, tells us about Sabre Travel AI™…

Airlines and Aviation

Vistara announces network-wide summer sale from 4-7 June 2024

Kanchan Nath Jun 5, 2024

Vistara, India’s finest full-service carrier and a joint venture of the Tata group and Singapore Airlines,  announced a four-day, network-wide (domestic and international) Summer Sale,…

Technology

Digital channels surge as Australia, New Zealand experiences sector steams toward recovery

Kanchan Nath May 31, 2024

Online channels have become the leading way travellers book tours, activities and attractions in Australia and New Zealand, according to new research from Arival, the global research…

Reports

WNS and HFS Research release Travel and Hospitality Market Impact Report

Kanchan Nath May 27, 2024

WNS (Holdings) Limited a provider of global digital-led Business Process Management (BPM) solutions, in partnership with HFS Research, a global business research consultancy, released a…

Special Reports

Deloitte: Summer Travel stays the course amid pricing pressures

Kanchan Nath May 22, 2024

Amid rising prices, Americans still value their travel plans, as 48% of those surveyed plan to travel and stay in paid lodging, on par with last year, but take fewer vacations overall this…

Global

Yuppi Group leverages Turkish destination specialism to launch B2B hotel platform Pax2Night

Kanchan Nath May 16, 2024

Turkish destination in-bound tour operator Yuppi Group has announced the successful launch of a B2B accomodation booking platform called Pax2Night.

Technology

Venice Tours secure 400% revenue boost thanks to partnership with Bókun 

Kanchan Nath May 8, 2024

Tour Operator Software Provider Bókun has revealed that the annual revenue of tour operator ‘Venice Tours’ has increased by 400% following their partnership. 

Technology

The Kilroy Group enhances the traveller experience and drives operational efficiency with Sabre technology 

Kanchan Nath May 8, 2024

Sabre Corporation, a leading  software and technology company that powers the global travel industry, and the Kilroy Group,  a leading European hybrid multibrand Travel Agency, today…

Tourism

WTTC’s Hotel Sustainability Basics reaches 3,400 verified properties

Kanchan Nath May 7, 2024

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced that its Hotel Sustainability Basics (Basics) has achieved a significant milestone, with 3,400 properties now verified across…

Airlines and Aviation

Ryanair and ‘On the Beach’ partnership takes off

Kanchan Nath May 7, 2024

Following the announcement of their “Approved OTA” (online travel agent) partnership Feb last, Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, announced that its low fare flights are now available to book…

Hotel Technology

Boostly and I-PRAC forge partnership to elevate trust in direct bookings for short-term rentals 

Kanchan Nath May 1, 2024

Boostly has become the exclusive website design agency partner of I-PRAC (International Property Rental Approval Certification) – a collaboration set to inject unparalleled trust and…

MICE

TIS2024 is calling tourism experts to share trends and strategies in tourism innovation

Kanchan Nath Apr 25, 2024

From 23 to 25 October 2024, TIS - Tourism Innovation Summit, the annual meeting between the tourism industry and the technology sector, returns to Seville, Spain

OTAs & Tour Operators

Iron Travel entrusts Euroairlines Group with the distribution of its new routes between Cuba and the United Kingdom 

Kanchan Nath Apr 23, 2024

The British tour operator Iron Travel has selected the Spanish company Euroairlines Group for the distribution of its new routes between Cuba and the United Kingdom, which will begin in May…

Technology

Sabre and InterparkTriple announce strategic technology partnership

Kanchan Nath Apr 15, 2024

The fast-growing Online Travel Agency and Sabre will collaborate to attract millions more visitors to South Korea through AI-powered innovation. 

Guest Column

The hidden facts about Last-minute trips

Alex Martin Apr 3, 2024

If you are planning a trip, particularly one involving flights, you will have well-thought-out plans for these. However there can be last-minute trips too, trips which you have to go on…

Interviews

Post an outstanding Q1 2024, our expectations are for sustained momentum: Khamthong

Kanchan Nath Mar 22, 2024

A boutique resort, with its own farm and located in an oasis of green, Pai Village promises an unforgettable experience, surrounded by beautiful mountains, river valleys and scenic rice barn…

Hospitality

Hospitable Conference set to elevate the ‘Book Direct’ revolution with industry experts weighing in

Kanchan Nath Mar 20, 2024

The Book Direct movement in vacation rentals is set to get a powerful boost with the launch of Hospitable Conference 2024.

Technology

eDreams ODIGEO and Travelport significantly expand strategic technology partnership

Kanchan Nath Feb 21, 2024

eDreams ODIGEO, the world’s largest travel subscription platform, and Travelport, a global technology company that powers bookings for hundreds of thousands of travel suppliers worldwide,…

Airlines and Aviation

Akasa Air adds Doha as the first international destination to its network

Kanchan Nath Feb 19, 2024

Akasa Air, India’s fastest-growing airline announced international operations with the addition of Doha, capital of Qatar, as the first international destination to its rapidly expanding…

Global

Akasa Air launches daily flights connecting Ayodhya with Pune and Delhi 

Kanchan Nath Feb 16, 2024

Akasa Air, India’s fastest-growing airline, commenced flights from Ayodhya, operating daily through flights between Pune and Ayodhya via Delhi, with no change of aircraft required.

Features

Impending North America total solar eclipse presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for travel trade

Kanchan Nath Feb 13, 2024

On April 8 this year a total solar eclipse 115 miles across will pass over Mexico, the United States and Canada, and the sky will temporarily darken as if it were night-time. 

Technology

Chinese travellers continue to show increasing interest in outbound destinations: Dida Travel

Kanchan Nath Feb 8, 2024

DidaTravel – a tech-driven global travel distribution company –  releases data reflecting the growing trend for Chinese outbound travel during the Chinese New Year holidays.

Airlines and Aviation

Akasa Air announces Srinagar as its 20th destination

Kanchan Nath Feb 8, 2024

Akasa Air, India’s fastest-growing airline, announced the addition of Srinagar as the 20th destination to its expanding network.

OTAs & Tour Operators

Key Steps to Focus on When Building an Online Travel Agency

Liz Melewshkeivch Feb 2, 2024

Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) play a crucial role in the travel industry, serving as intermediaries between travelers and various travel services. In today's competitive market, new OTAs…

Global

Hotels under pressure to respond as OTA competition for guests lead gen explodes: SHR Group’s Hotel Industry Trends Report 2024

Kanchan Nath Feb 1, 2024

The battle for direct bookings has entered a new phase as online travel agents (OTAs) ramp up efforts to establish ownership of hotel guests and their booking journeys, a new report from…

Interviews

MAI aims to enhance connectivity to existing markets & braces for the Chinese market recovery

Kanchan Nath Jan 26, 2024

In an interview with Brand TD, Tanes Kumar, Acting Chief Executive Officer & Chief Commercial Officer of Myanmar Airways International (MAI), shares more about the airline, its expansion…

Reports

Shiji Global Distribution Chart 2024 indicates an industry in motion where adaptability and innovation are crucial

Kanchan Nath Jan 17, 2024

The Shiji Global Distribution Chart is the annual infographic, backed by popular demand, that they put together to show the entire hospitality tech distribution landscape.

Airlines and Aviation

Vistara celebrates ninth anniversary with a network-wide sale from 9 – 11 January 2024

Kanchan Nath Jan 11, 2024

 Vistara, India’s finest full-service carrier and a joint venture of the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, today, announced a network-wide (domestic and international), Anniversary Special…

Technology

GoMMT, Booking.com and Agoda retain their top spots in the fast-growing Indian travel economy

Kanchan Nath Jan 8, 2024

Global hotel technology giant, STAAH, has revealed the top channels across its network of 19,000+ properties. Gobibo and MakeMyTrip owner, GoMMT took the top spot for six years running.

Interviews

Championing Centara’s distinctive and personalised Thai hospitality

Kanchan Nath Jan 4, 2024

In a freewheeling conversation, Michael Henssler, COO, Centara Hotels and Resorts, shares more about the popular Thai hotel brand, its warm hospitality, and the reason to celebrate Centara…

Airlines and Aviation

Akasa Air welcomes two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to its growing fleet

Kanchan Nath Jan 4, 2024

Akasa Air, India’s fastest-growing airline, recently welcomed two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to its growing fleet. With this, the airline exited the calendar year 2023 with a fleet size of 22…

Global

Top ten most beautiful aquariums to visit in America in 2024

Kanchan Nath Jan 4, 2024

A new study has ranked Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit, MI, as America’s most beautiful aquarium for 2024.

Interviews

The meaning of “X” in Hotelbeds’ group brand HBX Group

Gary Marshall Dec 13, 2023

The introduction of group brand, HBX Group marks a strategic shift in Hotelbeds’ vision, as outlined by Carlos Muñoz, Commercial Chief Officer of HBX Group, shedding light on key motivations…

Hotels

Hotels in Madhya Pradesh report significant growth in revenue, online sales and direct bookings using STAAH technology

Kanchan Nath Dec 10, 2023

Madhya Pradesh, also known as the ‘Tiger State of India’, attracts hordes of domestic and international tourists throughout the year.

Reports

Report shows smaller vacation rental managers need to catch up on AI adoption

Kanchan Nath Dec 4, 2023

A trends report published today by Hostaway, highlights that vacation rental property management companies with portfolios under ten properties are lagging behind their larger counterparts…

Features

Top ten American Aquariums visitors find the most beautiful

Kanchan Nath Nov 29, 2023

A new study has ranked Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit, MI, as America’s most beautiful aquarium. Aquarium Store Depot analyzed the number of Tripadvisor reviews that contained words such as…

Airlines and Aviation

Akasa Air adds Port Blair to its network

Kanchan Nath Nov 23, 2023

Akasa Air, India’s fastest growing airline, strengthens its connectivity by adding Port Blair, to its expanding network.

