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Technology

China’s VariFlight poised for global expansion, partners with Amadeus

Megha Paul Jul 25, 2019

Travellers in China are used to frequent flight delays, leaving holidaymakers with disrupted itineraries and business travellers missing appointments with customers. Putting an end to…

eRevMax makes inroads in Bahrain with Hani Group

Megha Paul Jul 25, 2019

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

Travel tech this week: Travellers favour alternative payments and more

Kristin Mariano Jul 25, 2019

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

Skyroam launches first global smartspot for travellers

Megha Paul Jul 24, 2019

Skyroam, a global WiFi company that helps travellers stay connected around the world, has announced the launch of the Skyroam Solis X WiFi Smartspot. The device’s unique combination…

Digital transformation: Musafir.com to cross 100,000 transactions by year-end

Megha Paul Jul 24, 2019

Online travel agency (OTA) Musafir.com has announced that it is on track to achieve a 30% year-on-year growth in their corporate business by the end of 2019 and cross 100,000…

Amadeus opens up “innovative, exciting cross-channel opportunities for Cathay”

Alastair Newport Jul 24, 2019

Cathay Pacific has announced it will be implementing Amadeus Altéa NDC, as part of its efforts to ramp up its digital transformation and to help the airline to distribute and service new…

Traxo and easyJet make it easier to track business travel bookings

Megha Paul Jul 24, 2019

Dallas-based travel data aggregator and itinerary intelligence firm Traxo, has announced a new partnership with Europe’s airline easyJet. With employees often booking flights directly on…

Radisson enters future of digital hospitality, launches new multi-brand platform

Megha Paul Jul 23, 2019

Radisson Hotel Group has launched its new multi-brand and mobile-first global website, RadissonHotels.com, which also serves as the unique platform for Radisson Rewards members.…

Airbnb makes it easier to look for work-friendly lodgings

Kristin Mariano Jul 23, 2019

Airbnb has added a new feature to make it easier for business travellers to search for work-friendly lodgings that will fit their needs.

Dubai top MICE destination in MEA region

Megha Paul Jul 23, 2019

Solidifying its position as one of the world’s leading meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) destinations, Dubai has retained its first position in Top 10 meeting…

India most popular long-haul destination in Asia for UK travellers this summer

Megha Paul Jul 23, 2019

India has emerged as the top travel destination in Asia this summer for travellers from the UK, according to an analysis conducted by Travelport. Globally, the US was the top destination…

Retrace your family roots with curated DNA-based travel

Megha Paul Jul 22, 2019

Luxury tour operator TCS World Travel has announced a new partnership with Heritage Consulting, a genealogy research firm. This partnership will allow TCS to create bespoke legacy…

Fret no more over airport transfers: Eurowings ties up with TaxiTender

Megha Paul Jul 22, 2019

Airport transfers are becoming easier by the day as German low-cost airline and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, Eurowings has tied up with TaxiTender, a global taxi…

Caesars Entertainment, Margaritaville and The Travel Corporation join forces for personalisation webinar

Megha Paul Jul 22, 2019

The most senior executives from travel’s most unique hotel, resort, tour operator and casino brands will kick off a webinar on the most innovative revenue, marketing and customer…

Marriott’s Airbnb-like service gets a rebrand

Kristin Mariano Jul 22, 2019

Hospitality giant Marriott International is jumping the bandwagon as it launches its own homesharing platform similar to Airbnb and HomeAway – Homes & Villas by Marriott International.

Roiback’s new booking engine designed with accessibility in mind

Alastair Newport Jul 19, 2019

Roiback has announced the development of what it believes is the first fully accessible booking engine in Europe. Created in conjunction with Ilunion Technology and Accessibility the system…

Special Reports

CWT: “The more you travel, the more you use your smartphone”

Alastair Newport Jul 19, 2019

The most active business travellers are most likely to book flights on their smartphone, according to research conducted by B2B4E travel management platform CWT. Travellers who make more…

Ebix buys Yatra for USD 337.8 million, becomes India’s largest travel company

Megha Paul Jul 19, 2019

The US-based supplier of on-demand software and e-commerce services to the insurance, healthcare, financial and e-learning industries, Ebix has acquired Yatra Online, for an enterprise…

Agoda woos budget busters with hotel “hacker-rates”

Alastair Newport Jul 18, 2019

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

Go-Jek adds Visa as one of its investors

Kristin Mariano Jul 18, 2019

Indonesian start-up superstar Go-Jek has announced that global payment technology provider Visa is the latest investor to back its ongoing Series F funding round.

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

Kristin Mariano Jul 18, 2019

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

New portal to help Jet staff find jobs in other airlines

Megha Paul Jul 18, 2019

The government may not have extended support to now-defunct Jet Airways but it has promised to facilitate employment to job-less airline staff. The civil aviation ministry is in touch…

MakeMyTrip targets larger share of corporate travel

Megha Paul Jul 17, 2019

Online travel agency MakeMyTrip (MMT) is ramping up its offerings in the corporate travel segment through acquisitions. As a part of this strategy, the company recently picked up a…

Relais & Châteaux to unveil new lifestyle app

Megha Paul Jul 16, 2019

Luxury hospitality association Relais & Châteaux has announced a new look app which will launch this September. Designed to help elevate every customer journey, the new app will…

