Global

EU experts: the future of tourism is written in artificial intelligence

Marga Manlapig Oct 25, 2024

Speakers at this year’s Tourism Innovation Summit (TIS) recently discussed the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in the tourism sector and European regulations related to its use. 

MICE

The transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence to be addressed at Medlab Middle East

Kanchan Nath Dec 29, 2023

The healthcare industry around the world is increasingly adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accelerate scientific advancements, develop new treatments and improve health outcomes…

Guest Column

SKAL BANGKOK TALKS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Andrew Wood Sep 22, 2023

SKAL BANGKOK TALKS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AI for Marketing: Join the October Skal Bangkok Luncheon Talk for Expert Insights from Move Ahead Media’s Craig Burton BANGKOK, Thailand –…

Technology

The UAE government partners with Mastercard to accelerate adoption of Artificial Intelligence

Kanchan Nath Aug 28, 2023

The UAE’s Artificial intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office and Mastercard today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to increase Artificial Intelligence (AI)…

Finance

Mastercard and Network International launch new Artificial Intelligence fraud-prevention solution

Kanchan Nath Feb 10, 2023

Mastercard announced that it is partnering with Network International, the  enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa, to address fraud, declines and chargebacks in order…

MICE

Artificial Intelligence, data analytics and augmented reality for transforming tourism

Kanchan Nath Nov 28, 2022

Tourism Innovation Summit 2022 has once again hosted the Touristech Startup Fest entrepreneurship competition

Air

The future of air travel lies in Artificial Intelligence

Megha Paul Jun 14, 2019

With one of its 300 aircraft taking off from somewhere in the world every 90 seconds, British Airways runs a hugely complex global operation, 24-hours a day. Alex Cruz, chairman and…

Hotels

Artificial intelligence in hospitality – friend or foe?

Kristin Mariano Jul 20, 2018

Hotels and travel management companies are increasingly using AI to carry out customer service tasks, which are important in managing bookings and service.

Airlines and Aviation

Artificial Intelligence: SITA’s drive to make lost baggage a distant memory

Alastair Newport Mar 7, 2018

Not content with creating robot baggage handlers at Kansai International Airport and Osaka International Airport, SITA is now promising to end the frustration and expense of lost baggage…

Airlines and Aviation

Air New Zealand unleash artificial intelligence in Oz

Alastair Newport Oct 16, 2017 18

Air New Zealand’s artificial intelligence-backed chat-bot, Bravo Oscar Tango (Oscar for short) has received his first international promotion – beginning work online in Australia.

Technology

CWT turbocharges its business intelligence and reporting solution with new AI-powered features

Kanchan Nath Nov 8, 2024

CWT has added new artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled capabilities, powered by ThoughtSpot, to its Analytics business intelligence and reporting solution, making it easier and quicker to…

Technology

Data Appeal and Mabrian join forces to lead the Travel Intelligence market in Europe

Kanchan Nath Nov 23, 2023

The Italian company, a part of the Almawave Group, has signed a contractual agreement for the procurement of the 70% of the Spanish company Mabrian Technologies

Technology

SITA Intelligence and Targeting provides real-time risk assessment

Kanchan Nath Jun 23, 2023

SITA has unveiled its most advanced intelligence and targeting offering yet, providing the backbone for dynamic and integrated border management, helping governments identify and manage…

Global

ETOA members to benefit from travel intelligence insights from Mabrian

Kanchan Nath Jun 2, 2023

Mabrian, a leading provider of travel intelligence solutions, is thrilled to announce its partnership with ETOA (European Tourism Association), the foremost trade association promoting the…

Sabre introduces Retail Intelligence for airlines to grow revenue opportunities

Kristin Mariano Nov 9, 2021

Sabre has announced the release of the first two products in the company’s Retail Intelligence suite: Sabre Air Price IQ™ and Sabre Ancillary IQ™ for the dynamic pricing of…

Technology

Capella Taipei gets equipped with the Aiello Voice Assistant

Marga Manlapig Apr 1, 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) solutions developer Aiello announced a partnership with Capella Hotels and Resorts to equip the new Capella Taipei with the Aiello Voice Assistant.

Technology

Fliggy reports progress on its AI applications

Marga Manlapig Apr 1, 2025

The Alibaba Group’s online travel platform Fliggy announced that it has made tangible progress in its artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

Global

HBX’s Xabier Zabala discusses applying technology in today’s travel and tourism sectors

Marga Manlapig Mar 1, 2025

At HBX Group's recently concluded MarketHub 2025 industry conference in Macau, Group chief operating officer Xabier Zabala spoke to peers regarding the practical application of generative…

Technology

Dhruv: India’s first multi-modal, multi-lingual, agentic voice-enabled, GenAI advisor

Kanchan Nath Feb 25, 2025

Thomas Cook (India) Limited and  SOTC Travel, are embracing artificial intelligence (AI) gearing up to launch an agentic AI platform that is designed to transform the business travel…

Airlines and Aviation

SriLankan Airlines’ AI-Powered Chatbot, Yaana  to revolutionise customer support

Kanchan Nath Feb 25, 2025

SriLankan Airlines is presenting a game-changer with the introduction of ‘Yaana,’ an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot.

Air

SriLankan Airlines introduces its AI-powered customer service chatbot Yaana

Marga Manlapig Feb 6, 2025

SriLankan Airlines recently introduced Yaana, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot to augment its customer service facilities.

Reports

Mabrian launches AILA

Kanchan Nath Jan 22, 2025

Mabrian, the global travel intelligence platform, announces the launch of AILA (acronym for Artificial Intelligence Live Assistant), a Generative AI-based virtual analyst designed to…

Partner content

Get tech-agile with AI-driven Hospitality Solutions from Agilysys

Kanchan Nath Jan 14, 2025

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is raising the competitive index for hotels as they vie to get hold of the best tech-savvy hospitality solutions available.

Airlines and Aviation

United Airlines adopts usage of Generative AI

Kanchan Nath Jan 6, 2025

United Airlines has begun using Language Learning Models (LLMs) and artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, to inform customers about the status of their flights, which has resulted in a…

Global

Transformative Experience of AI in Business Travel

Charmaine Fernz Dec 4, 2024

Ben Wedlock, Senior Vice President, Global Sales, Asia Pacific, BCD Travel talks to TDM about the transformative power of Artificial intelligence in business travel. Wedlock highlights how…

MICE

Europalco powers the first 100% AI-dedicated conference in Lisbon: AIVØLUT1ØN Event

Kanchan Nath Sep 20, 2024

Europalco, the largest provider of solutions for events and shows in Southern Europe, in partnership with Knower Impact Meetings, proudly announces the success of AIVØLUT1ØN, the first…

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

90% of UK Holidaymakers reject AI adoption for travel

Kanchan Nath Jun 27, 2024

Brits are bucking travel trends this year as just one in ten holidaymakers are currently using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to plan their trips away, according to a new study1 by Sainsbury’s…

Tourism

AI set to shape the future of Travel & Tourism: WTTC

Kanchan Nath Apr 19, 2024

New reports from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Microsoft highlights the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its role in shaping the future of Travel…

Finance

Network International leverages Mastercard’s AI-powered Brighterion solution to protect over 60,000 merchants from fraud

Kanchan Nath Mar 22, 2024

Network International, the leading enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa, has extended the benefits of Mastercard’s Brighterion fraud prevention solution, powered by…

Corporate & Business

Amex GBT unveils new initiative to drive AI Innovation and Governance

Kanchan Nath Mar 6, 2024

American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT), a leading software and services company for travel and expense, revealed the creation of a new artificial intelligence (AI) initiative.

Technology

Sabre to share latest insights and product highlights at ITB Berlin

Kanchan Nath Mar 1, 2024

Leaders from Sabre Corporation will take the stage at this year’s ITB Berlin Convention to share insights on the role of artificial intelligence, the evolution of retailing in travel, and…

MICE

CWT enhances traveller messaging support with GenAI

Kanchan Nath Jan 26, 2024

CWT, the global business travel and meetings solutions provider, is further simplifying traveler messaging interactions on its myCWT platform with generative artificial intelligence (GenAI)…

Global

Flight Centre Travel Group announces launch of ‘AI Centre of Excellence’, Adrian Lopez appointed Head AI for Corporate

Kanchan Nath Dec 15, 2023

Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG), one of the world’s largest travel management companies, has announced the establishment of an ‘AI Centre of Excellence,’ a new global division that will…

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…

Global

Andalusia leads the way in Sustainable and AI-integrated Cruise Tourism

Kanchan Nath Oct 26, 2023

The International Cruise and Tourist Congress (CITCA) proudly kicked off its third edition, demonstrating a leap into the future of cruise tourism, enriched by groundbreaking sustainable…

Global

TIS2023 focuses on AI and data management to take the traveler experience to the next level

Kanchan Nath Oct 24, 2023

Innovation was the main protagonist of the first day of TIS - Tourism Innovation Summit 2023. The adoption of artificial intelligence tools,

Global

TUI brings ChatGPT to its mobile app in UK

Kanchan Nath Aug 18, 2023

TUI is bringing ChatGPT to its mobile app and testing the potential of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Hotels

Ascott launches CHATGPT-powered web chatbot – CUBBY, your AI travel buddy

Kanchan Nath Aug 14, 2023

The Ascott Limited (Ascott), a lodging business unit wholly owned by CapitaLand Investment, has just launched a generative artificial intelligence (AI) powered web chatbot to enhance the…

Features

Top holiday hotspots of 2023 from AI

Kanchan Nath Jun 15, 2023

New research has revealed the holiday hotspots of 2023 – according to artificial intelligence. And France and Italy are the overall top suggestions from ChatGPT and Bard respectively.

Technology

66% of ChatGPT users are using the tool for coding

Kanchan Nath Jun 12, 2023

The recent launch of ChatGPT has launched a serious discussion regarding the broader use of Artificial Intelligence.

Global

AI boom: Don’t miss out, but avoid the frenzy

Kanchan Nath May 30, 2023

Investors must take a cautious approach to the Artificial Intelligence (AI) boom to avoid getting ‘burned says Nigel Green

Airlines and Aviation

oneworld and Elemental Cognition’s breakthrough AI Travel Agent transforms the online booking experience

Kanchan Nath May 26, 2023

oneworld Alliance and artificial intelligence (AI) company Elemental Cognition have completed initial trials of their state-of-the-art booking tool that helps customers navigate the complex…

Technology

AI and tech: Number one focus for travel in 2023

Kanchan Nath May 12, 2023

Tourism leaders attending the MarketHub Americas by Hotelbeds have reported that Artificial Intelligence and technology will be their top strategic priority for 2023.

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…

Technology

Hyperchain Technology debuts at InnoEX

Kanchan Nath Apr 21, 2023

From April 12 to 15, InnoEX was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This year's show focused on smart city, digital business, artificial intelligence and other key…

OTAs & Tour Operators

Expedia launches conversational trip planning powered by ChatGPT

Kanchan Nath Apr 7, 2023

Expedia announced an exciting new use for artificial intelligence with the beta launch of a new in-app travel planning experience powered by ChatGPT.

Features

‘Benefits and Dangers of AI’ at Hospitality Innovation Summit 2023

Kanchan Nath Mar 23, 2023

Like all businesses, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming an integral part of the hospitality industry.

Training

42 Abu Dhabi hosts AI workshop with over 1000 Virtual Attendees

Kanchan Nath Mar 9, 2023

 42 Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital’s innovative and disruptive coding school that provides a unique peer-to-peer, gamified learning methodology hosted an insightful workshop under the title…

Technology

Tiqets partners with RUNNR.ai

Kanchan Nath Feb 17, 2023

Tiqets, the online platform for cultural and leisure experiences in Europe and North America, has signed a partnership with RUNNR.ai, a conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) solution…

Global

AmexGBT buys AI start-up 30SecondsToFly

Megha Paul Oct 14, 2020

American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) has acquired 30SecondsToFly, a technology start-up specialising in artificial intelligence (AI) and messaging for business travel

Technology

Travel tech this week: The first airline ticket on the blockchain and more

Kristin Mariano Nov 28, 2019

This week in the travel tech industry, the first airline ticket through a blockchain has been issued. TripAdvisor has launched self-service advertising and Amadeus for Developers offers…

Finland

When you absolutely, positively need to be there on time: Finnair gets punctual

Alastair Newport May 24, 2019

Finnair has unveiled some new tech today with the announcement that it had built a machine with private artificial intelligence firm Silo AI.

Technology

Deep Neural Network: Key to achieve hyper-responsive customer service

Kristin Mariano Oct 11, 2018

Artificial intelligence advances in greater strides making it more reliable and an attractive business solution. Over the past decade, the travel industry is keen on taking advantage of AI…

Hotels

SiteMinder and IDeaS Revenue Solutions study finds hoteliers fear robot-run future

Alastair Newport Feb 20, 2018

A white paper by SiteMinder and IDeaS Revenue Solutions has found that while hoteliers fear a future where their properties are run by robots, they believe artificial intelligence (AI) may…

Technology

Sabre: predictive analytics represent a tectonic shift for hospitality

Alastair Newport Oct 25, 2017 12

Sabre Corporation has developed the hospitality industry’s first analytics platform to use artificial intelligence to help maximize total hotel revenue. SynXis Analytics Cloud is Sabre’s new…

Reports

Sabre Corporation and Serko Ltd release State of AI in Corporate Travel Report 

Marga Manlapig Apr 2, 2025

Sabre Corporation and online business travel firm Serko Ltd released their joint 2025 report State of AI in Corporate Travel: Unlocking Opportunities, Overcoming Challenges report. 