Global

Key Data becomes exclusive data partner of The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers

Kanchan Nath Nov 9, 2023

Short term rental (STR) data specialist, Key Data, has become the exclusive data partner of the Scottish association for STR property managers. 

Airlines and Aviation

Vistara announces festive sale across its domestic network

Kanchan Nath Nov 8, 2023

Vistara, India’s finest full-service carrier and a joint venture of the Tata group and Singapore Airlines,  announced a three-day sale across its domestic network for travellers to plan…

Technology

TIS2023 closes its fourth edition with 7,384 attendees

Kanchan Nath Oct 26, 2023

TIS - Tourism Innovation Summit 2023 closed its fourth edition, where 7,384 industry professionals discovered the latest trends that are defining smarter, more sustainable and digital…

Air

Bhutan Airlines announces plans to operate new flight route connecting Bhutan to the UAE, during their 10th anniversary celebrations

Kristin Mariano Oct 23, 2023

Bhutan Airlines, the first private airline in Bhutan, has revealed plans to launch flights between Paro International Airport and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates starting January…

Features

Haunted Britain: Mapping Halloween Horrors

Kanchan Nath Oct 21, 2023

With spooky season fast approaching, party decoration experts at Ginger Ray have conducted a survey* to discover what Britain's biggest fears are in 2023.

OTAs & Tour Operators

More outsiders are entering the OTA space – according to research from Phocuswright

Kanchan Nath Oct 20, 2023

An increasing number of companies from outside of travel are entering the online travel agency (OTA) space, according to Phocuswright, the travel industry research and events authority.

Hospitality

Hotel Rate Rises: How much is too much?

Kanchan Nath Oct 16, 2023

Since the pandemic, hotel room rates have been increasing drastically and this summer saw travellers paying prices that well exceeded 2019’s prices or any ever seen before.

Insurance

EaseMyTrip teams up with Cover Genius

Kanchan Nath Oct 11, 2023

EaseMyTrip.com, one of India’s largest online travel platforms, today announced its strategic partnership with Cover Genius, the insurtech for embedded protection.

Appointments

TUI driving further growth in Tours & Activities

Kanchan Nath Oct 10, 2023

TUI Group, one of the world’s leading tourism businesses, has made changes to the TUI Musement leadership team to drive further growth of its Tours & Activities division.

Technology

TIS2023 will delve into how to attract talent and foster leadership in the new era of tourism

Kanchan Nath Oct 6, 2023

TIS-Tourism Innovation Summit 2023, the international summit on tourism innovation and technology to be held in Seville, Spain, from October 18-20, will feature prominent leaders in…

Hotels

RateTiger helps Cantonal Hotel by Warwick Riyadh to optimize revenue

Kanchan Nath Oct 3, 2023

Cantonal Hotel by Warwick Riyadh has found a reliable and innovative partner in RateTiger, a leading provider of hotel revenue management solutions.

MICE

Travel Tech set to drive innovation and strategic partnerships in EMEA 

Kanchan Nath Oct 2, 2023

With a focus on "technological advancements in the industry," attendees can expect three days of groundbreaking insights, expert sessions led by top executives and industry experts, and…

Awards

Arival and TourReview announce finalists for Spotlight Awards

Kanchan Nath Sep 26, 2023

Arival, the global leader in insights and events for the tours and activities industry, and TourReview, an online reputation management platform for operators of tours, activities and…

Appointments

Joyned appoints Sergio Vargas Johansson as Managing Director of Travel  

Kanchan Nath Sep 15, 2023

Award-winning Jerusalem-based startup Joyned has announced the appointment of Sergio Vargas Johansson as its Managing Director of Travel. 

Awards

AirAsia and airasia Superapp win big at World Travel Awards Asia 2023

Kanchan Nath Sep 9, 2023

AirAsia receives Asia’s Leading Low-Cost Airline for eighth year running, and Asia’s Leading Low-Cost Airline Cabin Crew for seventh consecutive year

Awards

Arival launches Spotlight Awards

Kanchan Nath Aug 25, 2023

Arival, a global leader in the tours and activities industry, launched an innovative new recognition program, The Arival and TourReview Spotlight Awards. 

Associations

Travel has a new home – the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA)

Kanchan Nath Aug 17, 2023

The biggest reform ever for Australia’s Travel Sector has been unveiled with the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) launched recently. 

Corporate & Business

Cornerstone strategically invests in Traxo

Kanchan Nath Aug 14, 2023

Traxo, Inc., the world’s only real-time corporate travel data capture provider and Cornerstone Information Systems, a global leader in managing travel and expense operations, have joined…

Special Reports

UK Travellers spend over 5 hours researching trips on average

Kanchan Nath Jul 27, 2023

Expedia Group’s Path to Purchase research has revealed the travel content consumption habits of travelers as they seek inspiration and plan their trip, with UK travelers spending 303 minutes…

Technology

TravelgateX is transforming collaboration with channel managers and boosting direct product bookings

Kanchan Nath Jul 26, 2023

TravelgateX, the leading platform for global travel connections, is revolutionizing the way travel companies and channel managers collaborate.

IWTA

Women’s participation in travel & tourism critical to growth of global sector

Kristin Mariano Jul 24, 2023

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reiterated the importance of women’s engagement in Travel & Tourism to catapult its growth and achieve a thriving and resilient sector at…

Partner content

Unleashing the potential of embedded protection to revolutionize the travel industry

Kristin Mariano Jul 14, 2023

With the rise in tourism, the global travel protection market has witnessed significant growth from US$19.14 billion in 2022 to US$22.44 billion this year. This growth is especially…

Events

Travel Transformation: Defining Travel in 2023

Chris Head Jul 11, 2023

Travel had to come to a standstill for the world to wake up to its importance. In an industry governed by change, be it societal, cultural, or economic - what emerged following the…

Travel Agents

Colatour selects Amadeus as its travel technology partner as Asia expansion continues 

Kanchan Nath Jul 11, 2023

Colatour, owner of Comfort Travel Group has selected Amadeus as its primary travel technology partner to roll out a strategic business transformation journey, starting with the…

Global

Israel’s Dead Sea: A natural wonder and wellness oasis

Kanchan Nath Jul 7, 2023

Tucked away between the hills of the Judean Desert lies a remarkable natural wonder that captivates visitors from around the world—the Dead Sea.

OTAs & Tour Operators

Asian tour operators change focus to satisfy experience-hungry new travellers

Kanchan Nath Jun 19, 2023

Tour operators at this year’s Arival Activate event in Bangkok are reporting that there’s truth in the predictions – travellers indeed are demanding more immersive, local and engaging…

Tourism

LGBTQ+ travellers more concerned about safety – research

Kristin Mariano Jun 13, 2023

As Pride Month is being celebrated around the world travel metasearch service WayAway has published the results of a study that reveals that sadly LGBTQ+ communities still don’t feel safe…

Interviews

Rail Europe simplifies train travel in the continent

Anthony Gallagher Jun 8, 2023

Rail Europe, the independent high-tech travel company, has rebranded after becoming a private-owned company, no longer part of e. Voyageurs SNCF. The rebrand also introduces the…

Airlines and Aviation

Akasa Air introduces ‘Monsoon Bonanza’

Kanchan Nath Jun 5, 2023

Akasa Air, India’s newest airline, announced a special Monsoon Bonanza sale across its network, offering travellers a chance to book their upcoming travel at attractive fares.

Hotels

IHG to open 12 ‘ Next Generation’ Holiday Inn Express hotels across Saudi Arabia

Kanchan Nath May 17, 2023

IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a Master Development Agreement (MDA) with Tashyid for Hotel Operations, which will see the development of 12 hotels and 2,500 keys under the Holiday Inn…

Eturbo News

Saudi Arabia was the true Star at the Arabian Travel Market

Juergen T Steinmetz May 11, 2023 0

eTurboNews: Wherever Saudi Arabian Tourism goes to exhibit and showcase it turns into a success story. The Arabian Travel Market Dubai was not different. Read more: Saudi Arabia was the…

Special Reports

Domestic travel already above 100% of pre-pandemic levels in India: Sabre

Kanchan Nath May 9, 2023

Unstoppable India, Sabre data indicates strong growth potential with domestic travel already above 100% of pre-pandemic levels, and international quickly catching up, alongside major…

Tourism

2023 domestic travel plans for summer across Southeast Asia

Kristin Mariano May 9, 2023

Milieu Insight, Southeast Asia’s leading consumer research firm, conducted a survey among 2,500 working individuals aged 20-65 in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, and…

Technology

Generative AI and sustainability are driving investment in the tourism technology segment

Kanchan Nath May 5, 2023

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) activities are attracting the highest levels of investment in travel technology at present, according…

Attractions

Travel experiences in APAC forecast to approach pre-pandemic levels by 2024

Kanchan Nath Apr 26, 2023

Travel experiences in Asia Pacific have returned to rapid growth as the region reopens to regional and long-haul travel, finds new research from Arival, released ahead of its Arival Activate…

Transport

Top trends driving growth in India’s outstation bus market

Kanchan Nath Mar 30, 2023

IntrCity SmartBus, the largest tech-enabled fleet of inter-city buses in collaboration with  1Lattice, a technology-enabled consulting, advisory and research firm, has released a report…

IWTA

Calling for nominees: TD IWTA to honour inspiring women in a prestigious award ceremony

Kristin Mariano Mar 9, 2023

We know women in the travel industry whom we admire and feel inspired by. Perhaps it is someone who has succeeded against all odds, someone whose courage defied biases or whose…

Spas & Treatments

Healing with Ayurveda at Ayushakti

Kanchan Nath Mar 7, 2023

Ayushakti’s most recent patient recovery case study gets published in the Globally renowned European Journal of Applied Science

Interviews

How to empower next generation of hoteliers with technology

Kristin Mariano Mar 1, 2023

Never before have hoteliers relied on this scale of technology to power their basic decision-making and improve the guest experience. There is no denying that hotel technology has become…

Technology

ChatGPT: Opportunity or threat for travel?