Mafengwo targets Gen Z Chinese travellers, unveils road trip offerings

Megha Paul Jul 16, 2019

Chinese travel website Mafengwo has unveiled a new category of road trips and 12 classic itineraries for destinations in China and abroad. The company also announced its plan to provide…

Dubai Airports moves towards solar-powered future

Megha Paul Jul 16, 2019

Dubai Airports and Etihad Energy Services Company have announced the successful installation of a solar energy system comprising 15,000 photovoltaic panels at Dubai International’s…

Jayride unlocks global growth potential

Megha Paul Jul 16, 2019

Global online marketplace for airport transfers, Jayride Group has announced that it has completed the foundation phase of its global transport strategy by securing a presence at over…

Holiday ideas come from TV shows, not Instagram

Megha Paul Jul 16, 2019

While choosing where to go on a holiday, British travellers still are influenced by TV and not social media channels like Instagram. Social media influencers and bloggers on sites like…

TripAdvisor: How reviews impact bookings

Alastair Newport Jul 16, 2019

TripAdvisor has unveiled the results of new research looking into how significantly reviews influence booking decisions. The global study, conducted in partnership with Ipsos MORI, polled…

Hôtel des Arts Saigon GM: “People now want to have virtual companions”

Tian Tolentino Jul 16, 2019

We’ve gained insights from GM Carl Gagnon about Hôtel des Arts Saigon's new mobile app and the future of hospitality with AR.

MakeMyTrip partners ASI for online bookings for 116 historical sites

Megha Paul Jul 16, 2019

In a push to promote India as a heritage tourism destination, MakeMyTrip has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for convenient and hassle-free…

Grab launches Order at Table at airports to enhance the traveller experience

Kristin Mariano Jul 16, 2019

Grab has announced the launch of its Order at Table (OAT) product that enhances travellers’ dine-in experiences at full-service airport restaurants within the US and UK through a seamless…

10 long-haul destinations for UK travellers this summer

Kristin Mariano Jul 16, 2019

Summer is here and Brits are planning for long haul travel.

TipTapGo! Escape to Europe with Klook

Megha Paul Jul 16, 2019

Europe is becoming a top destination for Indian travellers during monsoons. There has been a surge in bookings for Europe with an increase of more than 180% from 2018 to 2019. This…

ME executives cite cybersecurity as most significant business headache

Alastair Newport Jul 15, 2019

According to the Pulse Report of senior executives in the Middle East, 66% believe digital adoption and cybersecurity are their greatest business challenges. Commissioned by Headspring,…

Opening doors to affordable hospitality: RedDoorz to achieve 1 million occupied room nights by year-end

Megha Paul Jul 15, 2019

Southeast Asia’s hotel management and booking platform, RedDoorz announced it will reach 1 million occupied room nights by December 2019, a result of the business doubling in size every…

BCD Travel unveils new version of TripSource app

Megha Paul Jul 15, 2019

Global travel management company BCD Travel will launch a new version of its mobile app, TripSource, later this month. Built from the ground up, the entirely new TripSource app leverages…

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

Alastair Newport Jul 12, 2019

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

Women travelling solo are truly “wanderful”

Kristin Mariano Jul 12, 2019

More women are heading out of their comfort zone and seek high-octane adventures that provide an opportunity to develop new skills and passions.

Expedition Cruising

World’s first hybrid-powered cruise ship to be named in Antarctica

Tian Tolentino Jul 12, 2019

Hurtigruten has announced the first-ever ship naming ceremony in Antarctica for the hybrid-powered expedition cruise ship MS Roald Amundsen.

Cebu Pacific renews with Navitaire through 2028

Megha Paul Jul 12, 2019

Cebu Pacific has renewed its agreement with Navitaire, an Amadeus company. Under the terms of the contract, the airline will use Navitaire’s advanced reservations, ancillary and revenue…

OTAs & Tour Operators

HotelREZ: “PRIDE gives all businesses the opportunity to focus on diversity and inclusivity”

Alastair Newport Jul 11, 2019

World Rainbow Hotels (WRH), the world’s first and only GDS accredited LGBTQ consortia, which represents a collection of over 1,200 international LGBTQ friendly hotels and resorts, has…

China summer bookings jump manifold in Airbnb Plus

Megha Paul Jul 11, 2019

Airbnb Plus, an up-market tier of homestay rentals platform Airbnb, has had a more than six-fold increase in summer bookings for China amid surging demand. Destinations close to…

Airlines and Aviation

Simple, Agile and Open: Amadeus’ SVP of Airlines R&D opens up about new philosophy

Alastair Newport Jul 11, 2019

A couple of weeks ago I had the good fortune to be invited to spend a few days in Istanbul, a sultry and seductive city if ever there was one, at the pleasure of airline ‘techsperts’…

Travel tech this week: Cvent, Expedia upgrades and Amadeus’ new partnership

Kristin Mariano Jul 11, 2019

This week in the travel sector, we saw upgrades from Cvent and Expedia’s functionalities. Moreover, Amadeus strengthens partnership with business travel firm focused on humanitarian, faith…

VFS Global processes 200 millionth application

Megha Paul Jul 10, 2019

VFS Global, a visa outsourcing and technology partner for several governments and diplomatic missions worldwide, has achieved another milestone by processing a record 200 million visa…

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.