Reports

Indians most likely to be inspired by travel influencers: Amadeus

Kanchan Nath Mar 28, 2025

New research from Amadeus shows that social media ads, travel influencers and virtual reality are key channels now driving trip decisions for Indians. 

Hotels

Tourism sector can emerge as largest contributor to India’s GDP: Shekhawat

Kanchan Nath Mar 28, 2025

While addressing the Tourism Sustainability Summit 2025, organized by FHRAI (The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India), in the National capital , Union Tourism Minister…

Air

Saudia redefines global travel with its distinctive USPs

Marga Manlapig Mar 18, 2025

As Saudi cities gain greater influence on the world stage and more airlines expand routes to the Kingdom, Saudia, the national flag carrier, stands out with a unique set of offerings that…

Global

Singapore Airlines and Salesforce team up for AI-powered customer servicing applications

Marga Manlapig Mar 12, 2025

Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Salesforce announced that SIA is incorporating Agentforce, Einstein in Service Cloud, and Data Cloud into its customer case management system.

Developmental Plans or Blueprints

Indonesia ramps up tourism promotion at ITB Berlin 2025

Marga Manlapig Mar 10, 2025

Indonesian tourism minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana ramped up tourism promotion for her nation at the recently concluded ITB Berlin.

Air

IATA’s inaugural WDS explores data, technology and cybersecurity 

Kanchan Nath Mar 6, 2025

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) successfully concluded its inaugural World Data Symposium (WDS) with a broad consensus on three key priorities

Cruise

‘Start-ups’ in focus at the ‘The Innovation Hub’ at the Dubai International Boat Show

Kanchan Nath Feb 24, 2025

Dubai International Boat Show, the global luxury yacht and lifestyle show, has once again underscored its position as a global assembly space attracting visitors and exhibitors from more…

Hospitality

IIHM announces Global Knowledge Sharing Declaration on AI in Hospitality across 50 countries

Kanchan Nath Feb 21, 2025

A Book titled ‘Harmonizing Human Touch and AI in Tourism & Hospitality’ by IIHM’s Founder Dr. Suborno Bose also launched

Middle East

ME grows with Education and Sports Tourism

Kanchan Nath Feb 19, 2025

UN Tourism’s Member States from across the Middle East have met again to guide the continued growth of the sector across the region.

Hospitality

Ovolo Hotels teams up with Nodal to revolutionise digital hospitality marketing

Marga Manlapig Feb 18, 2025

Award-winning lifestyle boutique hotel brand Ovolo Hotels announced a strategic alliance with digital marketing solutions provider Nodal.

Global

Minor International lauds creation of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone

Marga Manlapig Feb 17, 2025

International hospitality and real estate firm Minor International welcomed the creation of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).

Hospitality

AHICE to introduce two new events for the Asian Region

Marga Manlapig Feb 13, 2025

The Asian Hotel Industry Conference & Exhibition (AHICE) is expanding its conference program with the introduction of two new events to the market.

OTAs & Tour Operators

Expedia soars past expectations as holiday travel and AI drive growth

Megha Paul Feb 7, 2025

With USD 24.4 billion in gross bookings and 86.4 million nights booked, the company exceeded forecasts, driving a 9% stock surge and setting the stage for an ambitious AI-driven expansion in…

Air

Keisei Electric Railway Company introduces facial recognition gates for airport-bound lines

Marga Manlapig Jan 30, 2025

Keisei Electric Railway Company introduced facial recognition ticket gates for several trains plying routes connecting major Tokyo stations and Narita Airport.

Air

IATA World Legal Symposium makes its way to Shanghai this February

Marga Manlapig Jan 28, 2025

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the 2025 edition of the World Legal Symposium (WLS) will examine the legal implications of evolving forces shaping aviation.

Hotels

Challenge Tour welcomes HotelPlanner as Title Partner

Kanchan Nath Jan 20, 2025

The Challenge Tour and HotelPlanner jointly announced a multi-year partnership, with the travel technology company becoming the Tour’s title partner from the start of the 2025 season.

Museums

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao presents its ambitious artistic programming for 2025

Kanchan Nath Jan 20, 2025

The Director General of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Juan Ignacio Vidarte, and the Museum’s curatorial team formed by Lekha Hileman Waitoller, Geaninne Gutiérrez- Guimarães, Marta Blàvia…

OTAs & Tour Operators

Viacation Tourism unveils ambitious growth plans for 2025

Kanchan Nath Jan 16, 2025

Viacation Tourism Private Limited continues to set new milestones as it expands its presence across India and the world.

Partner content

Step up your spa revenue with Agilysys Spa

Kanchan Nath Jan 13, 2025

Agilysys Spa is one of the first of the Agilysys core solutions to leverage guestsense.ai, with intelligence focused on improving revenue and profitability optimisation for spa operations.

Travel Trade Show

ATM 2025 to address growth within the aviation sector

Kanchan Nath Jan 9, 2025

Several leaders from the international aviation sector are expected to participate in the 32nd edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM). It will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)…

Interviews

Sabre supports 40% of the world’s leading hotel brands: Frank Trampert

Kanchan Nath Jan 6, 2025

In an interview with TDM, Frank Trampert, Senior Vice President, Global Managing Director of Community Sales, Sabre Hospitality shares more

Reports

STR challenges for 2024: Hostaway reports

Kanchan Nath Dec 13, 2024

Hostaway, the global vacation rental property management software, has released its annual 2024 STR Market Report, revealing a fundamental shift in priorities and concerns among property…

Technology

Arabian Travel Market to focus on innovation, connectivity, and customisation

Marga Manlapig Dec 11, 2024

Key industry trends, particularly innovation, connectivity, and customisation take centre stage at the 32nd edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) slated for 28th April to 1st May 2025 at…

Technology

KKday raises US$70 million for global expansion

Marga Manlapig Dec 5, 2024

Innovative online travel platform KKday announced that it has raised about $70 million in funding, marking a significant milestone in the company's global expansion strategy. 

MICE

Don’t fear AI; embrace it as your “digital twin”: Tom McGarry

Kanchan Nath Dec 4, 2024

Arival recently held its event between 23-25 November in Edinburgh, Scotland. Arival Activate Edinburgh was the company’s first event dedicated to the UK, Ireland, and the Nordic regions.

Global

Intersec 2025 launches new global platform for Excellence in Policing

Kanchan Nath Dec 3, 2024

Intersec 2025, the world’s premier event mapping the future in security, safety and fire protection, will address how advancements in technology and data are transforming the future of law…

TDM Guest Contributor

What Will be the Seven Travel Trends of 2025

Joe Cusmano Dec 2, 2024 0

The tourism sector evolves every year, adapting to the needs of increasingly aware, technological and environmentally conscious travellers: here are the 7 travel trends of

Reports

Japan Airlines and NEC Corporation hold trial for new baggage counting solution

Marga Manlapig Nov 29, 2024

Japan Airlines Co Ltd (JAL) and the NEC Corporation (NEC) recently conducted a joint trial of the upcoming NEC Baggage Counting Solution.

Hospitality

Top trends shaping the hotel industry in 2025: RBH

Kanchan Nath Nov 29, 2024

RBH Hospitality Management’s Executive Committee highlights key trends set to shape the sector over the next 12 months.

MICE

Phocuswright Conference took place from 18-20 November 2025 at San Diego, California

Kanchan Nath Nov 22, 2024

The Phocuswright Conference kicked off its 30th anniversary with a nostalgic look back at 1994, the year the travel industry event first launched. 

Corporate & Business

Business Travel Industry reflects on a resilient 2024

Kanchan Nath Nov 20, 2024

New GBTA research highlights strong global optimism, increased budgets and shifting travel patterns across regions as companies navigate the future.

Guest Column

Maximizing ROI in B2B Travel Through Smart Technology Integration

Mohit Singh Nov 20, 2024

In today’s highly competitive B2B travel landscape, optimizing return on investment (ROI) has become a paramount concern for companies aiming to sustain their growth and profitability. As…

Interviews

We empower our leaders to build diverse leadership teams: Chee

Charmaine Fernz Nov 19, 2024

Organisations must prioritise hiring and developing the best talent based on merit while considering diverse representations. TDM interviews Karen Chee, Vice President, People & Culture,…

Interviews

We are excited to unveil our newly renovated Centara Karon Resort Phuket with revitalised services: David Martens

Charmaine Fernz Nov 19, 2024

TDM engages in a discussion with David Martens, Vice President of Operations, Centara Hotels & Resorts and General Manager of Centara Karon Resort Phuket, regarding strategies for…

Guest Column

The Rise of Mobile Travel Apps: Meeting the Demands of the Modern Travellers

Mohit Singh Nov 17, 2024

Mobile travel apps are becoming more popular, changing how people plan and enjoy their trips. Studies show that over 70% of travellers use these apps for different parts of their journeys.…

Air

Japan Airlines flying the flag high for Expo 2025 Osaka

Mark Glanville Nov 14, 2024

Japan Airlines is helping promote Expo 2025 Osaka, with special livery on one of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft operating international routes.

Reports

Crew Connect Global X Seatrade Cruise Asia opens conversation on crewing and human resource investment

Marga Manlapig Nov 13, 2024

The opening discussions of Crew Connect Global, the event currently being held in tandem with Seatrade Cruise Asia in Manila, seek to delve into the different aspects of maritime crewing, as…

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.

Global

Athar Festival 2024 spotlights the power of creative storytelling

Kanchan Nath Nov 8, 2024

The second edition of Athar - Saudi Festival of Creativity, the Kingdom's largest gathering of the creative marketing industry, kicked off in Riyadh with over 1600 international and local…

Charity / Sustainability / CSR

Mercantile & Maritime Group launches ME’s largest Biofuel Facility

Kanchan Nath Nov 6, 2024

This expansion highlights the group’s commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions and supports the UAE’s goal of leading the way toward a greener future. 

Reports

ANA Future Frontier Fund to invest in Sakana AI

Marga Manlapig Nov 6, 2024

ANA Future Frontier Fund LP, the corporate venture capital fund of ANA Holdings Inc, announced its investment in Tokyo-based artificial intelligence (AI) research firm Sakana AI KK on…

Technology

Sabre sets the stage for innovation at WTM London 2024

Kanchan Nath Oct 29, 2024

Sabre Corporation a software and  technology provider for the global travel industry, will participate in World Travel Market (WTM)  London 2024, from November 5-7 at ExCeL London.

Ecotourism

Singapore launches its Earth in Focus nature film festival

Marga Manlapig Oct 28, 2024

Singapore authorities announced the country’s first-ever nature film festival, Earth in Focus.

Awards

HVS’s Florian Kittler emphasises the need for eco-friendly practices and personalised experiences

Dana Cruz Oct 24, 2024

HVS Executive Search Europe and Asia Pacific managing director Florian Kittler shares his valuable insights with us regarding the growing need for personalised experiences and sustainability…

Awards

Atiom brings home the award for innovation at the TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2024 – Thailand

Dana Cruz Oct 18, 2024

Atiom’s uniquely comprehensive platform offers AI-powered content and advanced analytics to supercharge hospitality service excellence.

Technology

Travelport and Air India Fast-Track NDC Content and Servicing Delivery on Travelport+

Kanchan Nath Oct 18, 2024

Travelport, a global technology company that powers travel bookings for hundreds of thousands of travel suppliers worldwide, and Air India, India’s leading global airline,  announced that…

Technology

Asia-Pacific travel leaders troop to Singapore for the Web in Travel conference

Marga Manlapig Oct 16, 2024

Over 500 global travel leaders convened in Singapore on Monday, 14th October, for the annual Web in Travel (WiT) conference.  

Airlines and Aviation

Riyadh Air selects SabreMosaic

Kanchan Nath Oct 15, 2024

Riyadh Air, poised to become one of the most forward-thinking airlines globally, has entered into a strategic agreement with Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: SABR), a global leader in software and…

TDM Guest Contributor

Bhutan Appoints Strategic Leaders to Propel Gelephu Mindfulness City to Global Prominence

Joe Cusmano Oct 14, 2024 0

In a significant move, His Majesty the King of Bhutan has appointed Mun Leong Liew as CEO to lead the groundbreaking Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) in the Kingdom’s Special

Reports

Meetings and events spend to increase in 2025: Amex GBT

Kanchan Nath Oct 10, 2024

The meetings and events industry is projected to flourish in 2025, with meeting professionals expressing confidence in its future and noting planned increases in meetings budgets, as…

Airports

Adani Airport Holdings Limited partners with Thales

Kanchan Nath Oct 10, 2024

Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) and Thales announced a strategic partnership to revolutionise AAHL’s international airport operations and passenger experience across the country.