Kristin Mariano Mar 1, 2023

If in technology and innovation circles 2021 was the year for crypto and 2022 was the year of the metaverse, then 2023 will be remembered as the year of ChatGPT for certain. But is this an…

Hotels

STAAH launches e-book to empower hotels to drive direct bookings

Kanchan Nath Feb 16, 2023

With the impact of COVID-19, trust has become a crucial factor for travellers when booking hotel stays. As a result, many travellers are now preferring to book directly rather than using…

Tourism

Chinese group tour travel starts again to 20 Countries

Kanchan Nath Feb 6, 2023

The second phase of China’s outbound tourism recovery begins today, Monday 6 February. Chinese group tour travel will recommence to 20 countries.

Airlines and Aviation

Akasa Air adds Varanasi as the 14th destination

Kanchan Nath Feb 3, 2023

Akasa Air, India’s newest airline announced the addition of its 14th destination – Varanasi to its fast-growing network

Finance

Industry reflections to the Indian Union Budget 2023-2024

Kanchan Nath Feb 2, 2023

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that there is a huge potential in the tourism sector which holds huge opportunities for jobs and entrepreneurship for the youth.

By the Way

HalalBooking shows 62% growth YoY

Kanchan Nath Feb 1, 2023

HalalBooking, the world’s leading OTA for halal-friendly travel, continued its success story in 2022.

Eturbo News

Italy Tourism announces 1.38 billion to support tourism

Mario Masciullo - eTN Italy Jan 28, 2023 0

by: Mario Masciullo - eTN Italy | copyright: eTurboNews - Travel Industry News - World Travel News Italy Minister of Tourism (MITUR) called for a press conference at the ministry seat to…

Technology

Rezio strengthens its network of distribution channels to embrace global travel rebound

Kanchan Nath Jan 20, 2023

Asia’s top restech for attractions, tours and activities, rezio, is actively integrating with connectivity partners to empower travel experience companies in Asia Pacific to distribute to…

Finance

SUNRATE enhances its online travel solution with new virtual corporate card

Kanchan Nath Jan 6, 2023

Global Fintech SUNRATE has partnered with Visa, a world leader in digital payments, to launch virtual corporate cards as part of its plans to bolster its online travel solution.

Hospitality

5 key trends set to shape the hospitality industry in 2023 – Cloudbeds

Kristin Mariano Jan 6, 2023

The hospitality management platform powering more reservations and happier guests for lodging businesses around the globe, shares its predictions for the five key trends set to shape the…

Interviews

Unlocking NDC’s full potential for the industry

Kristin Mariano Dec 12, 2022

The travel industry has seen steady progress in the adoption of New Distribution Capability (NDC) in the last few years. The recent pandemic drove the need for personalisation and…

OTAs & Tour Operators

On the trail of Kentucky bourbon and the wines of Burgundy and Tuscany

Kristin Mariano Dec 9, 2022

With booking activity growing, Spirited Stories, the new brand from travel innovator DHARMA, is introducing three new small-group tours in Kentucky, Burgundy and Tuscany for 2023 as part…

Global

Passport Legacy emphasizes the importance of a second passport

Kanchan Nath Dec 1, 2022

The UAE’s new passport name rule has many Indian citizens scrambling for solutions that a second passport would provide. 

Finance

Sabre, Conferma Pay and Mastercard partner for virtual cards for travel payments

Kanchan Nath Nov 30, 2022

Sabre Corporation and Conferma Pay announced a new partnership with Mastercard to accelerate the use of virtual cards for business-to-business (B2B) travel payments.

Luxury Travel

BR-DGE partners with Kenwood Travel

Kanchan Nath Nov 23, 2022

Rapidly growing payment orchestration provider BR-DGE has today announced a new partnership with UK luxury tour operator Kenwood Travel.

Special Reports

Travel experiences represented USD 253 bn in global gross ticket revenue in 2019

Kanchan Nath Nov 14, 2022

Post-pandemic changes in shopping and booking behaviour are fuelling a boom in the global tours, activities and attractions (TAA) industry.

Startups

Travel AI startup, Globaleur, raises 2.5m USD to connect end-to-end experience

Kristin Mariano Nov 1, 2022

South Korean travel tech startup, Globaleur, has raised US$ 2.5 million in their pre-series A round and recently completed setting up an office in Singapore as part of their expansion…

Air

Cover Genius and Turkish Airlines launch partnership to bolster embedded protection to global travellers

Kristin Mariano Oct 14, 2022

Cover Genius has announced a partnership with Turkish Airlines to bolster their comprehensive travel protection to global passengers. With this partnership, Turkish Airlines passengers are…

Associations

Pradeep Shetty elected as the president of HRAWI

Kanchan Nath Oct 12, 2022

At the 72nd Annual General Meeting of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) held recently, Pradeep Shetty – Director, Maharaja Hotels was elected the President.

Consumer

icelolly partners with Trending Travel

Kanchan Nath Oct 11, 2022

Holiday comparison site icelolly.com has partnered with travel industry experts, Trending Travel. The new “Inspire and Compare” booking funnel created through the partnership provides travel…

Features

Icelolly.com announces partnership with Trending Travel

Kristin Mariano Oct 11, 2022

Holiday comparison site icelolly.com has announced a new partnership with travel industry experts, Trending Travel. The new “Inspire and Compare” booking funnel created through the…

Mergers & Acquisitions

Booking Holidays can now acquire eTraveli Group

Kanchan Nath Sep 30, 2022

Booking Holidays, owner of hotel booking platform Booking.com, has been given the greenlight to buy eTraveli Group.

OTAs & Tour Operators

More people favour sustainable travel – Trip.com

Kristin Mariano Sep 30, 2022

Trip.com Group has released its inaugural ‘Sustainable Travel Consumer Report 2022’, coinciding with World Tourism Day.  This report sheds light on the increased acceptance of…

Hotels

HotelRez partners with Oaky to unlock automated upselling

Kanchan Nath Sep 27, 2022

Oaky becomes the new preferred upselling partner for HotelREZ Hotels & Resorts, the world's 3rd largest consortia of independent hotels to allow more hotels to drive incremental revenue…

Technology

TakeMe raises USD1.8 million to expand its Japan’s restaurant reservation service for international tourists

Kristin Mariano Sep 23, 2022

Japan’s cross-border payment start-up TakeMe has announced a total of JPY260 million (USD1.8 million) funding. The round was led by New Economy Ventures and individual investors.…

Technology

‘ixigo Flex’ for flexible airline tickets

Kanchan Nath Sep 19, 2022

AI-based travel app ixigo has announced the launch of ‘ixigo Flex’ - a feature that allows the purchase of a fully flexible airline ticket with no additional payment for rescheduling, apart…

Global

Booming festive time for travel: RateGain PULSE

Kanchan Nath Sep 8, 2022

RateGain Travel Technologies in its latest PULSE report has shared forward looking insights focused on the demand for travel in the upcoming festive season.

Airlines and Aviation

Vistara to fly twice daily direct Mumbai- Jaipur from 30 Sept

Kanchan Nath Sep 5, 2022

Vistara, India’s full-service carrier, has added Jaipur (Rajasthan) to its domestic network with direct connectivity to and from Mumbai, starting 30 September 2022.

Technology

Cover Genius teams up with RedBus to offer Singaporeans “Cancel For Any Reason” travel protection

Kristin Mariano Sep 5, 2022

Insurtech company Cover Genius has announced a partnership with bus ticketing platform RedBus to offer customers in Singapore cancel for any reason (CFAR) travel protection when they book…

Air

TPConnects partners with Oman Air to launch IATA Pay service in India

Kanchan Nath Aug 29, 2022

Retail travel technology specialist, TPConnects partners with Oman Air to help launch the IATA Pay service in India.

Air

Emirates enters codeshare with AEGEAN for increased connectivity

Kanchan Nath Aug 16, 2022

Emirates is activating a new codeshare partnership with AEGEAN, allowing its customers to benefit from increased connectivity to eight domestic Greek points via Athens, using a single…

Interviews

OTA Insight provides hoteliers the right tools to get ahead of the competition

Kristin Mariano Aug 15, 2022

OTA Insight is a company that gives hotels tools that help them make informed decisions.

Air

Vistara to boost frequencies to Frankfurt and Paris, ropes in 3rd Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Megha Paul Aug 12, 2022

Starting from 30 October, the airline will operate 6x weekly flights between Delhi and Frankfurt, up from the current 3x weekly frequency; while connectivity between Delhi and Paris goes up…

Technology

KKday expands footprint in Vietnam

Kristin Mariano Aug 11, 2022

KKday has announced it will be aggressively expanding its footprint in Vietnam, and driving over 100 million USD for Vietnam’s tourism industry by 2023.  KKday will be focused on…

Technology

KKday secures Series C+ round for hiring, expanding footprint, and tech innovation

Kristin Mariano Jul 22, 2022

KKday has announced it has secured additional funding in a Series C+ round, bringing the total Series C round raised to US$95 million. The round is led by major tech Asia private equity…

Tourism

How Agoda can help hoteliers achieve the competitive edge

Megha Paul Jul 5, 2022

In this dynamic environment, it becomes even more important for hoteliers and property owners to showcase themselves to reach the right target audience, at the right time and through the…

5 ways Powered by ARCHIPELAGO help hotels to step up their online game

Kristin Mariano Jun 27, 2022

Many hotels lack the resources (teams, tools, systems and expertise) to accelerate their online business, and end up falling behind their competitors.