“New payment options and improving cash flow”: Procon Solution joins forces with Conferma Pay

Alastair Newport Jul 9, 2019

Travel tech firm Procon Solution has announced its new partnership with virtual payment specialists Conferma Pay this week. The partnership will provide Procon -- who provide a range of…

Compare airline check-in options this summer

Megha Paul Jul 9, 2019

For savvy travellers keen to speed through check-in ahead of their trip this summer, the airport parking operator and retailer Airport Parking & Hotels has compared the various…

Chinese tourism in UK up by 133% – TripAdvisor

Kristin Mariano Jul 9, 2019

A new travel trends study by TripAdvisor reveals that travellers from China are on the rise, and show no sign of slowing when it comes to visiting the UK.

Holiday spending money stretches even further in Spain

Megha Paul Jul 9, 2019

Cheap flights and accommodation don’t necessarily mean a cheap holiday; varying prices of everyday local expenses are playing a far bigger role in bagging a bargain holiday in the sun.…

FedEx introduces expedited passport service

Megha Paul Jul 9, 2019

Federal Express (FedEx) has begun offering expedited US passport services at its 2,000 retail locations nationwide in partnership with online service RushMyPassport. The service…

“The risks to BA go beyond the potential fines” British Airways to be punished for GDPR data breach

Alastair Newport Jul 8, 2019

Following an extensive investigation the ICO has issued a notice of its intention to fine British Airways GBP 183.39M (approx USD 229.7m) for infringements of the General Data Protection…

On the technology route, ANA introduces remote tug

Megha Paul Jul 8, 2019

Japan’s largest airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA) has announced that it will begin using the Mototok Spacer 8600 high-tech remote-controlled tug to pushback actual operating aircraft, at…

“Travel technology has moved on and so have Muslim travellers”

Alastair Newport Jul 8, 2019

The world received its first dynamic booking engine, aimed squarely at the Muslim travel market, with the launch of Rihaala.com today. Discussing the unveiling of the new online travel…

Top six destinations for skill-focused travel

Megha Paul Jul 8, 2019

There are many different reasons people choose to travel – whether that’s for a relaxing break, to visit a bucket-list destination, seeing friends and family further afield, or to learn…

GUARDHOG launches deposit cover for alternative accommodation

Megha Paul Jul 5, 2019

GUARDHOG, the pay-per-stay home-sharing insurance specialist has come to the rescue of the burgeoning peer-to-peer accommodation sector by launching deposit cover in time for the peak…

OYO ventures in Vietnam; allots USD 50 million to reach 20K rooms in 2020

Kristin Mariano Jul 5, 2019

Hospitality rockstar Oyo Hotels and Homes has launched its services in the newest darling of Southeast Asia – Vietnam. The start-up also announced that it will invest USD 50 million for its…

UmrahHolidays forays in China with two key partnerships

Megha Paul Jul 5, 2019

WebBeds, the world’s second largest business-to-business (B2B) accommodation provider, has announced the signing of two landmark partnership agreements that are expected to significantly…

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…

Mobile & Social

Travelling with data: Expert analysis on ‘mobile hotspots’ in the US

Tian Tolentino Jul 4, 2019

To understand the mobile connectivity experience travellers can expect Opensignal has released new analysis on 30 of the most popular US summer travel destinations.

Corporate & Business

Top tech trends changing the business travel industry

Tian Tolentino Jul 4, 2019

Amadeus has released new insights into the state of the business travel industry in the Asia Pacific (APAC) and key technology trends that are shaping it.

Ruby Hotels opens hotel in Dusseldorf, Germany

Megha Paul Jul 3, 2019

Ruby Hotels has announced that its seventh hotel, Ruby Leni, is now officially open in Dusseldorf’s central district. With a total of 170 rooms, Ruby Leni is the second Dusseldorf…

Hotelbeds to add 14,000 travel agent customers

Megha Paul Jul 3, 2019

Bedbank company, Hotelbeds has announced an ambitious plan to increase the number of travel agent customers affiliated to the bedbank booking platform as part of its commitment to offer…

STB boosts Singapore-based content creators

Megha Paul Jul 2, 2019

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announced the five winning projects for Fast Forward, its fund for Singapore-based content creators. Fast Forward was launched in October last year…

New operations director at STAAH Southeast Asia: Tim Waterhouse

Megha Paul Jul 2, 2019

Armed with 39 years of international hospitality and business experience, the industry veteran Tim Waterhouse joins New Zealand-based technology company STAAH to build and develop on the…

Shangri-La becomes Ctrip’s first globally certified hotel group

Megha Paul Jun 30, 2019

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Group announced it has earned the global certification of Ctrip's new China Preferred Hotel Program (CPH). The iconic Asian luxury hotel group is the first…

Spiderman-inspired Euro trip by Klook

Kristin Mariano Jun 28, 2019

Inspired by the latest Spiderman movie, Klook highlights the best of London, Venice and Prague retracing the footsteps of Peter Parker.

China among top long-haul destinations for UK travellers

Megha Paul Jun 28, 2019

China is among the most popular long-haul destinations for travellers in the UK this summer. This was revealed by a recent study by Travelport. As of 14 June 2019, close to 30,000…

Etihad Airways expands partnership with Amadeus to foster long-term growth

Megha Paul Jun 27, 2019

Amadeus and Etihad Airways announced an extension of their longstanding partnership for distribution services across channels. The partnership falls under the renewed 10-year agreement…

Etiqa unveils online travel insurance for transit travellers in Singapore

Megha Paul Jun 27, 2019

Transit travellers in Singapore can now enjoy travel protection with the enhanced Tiq Travel Insurance by Etiqa. The digital-first insurer provides online travel insurance for foreigners…

40% of holidaymakers priced out of their ‘dream holiday’

Megha Paul Jun 27, 2019

A survey of over 200 UK holidaymakers by Holiday Hypermarket has revealed that over 40% of those surveyed had yet to visit their dream holiday destination. Of those still waiting to…

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.