Airlines and Aviation

IndiGo strengthens commitment to safety with advanced risk management technology

Kanchan Nath Oct 7, 2024

IndiGo announced the integration of a cutting-edge, AI-powered risk management platform to further enhance its operational safety and efficiency.

Groundbreaking and Construction

Bhutan appoints leaders to introduce Gelephu Mindfulness City to the world

Marga Manlapig Oct 4, 2024

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan appointed leaders to drive the development of the Gelephu Mindfulness City.

Technology

Hotel leaders to explore the use of AI and new technologies at TIS2024

Kanchan Nath Oct 1, 2024

Hotel chains such as Hilton, Barceló, AR Hoteles, Radisson, Meliá and Ilunion will share the latest strategies, trends and challenges of the sector at the Hospitality Tech Forum

Hospitality

Sentosa to upskill 15,000 employees in the tourism sector

Marga Manlapig Oct 1, 2024

Singapore’s popular resort island Sentosa recently took a pro-active step towards ensuring that its workforce is ready for the challenges posed by the tourism sector in the 21st century.

Awards

How to create awards programmes that resonate

Philipp Meier Oct 1, 2024

Awards programmes need to constantly adapt to remain relevant and generate revenue. Evessio's published a report to shed light on strategies.

Airlines and Aviation

Travelport’s renewed distribution agreement with Delta Air Lines confirms NDC integration

Kanchan Nath Sep 28, 2024

Travelport, a global technology company that powers travel bookings for hundreds of thousands of travel suppliers worldwide,  announced it has signed a multi-year renewal agreement with…

Awards

Allianz Partners HK’s Greg Plifka shares insights on innovation in the travel sector

Dana Cruz Sep 27, 2024

Allianz Partners' Plifka discusses how innovative solutions in travel, leisure, and hospitality are increasingly focussed on personalisation and reducing “travel tension” to enhance customer…

Awards

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

Dana Cruz Sep 20, 2024

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

Airlines and Aviation

FLYR unveils AI-powered Offer & Order Management System to revolutionise airline retailing

Kanchan Nath Sep 20, 2024

FLYR, the technology company that unlocks freedom to innovate for the travel industry, introduced its Offer & Order Management System (OOMS).

Hotels

Nordic Capitals maintain moderate hotel revenue growth in 2024

Kanchan Nath Sep 19, 2024

Research conducted by BEONx, revenue solution provider for hotels in Europe, reveals that, since late 2021, following the impact of COVID-19 on tourism, a shift in trends has driven…

Guest Column

Why AI Should Empower Travel Retailers, Not Replace Them

Jen Catto Sep 18, 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a force for disruption in travel, especially when businesses are focused on creating personalized, seamless experiences. But travelers need more from AI than…

Airlines and Aviation

Air Serbia to drive the future of travel retailing with Sabre’s NDC IT capabilities

Kanchan Nath Sep 17, 2024

Sabre Corporation has announced a strategic partnership with Air Serbia, Serbia’s national carrier. This agreement establishes Sabre as Air Serbia’s NDC (New Distribution Capability) IT …

Airlines and Aviation

IndiGo successfully lands in Public Cloud, powers off data centers in 18 months

Kanchan Nath Aug 30, 2024

IndiGo, India's preferred airline, announces the successful conclusion of its ambitious and intensive cloud migration initiative.

Technology

AI and cybersecurity take center stage in Q2 2024 company filing: GlobalData

Kanchan Nath Aug 29, 2024

Global business sentiment witnessed a marginal improvement of 0.2% year-over-year (YoY) during the second quarter (Q2) of 2024.

Technology

Companies that use Security AI and Automation reported USD 1.8 million lower Average Data Breach Cost in 2024

Kanchan Nath Aug 27, 2024

Despite considerable investments in security technology and solutions to prevent cybercrime, the average data breach cost has grown by more than one million over the past six years, reaching…

Technology

OpenAI signs content deal with Condé Nast

Kanchan Nath Aug 23, 2024

Sam Altman-led OpenAI has announced a multi-year partnership with Condé Nast to display content from its brands such as the Vogue and the New Yorker within the AI startup's products,…

Recruitment

Sabre bolsters EMEA team to support growing customer base

Kanchan Nath Aug 23, 2024

Sabre Corporation has initiated a hiring plan in response to new customer wins and increased demand in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region

Global

Speakers announced for The TravMedia Summit at IMM Asia 2024

Marga Manlapig Aug 15, 2024

TravMedia announced this year’s list of speakers for its 2024 summit scheduled for 21 October in Singapore.

Appointments

Cloudbeds hires AI visionaries, Amit Popat and Nikhil Shah

Kanchan Nath Aug 14, 2024

Cloudbeds announced the strategic hiring of AI visionaries Amit Popat, Head of Machine Learning, and Nikhil Shah, Head of Data Science.

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.

Technology

Oracle strengthens Saudi Arabia’s AI Economy with opening of second public cloud region

Kanchan Nath Aug 7, 2024

The new Riyadh cloud region will help public and private sector organizations migrate all types of workloads to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), giving them access to a wide range of cloud…

Global

Trivago bolsters AI-powered Holisto partnership amidst Q2 economic challenges

Megha Paul Jul 31, 2024

Trivago invests in AI-driven Holisto to enhance hotel booking experience, despite facing financial challenges in Q2 2024. Discover how this strategic move aims to boost conversion rates and…

MICE

Intersec Saudi Arabia confirms patronage for largest edition to date

Kanchan Nath Jul 26, 2024

With exhibition space 34% larger year-on-year, and an expected 14% year-on-year increase in visitors to 17,000, the event is securing its status as the leading safety, security, and fire…

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.

Global

FTAs increase by 43% in 2023 vis-e vie 2022: Economic Survey

Kanchan Nath Jul 24, 2024

Foreign Travel Arrivals (FTAs) rose by 43% compared to the previous year, as highlighted in the Economic Survey 2023-24.

Technology

TIS2024 will address the use of AI, Big Data or cybersecurity for tourism

Kanchan Nath Jul 18, 2024

TIS - Tourism Innovation Summit 2024 will come to Seville from October 23 to 25 with an edition starring all those technologies that are transforming the tourism sector and that are helping…

MICE

Philippines’ MICECON 2024 held at Clark Freeport Zone

Marga Manlapig Jul 15, 2024

MICECON 2024 considered the impact of technological innovation, diversity, and inclusivity on MICE initiatives.

Technology

Travelport debuts Content Curation Layer (CCL) for Travel Agencies

Kanchan Nath Jul 11, 2024

 Travelport has announced the debut of the Content Curation Layer (CCL). The CCL uses AI to power search while trawling billions of trip options, helping agencies find the perfect match for…

Features

Is Taiwan’s MICE industry ready to challenge major players in Asia?

Djan Magbanua Jul 8, 2024

Taiwan leverages tech, culture, and venues to attract more MICE events. Asia Pacific’s MICE industry, valued at over $180b, is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 10% from…

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…

Hotel Technology

 IDeaS now available on the Oracle Hospitality Integration Platform (OHIP)

Kanchan Nath Jun 26, 2024

IDeaS, a SAS company and provider of hospitality revenue management software and services, announced that it has integrated with the Oracle Hospitality Integration Platform (OHIP).

Global

Tech will transform the way the airline industry retails travel: Mike Reyes

Kanchan Nath Jun 25, 2024

In an interview  with TDM, Mike Reyes – SVP, Product Management – Airline Platform, Sabre, shares more about SabreMosaic, Air Price IQ, current and future trends in the aviation industry. 

MICE

TIS2024 will address the 10 key innovations that are transforming the tourism sector worldwide

Kanchan Nath Jun 24, 2024

TIS - Tourism Innovation Summit will once again turn Seville into the epicenter of tourism innovation and traveltech.

Hotel Technology

Hoteliers embrace AI, but lagging tech holds them back, says Cloudbeds CEO

Kanchan Nath Jun 19, 2024

In a recent interview by Hospitality Expert and Influencer Paula Carreirao, CEO Adam Harris explored this disconnect, highlighting both the potential and the roadblocks to AI adoption in…

Technology

HBX Group to revolutionise customer service with cutting-edge AI technology

Kanchan Nath Jun 17, 2024

 HBX Group has announced a significant investment in customer service innovation leveraging Google Cloud’s AI technology, to redefine customer experience in the travel and hospitality…

Road

Amex GBT 2024-25 Ground Monitor forecasts period of relative stability with moderate car rental price rises

Kanchan Nath Jun 17, 2024

American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) has published Ground Monitor 2024-2025, its annual forecast of car rental rates in the world’s key business destinations.

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™…

Reports

Southeast Asian destinations take top ranks in Mastercard CrescentRating GMTI 2024  

Kanchan Nath Jun 4, 2024

Southeast Asia has once again emerged as the world’s leading Muslim tourist destination in the latest edition of the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), with…

Guest Column

Building a Scalable B2B Travel Platform with Modern Technology

Mohit Singh Jun 3, 2024

B2B travel business focuses on serving businesses instead of individual travellers, changing the dynamics of the travel industry. B2B travel encompasses a wide range of services, including…

Cruise

AI predicts what luxury cruise ships will look like 50 years from now

Kanchan Nath May 19, 2024

Cruise ships are widely considered to be one of the most luxurious ways to travel given the ever increasing list of amenities that can be found on board, and the fact that it seems they are…

Airlines and Aviation

SIA Group posts record full year net profit of $2,675 million

Kanchan Nath May 16, 2024

The demand for air travel remained buoyant throughout FY2023/24, boosted by a rebound in North Asia as China, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, and Taiwan fully reopened their borders.

Technology

Arival unveils its new guide: “The Arival Guide to AI in Experiences”

Kanchan Nath May 3, 2024

Arival, the leading resource for the in-destination experiences sector, today announced the release of its comprehensive guide, The Arival Guide to AI in Experiences. 

Technology

BEONx secures NextGeneration EU funding for Digital Transformation

Kanchan Nath Apr 25, 2024

BEONx, a travel technology company committed to revolutionising revenue management strategies and achieving profitability for hotels, announces it has secured NextGenerationEU funding via a…

MICE

Second edition of Athar Festival to manifest the infinite possibilities of AI-powered creative expression

Kanchan Nath Apr 24, 2024

Technology has the potential to unveil, unlock, and unleash the true power of creativity, transforming the process of creative expression like never before.

MICE

“Entrepreneurship and innovation are transforming the global travel sector”: ATM 2024

Kanchan Nath Apr 23, 2024

International policymakers and industry leaders are preparing to gather in the UAE for Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024, where they will examine how entrepreneurship and innovation are…

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. 

Airlines and Aviation

LATAM adopts Sabre’s intelligent solution Air Price IQ 

Kanchan Nath Apr 11, 2024

LATAM Airlines Group and Sabre Corporation announced the carrier’s adoption of Sabre Air Price IQ™, an intelligent solution that is part of Sabre’s  Retail Intelligence suite.  

Roadshow

Sabre is taking to the road in India with Sabre Space to empower travel agency innovation and growth 

Kanchan Nath Apr 5, 2024

Bringing Sabre experts and executives together with travel agencies in Delhi and Mumbai, Sabre Space offers a dynamic in-person platform for agents to explore the latest technology trends

Awards

Mumbai International Airport declared ‘Best Airport over 40 million passengers’ by ACI

Kanchan Nath Mar 13, 2024

Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) is proud to announce that it has been adjudged as the ‘Best Airport over 40 million passengers’ in Asia Pacific region by…

TDM Guest Contributor

Qatar Airways Unveils First-Ever AI-Powered Virtual Cabin Crew

Joe Cusmano Mar 10, 2024 0

Qatar Airways presented its second-generation virtual cabin crew, Sama 2.0, powered by innovative conversational AI. The holographic reveal continues to draw crowds at the world’s leading…

Technology

Wayra (Telefónica) and HBX Group announce the winning start-ups to join the TravelTech Lab

Kanchan Nath Mar 10, 2024

HBX Group, a leading B2B ecosystem in the TravelTech space, and Wayra, Telefónica's Corporate Venture Capital, announced the winners of the second TravelTech Lab by HBX Group challenge after…

Tourism

Experiences in travel are constantly changing 

Kanchan Nath Mar 5, 2024

Arival CEO and co-founder Douglas Quinby kicked off the Arival 360 event in Berlin by revealing the four major themes of this year’s event

Airlines and Aviation

Emirates SkyCargo hosts discussion on the future of air freight in global trade at MC13

Kanchan Nath Mar 5, 2024

Emirates SkyCargo has hosted discussions on the hot topics in logistics and world trade and the challenges faced by the global supply chains, on the sidelines of the 13th World Trade…

MICE

TourReview ranks Germany as the number 10 top European destination

Kanchan Nath Mar 4, 2024

Ahead of Arival and ITB Berlin next week, TourReview – the technology-driven travel review platform for the tours and activities sector – unveils Germany as the number ten ranked destination…

Interviews

Sabre to launch PowerSuite Cloud in Asia Pacific

Kanchan Nath Feb 28, 2024

Sabre will soon be launching PowerSuite Cloud in Asia Pacific, which enables agencies to automate operations, get real-time business insights and enhance customer servicing. In an interview…

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.