Interviews

Bali Dynasty Resort: Where guests’ satisfaction is the number one priority

Kristin Mariano Jun 7, 2022

Bali Dynasty Resort is 100% ready to welcome back its guests.

Guest Column

6 Ways To Increase Traffic To Your Hotel Website

Gizem Tas Jun 6, 2022

6 Ways To Get More Traffic To Your Hotel Website  While the power of a hotel website is common knowledge, many hotel owners take it at face value but don't do enough with it. A website…

New ways of travelling and digital innovation fuel the shift to a membership economy

Kristin Mariano Jun 3, 2022

Driven by tech innovation, changes in traveller behaviour and an inversion from transactional to relational interactions between brands and consumers, the membership economy is helping…

Tourism

Brazil: Best destination for adventure tourism

Kristin Mariano Apr 29, 2022

Brazil has been voted the best destination for adventure tourism in the world by US News & World Report.

MICE

Major market players paved way to recovery in travel industry at ITB India

Megha Paul Apr 7, 2022

The concurrent three-day ITB India Conference featured close to 100 online sessions with over 80 industry experts

Quarantine Free Travel

Singapore Airlines to expand VTL network to India and 26 other countries

Megha Paul Mar 16, 2022

Singapore Airlines and its low-cost carrier Scoot will expand its Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) network from March 16 to connect to 66 cities in 27 countries, including India

Attractions

The new tourism consumer is more digital, plans more in advance and is less risk-taking after the pandemic

Kristin Mariano Mar 16, 2022

The tours, attractions and activities market (TAA) is developing quickly, with the aim of creating more unique and complete experiences for increasingly more digital-savvy consumers.

Singapore further eases travel requirements for its Vaccinated Travel Lane

Kristin Mariano Feb 21, 2022

Singapore’s Ministry of Health has announced changes to entry requirements for visitors entering Singapore via the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL), from 23.59 (SGT) on 21 February 2022, with…

Growing beyond airline, AirAsia Group is now Capital A

Megha Paul Feb 1, 2022

AirAsia Group Berhad has announced a name change for the group holding company to become Capital A Berhad (Capital A or the Group).

Technology

Google represents ongoing threat to online travel agencies

Kristin Mariano Jan 17, 2022

COVID-19 had a serious impact on online travel agencies (OTAs), according to GlobalData, which notes that the OTA market value decreased by a gruesome 60.4% year-on-year (YoY) in 2020.

Features

Paradox of choice! Elevating customer experience through technology is the solution

Megha Paul Dec 17, 2021

Jen Catto, Chief Marketing Officer at Travelport talks about the advent of modern digital retailing in travel and how the travel industry can take on the opportunity with the right improved…

Technology

Benefits of blockchain technology in the hotel industry

Priya Jain Dec 17, 2021

Blockchain has been one of the latest technologies that have brought a revolution in most industries. There have been several attempts of creating a digital currency in the past, but they…

ITB China ropes in Saudi as culture travel partner

Megha Paul Nov 26, 2021

ITB China, the marketplace for China’s travel industry, has announced Saudi as the Official Culture Travel Partner of ITB China Virtual 2021

Technology

Hotelmize wins Front Runners Competition proving they have more to offer as the travel industry restarts

Kristin Mariano Nov 23, 2021

Hotelmize has proven that it is really a front runner in travel tech as the company has won the category of Hospitality for the Future at the recent Travel Forward Summit.

Friends and family source of travel inspiration for Indians, reveals Agoda Indiagenous Survey 2021

Megha Paul Nov 12, 2021

Agoda has launched its Indiagenous Travel Survey 2021 as a part of a campaign to drive domestic travel in India

Airlines and Aviation

Experts warn that Aussies maybe hit with higher airfares

Joe Cusmano Oct 23, 2021

Experts in the aviation industry have once again warned that Australians returning from overseas will face exorbitant airfares for the next year as the industry gradually ramps up its…

India’s travel market to cross $125 billion by FY27

Megha Paul Oct 22, 2021

The covid-19 pandemic may have slowed down India’s travel and tourism sector, but a new report expects it to bounce back and cross $125 billion by 2026-27

Agoda’s post-pandemic survey finds Thais bullish on domestic travel

Megha Paul Oct 21, 2021

According to digital travel platform Agoda, a third of Thai people would consider domestic travel within the first two months after restrictions are lifted, with 1 in 5 ready to pack and go…

Technology

Google makes some huge changes to the way it connects users and operators in the tours, activities and attractions vertical

Chris Head Sep 17, 2021

As industry giant Google makes some huge changes to the way it connects users and operators in the tours, activities and attractions vertical, Mark Rizzuto, CEO of Livn speaks with TD to…

Venice set to charge visitors for entry from next summer

Megha Paul Sep 8, 2021

The canal city of the world, Venice, is planning to charge visitors for access and set entrance quotas from the summer of 2022

Tourism

Venice set to charge tourists for entry

Joe Cusmano Aug 30, 2021

According to the Italian newspaper La Stampa, Venice plans to charge visitors for admission and set quotas beginning in the summer of 2022.

Tourism

India’s Ministry of Tourism ties up with Yatra to boost travel sector

Megha Paul Jul 7, 2021

Ministry of Tourism in India has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Yatra to strengthen the hospitality and tourism industry.

Hospitality

How perfect channel manager can help you master online distribution and boost revenue

Megha Paul Jun 21, 2021

Hotels and accommodation providers are in dire need of a good channel manager as online travel bookings are firmly growing each year and are only bound to increase post-COVID

Tourism

Travellers prefer booking directly and not via OTA: GlobalData

Megha Paul Jun 14, 2021

A recent GlobalData poll has revealed a shift in consumer preference towards booking holidays directly, instead of going through an online travel agency (OTA)

MICE

Virtual ATM 2021 begins today as industry convenes to show support for travel recovery

Megha Paul May 24, 2021

Middle East region’s largest travel and tourism showcase, Arabian Travel Market continues this week from 24 May to 26 May with the highly anticipated ATM Virtual event

Technology

Hotel SEO: Three Ways To Rank Higher On Google

Jenn Zajac Mar 11, 2021

Corporate built our hotel website and I added the content, but was it any good? Why wasn’t my hotel ranking for anything other than our brand name? How was I supposed to optimize for search…

Technology

Commission-free direct bookings – a boon to hoteliers

Kristin Mariano Mar 11, 2021

All hoteliers want more direct bookings more than any type of bookings because at the end of the day that is full profit going directly into their pockets with no third-party aggregators…

Hospitality

Juniper and Hotelmize: Partnerships that bring innovation to tourism industry

Megha Paul Jan 21, 2021

One of the latest partnerships for the benefit of the tourism market is the collaboration between Juniper and Hotelmize

Reopening updates

Moscow’s maiden digital roadshow concludes in India

Megha Paul Jan 5, 2021

Moscow City Tourism Committee's four-day virtual event was specially curated to present the ‘City of Moscow’ as an attractive travel destination to the vibrant Indian outbound travel…

Guest Column

Achieve competitive advantage with Hotel API

Kunal Kasliwal Dec 9, 2020

Various Travel Agencies and businesses collect a tremendous amount of data from their niche websites. Not only do they understand that to gain an edge in the market they must access their…

Features

Singles’ Day 11.11 2020 is teeming with travel deals

Kristin Mariano Nov 10, 2020

In the past years, travel companies have taken advantage of the event to offer amazing travel deals and discounts to consumers.

Hello Ho Chi Minh City! New campaign unveiled

Megha Paul Oct 5, 2020

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism has launched a new communication campaign named ‘Hello Ho Chi Minh City’. The campaign will take place from October 2020 to the end of January 2021

Gems Mining Pool Villas Pattaya on target for November opening

Megha Paul Sep 30, 2020

Situated in Pattaya, Chonburi, the resort is now open for reservations through their direct channels

5 steps to a frictionless future for Asia’s travel industry

Alastair Newport Sep 17, 2020

‘Contactless’ has quickly become a by-word for safety in today’s new era of social distancing. The effects have already been felt in the world’s financial services and retail industries,…

Does loyalty matter in a disrupted hotel market?

Megha Paul Sep 16, 2020

Jurgen Ortelee talks about the importance of loyalty in the hotel sector in the changing times and how it can act as a key differentiator

Fundamental differences in Chinese online behaviours (Travel industry focused)

Anita Chan Jul 29, 2020

More than two years ago, I wrote the article “Major Misconceptions about getting Direct Hotel Bookings from China”. (https://www.4hoteliers.com/features/article/11092) After me publishing…

5 reasons why travellers may not book that flight

Kristin Mariano Jun 23, 2020

Months after lockdown, countries are slowly reopening their borders to travellers. OTAs are also seeing a surge of search in the past few weeks.