Airbnb Luxe redefines luxury travel

Kristin Mariano Jun 27, 2019

Airbnb has launched Airbnb Luxe — a new luxury experience that makes personal and bespoke travel more accessible to everyone.

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…

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

Altexsoft Team Jun 26, 2019

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

“Those who believe that their standard home or landlord policies will cover them are sadly mistaken”

Alastair Newport Jun 26, 2019

Home share hosts can look forward to enhanced protection on their short term rentals with the announcement that Airbnb insurance broker, Pikl Insurance, has hooked up with online broker…

Europe is this summer’s hot student destination

Megha Paul Jun 26, 2019

With summer break just beginning, many students are looking for deals on summer travel. Students are finding that this summer’s flight deals to Europe are noticeably lower than average -…

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.

New study reveals strong link between amount we travel and our tolerance of other cultures

Megha Paul Jun 26, 2019

A new report from UK-based travel search engine momondo, based on a survey of over 7,300 adults from across the globe including the UK, has found a very strong link between the amount we…

Friendly, beautiful and historic: Wego hooks up with TAT

Alastair Newport Jun 25, 2019

Wego, a popular online travel agent (OTA) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has announced its new partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), to increase travel…

Ex-Google employees want AI to help travellers find the perfect vacation rental

Kristin Mariano Jun 25, 2019

VacationRenter is a metasearch for all vacation rentals. The company brings all the rental options from the leading travel sites together in one place and showcase only the best results.

OYO Townhouse hits 100; becomes India’s largest mid-market boutique hotel brand

Megha Paul Jun 25, 2019

OYO Hotels & Homes, India’s largest hotel chain in the budget and mid-market segment, and the world’s sixth largest and fastest-growing chain of fully operated, franchised and leased…

Hotelbeds unveils Maxiroom for Chinese market

Megha Paul Jun 25, 2019

Spain-based global bedbank Hotelbeds has launched the Chinese version of hotel extranet MaxiRoom. It is designed to control and maximise hotel occupancy rates through Hotelbeds’…

1000 agents cruise into knowledge with CMV’s online training

Alastair Newport Jun 24, 2019

Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV) has announced it is offering continued online training following their success in attracting more than 1000 agents and trade partners to their course.…

EaseMyTrip unveils scheme for Kerala-bound travellers

Megha Paul Jun 24, 2019

In a bid to boost the growing tourism industry in the state. EaseMyTrip has introduced customised travel benefits for Kerala-bound air travels. The company is offering a discount of flat…

Discover the World drives Dohop expansion

Megha Paul Jun 24, 2019

Dohop, the innovative Icelandic flight booking and connection platform, has appointed Discover the World as its global sales partner as it targets ambitious growth. The agreement will…

Indian aviation industry starts a slow take-off in May

Megha Paul Jun 24, 2019

After reporting a year-on-year de-growth of 4.4% in domestic passenger traffic in April 2019, the first after six years of monthly year-on-year growth, the domestic passenger traffic…

Indians take more international trips than last year

Megha Paul Jun 24, 2019

MakeMyTrip has released its Summer and Monsoon Travel Trends Report indicating a notable increase in the number of Indians travelling to international destinations during the summer and…

Airbnb Adventures off to a rough start

Kristin Mariano Jun 24, 2019

Customers who tried to book have taken to Instagram and Twitter to complain about being charged for vacations they were ultimately denied.

Asia’s youngest blockchain entrepreneur steals show at Techsauce Global Summit

Megha Paul Jun 24, 2019

One of the ASEAN region’s youngest entrepreneurs, KIDLetCoin CEO and co-founder, 10-year-old Kaede Takenaka, spoke about blockchain and cryptocurrencies at this year’s Techsauce Global…

Amadeus unlocks new personalisation capabilities with Salesforce

Alastair Newport Jun 24, 2019

Kicking off the second day of its Airline Executive Summit in Istanbul, Amadeus unveiled its new service optimiser app, built in partnership with cloud-based customer relationship management…

Move over summer holidays, monsoon travel getting popular in India

Megha Paul Jun 21, 2019

ixigo has conducted a study that revealed travel trends of Indians and how they have changed in the past three years. The report highlighted the monsoon, winter and summer booking and…

Jayride continues global expansion, now live in China

Megha Paul Jun 21, 2019

Jayride’s global rollout is now in its final stages with the company announcing it has launched transport services at more than 130 airports throughout China, Russia and six other…

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

Megha Paul Jun 21, 2019

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

Travel tech this week: Ride-hailing companies on the roll

Kristin Mariano Jun 20, 2019

This week, we turn our attention to ride-hailing companies that are taking over the world. From GoJek launching their social media accounts to Grab’s cancellation fines and to Uber’s JUMP…

Battling Yourself: OYO Rooms CEO Ritesh Agarwal on how to succeed in China

Kristin Mariano Jun 19, 2019

Within a span of 18 months, OYO is now the second largest hotel chain in China boasting 450,000 rooms in 10,000 OYO hotels present in 320 cities. The fast-growing hospitality start-up is…

Travel Daily Jobs launches location-based search

Kristin Mariano Jun 19, 2019

Travel Daily Jobs, an online career platform for travel and hospitality professionals, recently launched a location-based search that shows job listings nearby the user.