Hotels

Hotel sustainability: Transforming profitability through innovative practices

Kanchan Nath Feb 20, 2024

At the recent edition of FITUR in Madrid, at the joint stand of BEONx and Hotelverse, a round table discussion was held on a key topic: "Sustainability as a lever for profitability".

Airlines and Aviation

Airlines and airports increase it spend to improve the passenger journey and meet sustainability goals

Kanchan Nath Feb 8, 2024

SITA’s 2023 Air Transport IT Insights report, published today, finds that both airports and airlines saw IT spend increase year on year into 2023, reaching an estimated 10.8 billion USD and…

Global

BWH performance continues to rebound strongly from recent global challenges: Berrivin

Kanchan Nath Feb 7, 2024

“Inspiring travel through unique experiences,” BWH hotels have had an exceptional demand for their core brands and experienced a solid performance from their soft brands. In a freewheeling…

Reports

Uncertain US outbound travel outlook: how should the industry respond?

Kanchan Nath Feb 7, 2024

A recent Traveler Sentiment survey by Arival indicated a drop in the number of trips US travellers are planning to take in 2024. 

Food & Drink

Technology Is Liberating Creative Chefs To Develop New, Sensory Menus

Chris Head Feb 1, 2024

What is simmering in the kitchens of commercial establishments? It isn’t just the development of new recipes or the sampling of exotic ingredients; it's the wave of technological innovation…

Food & Drink

Navigating the Future of HoReCa: Innovation, Sustainability, and Digital Transformation in Southeast Asia’s Hospitality Industry

Mathias Kuepper Jan 26, 2024

As we embark on 2024, the hospitality, restaurant, and café (HoReCa) sector in Southeast Asia faces a transformative era, propelled by rapidly evolving consumer preferences, technological…

Airlines and Aviation

Qatar Airways introduces its Next Phase of Digital Transformation by Empowering Cabin Crew with Smart Onboard Functionality

Kanchan Nath Dec 23, 2023

Qatar Airways has introduced an in-house application that enables Cabin Crew to deliver personalised experiences to passengers.

Finance

Top six predictions for fintech in 2024

Kanchan Nath Dec 22, 2023

Financial technology, or fintech, is undergoing rapid and transformative changes. As we look ahead to 2024, several key trends are poised to shape the landscape of the booming industry.

Airports

SITA and JFK’s the new terminal one master systems integration alliance open pre-production center  

Kanchan Nath Dec 20, 2023

To ensure the seamless opening of The New Terminal One (NTO) at John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK), representatives of the terminal project design-build team, including NTO, AECOM…

Airlines and Aviation

Travelport delivers retail-ready NDC for Lufthansa Group Airlines on Travelport+

Kanchan Nath Dec 11, 2023

Travelport, a global technology company that powers travel bookings for hundreds of thousands of travel suppliers worldwide, announced the launch of Lufthansa Group airlines’ NDC content and…

Airlines and Aviation

Pegasus Airlines is establishing Silicon Valley-based Technology Innovation Lab

Kanchan Nath Dec 6, 2023

Having launched its digital transformation program in 2018 under the motto Your Digital Airline, Pegasus Airlines is taking a significant leap in the technology arena to secure the…

MICE

ATM 2024 will showcase the latest trends in luxury travel

Kanchan Nath Dec 2, 2023

The Middle East’s luxury travel market is evolving rapidly, extending beyond opulent experiences to incorporate heritage, innovation and sustainability.

Technology

Top 5 travel apps worth downloading

Kanchan Nath Nov 30, 2023

Here is a list of 5 best travel apps you must have on phone if you are planning winter vacation. Say goodbye to travel troubles and hello to a hassle-free, enjoyable winter getaway!

Features

Growing wine tourism for inclusion and sustainability

Kanchan Nath Nov 28, 2023

The UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism has been held for the first time in La Rioja, one of the world’s leading wine tourism destinations, with the focus placed firmly on inclusion and…

Cruise

PONANT Striving for Zero Emission Selects the Syroco EfficientShip Digital Twin Platform

Joe Cusmano Nov 27, 2023

PONANT has chosen the Syroco EfficientShip platform to support the design and digital modelling of the innovative Swap2Zero project. A digital twin based on physics and artificial…

Global

Industry leaders share insights on the “Future of Travel” at MarketHub Asia 2023

Kanchan Nath Nov 25, 2023

This week, the MarketHub Asia by Hotelbeds 2023 event in Bangkok sparked dynamic and in-depth discussions among industry leaders, paving the way for insights into  the future trajectory of…

Hotels

Booking.com reveals what’s top of mind (and not) for Indian accommodations

Kanchan Nath Nov 24, 2023

Booking.com, one of the world's leading travel brands, in collaboration with Statista - a business intelligence firm, has released the inaugural 'Indian Accommodation Barometer 2023' report.

Global

Pegasus Airlines selects SkyBreathe 360° eco-flying platform to increase fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions

Kanchan Nath Nov 23, 2023

Pegasus, Türkiye’s leading low-cost airline, has taken a significant step towards further enhancing its operational efficiency and environmental action by adopting SkyBreathe® 360°…

Technology

eDreams ODIGEO shares insights on infusing AI into business operations

Kanchan Nath Nov 23, 2023

eDreams ODIGEO Chief Technology Officer, Carsten Bernhard, joined fellow senior business leaders, policymakers, and AI experts to explore how this crucial technology can revolutionise…

Technology

Virtuzone pioneers the world’s first business setup AI chatbot: ChatVZ

Kanchan Nath Nov 22, 2023

Building on the successful launch of its suite of AI-powered tools, Virtuzone further cements its position as a leading innovator in the company formation and corporate service industry by…

MICE

Riyadh hosts Athar Festival

Kanchan Nath Nov 14, 2023

The highly anticipated Athar – Saudi Festival of Creativity, the Kingdom’s largest gathering of the creative marketing industry, commenced yesterday Monday, 13 November 2023, at the Hotel…

Air

Leonardo attends Dubai Airshow 2023 highlighting AI, space and cyber security

Kanchan Nath Nov 13, 2023

Leveraging a solid presence in the United Arab Emirates, Leonardo is attending the Dubai Airshow 2023 (13-17 November), highlighting its core competencies in the electronics and helicopter…

Global

Etihad Maintains The Highest Industry Safety Standards

Joe Cusmano Nov 10, 2023

Etihad has passed its tenth consecutive IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) with zero findings and zero observations – a flawless result maintained since the airline’s inaugural…

MICE

Top three key business lessons for success  

Kanchan Nath Nov 9, 2023

Reggie Aggarwal, CEO and Founder of Cvent, delivered an inspiring opening keynote offering an optimistic outlook on the future of the events industry during the company’s annual industry and…

Technology

TIS – Tourism Innovation Summit selects the top 40 startups impacting tourism worldwide

Kanchan Nath Nov 1, 2023

A dozen startups have been recognised at the Touristech Startup Fest 2023, the global entrepreneurship competition hosted every year by TIS - Tourism Innovation Summit.

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…

Technology

Future trends include AI-based travel agencies and space tourism

Kanchan Nath Oct 26, 2023

The second day of TIS - Tourism Innovation Summit 2023 highlighted the most disruptive trends shaping a more sustainable and digital industry.

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.

Corporate & Business

Amex GBT: Internal meetings and AI accelerate industry growth

Kanchan Nath Oct 19, 2023

Internal meetings are expected to continue to significantly drive growth within the meetings and events industry in 2024.

MICE

TIS – Tourism Innovation Summit 2023 brings together the international tourism ecosystem in Seville

Kanchan Nath Oct 19, 2023

Everything is ready for the next celebration of TIS - Tourism Innovation Summit 2023, the event on tourism innovation that will once again make Seville the world epicenter of tourism with…

Global

AeroCloud expands and reaffirms commitment to the North West  

Kanchan Nath Oct 13, 2023

AeroCloud, the intelligent airport management platform that improves collaboration and operational efficiencies, has announced its strategic move to the burgeoning tech ecosystem of…

Hospitality

Hotel101 opens global sales hub and global corporate office in Singapore

Kristin Mariano Oct 12, 2023

DoubleDragon Corporation's subsidiary Hotel101 Global Pte. Ltd. officially opens and formally begins the operation of both its Global Corporate Office and Global Sales Hub in Singapore.…

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…

Air

Saudia Begins A New Era With A Major Re-Branding

Joe Cusmano Oct 4, 2023

Saudia, Saudi Arabia’s national flag carrier, unveiled its new brand identity and livery in the presence of Royal Highnesses, Excellencies, and leaders from both the public and…

Technology

Sabre launches new AI-powered retailing solution to optimize airlines’ premium cabin inventory

Kanchan Nath Oct 2, 2023

Sabre Corporation  announced its newest AI-powered retailing solution for airlines – Sabre Upgrade IQ™.

MICE

The rising importance of empathy and new technology in Culture & Heritage Tourism

Kanchan Nath Sep 29, 2023

Heritage tourism experts grappled with complex issues of presenting culture and heritage to tourists at an international gathering of culture tourism experts 24-25 September in Valencia,…

Reports

Deloitte: Travel leaders embrace automation and tech as workforce challenges continue to weigh on industry

Kanchan Nath Sep 26, 2023

Amid ongoing labor concerns, airline and hospitality leaders leverage digital and technology solutions to enhance traveler experience.

Hospitality

HomeToGo reveals its 2023-2024 Autumn Winter Travel Forecast 

Kanchan Nath Sep 26, 2023

HomeToGo, the marketplace with the world's largest selection of vacation rentals, released its 2023/24 Autumn Winter Travel Forecast, revealing the trends that are shaping vacation plans for…

Technology

Virgin Australia expands long-term partnership with Sabre

Kanchan Nath Sep 21, 2023

Sabre Corporation has strengthened and expanded its relationship with Virgin Australia to allow the carrier to deliver improved retailing capability while supporting its growth objectives.

MICE

Phocuswright Conference releases full 2023 program

Kanchan Nath Sep 14, 2023

Phocuswright, the leading travel industry research and events authority, has released its full 2023 program for The Phocuswright Conference, which will be held November 13-16 in Ft.…

Airlines and Aviation

Vietjet and Boeing finalize 12 Max delivery in 2024 during U.S. President Joe Biden’s official visit to Vietnam

Kanchan Nath Sep 14, 2023

Vietjet and Boeing’s high-ranking delegates have reached a significant agreement regarding the 200 737 Max orders during the U.S. President Joe Biden's official visit to Vietnam. 

OTAs & Tour Operators

Flight Centre Travel Group records strong profit turnaround during 2023 Fiscal Year

Kanchan Nath Aug 31, 2023

FLT's corporate travel business continued to out-perform, comfortably out-pacing broader industry recovery and delivering record TTV during FY 23.

Training

UAE Sports Science and Sports Medicine Center and Amity University Dubai sign agreement

Kanchan Nath Aug 30, 2023

The UAE Sports Science & Sports Medicine Center affiliated to General Authority of Sports (GAS) signed a cooperation agreement with Amity University - Dubai to cooperate in the areas of…

Global

Experiential travel replaces conventional motivations for travel

Kristin Mariano Aug 24, 2023

Mabrian Technologies, the leading company in Travel Intelligence and sentiment analysis, reveals the evolution of travellers’ behaviour and motivations from 2019 until now.  Since 2023 is…

Reports

Experiential travel replaces conventional motivations for travel

Kanchan Nath Aug 23, 2023

Mabrian Technologies, the company in Travel Intelligence and sentiment analysis, reveals the evolution of travellers’ behaviour and motivations from 2019 until now. 

MICE

Web in Travel releases theme and program and speakers for October conference in Singapore

Kanchan Nath Aug 17, 2023

Web in Travel (WiT), the global news and events platform focused on travel technology, has released the program and speakers for its WiT Singapore Conference, which takes place in the city’s…

MICE

The 1st REGIONAL GREAT AUDIT MINDS (GAM) CONFERENCE 2023 in Abu Dhabi

Kanchan Nath Aug 16, 2023

The UAE Internal Auditors Association proudly announces the groundbreaking 1st Regional GAM “Great Audit Minds” Conference, themed "Igniting Sustainable Thinking," set to take place from…

Technology

Sabre launches Lodging AI

Kanchan Nath Aug 15, 2023

Sabre Corporation announced the availability of Lodging AI, marking the introduction of its Sabre Travel AI™ capabilities in the lodging sector and enhancing the power of Content Services…

MICE

IAAPI Annual Meet & Training Program 23′

Kanchan Nath Aug 14, 2023

Step right up and mark the calendars for the most thrilling and enchanting event in the attractions industry!

Technology

The Next-Generation of Corporate Travel Retailing: Deem, Powered by Travelport+

Kanchan Nath Aug 9, 2023

Travelport confirmed the integration with Deem, a leading corporate travel management platform, with Travelport+.

Technology

Travelport delivers British Airways’ NDC content on Travelport+, providing faster and easier access for agents

Kanchan Nath Aug 4, 2023

Travelport announced that New Distribution Capability (NDC) content from British Airways is now live on the Travelport+ platform.