Finnair and Sabre unveil new GDS agreement

Alastair Newport Jun 16, 2020

Finnair and Sabre have announced a new global distribution partnership. Under the new agreement, Sabre will resume distributing competitive global Finnair content to hundreds of thousands…

Singapore

How one travel tech startup will help prepare businesses for the “new normal”

Alastair Newport Jun 2, 2020

Singapore-based travel tech start-up, iko.travel, is providing a solution to the industry during some of its darkest days in generations by offering its technology and booking platform at no…

Okinawans reveal five secrets of healthy lifestyle and longevity

Kristin Mariano Jun 2, 2020

While it may be some time before travellers can visit the prefecture again in person, Visit Okinawa share the top tips on how to live a healthy life like an island local from anywhere in the…

Technology

Lending a hand: Expedia commits USD 275 million to partner recovery

Megha Paul May 29, 2020

Expedia Group, one of the world’s largest online travel agencies, is committing USD 275 million to help partners rebound from the impact of COVID-19 and fuel industry-wide recovery…

What hotel GMs can do now to prepare for the return of Chinese travelers post COVID-19

Anita Chan Apr 20, 2020

Last week Anita shared a few post COVID-19 trends and ideas on what hotel GMs can do to get ahead of the game to welcome Chinese travelers post COVID-19. Anita decided to elaborate on her…

Technology

CWT launches web-based flight bookings on myCWT

Megha Paul Mar 16, 2020

CWT, business-to-business-for-employees (B2B4E) travel management platform has introduced web-based flight booking capabilities to its global B2B4E travel management platform, myCWT.…

Global

The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives owner on how to thrive in the fiercely competitive Maldives market

Alastair Newport Feb 17, 2020

He's the owner of the super-luxe and ultra-glam beach resort The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives, but Amir Mansoor has not always led the enviable life of a high-end international hotelier and,…

Independent hoteliers put technology at the heart of marketing strategies

Alastair Newport Jan 30, 2020

New research backed by SiteMinder, reveals that today’s independent hoteliers have a greater awareness and appetite around technology when it comes to their marketing and distribution…

Corporate & Business

Hotelbeds asks “Are bedbanks the problem or the solution?”

Alastair Newport Jan 17, 2020

Hotelbeds has today published the results of an industry survey that reveals concerns about the challenge of managing the integrity of hotel room rates in the online environment. The survey…

May the best ideas win: It’s time to break down silos to create better journeys

Alastair Newport Dec 6, 2019

Remember when online shopping still made us nervous? When online dating seemed outlandish at best and dangerous at worse? Or how normal it was to walk to a rental store to watch a movie?…

Reducing friction matters: Key factors that reduce traveller friction

Tian Tolentino Nov 14, 2019

Tests by Expedia Group and Magid recently uncovered the attributes travellers value the most which provide an easy-to-use or frictionless online booking experience.

Technology

5 true stories on how hotels increase revenue by using this service

Kristin Mariano Nov 14, 2019

If there is one thing that is constantly in the minds of hoteliers, it is how to increase hotel revenue to keep the business going. To overcome this challenge, hoteliers need to think of…

Global

Hotelbeds: Three strikes and you’re out

Alastair Newport Nov 5, 2019

Bedbank behemoth Hotelbeds has rolled out an update on its successful implementation of new distribution management rules, which directly address the rate integrity challenge for its 180,000…

The importance of online guest engagement

Alastair Newport Oct 30, 2019

OTAs provide consumers with a one-stop-shop for travel, offering a variety of accommodation options in one place, whilst putting valuable information at their fingertips. Guest engagement…

Technology

The future of revenue management: What technologies and trends will shape its outlook?

Kristin Mariano Oct 13, 2019

Staying on top of what is needed to succeed today is hard, but what about two years or five years into the future? What do hoteliers need to know about where the industry is heading?

Technology

This software allows travel agencies to manage revenue from back-end incentives

Alastair Newport Oct 11, 2019

When it comes to the profitability of any travel agency, the efficient monitoring of what money is coming in and what is going out, is a vital part of the business. But the complex terms of…

Partner content

Hotelmize CEO: “Travel companies are lagging behind”

Tian Tolentino Oct 10, 2019

In this exclusive interview, Hotelmize CEO Dor Krubiner talks about the company's beginnings, the state of tech in the travel industry, and how the technology works for tour operators and…

Travel Agents

Avian: How a startup is making life better for travel agents all around the world

Alastair Newport Sep 30, 2019

Challenged with the self-appointed task of revolutionising the way commission and incentives are managed by airlines and travel agents (TAs); Avian is a startup on a mission to drag the…

Technology

How to increase hotel bookings and revenue without trying too hard

Kristin Mariano Sep 25, 2019

Hoteliers are constantly worried on how to increase hotel bookings and revenue to keep business afloat. It is a huge challenge when you are also hands-on with the day-to-day operations of…

Guest Column

The Industrial Revolutions of Hospitality

Jordan Hollander Sep 19, 2019

I have a friend who used to work in corporate finance at Apple, I remember the last year before she decided to leave - she wasn’t even invited to the Company’s splashy Christmas party at San…

Guest Column

Additional Features To Look In A Travel Portal

Sep 19, 2019

Every major field is converting to the digital side of the world and this is what the business sector demands today. Education, retail businesses, public services, and the traveling sector…

Hotel booking wars? No-Commission Bidroom announces arrival in Asia Pacific

Megha Paul Sep 17, 2019

Bidroom, a no-commission membership-based hotel platform, is looking to expand its portfolio within the Asia Pacific region. Launched in 2014 in the Netherlands, Bidroom currently offers…

UK

Expedia’s overview of travel trends in the UK for first half of 2019

Alastair Newport Sep 17, 2019

As we step into autumn and wave goodbye to the summer holiday season, let’s take a moment to reflect on the key achievements from the first half (H1) of the year, says Krishan Kadodwala,…

Singapore

India as a cruise source market has grown by double digits

Alastair Newport Sep 16, 2019

In 2018, India was Singapore’s top overseas source market for the cruise traveller segment. 160,000 Indian cruise holidaymakers (a 27 % increase over 2017) travelled out of Singapore’s…

Startups

TourDragon: Giving back the power to travellers

Kristin Mariano Sep 2, 2019

Every once in a while, a disruptive platform or app comes along that changes everything in travel. TourDragon gets local tour operators to bid live in a reverse auction for the first time in…

How to reduce booking cancellation and drive direct bookings

Tian Tolentino Aug 23, 2019

A study conducted by property management systems (PMS) provider Guestline has revealed insights on how hoteliers can avoid booking cancellation and increase direct bookings.

Technology

Travel tech this week: Free food on trains when you book with EaseMyTrip

Kristin Mariano Aug 22, 2019

Eating while riding a train is a unique experience that one should not miss out on. In order to elevate customers’ experience, EaseMyTrip is offering free food when users book. Meanwhile,…

Travelport’s new partnerships puts event organisers and TA’s in control

Alastair Newport Aug 12, 2019

Travelport and Inspiravia S.L have announced the extension of their current partnership with the signing of a new global referral agreement. The new contract will see Inspiravia S.L. …

Technology

Traxo and DVI to bring enhanced data insights to corporate travel spend

Megha Paul Aug 6, 2019

Travel data aggregator and itinerary intelligence company Traxo and DVI, data visualisation solution provider for corporate travel management, announced a partnership to integrate…

Hospitality

eRevMax makes inroads in Bahrain with Hani Group

Megha Paul Jul 25, 2019

Hani Group, an upscale hotel chain in Bahrain has selected eRevMax to improve online sales with efficient rate and availability management. All three properties of the group are using…

Technology

Travel tech this week: Travellers favour alternative payments and more

Kristin Mariano Jul 25, 2019

This week, the rise of alternative payments is seen in many parts of Europe and Asia. This trend has a significant on travel as we may see a revolution on how we pay for goods and services.

Asia

Agoda woos budget busters with hotel “hacker-rates”

Alastair Newport Jul 18, 2019

Booking Holdings subsidiary Agoda, an OTA which dominates the Asian market, has announced the launch of a sexy new feature, which should prove very alluring to the hyper budget-conscious…

Technology

Travel tech this week: The best travel brand, tickets for space and more

Kristin Mariano Jul 18, 2019

This week in the travel tech sector, TUI is hailed by independent consumers as the best travel brand trumping rivals Thomas Cook and Booking.com. Meanwhile, this could be your chance to go…

Technology

Roiback: 50% of mobile searches to come through voice tech by 2020

Alastair Newport Jul 12, 2019

The increase in mobile traffic and the importance of meta-searchers are some of the challenges that the hotel industry must face in order to enhance its direct channel and be able to respond…

Global

OYO now has 500K rooms in China; to invest USD 100m

Kristin Mariano Jun 26, 2019

OYO Hotels & Homes has announced that it has now become the largest single hotel brand in China and continues to maintain the second spot at the hotel group level in the country.

Tourism

STAAH hosts The Big Connect at Nashik

Megha Paul Jun 25, 2019

STAAH recently organised the second leg of their mega networking event, The Big Connect for hospitality industry in and around Nashik. The successful event witnessed leading names who…

Hospitality

New ties: HotelRunner increases distribution reach for hotel partners with Hotelbeds pact

Megha Paul Jun 21, 2019

Hotelbeds has announced a preferred partnership agreement with HotelRunner, a sales channel management platform and B2B network for OTAs and hotels. With this agreement, HotelRunner…

Startups

For adrenaline junkies only: Airbnb targets thrillseekers

Kristin Mariano Jun 18, 2019

Airbnb unveils Airbnb Adventures - an expansion of Airbnb Experiences that includes the incredible opportunity for daring guests to channel their inner Phileas Fogg and travel around the…

OTAs & Tour Operators

Will a Bran Stark-like company win the OTA showdown?

Kristin Mariano Jun 7, 2019

“We are here and the enemy is coming from the south like in Indonesia; another force is coming from the north. China even has a wall!”