Angie Hospitality to unveil new line of virtual guest-room assistants

Tian Tolentino Jun 18, 2019

Angie Hospitality, the developer of 'Angie' the 24-hour guest room virtual assistant, is unveiling its new line of product solutions at HITEC 2019 from18-20 June in Minneapolis.

How simple ‘tracking technology’ solves hotel problems at scale

Tian Tolentino Jun 18, 2019

Guest engagement solutions provider SONIFI Solutions has partnered with TraknProtect to offer the company's real-time location technology to hotels.

For adrenaline junkies only: Airbnb targets thrillseekers

Kristin Mariano Jun 18, 2019

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

Australian Sojourn: StudentUniverse goes Down Under

Megha Paul Jun 17, 2019

The US-based student and youth travel booking website StudentUniverse has announced the brand’s continued global growth as it now launches in the Australian market. In a bid to expand…

Adapting to new technology still a struggle

Megha Paul Jun 17, 2019

Bedbank player Hotelbeds has released details of the audience surveys conducted at its recent MarketHub Americas and Europe events held this May in Cancun and Istanbul respectively.…

Uber Eats tests food delivery via drones

Kristin Mariano Jun 17, 2019

Uber Eats has announced that it will begin testing the first-ever commercial application of drone food delivery in high-density urban areas.

Hotelrez continues to outperform market, shows 33% growth

Megha Paul Jun 17, 2019

Hotel representation, sales, marketing and distribution providers, HotelREZ, celebrated its 15th anniversary by announcing a 33% annual growth, some 23% ahead of the global distribution…

Channel your inner Phileas Fogg with Airbnb Adventures

Megha Paul Jun 17, 2019

You can now enjoy a six-day Galapagos Slow Food Safari, experience the wonders of Oman or camp on a cliff in Colorado. All you have to do is just show up. An expansion of Airbnb…

It doesn’t burn, it explodes: The company supplying eco-fuel to the Tokyo Olympics

Alastair Newport Jun 14, 2019

Back in March, news that an Austrian eco-fuel provider had opened up a new power plant in the town of Nong Bua in Thailand landed on my desk. The story outlined how the company, Gussing…

How the airport check-in rulebook has been ripped to shreds

Alastair Newport Jun 14, 2019

As we progress further into the 21st century, and the world we live in incorporates more technology to make our day-today experiences as convenient as possible, there is one glaring area…

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…

Go-Jek acquires another Indian start-up

Kristin Mariano Jun 13, 2019

Ride-hailing giant Go-Jek turned to another Indian start-up to further its growth. The company announced that it has acquired AirCTO, a recruitment platform based in Gurgaon.

Travel tech this week: New travel tech launches

Kristin Mariano Jun 13, 2019

This week, three new players enter the travel tech field and will battle it out in the space with the old timers.

EaseMyTrip spreads wings, enters UK

Megha Paul Jun 12, 2019

Online travel aggregator EaseMyTrip.com has now expanded its footprint by entering the UK market. In its pursuit of adding itineraries and entering into new markets, the company has now…

Grab PH launches credit card with Citi

Kristin Mariano Jun 12, 2019

Ride-hailing giant Grab has launched a co-branded credit card in the Philippines in partnership with Citi.

Bolt, formerly-known Taxify, lures drivers with more take-home pay

Kristin Mariano Jun 12, 2019

Bolt, formerly-known transportation platform Taxify, has launched in London and has offered half-price promotion, promising lower fares for passengers as well as more take-home pay for…

Travelsky: “Chinese tourists say ‘ni hao’ to modern flight shopping”

Alastair Newport Jun 12, 2019

TravelSky and ATPCO have announced that China’s largest GDS signed a five-year deal for both ATPCO’s pricing and shopping content. TravelSky is currently testing all three rich content…

BookMeBus wants an ecosystem around transportations

Kristin Mariano Jun 10, 2019

Buses are the preferred form of inter-provincial transportation in Cambodia. The same can be said for most countries in Southeast Asia. Backed with his decade of experience in the ICT…

After scUber, Uber Air is taking New York skies

Kristin Mariano Jun 7, 2019

Flying ride-hailing cars may no longer be a thing in the future as Uber plans to debut its Uber Air service sooner than later.

Airbnb unveils ‘That’s Why We Airbnb’ campaign

Megha Paul Jun 7, 2019

Community-driven hospitality company, Airbnb has announced the launch of its latest marketing campaign ‘That’s Why We Airbnb’. Narrating the stories of real travellers, the campaign…

Single online booking tool is the need of the hour

Megha Paul Jun 7, 2019

Companies with high-frequency travellers see a growing need for a single online booking tool (OBT) platform. Customisation, education and surpassing a consumer-grade experience are…

Airlines and Aviation

New security upgrade could reduce single use plastic at Heathrow

Alastair Newport Jun 6, 2019

Heathrow Airport has ramped up its security by sinking USD 63 million (GBP 50 million) into enhancing its current set-up with the latest in cutting-edge computed tomography (CT) tech, which…

Travel tech this week: Bird to buy a competitor and Grab PH deactivates 8,000 drivers

Kristin Mariano Jun 6, 2019

This week in the travel tech sector, we see a larger company planning to eat up a smaller competitor as well as Grab Philippines clamping down on driver.