Airlines and Aviation

Travelport renews multi-year agreement with United Airlines

Kanchan Nath Aug 3, 2023

Travelport announced that it has renewed its multi-year agreement with United Airlines, the largest airline in the world as measured by available seat miles.

MICE

ITB China 2023 partners with Trip.com Group as official travel service partner

Kanchan Nath Aug 2, 2023

ITB China, the marketplace for China's travel industry, is thrilled to announce its collaboration with Trip.com Group, the leading global travel service provider for this year's highly…

Airlines and Aviation

SITA and Envision digital partner on solutions that help airports cut fuel and power costs

Kanchan Nath Aug 2, 2023

Air transport industry IT provider SITA and Envision Digital signed a new partnership to help airports reduce operational costs and support their net zero ambitions.

Global

FGIC launches the National Geospatial Features Catalogue 

Kanchan Nath Jul 26, 2023

The Federal Geographic Information Center (FGIC) announced the launch of the National Geospatial Features Catalogue, which will contribute to the creation of a strategic data guide

MICE

Top 7 trends shaping India’s meeting & events industry in 2023 

Kanchan Nath Jul 26, 2023

With events and in-person connections back in focus, optimism abounds the meetings and events industry this 2023

Hospitality

Sands China announces three exhibitions for Art Macao 2023

Kristin Mariano Jul 26, 2023

In support of the upcoming Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2023, Sands China Ltd. is presenting an impressive array of exhibitions and artworks from August to October, aimed at…

Corporate & Business

Travel & expense spend management is growing in importance

Kristin Mariano Jul 24, 2023

According to a recent BCD Travel survey of 164 travel  buyers worldwide, the importance of travel and expense spend management has increased in priority,  reaching its highest level…

Features

Empowering travellers through AI-driven strategy

Kanchan Nath Jul 21, 2023

Trip.com Group, a leading travel service provider, has unveiled a series of enhanced services aimed at empowering travellers through AI-led capabilities and knowledge.

Cruise

Hurtigruten To Launch First Zero-Emission Cruise Ship In 2030

Joe Cusmano Jul 15, 2023

Hurtigruten Norway intends to launch its first zero-emission cruise ship in 2030, eventually converting the entire fleet to run without emissions. The new 500-passenger ship,…

Mergers & Acquisitions

Arinex and Joyn combine forces to create The Arinex Group 

Kanchan Nath Jul 13, 2023

Joyn, a leading event technology platform, is excited to announce that it has acquired Arinex, the largest Australian owned business event management company.

Airlines and Aviation

Emirates Group ramps up recruitment globally

Kanchan Nath Jul 10, 2023

The Emirates Group is laying the groundwork for its next big growth phase with a mammoth drive to recruit the best minds and talent globally across 180 unique roles.

Cruise

AI-based project to optimize vessel performance forecasting concludes testing

Kanchan Nath Jul 7, 2023

Initiated in August 2020, the Via Kaizen project explores how AI and machine learning can enable more energy-efficient voyage planning for ship operators.

Technology

Hotelbeds introduces new digital tools to make selling travel easier for clients

Kristin Mariano Jul 3, 2023

With the summer holiday season in full swing, Hotelbeds is helping its clients manage the growing demand for travel by introducing new products and tools.  The travel tech company is…

Eturbo News

Hong Kong Ready for More World-Class Conventions

Harry Johnson Jun 27, 2023 0

eTurboNews: Hong Kong further strengthens its status as the World's Meeting Place and remains a top choice among convention organizers. Read more: Hong Kong Ready for More World-Class…

Hotels

HotelRunner introduces AI-Powered Review Center for enhanced Reputation Management

Kanchan Nath Jun 20, 2023

HotelRunner, the leading travel and hospitality technologies platform, has launched HotelRunner Review Center, an innovative solution that will fundamentally change the way properties manage…

Consumer

dnata introduces ground-breaking cooking robot at World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE)

Kanchan Nath Jun 16, 2023

dnata, a global air and travel services provider, announced an exciting addition to their presence at the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE)

Hospitality

Tailor-made touch more important than digital efficiency for leisure travel advisors

Kristin Mariano Jun 14, 2023

Highly-personalised service is becoming the key differentiator for travel advisors, according to a new report from Accor, the world leading hospitality group. The report, titled…

Hotels

Hotelbeds and Wayra (Telefónica) announce first start-ups to be part of the TravelTech Lab 

Kanchan Nath Jun 13, 2023

Hotelbeds and Wayra, Telefónica's open innovation initiative, have announced the winners of the first TravelTech Lab by Hotelbeds challenge.

Airlines and Aviation

Hahn Air drives change with innovation

Kanchan Nath Jun 12, 2023

Airline distribution provider, Hahn Air, is creating an innovation node for companies looking to advance their innovative projects.

Global

ZainTech partners with Mastercard to provide unique AI and Machine Learning data solutions to businesses

Kanchan Nath Jun 8, 2023

ZainTech, the one-stop digital solutions powerhouse of Zain Group, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mastercard to create unique data-driven and innovative solutions.

Tourism Boards

The Ultimate Julian Alps Sensory Adventure – when an NFT becomes a unique experience in Slovenia

Kanchan Nath Jun 7, 2023

This week marked the end of a three-day event where representatives from 15 media outlets, owners of an exclusive NFT digital souvenir, cashed it in as a ticket to a unique experience in the…

Airlines and Aviation

Game On! Emirates Group and AWS team up to craft an immersive digital world

Kanchan Nath Jun 2, 2023

The Emirates Group is embarking on a futuristic, immersive digital journey to transform its employee experiences – a first for the industry – by collaborating with Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Technology

Expedia Group shows B2B growth with new partnerships, tech features

Kristin Mariano May 12, 2023

Following a strong quarter for Expedia Group’s B2B segment where it delivered 55% in revenue growth compared to 2022, the company announced new partnerships and tech features aimed at…

MICE

Dubai esports & games festival to return in June 2023

Kanchan Nath May 5, 2023

Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), is thrilled to announce the return of the annual Dubai Esports & Games Festival (DEF 2023) from 21 to 25 June 2023 at the South Halls,…

Airlines and Aviation

Astra Tech partners with Etihad Airways to launch flight bookings on Botim

Kanchan Nath May 4, 2023

Astra Tech (Astra) signed a partnership with Etihad Airways that will enable customers to book flights through BOTIM, the MENA region’s leading VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) solution,…

OTAs & Tour Operators

Trip.com and Amazon Web Services sign MOU to build joint innovation lab

Kanchan Nath Apr 28, 2023

Trip.com has announced it will build a joint innovation lab with Amazon Web Services (AWS), the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud.

MICE

ATM to welcome over 2,000 exhibitors, representatives from more than 150 countries and an expected 34,000 attendees to Dubai

Kanchan Nath Apr 28, 2023

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023 is ready to welcome the global travel, tourism and hospitality community to the UAE from Monday 1 to Thursday 4 May. The 30th edition of the show will host…

Technology

CrimsonLogic partners with Shanghai Data Group

Kanchan Nath Apr 26, 2023

Singapore-based global technology company CrimsonLogic, a leader in digital trade facilitation solutions and part of the PSA Group, announced that it has entered into a strategic…

Weddings & Honeymoon

Conrad Pune launches ‘The Wedding Studio’

Kanchan Nath Apr 25, 2023

Conrad Pune, the flagship luxury hotel for Hilton Worldwide in India, is proud to unveil its much-awaited Wedding Studio, the ultimate venue for couples seeking bespoke and incomparable…

Global

AutoGPT gains popularity as Twitter influencers predict revolution in AI, reveals GlobalData

Kanchan Nath Apr 24, 2023

AutoGPT has emerged as the top trend on Twitter since the second week of April 2023, reveals the Social Media Analytics Platform of GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Technology

Amadeus Labs opens engineering facility in Pune

Kanchan Nath Apr 15, 2023

Amadeus has announced the opening of their new engineering site in Pune, Maharashtra. This facility will help expand Amadeus Labs’ engineering and R&D activities in India.

MICE

World leaders to shape the future of sustainable tourism at ATM 2023

Kanchan Nath Apr 7, 2023

Travel professionals and policymakers from across the globe will explore how the tourism sector is ‘Working Towards Net Zero’ at the 30th edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which will…

MICE

Drukyul’s Literature Festival by Bhutan Echoes to be held from 4th – 6th August 2023

Kanchan Nath Mar 23, 2023

Bhutan’s Department of Tourism (DoT) has confirmed that the  Drukyul’s Literature Festival by Bhutan Echoes will be held from 4th to 6th August 2023 in  the capital Thimphu.

Global

AeroCloud pioneers technology for airports to offer ‘kerb to gate’ insights 

Kanchan Nath Mar 16, 2023

AeroCloud, the intelligent airport management platform that improves collaboration and operational efficiencies, announces at Passenger Terminal Expo the launch of AeroCloud Optic

Eturbo News

ITB Berlin Comes to a Successful Conclusion

Harry Johnson Mar 10, 2023 0

by: Harry Johnson | 90,127 ITB Berlin attendees celebrate booming demand at the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show Full article: ITB Berlin Comes to a Successful Conclusion Copyright:…

OTAs & Tour Operators

Tour operator brand ‘Eurowings Holidays’ to expand

Kanchan Nath Mar 8, 2023

Vacation packages from a single source: customers can use the Eurowings tour operator brand to book the all-inclusive vacation that is right for them, including an affordable flight and a…

Technology

Is AI the next gold rush? Global investment skyrockets 633.33%

Kristin Mariano Mar 2, 2023

If you compare the change from 2020 to 2021 with the previous 3 years, where AI investment remained almost consistent, the 2020 pandemic accelerated this growth.  Although there was a…

Consumer

e& and Mastercard partner in 16 markets across the Middle East, Asia and Africa

Kanchan Nath Mar 1, 2023

e& has announced a strategic partnership with Mastercard that will see consumers and businesses in 16 markets across the Middle East, Asia and Africa benefit from a variety of new…

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

OYO plans to double premium hotels in 2023

Kanchan Nath Feb 27, 2023

Global hospitality technology platform OYO has announced that it plans to double the number of premium hotels in India in 2023.

MICE

AIME Marks A 30-Year Milestone At The Opening

Joe Cusmano Feb 18, 2023

In a milestone year, the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event went underway on Monday in Melbourne at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). It is the 30th…

Global

Victory Securities holds “Hong Kong’s first virtual asset research conference”

Kanchan Nath Feb 13, 2023

Victory Securities held the "Hong Kong’s first virtual asset research conference", detailing an overview of the cryptocurrency market and analyzing the impact of external factors on the…

Technology

Which Traveller Tribe are you in? Amadeus defines future travellers

Kristin Mariano Feb 13, 2023

Amadeus commissioned a global research study – Traveller Tribes 2033 – which identifies four Traveler Tribes that will develop in the next 10 years and will be future target consumers.

Reports

Agoda uses ChatGPT to regale Valentine’s Day hotspots

Kanchan Nath Feb 10, 2023

Tokyo, Bangkok, and Singapore are this year’s most popular Valentine’s Day getaways in Asia, global digital travel platform Agoda revealed

MICE

JAGGAER to join world leaders in technology at LEAP, Saudi Arabia

Kanchan Nath Feb 9, 2023

JAGGAER has confirmed its participation at LEAP, Saudi Arabia’s global technology event, where the company will showcase its industry-leading spend management platform and its investment in…

Guest Column

The Potential Rise of Fake Reviews in the Travel Industry

Joao Taborda Feb 6, 2023

The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has the potential to disrupt various industries, and the travel industry is no exception. This week I read an article that points to a…

Sports Tourism

Dubai to develop sports sector

Kanchan Nath Feb 3, 2023

The Dubai Sports Council has approved a 10-year strategy for developing the emirate’s sports sector, with plans to organise 3,000 local, regional and international events and host 1,000…

Airlines and Aviation

Boeing partners with ASM Global – managed Tech Port Center + Arena

Kanchan Nath Jan 27, 2023

 An innovative new partnership between Boeing and the Kelly Heritage Foundation—an educational nonprofit organization affiliated with Port San Antonio, on whose behalf ASM Global manages…

Eturbo News

Tourism Innovation Summit to focus on digital revolution

editor Jan 26, 2023 0

by: editor | copyright: eTurboNews - Travel Industry News - World Travel News In addition to staying in Seville, Spain, Tourism Innovation Summit 2023 (TIS) is planning to boost technology…

Eturbo News

Airbus preparing for Intersec 2023 in Dubai

Harry Johnson Jan 17, 2023 0

by: Harry Johnson | copyright: eTurboNews - Travel & Tourism News Airbus is to participate in Intersec 2023, the leading trade fair for safety, security, and fire protection. The post…

Mergers & Acquisitions

RateGain to acquire Adara

Kanchan Nath Jan 3, 2023

RateGain Travel Technologies Limited (RateGain), a global provider of SaaS solutions for travel and hospitality announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Adara…

By the Way

Cognizant to advance Garuda Aerospace drones with digital technologies

Kanchan Nath Dec 26, 2022

Cognizant has announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Garuda Aerospace, one of India's drone startups, to power its drones with advanced digital capabilities…

Air

Airlines Are Betting On A Thriving Post-Pandemic Future

Joe Cusmano Dec 21, 2022

The airline industry has recovered from the pandemic and is experiencing a time of exceptional prosperity. Algorithms powered by artificial intelligence are sifting through mountains…

Hotels

Hospitality must “abandon dependence on RevPAR and occupancy metrics” to thrive

Kanchan Nath Nov 29, 2022

Beonprice – one of the world’s hotel revenue management providers – has set out on a mission to persuade the hospitality industry to “abandon the dependence on RevPAR and occupancy rates…

Special Reports

UAE laboratories must adopt technology to drive automation: Medlab ME

Kanchan Nath Nov 23, 2022

Medlab Middle East has revealed the top trends influencing clinical laboratory markets in the UAE and globally, according to a new report published ahead of the 2023 edition of the show.