Technology

To INFINI and beyond: Japan’s TAs gain access to global market place and 285,000 hotel properties

Alastair Newport Jun 6, 2019

Sabre has announced today that Japanese firm INFINI will be the official distributor of the Sabre GDS in Japan.

Hospitality

Middle East hotels increasingly invest in technology

Megha Paul May 31, 2019

Hotel technology expert eRevMax has published a market report titled ‘The State of Hotel Online Distribution in Middle East’. The findings cover a wide cross-section of topics, including…

Global

Traveknowledgy does what GDSs cannot

Kristin Mariano May 3, 2019

"If you can't find a way, create one!" This is probably what motivates a former travel agent who has seen the lapses in the industry processes and created technology to fill in the void.…

LCC distribution channels: Direct, NDC, GDSs and consolidators

Altexsoft Team Apr 23, 2019

This article was originally published as a blog post by AltexSoft. It is published here with permission. Airline distribution is complex:  on one side of the airline industry, we have…

Startups

The rise of super apps and why they are a bigger threat than Google

Kristin Mariano Apr 18, 2019

If we compare the travel industry to the Amazon jungle, I think of Google as the crocodile or anaconda, the ferocious predator on top of the food chain patiently waiting to ambush its prey,…

OTAs & Tour Operators

Booking.com, Expedia and Rakuten offices probed by Japan Fair Trade Commission

Kristin Mariano Apr 12, 2019

Japan’s antitrust watchdog, Japan Fair Trade Commission, raided the offices of Rakuten, Booking.com and Expedia on Wednesday. The three were allegedly involved in unfair trade practices by…

Travel Agents

Amadeus partners with Agoda to give access to pre-paid hotel content

Tian Tolentino Apr 8, 2019

Amadeus and Agoda, one of the world’s fastest growing online travel agents (OTAs), have partnered to give travel agents access to pre-paid hotel content from 150,000 properties globally.

OTAs & Tour Operators

Gomingo takes 0% commission from hotels

Kristin Mariano Apr 2, 2019

Gomingo was founded to create a simple, ethical, and transparent platform that hands back control to hoteliers and hosts from larger OTAs.

Technology

Digital Travel APAC 2019 focuses on disruption in industries

Kristin Mariano Apr 1, 2019

The tech possibilities in the travel industry are virtually limitless and travel companies must live with the expectations of customers in order to provide the most effective experience.

Hotels

Veni, vidi, vici: Direct Booking Summit Singapore 2019

Alastair Newport Mar 15, 2019

The last week in February saw the arrival of the Direct Booking Summit at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore, the seventh edition since the inaugural event in 2016.

Hotels

Roiback: “A regular and loyal customer is much more profitable”

Tian Tolentino Mar 14, 2019

Loyalty programs have become indispensable for a good direct sales strategy — as confirmed by the latest findings of Roiback.

MICE

EyeforTravel reveals star-studded speakers for Digital Strategy Summit 2019

Kristin Mariano Mar 9, 2019

EyeforTravel has revealed that over 50 speakers will grace the 22nd edition of its European flagship, the Digital Strategy Summit.

Global

New Distribution Capability (NDC) in air travel: Airlines, GDS and the impact on the industry

Altexsoft Team Mar 3, 2019

Two fundamental needs connect all airlines: revenue and passenger satisfaction.

Hotels

Mysuru hotels threaten to block supply to OTA’s and OYO in India

MILI SEMLANI Semlani Feb 18, 2019

While the OTA errors debate heats up outside India too, in a latest development, the Hotel Owners' Association (HOA) of Mysuru near Bengaluru has decided that after 15 February 2019, 400 of…

Technology

Travel tech this week: Robots and next-gen firewall

Kristin Mariano Feb 14, 2019

This week, we saw new technologies that improved cybersecurity with next-gen firewall as well as future trends in the sector.

Podcasts

“If you are another nondescript branded hotel they will not even remember your name”: The Hotels Network CEO

Brett Henry Jan 31, 2019

For this week's podcast, I spoke to Juanjo Rodriguez, the CEO of The Hotels Network, a company delivering a hotel tech ecosystem that increases direct channel conversions.

Hotels

Top 5 hotel industry challenges to conquer in 2019

Tian Tolentino Jan 28, 2019

Roiback, a company that specialises in powering direct sales for hotels, has underlined the challenges that the hotel industry faces in 2019.

Podcasts

How tennis and tenacity helped to build the MICE industry’s biggest global player

Brett Henry Jan 10, 2019

I caught up with Bharet Malhotra, senior vice president of sales at Cvent – and one of the company’s founding members – for this week’s podcast.

OTAs & Tour Operators

Here’s why tour operators are dying

Kristin Mariano Jan 8, 2019

2018 was an eventful year for travel agencies: a number of smaller OTAs and brick-and-mortar tour operators closed their doors.

OTAs & Tour Operators

NYE hangover: Agoda’s top destinations to ring in the new year

Tian Tolentino Jan 3, 2019

Got a NYE hangover? Agoda has compiled its booking data to reveal the top destinations to ring in the new year from around the world.

Global

20 trend reports in 1: What travel will look like in 2019

Kristin Mariano Dec 31, 2018

Flooded with trend reports at the end of the year? TD has a special New Year's gift-- the lord of all trends reports to keep you on top of your game in 2019.

Global

Hotel channel managers: Key providers and how to choose one

Altexsoft Team Dec 30, 2018

In one Hotel Hell episode, lodge guests had to search for a front desk employee by themselves. Eventually, a bartender checked them in with a pen and notebook… 

Hotels

Hotel revenue management: Solutions, best practices and revenue managers’ roles

Altexsoft Team Dec 24, 2018

Hotel revenue management, the facets that shape it, and the most effective revenue-increasing strategies.

Technology

Hotelbeds: Year-end review and forecast trends for 2019

Tian Tolentino Dec 11, 2018

Tech provider and distributor Hotelbeds has released industry comments and insights about the year in travel and its forecasts for 2019.

Technology

Taking the next step: Bidroom co-founders bring new leadership to fuel growth

Kristin Mariano Nov 28, 2018

One of the major challenges for start-ups is how to take the business to the next level and foster growth. The two common reasons why start-ups fail are lack of funding and lack of…

Airlines and Aviation

NDC is like buying a chocolate cake, says Finnair APAC GM

Kristin Mariano Nov 21, 2018

Everybody in the aviation industry is talking about New Distribution Capability (NDC), which has been floating before us since a couple of years now. If you are still struggling to wrap your…

Hotels

BedLinker: A marketplace for midsize players in the travel business

MILI SEMLANI Semlani Nov 16, 2018

A travel tech startup from the economic hub of Vietnam, BedLinker, aims to empower travel buyers and sellers to create their own seamless, configurable purchasing and distribution experience…

Hospitality

Direct Booking Summit: “China is the Wild West of hotel distribution”

Tian Tolentino Nov 13, 2018

Ahead of the Direct Booking Summit in Singapore next February, Triptease has spoken with Chetan Patel, VP for strategic marketing & e-commerce at ONYX Hospitality Group.

OTAs & Tour Operators

The shopping phenomenon you’ve never heard of just racked up USD 30b in a day

Kristin Mariano Nov 12, 2018

Alibaba did it again! The Chinese e-commerce giant beat its own record at Singles’ Day 11:11 event with USD 30.7 billion total sales during the 24-hour event beating last year’s USD 25.3…

Hotels

TD enters Agoda’s Gold Circle

Alastair Newport Nov 2, 2018

A couple of days ago, Agoda, the Singaporean based company which dominates the OTA landscape in APAC, announced the winners of its Gold Circle Awards. I spoke to Errol Cooke, vice president…

Travel agency software: Choosing tools for booking, accounting, marketing, and tour building

Altexsoft Team Nov 2, 2018

This article was originally published as a blog post by AltexSoft. It is published here with permission. Despite the recent charge toward using OTAs, a recent study showed that offline…

OTAs & Tour Operators

“Google is evil”: Internet giant dips in travel

Kristin Mariano Oct 31, 2018

William Bao Bean, general partner, SOSV/managing director, Chinaccelerator, described Google and Facebook as “evil” when Yeoh Siew Hoon, founder and managing director of WiT, asked him in a…

Global

Alitalia jumps on the branded fares bandwagon

Alastair Newport Oct 29, 2018

Sabre Corporation has announced that Italian airline Alitalia has jumped on the tech firm’s bandwagon by signing up for the Sabre Branded Fares solution, which will be available on domestic…

MICE

Direct Booking Summit: Asia-Pacific: Triptease selects architectural icon as event hosts

Alastair Newport Oct 24, 2018

The Fullerton Hotel Singapore has been unveiled as the host location of the inaugural Direct Booking Summit: Asia-Pacific, by event organisers Triptease, this week.

Technology

KeyoCoin lets you book travel tours and activities with cryptocurrency

Kristin Mariano Sep 26, 2018

Travel tech company KeyoCoin has launched the beta version of its online marketplace that enables users to book tours, activities and other travel experiences using cryptocurrency.

Hotels

Performance-enhancing AI and data science in hospitality

Altexsoft Team Sep 20, 2018

One hotel provides facial recognition check-in and a chatbot that answers your questions in a couple of seconds, while the latter has only comfortable rooms to offer. What hotel would you…

Corporate & Business

Amadeus gets into the minds of APAC business travellers

Tian Tolentino Sep 20, 2018

Travel tech firm, Amadeus IT Group, has revealed that business travel within Asia is growing at twice the pace of the rest of the world.