Explora.ph: “The Philippines is more than its greatest hits”

Tian Tolentino Jun 6, 2019

Tech startup Explora.ph has launched its mobile app, bringing together more than 1,500 curated attractions in the Philippines.

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

Alastair Newport Jun 6, 2019

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

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…

GetYourGuide CEO: “Asia and the United States are our next big targets”

Kristin Mariano Jun 4, 2019

GetYourGuide has raised USD 484 million in its Series E funding to conquer the USD 183 billion experiences industry. As the global market for tours and activities grows in an unprecedented…

Is Google killing Google Trips app?

Kristin Mariano Jun 4, 2019

Google Travel’s revamp last month may have made the Google Trips app redundant. Google-centric websites found evidence that the latest version update on Android includes messaging that…

Staycation on rise this Eid in UAE, says Airbnb

Megha Paul Jun 4, 2019

An ever-increasing number of UAE residents are enjoying an extended Eid break and taking more staycations.

BHMA pairs with Travel Prologue to improve partnership with offline partners

Kristin Mariano Jun 3, 2019

BHMA Hotels and Resorts has signed an agreement with Travel Prologue, a B2B white label travel portal solution provider, to deliver live room rates and inventory to traditionally offline…

Middle East hotels increasingly invest in technology

Megha Paul May 31, 2019

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

Travel tech this week: Boat and breakfast, Zip Up Hotels and more

Kristin Mariano May 30, 2019

There is never a dull moment in the travel tech sector, new things come up like an app to rent a boat and zip up hotels for cost-conscious hardy travellers. Companies also give back like…

“A vote for diversity, dignity and respect” Travelport commits to gender neutral booking code

Alastair Newport May 30, 2019

Travelport has announced that is set all to use a new booking code for non-binary gender passengers when it kicks into action on 1 June. Coming in the wake of United Airlines decision to…

The future of tourism: 7 travel trends you should know

Tian Tolentino May 30, 2019

According to the global consultancy firm Oliver Wyman, demographic changes, evolving needs and new technologies will change the landscape of tourism over the coming decades.

Klook’s top 3 babymoon destinations

Megha Paul May 29, 2019

Online travel agency Klook has unveiled some of the brilliant baby-friendly destinations around the world

Fifty global travel agencies sign up for Trip Assist app

Alastair Newport May 28, 2019

UK based tech firm and travel commerce platform Travelport, has announced it has signed up 50 new travel agencies clients to its Trip Assist mobile app. The most recent signatories include…

The custom virtual concierge: Disruptions and solutions in voice tech

Tian Tolentino May 28, 2019

In this exclusive TD interview, we speak with the founder of Virtual Concierge Service Dana Young, to talk about disruptions, solutions, and what's next for voice tech.

D-EDGE and PayPal team-up for faster payments at booking time

Tian Tolentino May 28, 2019

Hospitality digital solutions provider D-EDGE has partnered with PayPal to offer a simple way to pay at the time of booking from any device.

Human vs. Machine: Business travellers prefer tech to handle their flight bookings

Kristin Mariano May 28, 2019

CWT found out that travellers prefer to manage their travel transactions digitally, via an app or browser.

OYO, Ctrip sign strategic partnership

Kristin Mariano May 27, 2019

OYO founder and CEO Ritesh Agarwal has announced at the Skift Forum that OYO and China’s OTA juggernaut Ctrip formed a strategic partnership.

Mobile & Social

5-star Grand Millennium launches mobile app to “revolutionise” hotel stay

Tian Tolentino May 27, 2019

Grand Millennium Dubai, a 5-star property in Barsha Heights, has announced the launch of its very own app Grand Millennium Dubai for Apple and Android phones.

Airlines and Aviation

Qantas secretly selling first class seats on Airbnb

Kristin Mariano May 27, 2019

Qantas has revealed that it secretly put up first class seats for sale on Airbnb for as low as USD 20. However, these flights can only be redeemed only with Qantas points.

scUber: First rideshare submarine debuts in Australia

Kristin Mariano May 24, 2019

Queensland, Australia paired with Uber and launched scUber, the world’s first rideshare submarine experience, coming to the Great Barrier Reef.

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.

Airlines and Aviation

ANA goes bonx for new cabin crew tech

Alastair Newport May 23, 2019

ANA has announced it will be launching some new tech designed to boost communications between flight attendants. The device, called BONX Grip, uses a combo of proprietary technology with…

Airbus commits to greener travel with SAS deal

Alastair Newport May 23, 2019

European multinational Airbus has shown its commitment to greener travel today by signing an agreement with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) to sink some capital into researching the…

‘E-Butler’ service to roll out across Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts

Tian Tolentino May 23, 2019

Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts has announced its new 'Jumeirah E-Butler' service, an instant messaging application that allows guests to communicate via smartphone technology.

“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.

Travel tech this week: Airbnb, Kiwi.com and TrustYou launch new features

Kristin Mariano May 23, 2019

This week, tech companies Airbnb, Kiwi.com, TrustYou and Alternative Airlines have launched new features in their respective platforms.