Technology

TIS reveals travel trends for the coming years: social media, sustainability and frictionless experiences

Kanchan Nath Nov 17, 2022

TIS - Tourism Innovation Summit 2022 the global summit of technology and innovation for the travel and tourism industry that has celebrated its third edition in Seville (Spain), has brought…

Global

Safari Holding signs exclusive PropTech deal with HITEK

Kanchan Nath Nov 16, 2022

UAE-based smart property management solutions company HITEK Services, which is part of the Farnek group of companies, has signed an exclusive five-year partnership agreement with…

Global

Finland, Dublin, Vueling and Casa Batlló, winners of the Tourism Innovation Awards 2022

Kanchan Nath Nov 9, 2022

TIS - Tourism Innovation Summit, the global summit of innovation and technology for the travel and tourism industry, celebrated last week the Tourism Innovation Awards 2022 in Seville…

MICE

Arab Health to showcase the USD5 billion healthcare metaverse

Kanchan Nath Nov 8, 2022

Arab Health has underscored its commitment to showcasing the latest advances in healthcare technology and innovation with the launch of the Intelligent Health Pavilion and the return of the…

Airlines and Aviation

Emirates embraces demand for plant-based meals

Kanchan Nath Oct 27, 2022

Heralding the upcoming World Vegan Day on 1 November, Emirates has delivered a resounding response to heightened demand for plant-based cuisine with a multimillion-dollar investment into new…

MICE

TIS2022 to define the future of global tourism

Kanchan Nath Oct 27, 2022

TIS - Tourism Innovation Summit 2022, the technology event for travel and tourism professionals, returns to Seville (Spain) from 2 to 4 November.

Consumer

eDreams ODIGEO gets highest-ever mobile app sales

Kanchan Nath Oct 14, 2022

eDreams ODIGEO, the world’s largest online travel company in terms of flights outside of China and one of the largest European e-commerce businesses, announced that it achieved a record in…

Hospitality

Using AI to become zero waste

Kristin Mariano Oct 6, 2022

The Iberostar Group has announced its ambitious plan to install artificial intelligence in its more than 100 hotels globally to become zero waste, reduce food waste and save more than…

MICE

HITEK MD to deliver keynote at MEFMA conference in Riyadh

Kanchan Nath Sep 22, 2022

Javeria Aijaz, managing director of HITEK, a UAE-based smart FM technology solutions company, will deliver the keynote address at the Middle East FM Association (MEFMA) one-day conference…

Tourism

Savour, celebrate and soak up culture in Seattle this autumn season

Kristin Mariano Sep 9, 2022

Welcome the arrival of autumn in Seattle where there’s a host of festivals, exhibitions and culinary events offering exciting new reasons to visit. Fantastic festivals Savour local…

Finance

Be covered if your trip is disrupted by heavy rainfall

Kristin Mariano Sep 1, 2022

Singlife will pay up to SGD150 to travellers whose single trip plans are disrupted by heavy rainfall. All countries and regions globally are included in the Rainfall Protection coverage,…

Technology

Technology plays a vital role in ensuring seamless travel

Kanchan Nath Aug 23, 2022

A study by Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and FCM — “The Evolution of Travel Program Technology” — explores how technology has impacted the travel manager’s role, the traveller…

Air

Sustainable food in air! Emirates flight catering launches world’s largest vertical farm in Dubai

Megha Paul Jul 26, 2022

The farm’s closed-loop system is designed to circulate water through the plants to maximise water usage and efficiency

Tourism

Dubai’s metaverse strategy to position Emirate as global hub for tourism

Megha Paul Jul 22, 2022

It aims to turn Dubai into one the world’s top 10 metaverse economies as well as a global hub for the metaverse community

GDS / CRS - Partner Content

Here comes the sun: Latest Sabre survey reveals 5 key travel trends

Kristin Mariano May 25, 2022

The latest Sabre survey results revealed several key travel trends that are truly gamechangers in the industry.

Expedia Group unveils new Open World Technology Platform

Kristin Mariano May 9, 2022

At its annual partner event, EXPLORE, Expedia Group debuted a three-tiered strategy to redefine its place in travel, including a new technology platform to power the industry called Expedia…

Guest Column

Payment methods for post-pandemic travel and tourism success

Harry White May 4, 2022

Payment methods for post-pandemic travel and tourism success The relationship between the travel sector and the payments industry has always been complex, never more so than during the…

Mobile & Social

Why ignoring social media could prove fatal for hotel GMs

Kristin Mariano May 4, 2022

Facebook and Instagram, two of the largest social media platforms with 2.9 and two billion monthly active users respectively, are more than just a brand awareness or communication tool for…

Emirates to unveil NFTs and experiences in metaverse

Megha Paul Apr 18, 2022

Emirates has unveiled its plans to build signature brand experiences in the metaverse, alongside both collectible and utility-based NFTs for its customers and employees

Global

Check in! Emirates rolls out unique mobile check-in ports for seamless travel and shorter waiting time

Megha Paul Apr 4, 2022

Emirates is introducing 25 mobile Check-in Ports at Dubai International airport Terminal 3 as part of its commitment to continuously innovate at every customer touchpoint

Technology

Bracing for rebound! Here’s how Amadeus preps for next COVID surge

Kristin Mariano Mar 9, 2022

To prepare for a possible coming COVID surge, Amadeus has partnered with testFRWD, the Austrian startup providing AI-powered solutions for self-certifying COVID-19 tests.

Sharjah Tourism Forum concludes with positive outlook on global travel industry

Megha Paul Nov 30, 2021

Sharjah International Travel and Tourism Forum (SITTF), Middle East and Sharjah’s leading travel showcase successfully concluded rounding off the first hybrid event in its 8-year history

This hotel has an unexpected addition to its workforce: Robots

Megha Paul Nov 17, 2021

Hawks Cay Resort has turned to the help of robots to provide more opportunities for its associates to dedicate their time where it matters most, serving guests

Conference programme revealed! Blue chips and startups to share Travel Forward stage at WTM London

Megha Paul Oct 25, 2021

Travel Forward, the global event for travel technology co-located with WTM London, has revealed the line-up for this year’s conference programme which features one of the travel industry’s…

Technology

How travel marketers are activating digital advertising

Megha Paul Aug 25, 2021

Travellers are booking directly because of clearer cancellation or refund policies, coupled with their frustrating experiences navigating online travel agency (OTA) reimbursements for…

Air

IATA welcomes Saudi Arabia’s acceptance of IATA Travel Pass

Megha Paul Aug 23, 2021

IATA welcomed the decision of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to accept IATA Travel Pass to confirm pre-departure COVID-19 test results for…

Tourism

Ixigo raises USD 53 million in pre-IPO funding round

Megha Paul Jul 29, 2021

Travel app Ixigo has raised USD 53 million, through a combination of primary and secondary issuance of shares, from investors, led by the Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC, ahead of its…

Technology

Sabre pairs with GOPASS Global to reduce travel risks and enhance travel confidence

Kristin Mariano Jun 16, 2021

Sabre has partnered with travel risk management platform GOPASS Global to help deliver its game-changing COVID-19 biosecurity risk analytics capabilities to the travel industry.

MICE

Hong Kong Convention Ambassador campaign unveiled to revitalise MICE industry

Megha Paul May 13, 2021

The HKTB has launched the ‘Hong Kong Convention Ambassador’ programme to help revitalise Hong Kong’s MICE industry, after a turbulent and challenging 2020

Features

5 reasons hotels should add AI to their staff now

Megha Paul Apr 15, 2021

Adopting AI-powered technology increases staff productivity, operational efficiency and guest satisfaction

Interviews

Why passengers can rely on Qatar Airways for a safe journey

Kristin Mariano Mar 11, 2021

Here is a story of an airline that embraced the change and immediately adapted to the “new normal” while keeping the mission of “connecting families” at its core.

Reopening updates

Ajman Tourism launches interactive digital map

Megha Paul Mar 1, 2021

Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) is showcasing an interactive digital map for the emirate of Ajman, providing visitors with key information on top tourist attractions

Reopening updates

Expats rejoice! Abu Dhabi unveils new long-term visa campaign

Megha Paul Feb 16, 2021

Abu Dhabi is encouraging professionals, students and investors to move to the emirate through a new campaign to develop the capital’s culture, healthcare, research and development and real…

Reopening updates

How digital transformation and AI will lead future development of aviation in post COVID-19 era

Megha Paul Feb 9, 2021

Dubai Airshow 2021 will serve as a platform to showcase the role of cutting edge technologies in bolstering the recovery of the aviation, aerospace and defence industries following the…

Dubai Airshow to return in 2021

Megha Paul Dec 24, 2020

Dubai Airshow is set to return for its 17th edition on 14-18 November 2021 and will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

ITB China to host two events in Beijing and Shanghai

Megha Paul Dec 16, 2020

With traveller confidence recovering swiftly in China, the ITB China organisers have announced plans to launch an ITB China Special Edition in 2021

Revolutionising hotel booking experience, the GauVendi way

Megha Paul Nov 23, 2020

The innovative platform solution for individualised feature-based room sales, supports hotel operators with a unique customer-centric retail approach focusing on the needs of the guest

‘Contactless’ is what influencers are talking about in hospitality

Kristin Mariano Oct 16, 2020

Contactless technology solutions are gaining traction in the hospitality industry, as they reduce the potential risk of contracting COVID-19 through physical touchpoints.

Absolute Hotel Services and The Delivering Group sign global partnership

Megha Paul Oct 13, 2020

The global partnership will help expand its hotel and resort management business In Asia Pacific, Greater China and North America

UNWTO to harness the power of AI to link tourism workers with jobs

Megha Paul Oct 2, 2020

UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) will work with California-based Eightfold.ai to help connect tourism jobseekers with employers and so drive the global recovery of the sector

Global

4 reasons ‘flexibility’ is critical for APAC airline recovery

Alastair Newport Aug 27, 2020

From tsunamis to ash clouds, travel has seen its share of setbacks over the past few years. COVID-19 is an altogether challenge. APAC airline recovery...

Technology

Doing more with less – The essentiality of automated revenue management

Kristin Mariano Aug 13, 2020

Hotels are heading into budget season at a difficult time for the industry. The pandemic-driven downturn has slashed revenues and imposed significant financial pain, forcing many hotels to…

New hotel programme adoption to help customers influence traveller buying behaviour

Megha Paul Aug 11, 2020

BCD Travel has announced an agreement with the SAP Concur organisation to expand integration between its proprietary hotel platform and the Custom Hotel Sourcing functionality, providing…

8 Israeli technologies that will help us travel again

Kristin Mariano Jul 14, 2020

When the global Coronavirus crisis broke out, many Israelis came together to think of technological solutions to fight the virus and restore life to normal.

Features

Travel Agent Alert: 4 reasons TAs are key to rebuilding the industry

Alastair Newport Jul 8, 2020

The road to recovery for the travel industry is through rebuilding travellers’ confidence and understanding their needs, but success can only be achieved by taking up a hybrid approach of-…

Bloggers

Technology Transforming the Travel Industry

Valerie Lalonde Feb 24, 2020

The travel and leisure industry is undergoing a major evolution with personalisation. Travellers’ experiences can now be deeply customisable at every stage, from research and booking to…

Dubai Tourism Innovation hub unveiled

Megha Paul Feb 18, 2020

Accenture has opened the Dubai Tourism Innovation Hub, the company’s first innovation hub in the Middle East and North Africa region. Located in Dubai Media City, it is an immersive…

Hello new-age bartender! British Airways’ lounges trial AI-powered cocktail maker

Megha Paul Feb 4, 2020

British Airways is exclusively trialling an automated cocktail maker in its San Francisco and Newark lounges. Cocktails are dispensed in under 45 seconds, adding a new dimension to the…

The Funded: Spanish travel tech Beonprice raises USD 2.78 million for AI-driven hospitality revenue software

Megha Paul Jan 10, 2020

Spanish-based Beonprice has announced closure of a Series A funding round of EUR 2.5 million (USD 2.78 million) with venture capital fund Adara Ventures as the lead investor.…

Technology

Travel tech this week: Start-ups raised millions for expansion

Kristin Mariano Dec 26, 2019

For travel tech news this week, it is indeed happy holidays for some start-ups as they raised millions to fuel their expansion.