Hospitality

Bellevue Hotels and Resorts promotes RateTiger to manage online sales

Tian Tolentino Sep 13, 2018

The Philippine-based hotel chain, Bellevue Hotels and Resorts, has recommended RateTiger for centralising online distribution.

Hospitality

The Hotels Network CEO: Predictive personalisation and how it’s revolutionising hospitality

Tian Tolentino Sep 5, 2018

The concept of leveraging technology to improve the user experience and increase hotel revenue simultaneously is what we call predictive personalisation. All hoteliers should be getting…

Hospitality

Why hotels in China should strengthen their online bookings

Kristin Mariano Aug 31, 2018

Hotels in China should pay more attention to their online hotel bookings as China’s online hotel reservation industry maintains speedy growth with monthly active users (MAU) reaching 91.09…

Travel Agents

Number of TA insolvencies decreases thanks to experiential trips

Alastair Newport Aug 20, 2018

Decline in British travel agencies insolvencies powered by interest in specialist holidays and experience driven vacations.

Hospitality

Room service now via WhatsApp for Accor guests in UK

MILI SEMLANI Semlani Aug 10, 2018

Why call when you can type. While OTA's provide customer service via twitter and airlines help with booking via Facebook messenger chat bots, hotels aren't too far behind either. AccorHotels…

Podcasts

Capturing luxury Chinese travellers: We talk to Anita Chan, CEO of Compass Edge

Brett Henry Aug 6, 2018

Anita Chan, the CEO of Compass Edge, warned me that "the China that you understand is not the real China".

Hotels

Indian budget hotel IndiSmart endorses RateTiger for online distribution

MILI SEMLANI Semlani Jul 22, 2018

Kolkata-based IndiSmart Hotel has endorsed RateTiger for simplifying online distribution. The property has been using eRevMax’s cloud-based Channel Manager and Shopper for managing their…

Hotels

Upgrading.cc CEO bringing revenue gains to hotels “by selling what they cannot sell”

MILI SEMLANI Semlani Jul 18, 2018

Making waves with its recent launch as the world’s only online platform for guests to gain access to ‘Three-in-One’ upgrading options and exclusive promotions offered by the hotels and…

Technology

How self-service and automation will redefine corporate travel management

Altexsoft Team Jul 18, 2018

Travel management companies (TMCs), already providing road warriors with both travel-agent assistance and software solutions, are now starting to focus on the automation. This strategy…

Technology

Roiback and Travel Compositor partner to help hoteliers offer combined packages

Tian Tolentino Jul 11, 2018

Direct sales solutions provider, Roiback, has partnered with the software company, Travel Compositor, to launch a new integration that allows hoteliers to offer combined packages of hotel,…

Hospitality

“The way online travel worked was broken” says Triptease founder

Alastair Newport Jul 9, 2018

Triptease bags a further USD 4 million on top of their original contributions from BGF and Notion Capital contributed. Now, with their total investment standing at USD 13 million, Charlie…

OTAs & Tour Operators

Almost 700 travel agents went out of business in the UK last year

Kristin Mariano Jun 8, 2018

The shift to digital continues relentlessly: almost 700 high street travel agents closed their shutters in the UK last year, due to stiff competition with online rivals, according to a new…

Hospitality

Zero commission on Hyatt’s new programme targeting corporate travellers

Tian Tolentino May 23, 2018

Hyatt Hotels has announced Hyatt Leverage, a global business travel programme that offers special rates to qualifying SMEs at participating properties worldwide.

Hospitality

Hotels with benefits: How Traveliko will “fix the industry”

Tian Tolentino May 22, 2018

Singapore-based online travel portal, Traveliko, has ambitions of ‘fixing the industry’ with the announcement of a zero-commission policy to support hotels and reconnect them with guests.

OTAs & Tour Operators

TPConnects: Empowering travel agencies on a global scale

Tian Tolentino May 22, 2018

Through the Digital Empowerment Initiative, OTAs across the globe can now benefit from their own website, mobile applications, corporate booking tool and B2B platform.

Technology

Go fast or go home: Amadeus to ‘provide speed and accuracy’ for Ctrip brand Trip.com

Tian Tolentino May 15, 2018

Amadeus has partnered with Trip.com to provide the Amadeus Master Pricer Instant Search, delivering speed, accuracy and booking availability where every second counts. In today’s…

Technology

Travelport’s increase in revenue driven by travel payment eNett

Kristin Mariano May 14, 2018

Travel commerce platform and services company Travelport recorded a solid first quarter thanks to its Beyond Air portfolio. The travel payment solutions company eNett under it had an 81%…

Technology

Has Travelport’s GDS business fallen too far behind?

Simon Willmore May 9, 2018

Travelport last week reported 1Q earnings and took a big one on the chin reporting negative bookings growth. Already the smallest of the GDS, the company was bearing the brunt of the Flight…

Travel Agents

71% of APAC hoteliers know quality gains loyalty, but only 33% improve product

Alastair Newport May 9, 2018

Expedia Affiliate Network (EAN) and Points Travel revealed a new report which shows that travel brands in the Asia Pacific are taking the lead when it comes to customer loyalty.

Special Reports

Exploring ‘voice search’ opportunities in the industry

Tian Tolentino Apr 29, 2018

Roast, an independent research agency, has released full reports on how voice search works and how businesses in the hotel and travel industry can be optimised online.

OTAs & Tour Operators

Booking.com’s battle to claim OTA market share in India

Simon Willmore Apr 12, 2018

The fight for market share in India is heating up as the Amsterdam-headquartered OTA lists more non-hotel options. This is in light of Booking.com’s recent announcement that it offers five…

OTAs & Tour Operators

Ctrip tracks record-breaking growth in Chinese outbound tourism

Simon Willmore Apr 9, 2018

Chinese tourists and their money have continued to go places in 2017, according to Ctrip and the China Tourism Academy (CTA). The leading OTA of the People's Republic of China and the…

OTAs & Tour Operators

Marriott targets OTA commissions

Alastair Newport Apr 5, 2018

Marriott continues to hit the news cycle this week, following on from their public commitment to Indian tourism with a press conference in Bengaluru. The hospitality giant has now revealed…

Summit

TD Executive Summit: 3 August 2018

Thoe L-Khan Apr 2, 2018

50 Five-Star Hotel GMs, 6 Start-up Executives No promotion, no panels, no corporate pontification. Just executive-level education, on the six most important categories for hotel GMs in…

Hotels

Email marketing for hotels: Revinate’s top 5 tips to boost your hotel’s Average Daily Rate (ADR)

Tian Tolentino Mar 27, 2018

Email marketing can have a big impact on your hotel’s ADR and that’s why you need these five basic, but effective tactics, from Revinate’s senior marketing strategist Anisha Yadav.

Technology

How to comply with GDPR: recommendations for the travel industry

Altexsoft Team Mar 22, 2018

The adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has become one of the hottest topics across a broad spectrum of industries. The travel industry is no exception. The GDPR…

Technology

Hotelogix to use $5 million investment for rapid expansion

Alastair Newport Mar 9, 2018

Following on from the successful launch of the popular Mobile Hotel app, cloud-based hotel property management system provider, Hotelogix, has raised $5 million USD to sink into building…

Entrepreneurs

‘I built a travel data start-up because of a selfish desire to keep in touch’

Simon Willmore Mar 2, 2018

Andres Fabris earned a finance degree from the University of Texas at Austin in the hopes of working in the finance side of the IT industry. Instead, he has spent 23 years growing, then…

Startups

Startup brings the heat to Vietnam’s hospitality, tech industries

Simon Willmore Mar 2, 2018

BedLinker is a Vietnamese joint stock company providing technology solutions that allow hotels, travel agents and tour operators to work together. The start-up founded by Thuan Dao, whose…

Startups

MakeMyTrip Ltd renews OYO partnership

Simon Willmore Feb 28, 2018

India’s largest online travel services provider, MakeMyTrip Ltd, formally announced that it entered an agreement with award-winning budget hospitality company OYO. The agreement entails…

Technology

Google’s latest update boosts power of direct booking channels

Tian Tolentino Feb 13, 2018

Google's latest travel update promises to bring ease and convenience to the consumers while boosting the power of direct bookings.

Asia

SiteMinder: the top 15 booking channels for tourists to Thailand

Alastair Newport Feb 7, 2018

SiteMinder, the popular global hotel industry cloud platform, has revealed the 15 booking channels that generated the greatest revenue for hotels in Thailand and other key tourism…

Technology

Travel and booking APIs for online travel and tourism providers – which could you make use of?

Altexsoft Team Feb 6, 2018

According to the study by Fuel and Flip.to, travellers visit 4.4 unique websites to book their holidays. These sites tend to be ‘all-in-one-place’ platforms, done through combining data from…

Technology

Booking applications account for 60% of mobile travel purchases

Jill Sayles Jan 26, 2018

Criteo’s Q4 2017 Travel Insights Report reveals the increasing influence of mobile shopping in the travel industry. Travel companies with mobile apps saw 60% of their bookings take place…

Corporate & Business

Demystifying air travel with Mystifly

Simon Willmore Jan 23, 2018

Mystifly has become the definitive anywhere-to-anywhere B2B global airfare marketplace.