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

Altexsoft Team May 23, 2019

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

Know your roots: Airbnb, 23andMe to offer heritage travel recommendations

Kristin Mariano May 22, 2019

Tech giant Airbnb is teaming up with 23andMe, the biotech firm best known for genomics reports about family history and health, to deliver heritage travel recommendations in user…

Amazon dives in to travel space with flight booking platform in India

Kristin Mariano May 22, 2019

Google is not the only juggernaut that small players should be afraid of, e-commerce giant Amazon wanted a piece of cake too and has launched its flight search and booking on its platform in…

After hotel bookings, Grab rolls out tour packages

Kristin Mariano May 21, 2019

Ride-hailing company Grab is making strides in the travel sector. After it debuted its hotel booking feature, the app has launched an itinerary-based transport service.

Uber adds feature that tells driver to shut up

Kristin Mariano May 20, 2019

Ride-hailing giant Uber has added an option in its premium ride service Uber Black that tells the driver to shut up and drive during the trip.

Start-up Fairbnb is Airbnb but with a heart

Kristin Mariano May 20, 2019

Fairbnb is a new start-up in the quad that allows you to rent your home to guests and will collect 15% commission on bookings. Where that commission will go sets the two start-ups apart. In…

TravelPerk announces integration of Trainline

Kristin Mariano May 20, 2019

Europe’s fastest growing online travel management platform TravelPerk has announced the integration of Trainline.

Travix signs new GDS agreement with “trusted technology partner”

Alastair Newport May 16, 2019

Amadeus and Dutch based OTA Travix, compounded their existing relationship today with the announcement that the companies have enhanced the long-standing partnership by signing an agreement…

Travel tech this week: Starting a small revolution and more

Kristin Mariano May 16, 2019

This week, road transportation takes centre stage with Uber sharing speed data and Amadeus including Heycars in its system. A new app is launched that combines tech’s best products – social…

The importance of technology comfort

Simon Willmore May 16, 2019

We speak to Othmane Amrani, general manager of Hotel G Singapore

Google launches one-stop-shop Trips

Kristin Mariano May 16, 2019

Once again, Google stealthily launched the travel planning site that combines flights, hotels, tour packages and other relevant information in one place. Trips is the desktop version of the…

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…

Airbnb-like start-up for business travellers Mint House raises USD 15 million

Kristin Mariano May 14, 2019

Start-up Mint House, Airbnb-style for business travellers, raised USD 15 million in Series A funding led by Revolution Ventures.

OTAs & Tour Operators

Airbnb boosts income and jobs in Thai regional communities

Alastair Newport May 13, 2019

New data released today by Airbnb, highlights how the home share community is helping grow tourism in off-the-beaten-track destinations across Thailand and the Asia Pacific, and helping…

Booking.com: “The power to make a difference every single day”

Alastair Newport May 13, 2019

Booking.com has announced the sustainable tourism startups receiving scaling grants as part of its 2019 Booking Booster accelerator program today. Now in its third year, the three-week…

OTAs & Tour Operators

Agoda’s new chief marketing officer opens up the OTA’s subtle approach to marketing

Alastair Newport May 10, 2019

Following his recent promotion from Agoda’s vice president of marketing to becoming the OTA’s chief marketing officer, I spoke to Ittai Chorev about his change in role, Agoda’s unique take…

Travel tech this week: Mother’s Day with EaseMyTrip, Uber empowers Saudi women and more

Kristin Mariano May 9, 2019

This week on the travel tech sector, Avis recently launched a new campaign and Uber’s recent partnership aims to empower Saudi women. Here are the travel tech stories for this week.

Go-Jek, Grab slapped with new regulation in Indonesia

Kristin Mariano May 9, 2019

Ride-hailing company Go-Jek has seen a slight decline in passengers as the Indonesian government enforced a new tariff increase for app-based motorcycle taxis.

Emaar Hospitality launches fully-integrated mobile app

Tian Tolentino May 9, 2019

Dubai's homegrown Emaar Hospitality Group has launched a fully-integrated mobile app that covers all of its hotel, hospitality and leisure experiences.

Supercruises launches first ‘online-only’ cruise booking platform

Tian Tolentino May 9, 2019

Researching and booking cruises online just became easier with Supercruises, the UK's first 'online-only' booking engine.

Fraud abroad: The five worst countries for Brits on holiday

Alastair Newport May 8, 2019

The two most popular holiday destinations for Brits are in the list of top five worst countries for card fraud. Research by travel association ABTA recently revealed that GBP 7 million…

5 baby-friendly destinations

Kristin Mariano May 8, 2019

It is super cost-friendly to travel with a baby, with flight tickets for babies costing only 10% of the adult fare. Contrary to popular belief, travelling with babies is not a painstaking…

Neuron scoots in Bangkok

Kristin Mariano May 8, 2019

I first saw the orange scooters parked right outside Park Regis Singapore when I stayed there. Now, it will be seen cruising the streets of Bangkok.

Lost and found: WishTrip is the app that every DIY traveller needs

Kristin Mariano May 7, 2019

WishTrip helps destinations shape the tourist experience and helps them become SMART tourist destinations.