Technology

TravelFlan completes USD 7 million funding

Megha Paul Dec 24, 2019

TravelFlan, a Hong Kong-based chatbot provider for the travel industry, has recently received USD 7 million in its A round of financing. SPK AI Travel Tech Fund, founded by Lazard Korea,…

Middle East

KPMG records double digit growth in MESA

Alastair Newport Dec 23, 2019

The aggregated revenue of KPMG member firms in the Middle East & South Asia (MESA) region grew by 11.6% in local currency terms for the fiscal year ended 30 September 2019, marking the…

Hotelbeds partners with RateGain to fight ‘rate integrity abuse’

Tian Tolentino Dec 13, 2019

Spain-based bedbank Hotelbeds has reported the launch of a partnership with RateGain, a provider of hospitality and travel technology solutions.

Bloggers

Smart Hospitality: 7 ways technologies are reshaping your business

DDI Development Dec 11, 2019

Smart Hospitality: 7 Ways Technologies Are Reshaping Your Business Everything becomes smart nowadays: phones, watches, TV sets, refrigerators, houses, etc. In addition to that,…

Guest Column

How to Build a Travel Service Customers Will Love

Django Stars Dec 11, 2019

With more than 100k flights, 1.5 million bookings made every day, and every tenth person in the world employed in travel services, it’s no surprise that the value of the travel industry, and…

Digital innovation is increasingly critical to ensure new, loyal guests

Alastair Newport Nov 26, 2019

Following on from TD's interview with Hilton's Sarah Somerville, senior director, customer engagement, loyalty and partnerships in Asia Pacific, Hilton Honors has released the results of its…

Technology

Amadeus: “We’re democratising AI in travel”

Alastair Newport Nov 21, 2019

AI systems are set to provide a USD14 trillion boost to the global economy by 2035. In the travel industry, this technology has the potential to produce USD400 billion of value, more than…

Travel accommodation market to reach USD 893bn by 2026

Tian Tolentino Nov 19, 2019

Allied Market Research has reported that the global travel accommodation industry garnered USD 632.8 billion in 2018 and is estimated to reach USD 893bn by 2026.

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

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?

Messe Berlin to host maiden Travel Tech Asia 2020

Megha Paul Oct 10, 2019

Messe Berlin (Singapore) announced that it will be organising the inaugural Travel Tech Asia 2020 in Singapore. The three-day conference will take place from 21-23 October 2020 at the…

Sharjah launches four innovative tourism projects

Megha Paul Oct 8, 2019

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has unveiled four innovative projects at the premier Gitex Technology Week 2019 in Dubai. SCTDA joined the Sharjah Pavilion…

Guest Column

The Rough Guide to being a travel company in 2019

Jon Reay Sep 19, 2019

Digital is transforming all industries. Businesses are becoming ever more digital. In travel, you may still be selling holidays, flights or accommodation but the way you do it has…

Hotels could look like this by 2034

Tian Tolentino Sep 16, 2019

Glass TV’s that know your favourite films, showers that adapt to your body temperature — technology experts and Guestline have revealed the future of hotel rooms.

MICE

MICE industry to grow 8% in 2020 despite predictions of economic doom & gloom

Alastair Newport Sep 10, 2019

CWT's MICE focused wing, CWT M&E, has revealed that the USD840 billion industry is all set for an 8% spike in growth during 2020. The news comes 2020 Future Trends Report, published…

Startups

Didi Chuxing to roll out self-driving car in China

Kristin Mariano Sep 3, 2019

China-based ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing plans to roll out self-driving vehicles in a district of Shanghai city. The company also aims to expand the scheme outside China by 2021.

A.I. It’s Donald From Skye! The world’s first tourist chatbot is here

Megha Paul Aug 29, 2019

The Isle of Skye has become the first region to offer an artificial intelligence information service for tourists. The creator of Donald from Skye has officially launched the tourist…

Technology

Travel tech this week: One thing humans are better than robots and more

Kristin Mariano Aug 29, 2019

Travel technology is all about the use and contribution of digitisation to the improvement of the travel industry, but there is one thing that any robot cannot do – that is being human! In…

Genting Cruise Lines unveils new chapter with Global Dream

Megha Paul Aug 28, 2019

Genting Cruise Lines officially announced the name of her first 208,000 gross ton Global Class ship at IBTM China, the nation’s largest business travel and MICE show, in Beijing.…

Japan becomes first overseas market for Mafengwo

Megha Paul Aug 19, 2019

Mafengwo, China-based travel information site, announced its entry into the Japanese market. Listing about 10 million travel content a month, including destination guides or…

China Eastern uses AI to improve experience

Megha Paul Aug 16, 2019

State-owned China Eastern Airlines is now using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the customer experience, using the technology’s ability to handle huge amounts of data to tailor…

AI technology driven TFest heads to Dubai

Megha Paul Aug 14, 2019

TFest, a new event concept from Private Luxury Events, is expected to lure over 500 of the world’s most influential luxury travel buyers and exhibitors to Nasimi Beach at Atlantis, The…

Technology

Blacklane to open New York and Los Angeles offices

Megha Paul Aug 6, 2019

Global chauffeur and airport concierge service Blacklane will open two US offices this fall. The New York and Los Angeles crew will grow business-to-business sales and improve…

United States

Hotel Data Conference sold out for sixth year in a row

Megha Paul Jul 25, 2019

The 11th annual Hotel Data Conference (HDC), presented by Rainmaker, has reached capacity status with a record 725 registered attendees for the event on 14-16 August at the JW Marriott…

Hospitality

To automate or not to automate, that is the question

Tian Tolentino Jul 10, 2019

In an industry where personal touches matter a great deal, we are treading a fine line between innovation and over-kill.

Technology

On digital sojourn, Thomas Cook India unveils ‘TeeCee’

Megha Paul Jul 4, 2019

Integrated travel services company, Thomas Cook (India) announced the launch of ‘TeeCee’, a first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence (AI) powered chatbot, reiterating the company’s…

Technology

Travel tech this week: WeChat joins super app race with new mini program and more

Kristin Mariano Jun 27, 2019

This week, WeChat and City of Helsinki launched a mini program for Chinese tourists. Meanwhile, a company called Nuvola introduced facial recognition for the hospitality sector.

Technology

Indian business travellers yearns for digital travel solutions, says Travelport

Megha Paul Jun 27, 2019

Tech-savvy business travellers in India are increasingly demanding, as well as using, advanced digital solutions that can enhance their travel experience, according to an independent…

Technology

CEO Travala.com: The power of social media in the travel industry

Tian Tolentino Jun 26, 2019

Matt Luczynski, CEO and co-founder of Travala.com, shares insights on social media, smartphones and other trends that are shaping the way we travel.

Hotels

‘Future-gazing’: Welcome to the hotel of 2119

Tian Tolentino Jun 19, 2019

In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Hilton predicts the future trends set to dominate the travel and hospitality industry in the next 100 years.

Technology

Octa founder Zara Khanna is a little girl with big dreams

Kristin Mariano Jun 5, 2019

Move and give way! Zara Khanna is on her way to conquer the travel tech industry with travel chatbot Octa that helps kids and parents find cool things to do and epic places to visit when…

Hospitality

“Robots will remain as a gimmick”: The real tech trends by Amadeus

Tian Tolentino May 23, 2019

Tech firm to the travel industry Amadeus has gathered insights from industry leaders on which tech trends they think will have the most significant impact.

Technology

When tech fails the travel industry

Kristin Mariano May 15, 2019

There is no doubt that technology made travel easier and faster – from planning to the actual trip. However, there are times when technology was unable to nail a solution to an existing…

Technology

Stay hungry, stay competitive: The digital age is here, so act now

Tian Tolentino Apr 29, 2019

As digital technologies transform most industries and our daily lives, the process of digitalization hasn’t just become a necessity, but a somewhat, urgent reality across business lines.

Interviews

How I learned how to avoid all humans with Sabre’s Frank Trampert

Alastair Newport Apr 24, 2019

Earlier this year Sabre released their predictions for the travel trends which they believed would appear and gain traction through 2019 and beyond. Dubbed ‘Avoid all Humans’ the report…

OTAs & Tour Operators

Flight Centre becomes largest shareholder in The Upside Travel Company

Kristin Mariano Apr 12, 2019

Flight Centre Group continues to strengthen its corporate travel business, as it announces a strategic investment in The Upside Travel Company ("Upside"), the corporate travel company…

Air

“Places can change people”: Lufthansa inspires India with new campaign

Tian Tolentino Mar 26, 2019

Lufthansa has launched a new cross-media brand campaign in India to celebrate five explorers who were rewarded with enriching experiences on their travels.

Air

Autonomous aircraft market worth USD 23.7bn by 2030

Tian Tolentino Mar 11, 2019

According to new market research, the autonomous aircraft market is projected to grow from an estimated USD 3.6 billion in 2018 to 23.7 billion by 2030.

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.

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.

Technology

Year of the big data: China installs facial recognition system in Beijing

Kristin Mariano Feb 7, 2019

In what seemed to be an episode from Black Mirror, passengers at the Beijing's high-speed railway station needed to pass through a machine before they board the train.

Global

Travel tech this week: AirAsia’s AVA, CashlessSentosa, and more

Kristin Mariano Jan 31, 2019

This week, we saw how companies made use of technology to improve their services, making it convenient for their customers. AirAsia introduced its AI chatbot and Triptease announced…

Global

Aviation round up: Full stream ahead!

Alastair Newport Jan 29, 2019

This week’s aviation round up eyes up the first commercial Gulfstream G500 service,  SIA's digtial innovations lab and a team up from two giants of the flying world.

Startups

CoRover shows how to travel solo but not alone

Kristin Mariano Jan 25, 2019

Solo travellers face risks for they are alone during the trip, especially at the time of emergencies.

Special Reports

“Avoid humans at all cost”: Sabre predicts consumer trends in 2019

Tian Tolentino Jan 24, 2019

Tech provider to the travel industry, Sabre, along with consumer trends and insights firm, TrendWatching, have predicted the top consumer trends this year.

Air

Aviation round up: BA goes BOAC in time and Lufthansa looks to the future

Alastair Newport Jan 22, 2019

Aviation this week looks to the past as well as the future with some notable tech developments, while an iconic name celebrates a century of flying by rifling through its wardrobe for a…

Startups

GrabJobs disrupts old school recruitment process in SEA

Kristin Mariano Jan 16, 2019

Finding a job has never been this easy for both job seekers and employers. Singapore-based GrabJobs is making a fuss in the recruitment scene with their interview chatbot technology.

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

Travel tech this week: Google and Airbnb’s new acquisitions and more

Kristin Mariano Dec 20, 2018

This week, we saw travel tech giants acquire smaller companies to fuel their growth and industry leaders drive innovation.

Airlines and Aviation

SIA: Key pillar of digital transformation will “truly transform the way offers are created”

Alastair Newport Dec 17, 2018

Amadeus and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have unveiled their upgraded partnership this morning with the announcement that the airline has fully integrated the Amadeus Altéa NDC and Amadeus…

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

Travel tech this week: Instaroom new AI, BoG in Europe, and more

Kristin Mariano Nov 29, 2018

Digital disruption is not too far from the travel industry either. We scout the latest happenings in the travel tech world each week. Here are the five tech developments of this week.

Technology

Gartner’s top 10 strategic tech trends for 2019

Kristin Mariano Nov 19, 2018

Gartner, Inc. has revealed some of the strategic technology trends that will have far-reaching effects in various industries and companies need to explore.

Technology

DataArt: Top 5 travel and hospitality tech trends for 2019

Tian Tolentino Nov 12, 2018

DataArt, a global technology consultancy, has predicted the top 5 travel and hospitality tech trends for 2019.

Hotels

“We do ordinary things in extraordinary ways” – Mövenpick Boracay

Kristin Mariano Nov 1, 2018

Mövenpick Boracay Resort & Spa is one of the 157 compliant hotels that reopened its doors to tourists and here’s what I think about it.

Hotels

HOTECH 2020: “The guest of the future won’t search for a room or a hotel”

Alastair Newport Oct 9, 2018

As travel increasingly becomes a popular lifestyle choice among the growing middle and upper classes in Asia, gross travel bookings are projected to register strong growth from 2017 to 2020.…

MICE

Expect more MICE in 2019: Here’s how you can get a piece of the pie

Kristin Mariano Oct 2, 2018

Business travel has grown exponentially in the recent years and along with it is the increase in number and size of corporate meetings and events. This has become a huge opportunity for…

Podcasts

The workforce of the future: When AI meets HR

Brett Henry Sep 12, 2018

TD spoke to Jitender Panihar on this week's podcast about how AI will affect the role of HR professionals and indeed the global workforce.

Airlines and Aviation

Tech and personalisation will be key for APAC airline growth: Sabre

Tian Tolentino Aug 31, 2018

Sabre Corporation has surveyed 30 APAC airlines, and the results show that carriers are revaluating their strategic focus as they think about new ways to generate revenue and increase yield.…

Technology

YouGov poll: 68% of Brits want more tech at airports

Tian Tolentino Aug 24, 2018

An online YouGov poll commissioned by in-flight entertainment and passenger engagement company, Spafax, has revealed that younger travellers want airports to use technology to enhance their…

Global

The one-stop-shop for stress-free travel planning

Kristin Mariano Aug 9, 2018

We go on a trip to get away from stress at home and work and to take a break from the day-to-day routine, but travel planning and the travel itself can be quite stressful.