Technology

Airlines get branded boost with Travelport

Jill Sayles Jan 22, 2018

Travelport has announced that more than 250 airlines now benefit from its rich content and branding merchandising tool which gives agencies and travel bookers a 'graphically rich experience'…

Tourism

Comment: End of surcharging impact on UK travel industry

Jill Sayles Jan 17, 2018

The end to surcharging doesn’t have to cut into margins says Edward Chandler, chief commercial and partnerships officer, eNett International. From Saturday 13 January 2018, extra fees of…

Technology

Hospitality technology trend predictions for 2018

Jill Sayles Jan 12, 2018

As technology evolves, hospitality accommodation providers are continuing to invest in cloud-based solutions, platforms and apps, and increasingly expanding on the installation of intuitive…

Face‑to‑Face

Q&A: Vivek Katheriya at Traveltek Group Ltd

Jill Sayles Jan 12, 2018

Traveltek is a technology provider for the global travel industry and in Q4 2017, opened a Middle East headquarters in Dubai. The UK company’s regional sales manager for India and MENA,…

Technology

CBInsights reviews 2017 trends in travel tech start-ups and investments

Simon Willmore Jan 10, 2018

Tech analyst company CBInsights argues that travel tech is evolving faster than Pokemon.

UK

Harnessing the power of data

Jill Sayles Jan 10, 2018

Gino Engels, co-founder and chief commercial officer at OTA Insight discusses the power of data. "When it comes to growing revenue, knowledge is definitely power. So it stands to reason…

Finance

Travelport CEO discusses results for third quarter of 2017

Alastair Newport Dec 28, 2017 0

Travelport released revenue statistics for the third quarter of 2017, yesterday. Commenting on the numbers Gordon Wilson (main picture), president and CEO of Travelport, cited the Asian…

Hotels

Blockbusters: Cryptocurrency pioneers OwlTing launch world’s first blockchain hotel management service

Alastair Newport Nov 30, 2017 16

OwlTing, a Taiwanese technology company focusing on blockchain & e-commerce, is launching "OwlNest Blockchain Hotel Management Service," an integrated lodging management platform to help…

Airlines and Aviation

Virgin Australia “go beyond basic fare rules” with Sabre

Alastair Newport Oct 18, 2017 10

Sabre Corporation has announced that Virgin Australia has recently implemented Sabre Branded Fares, joining a growing list of airlines globally.

UK

Q & A with Javine Tan, business development manager, for Traveltek Group Ltd in SE Asia

Alastair Newport Oct 17, 2017 6

UK travel technology specialist Traveltek has opened a Singapore office, marking its foray in South-East Asia – a market where its advanced solutions can help the travel industry keep pace…

Consumer

Traveltek Group launches in Southeast Asia

Alastair Newport Oct 4, 2017 15

Traveltek Group Ltd has made its debut in Southe ast Asia, introducing a potentially game-changing booking solutions to the region’s tech-hungry travel industry.

Technology

Time Design’s Dynamic Package engine connects with Sabre’s SynXis system

Simon Willmore Sep 11, 2017

Time Design, a Dynamic Package Solution company, has announced its integration with Sabre Hospitality Solutions’ SynXis Central Reservations (CR). The move will allow global travelers to…

United States

Ice Portal Launches Powerful New Content Management and Delivery Platform

Mark Elliott Jul 25, 2017 0

Hollywood, FL – July 25, 2017 – Leading visual content curator and distributor, ICE Portal, launched its powerful new and simplified content management system (CMS) and distribution…

United States

Channel optimization: The secrets of data-driven hoteliers

Mark Elliott Jul 17, 2017 0

New report from Sabre and Phocuswright shows the steps hoteliers can take to create and maintain the right channel strategy to reach and convert more customersSOUTHLAKE, Texas – March 14,…

United States

Phocus Forward 2017: A Look at Lodging Products and Platforms

Mark Elliott Jul 11, 2017 7

Two significant challenges are shaping hotel chains' strategic initiatives – maintaining robust direct distribution and countering competition from private accommodation.Hotels vs. OTAsThe…

Hotels

Travellanda sees sharp rise in Australian sales

Mark Elliott Jul 6, 2017

Travellanda, the global bedbank, has reported a sharp increase in its Australian sales and plans to ramp up is operations in the country. In the most recent fiscal year ending 31 March…

Attractions

Hotelbeds to distribute Big Bus Tours globally

Mark Elliott Jul 6, 2017

Hotelbeds Group has strengthened its Transfer & Activity Bank (TAB) business by agreeing to distribute Big Bus Tours on a global basis. The long-term deal is expected to deliver a…

United States

Weekend Getaway: Experiencing B Historic Savannah

Mark Elliott Jul 5, 2017 0

Now that summer is in full swing, it is time to start planning your fall weekend getaway. If you’re looking towards October, Savannah is one of our favorite destinations. Georgia’s oldest…

United States

Sabre’s New FareNabber API Inspires the Smartest Air Shopping Experience

Mark Elliott Jun 28, 2017 0

Newest shopping capability of the Sabre platform enables developers, OTAs and agents to provide travelers with the right flight, at the right time, for the right price through the power of…

United States

In Online Travel, Repeat Bookers Are Elusive, Except for Airbnb

Mark Elliott Jun 10, 2017 0

The cost of customer acquisition is high and getting higher, making traveler loyalty a crucial, but often elusive, goal for travel brands. But with its hip brand, unique market positioning…

United States

Online Bookings Soar in Brazil Travel Market

Mark Elliott Jun 9, 2017 3

Latin America's populations are getting tech-savvier, leading to a boost in online bookings and Internet penetration. Looking forward, four in 10 sales will be made online in the region by…

Face‑to‑Face

Face-to-Face: Bruno Laranjeiro

Mark Elliott Jun 5, 2017

Q)           How was 2016 for Travellanda? Have you seen an increase in the number of travel agencies and tour operators using your online hotel booking services? 2016 has been…

Hotels

Independent Asian hotels seek mobile agility to help them compete

Mark Elliott Jun 1, 2017

Independent and small hotel groups in Asia are seeking to harness the benefits of mobile solutions in order to attract more bookings and compete with larger chains. Speaking to Travel…

Face‑to‑Face

U.S. Market Booking Channels Shifting

Simon Willmore May 15, 2017 0

The U.S. travel market can be split into four major distribution channels: supplier websites, OTAs, central reservations/walk-in, and travel agencies/TMCs. Smartphone and tablet bookings are…

Australia

Hotelier’s Corner: Hayden Edgtton

Mark Elliott May 4, 2017

In today's Hotelier's Corner, Travel Daily Media's Editorial Director for Asia Pacific, Tony Hall, catches up with Hayden Edgtton, General Manager of Peppers Soul, the luxury hotel in…

Face‑to‑Face

Europe Experiencing Skyrocketing Online Booking Rates

Simon Willmore Apr 24, 2017 0

Europe Experiencing Skyrocketing Online Booking Rates Published October 2016 European travelers have historically chosen a mix of online and offline sources to book their…

Nepal

Travel Agents of the Future: Keeping Up With Changing Expectations

Simon Willmore Apr 23, 2017 4

By Clare de Bono, head of Product and Innovation, Amadeus UK & Ireland It is expected that each year will see a 5% annual increase in passenger traffic moving forward and,…

United States

This One Chart Explains the Hotel Loyalty-vs.-OTA Problem

Simon Willmore Mar 24, 2017 0

It's been the defining debate in online travel over the past two years: hotels' battle for the customer and direct booking amid tough competition and skyrocketing growth of online travel…

United States

Chinese Airlines Get Serious About Direct Bookings

Simon Willmore Mar 22, 2017 0

The Chinese government's early-2016 directive, calling for China's state-owned airlines to sell at least half of all tickets directly by 2018 and avoid online travel agency (OTA)…

United States

Expert Tips for Staying Hydrated While Traveling

Simon Willmore Mar 19, 2017 0

Staying hydrated while traveling is super important but not always easy, especially when traveling to countries where the drinking water isn’t safe. So we rounded up experienced,…

Technology

Amadeus invests in airfare locking tool

Mark Elliott Mar 14, 2017

Amadeus has invested in a tool that allows bookers to lock in the price of their flight prior to purchase. A common complaint of travellers is that the price of their desired flight…

Airlines and Aviation

‘Philippines Mega-fam’ trip for UK agents

Maria Airey Mar 9, 2017

This month Philippine Airlines and the Philippine Department of Tourism London are to host a ‘Philippines Mega-fam’ for agents to key destinations throughout the archipelago. The week-long…

Technology

Sabre expands GDS car hire content with Hertz

Mark Elliott Mar 8, 2017

Sabre has expanded its agreement with Hertz, making the car rental company's full inventory available via the GDS. This means that travel agents, both traditional and online, will be…

UK

TAKE THREE: SLH LUXURY PROPERTIES

Gemma Greenwood Feb 19, 2017

The general managers of three SLH hotels outline their property's key credentials: Domaine de Manville, Provence, France GM: Andrew Spearman www.slh.com/manville What are the…

Technology

Avis Budget commits to Travelport GDS distribution

Mark Elliott Feb 14, 2017

Avis Budget Group, the global car rental company, has signed a new agreement that will ensure its products are made available to travel agents via Travelport's GDS channels. Under the…

Indonesia

Indonesian agents boycott Garuda

Mark Elliott Feb 13, 2017

The Association of Indonesian Tour & Travel Agents (ASITA) has started boycotting Garuda Indonesia, following the national carrier's decision to cut commissions. ASITA, which has…

Hotels

Top four tips to keep your hotel competitive in 2017

Gemma Greenwood Feb 11, 2017

Step into a respectable hotel’s front office and you’re greeted by a picture of calm. Everything seems to happen with a graceful air – nobody’s in a hurry, nothing looks disorganized. As…

Hotels

GHA selects Sabre as alternative hotel platform

Mark Elliott Feb 7, 2017

The Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) has decided to start using the Sabre as an alternative distribution platform for its members. Under the agreement, GHA’s collection of more than 550…