Travel Agents

Is data personalisation simply to improve the human touch?

Kristin Mariano Aug 6, 2018

Personalisation is the winning ingredient in travel and we have been seeing signs of it creep into more mainstream experiences. Whoever owns the traveller’s journey from end-to-end will win.

Asia

Veturis Travel to fuel Asia growth with SiteMinder

Alastair Newport Jul 23, 2018

Veturis Travel has partnered with the global hotel industry cloud platform, SiteMinder to further cement its presence within the region and Asia. The wholesaler is upping its investment in…

Air

Robots to take over our airports by 2030

Kristin Mariano Jun 22, 2018

Robots are set to replace the current airport staff and our air travel may soon be devoid of human contact.

Technology

Smartworld partners with EkinnoLab to power UAE’s digital economic growth

Tian Tolentino Jun 12, 2018

Smartworld has signed an agreement with EkinnoLab to launch the 'Park & X' solution in support of the development of smart cities in the UAE.

Technology

Are we ready to replace personal assistants with AI?

Kristin Mariano Jun 7, 2018

According to 2017 Pew Research, almost half of Americans use voice-controlled digital assistants, mostly on their mobile phones, and three quarters of them believes that the same assistants…

Technology

Chinese tech giant Tencent inks deal with Dubai officials to promote smart tourism

Tian Tolentino May 21, 2018

Tencent, the tech conglomerate responsible for WeChat and other top mobile apps, has signed a deal with Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing to spearhead smart tourism and…

Technology

TrustYou breaks down the impact of tech on the guest journey

Tian Tolentino May 18, 2018

Guest feedback platform, TrustYou, breaks down the technologies that modern hoteliers need to know through its latest eBook: The Hotelier's Tech Stack Guide - Must-have Technologies That…

Technology

AI primer with Travelport VP Simon Ferguson, ahead of his keynote at the Mumbrella Travel Marketing Summit

Simon Willmore Apr 9, 2018

The week of 16 April is a crucial conference week for travel marketers from around the world and especially in Singapore, as both the Mumbrella Travel Marketing Summit and the Digital…

Airlines and Aviation

Airbus BizLab signs Indian start-ups in new push for ‘Make in India’

Alastair Newport Mar 8, 2018

Neewee and EFLIGHT, two start-ups accelerated at Airbus Bizlab India, have signed their first contracts with Airbus and subsidiary NAVBLUE to bring to life their unique innovative ideas in…

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…

Entrepreneurs

‘Opaque booking format works for both hoteliers and guests’ – Travelspice co-founder

Simon Willmore Feb 27, 2018

We sat down with Travelspice co-founder and CFO Ankit Manglik for a short chat on the success of its opaque booking format, its future plans, and why its team chose “Kitney Mein Chahiye?” as…

Face‑to‑Face

Can hoteliers trust TrustYou?

Simon Willmore Feb 14, 2018

Hospitality and travel professionals should not miss this Q&A with CEO and co-founder Benjamin Yost

Airlines and Aviation

Kansai Airports trial SITA robot KATE to slash queues and reduce wait time

Alastair Newport Feb 5, 2018

Kansai Airports, the operator of Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Osaka International Airport (ITAMI), is working with SITA on a trial of KATE – SITA’s intelligent check-in kiosk. KATE…

UK

Ctrip CEO commits heavy investment to “promote China-UK tourism”

Alastair Newport Feb 5, 2018

Ctrip attended the China-UK Business Forum, where, Chief Executive Officer of Ctrip spoke at the event and shared her thoughts on China-UK travel and how big data and technology can help to…

Technology

Unpacking traveller needs made easy with Unified Inbox

Simon Willmore Jan 31, 2018

IoT and AI come together through Unified Inbox (UIB), which enables people to talk with all of their smart devices through a single integrated API.

Face‑to‑Face

‘Talk less, listen more:’ Harnessing data out of customer sentiment with Twistar

Simon Willmore Jan 28, 2018

Twistar, a mobile device that harnesses feedback into actionable data, provides engagement that businesses can customise & customers can enjoy.

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

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.

Hotels

Amadeus launch @flightbot AI – great news for TAs

Alastair Newport Jan 10, 2018

Amadeus has developed an AI-powered bot in partnership with GoHero.ai (based in India).  The bot connects LINE users with travel agents, using a messaging platform powered on GoHero’s AI and…

Technology

Travel Technology buyers to prioritise spend on customer experience

Jill Sayles Jan 4, 2018 18

A new survey from Travel Technology Europe shows that travel and hotel technology buyers will be prioritising spend on new technologies that improve the customer experience in 2018.…

Technology

Pocket translator to open opportunities for Chinese travel

Simon Willmore Jan 4, 2018 22

Travellers from mainland China took more than 62 million outbound trips in the first half of 2017 with an increase in preference for self-guided tours, as per the China Tourism Academy.…

Airlines and Aviation

Air New Zealand trial ‘babel’ tech with Google Pixel Buds

Alastair Newport Dec 26, 2017 0

Air New Zealand is turning to technology to tackle the language barriers that often arise during travel. The airline is one of the first corporates globally to trial a customer service use…

Hotels

TRAVLR can’t wait to “impact the lives of millions”, with SERIES A funding achieved

Alastair Newport Nov 30, 2017 9

TRAVLR is a new travel platform hoping to disrupt the $1.29 trillion travel industry. Having raised $5m SERIES A funding, TRAVLR  believe they are all set to redefine the way we travel.

Technology

Should the travel industry invest more in AI?

Jill Sayles Nov 15, 2017 0

The travel sector is being urged to invest in artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the booking process, as more than a quarter of UK holidaymakers find it too difficult to pick the…

Airlines and Aviation

SITA has the tech for APACS’ 2 billion extra customers

Alastair Newport Nov 7, 2017 12

With the latest 20-year air passenger forecast predicting more than half the world’s growth will be in Asia Pacific, 2.1 billion additional passengers by 2036, more than double the current…

Events

ITB Asia 2017: bigger, better and bolder

Alastair Newport Nov 3, 2017 8

Asia's leading travel trade show, ITB Asia 2017, organised by Messe Berlin (Singapore) Pte Ltd, has completed its milestone anniversary event with record-breaking numbers. The tenth edition…

Events

MICE and Corporate buyers flock to ITB Asia 2017

Alastair Newport Oct 26, 2017 18

Celebrating its 10th anniversary as Asia’s Leading Travel Trade Show, ITB Asia 2017 has opened its doors today at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands.

MICE

American Express forecasts robust growth for MICE in 2018

Alastair Newport Oct 13, 2017 18

The meetings & events industry can be optimistic about growth prospects next year, driven by increased competition in the supply chain for market share, and robust investments and a…

Tourism

PATA Global Insights Conference: the future of tourism

Alastair Newport Oct 6, 2017 16

The annual PATA Global Insights Conference was once again a resounding success with nearly 200 delegates hearing from high profile speakers representing major international brands such as…

OTAs & Tour Operators

Barrhead Travel records further year of record growth

Jill Sayles Sep 29, 2017 22

Barrhead Travel has had another record year of sales despite a Brexit-led dent in consumer confidence in the wake of the June 2016 vote.   The company’s gross turnover was up £12.7m…

United States

Why Chatbots Are Transforming the Travel Industry

Mark Elliott Sep 11, 2017 0

With chatbots, customers can manage their own bookings without needing to wait on the line for the next available representative. Chatbots can be simply defined as artificial intelligence…

Airlines and Aviation

What do travellers really want when booking flights?

Michael Mackey Sep 8, 2017

A new report by Amadeus, ‘Embracing airline digital transformation: a spotlight on what travellers value’, sheds new light on what travellers value when shopping for a flight. The report…

United States

How new technology can fit into today’s hotel industry

Mark Elliott Sep 7, 2017 0

NASHVILLE, Tennessee— Technology is advancing all the time, and it’s proven a challenge for the hotel industry at large to keep up with each new development and…

Technology

Brain Waves: Air New Zealand’s robot trial, VR hotel suite in Hong Kong, and more…

Mark Elliott Aug 29, 2017

Air New Zealand trials robots at Sydney Airport Air New Zealand has teamed up with CommBank to trial the use of robot customer service agents at Sydney Airport. A five-day experiment…

United States

Nine Technology Trends Shaping Tomorrow’s Travel Industry

Mark Elliott Jul 26, 2017 0

Sabre’s newest technology forecast, the 2017 Radar Report, evaluates how tech trends like blockchain, neural interfaces and space tourism are reshaping the travel landscape  SOUTHLAKE,…

United States

Sabre Creates an AI-Powered Chatbot using Microsoft’s Intelligent and Natural Languages

Mark Elliott Jul 14, 2017 0

Sabre creates an AI-powered chatbot using Microsoft’s intelligent and natural language services Pilot explores how artificial intelligence can help travel agencies serve travelers better by…

Events

Sabre TTX 2017 Packed With Cool

Mark Elliott Jul 7, 2017

Sabre hosted its annual Travel Technology Exchange, or TTX, last week in hotter than usual Las Vegas. With a record 1200+ attendees, even the triple digit temperatures couldn’t compete…

United States

Sabre TTX 2017 Packed With Cool

Mark Elliott Jul 6, 2017 0

Posted: July 5, 2017 by Kelly Happ Sabre hosted its annual Travel Technology Exchange, or TTX, last week in hotter than usual Las Vegas.   With a record 1200+ attendees, even the triple…

Hotel Management Company

Zumata expands AI-based hotel distribution across Asia

Mark Elliott Jun 20, 2017

Zumata, which claims to be the "world’s only artificial intelligence-powered hotel distribution and technology company", is expanding into Asia. Having established a presence in North…

Technology

Data, personalisation to change the face of travel

Mark Elliott May 23, 2017

Travel companies will need to leverage big data and personalise the customer experience in order to succeed in the coming years, delegates at an event in Bangkok have heard.…

Technology

Brain Waves: Virtual flight bookings, biometric baggage drops, and more…

Mark Elliott May 16, 2017

Amadeus creates virtual booking experience Navitaire, a subsidiary of Amadeus, has created a new solution that allows customers to complete their entire travel booking in Virtual Reality.…

Face‑to‑Face

Face-to-Face: Kai Chan

Mark Elliott May 2, 2017

This week, Carlson Wagonlit Travel's president for Asia Pacific, Kai Chan, provides us with an update on the company's new CWT 3.0 strategy... Q)    CWT recently embarked on its new…

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

Q&A With CheapAir.com CEO: Summer Travel, Industry Trends & Best Fare Deals

Simon Willmore Apr 6, 2017 0

CEO Jeff Klee started CheapAir.com in 1989 from his college dorm room after getting a crash course in the airline industry from planning his own backpacking trip through Europe on a…

United States

Sabre’s Technology Report: The Three Emerging Technology Trends to Watch and Get Ready For

Simon Willmore Mar 16, 2017 0

SOUTHLAKE, Texas – Dec. 8, 2016 – Technology innovation is changing faster than ever with emerging capabilities like robotics, artificial intelligence and augmented reality on the brink of…

United States

Q&A: with CEO Hotels of The Future – hotels.com

Simon Willmore Mar 16, 2017 1

We caught up with Dr. James Canton, CEO and Chairman of the Institute for Global Futures about how hotels will look like in the future. Dr. Canton is a global futurist, social scientist,…

UK

Face to face: Mark Rodley, GTMC sales manager

Aaron Greenwood Feb 16, 2017

What are the biggest challenges and opportunities for TMCs in 2017?  I think one of the biggest growth opportunities for the business travel community will come from increased…

United States

The Rise of Messaging for Travel and Hospitality

Simon Willmore Feb 14, 2017 0

The Rise of Messaging for Travel and Hospitality Published June 2016 Douglas Quinby  Vice President, Research Download the presentation deck and audio recording of…

UK

Industry giants gear up for Travel Technology Europe

Aaron Greenwood Feb 9, 2017

Industry leaders such as Google, easyJet, WayBlazer and Contiki will deliver keynote speeches at Travel Technology Europe, Olympia London, 22-23 February, as part of its extensive conference…

Hotel Technology

Sabre poll at ITB Berlin shows trends in AI, personalisation, distribution and sustainability

Kanchan Nath Mar 6, 2025

Sabre Corporation shared insights from a live audience poll conducted during an mainstage session at ITB Berlin.

Features

Top 10 travel tech trends for 2020

Alastair Newport Jan 9, 2020

With more than a week of 2020 already behind now is the perfect time to peel back the veil of perception and peer into future -- of what is the most sci-fi sounding date you will ever…

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

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…

Startups

Startup that lets multiple travel groups meet halfway hailed in 2018 Business Travel Show

Simon Willmore Feb 26, 2018

Group trip organisers and business travellers in multinational organisations can now breathe easier thanks to a new platform where they can plan multi-origin group travel for face-to-face…