New Hertz app offers faster and more personalised car rental experience

Kristin Mariano May 3, 2019

In its continued effort to bring best customer service, Hertz refreshed its app and promised to bring a faster and more personalised rental experience with easy access to reservations,…

Traveknowledgy does what GDSs cannot

Kristin Mariano May 3, 2019

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

What millennials think about when choosing online experiences

Alastair Newport May 2, 2019

Multinational tech giant Adobe, best known to the man in the street for Photoshop and the ubiquitous Portable Document Format aka the PDF, has discovered the key factors which influence…

Travel tech this week: DXB Entertainments new B2B platform and more

Kristin Mariano May 2, 2019

This week, travel booking sites eSky and DXB Entertainments moved forward with their businesses. Meanwhile, UDrive and Rentals United received millions of funding.

Go-Jek launches Go-Travel to counter Grab

Kristin Mariano May 2, 2019

Marking another milestone in Go-Jek and Grab’s intense competition, the two dove into the travel space by launching their respective hotel booking sites through their apps.

Airlines and Aviation

US airlines experience brief ticketing outage

Kristin Mariano Apr 30, 2019

At least three major US airlines were hit with systemwide ticketing outages on Monday as technology provider shut down ticketing and check-in online and at airport kiosks.

The future of hospitality: Room types, tech and achieving cult status

Tian Tolentino Apr 30, 2019

Amadeus and IHG have collaborated to explore changes we can expect as guest insight, tech optimisation and the ability to hyper-personalise take effect.

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.

GetYourGuide bags EUR 500 million led by Softbank

Kristin Mariano Apr 29, 2019

Travel activity platform GetYourGuide has raised EUR 500 million from investors led by Japanese conglomerate Softbank.

“The airport of the future”: British Airways uses biometric tech to board flights

Tian Tolentino Apr 29, 2019

The future of airport travel is happening now with more than 250,000 British Airways passengers using biometric tech on international flights from the US.

Sony debuts ride-hailing in Tokyo

Kristin Mariano Apr 29, 2019

Electronics giant Sony recently launched its own ride-hailing platform, S.Ride, in Tokyo rivalling JapanTaxi and LINE after the company committed to bring an Uber-like experience to Japan’s…

Mobile & Social

Boosting the guest experience through the power of mobile

Tian Tolentino Apr 26, 2019

According to new research from Oracle Hospitality, only 69% were confident in their organisation's ability to adapt and deliver mobile experiences.

Travel tech this week: Tinder for boat owners and more

Kristin Mariano Apr 25, 2019

This week in the world of travel tech, we saw airlines partner with tech companies to improve their service and revenue. Moreover, another app is out in the market that connects boat owners…

Getting a 360-degree view of the customer with ADARA

Kristin Mariano Apr 24, 2019

Understanding the customer is the basic know-how for every company but we don’t have crystal balls to predict the minds of the clients. However, there is a company that can provide…

Grab enters travel space with hotel booking feature

Kristin Mariano Apr 24, 2019

Ride-hailing company Grab has announced its new hotel booking feature along with other three in-app services.

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…

LCC distribution channels: Direct, NDC, GDSs and consolidators

Altexsoft Team Apr 23, 2019

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

Amadeus: Understanding the untapped potential of ‘Destination X’

Tian Tolentino Apr 23, 2019

Amadeus has worked with several industry leaders to highlight eight key trends which are pivotal in the post-booking ancillary game.

Go-Jek quietly rolls out e-commerce feature Go-Mall

Kristin Mariano Apr 23, 2019

Indonesian unicorn Go-Jek quietly introduced Go-Mall, a new feature that allows users to browse and shop for various items from electronics to groceries through the app.

Google in travel – slowly but surely

Kristin Mariano Apr 19, 2019

There is no denying the relevance of Google in our travel preparations that is why the tech giant is slowly encroaching in the travel space by launching products bit by bit.

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

Kristin Mariano Apr 18, 2019

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

Travel tech this week: Uber’s “Women Preferred View” and more

Kristin Mariano Apr 18, 2019

This week, we saw incredible features from the ride-hailing and car rental sector. Following Saudi Arabia’s grant license to drive to women, Uber launches women-only drivers. Meanwhile,…

OTAs & Tour Operators

Traveloka’s secret sauce for unicorn success

Kristin Mariano Apr 17, 2019

There is no denying that Traveloka is one of the most successful start-ups in Southeast Asia being one of the first unicorns in the region.

Airlines and Aviation

Amadeus provides operational engine at Abu Dhabi’s Midfield terminal

Alastair Newport Apr 16, 2019

Travel tech specialist Amadeus has revealed its new deal with Etihad Airways to transform the UAE carrier’s global load control system and boost the efficiency of the its operation…

Go-Jek and Traveloka mull over going public

Kristin Mariano Apr 16, 2019

Indonesian unicorns Go-Jek and Traveloka are reportedly thinking of holding an IPO, which could be the first for Indonesia Stock Exchange.

The best countries for road trips (in an electric vehicle)

Tian Tolentino Apr 12, 2019

According to Comparethemarket.com, the US, Germany, and the UK top the table for countries with most charging locations and stations, with eight European countries featuring in the top ten…

Hotelbeds adds 25,000 beds with Turkey’s biggest leisure hotel operator

Tian Tolentino Apr 12, 2019

Hotelbeds has announced a strategic distribution partnership with Kilit Hospitality Group, Turkey’s largest leisure hotel company.

Travel tech this week: Trip.com heads down under and more

Kristin Mariano Apr 12, 2019

This week, we saw new partnerships in travel and Trip.com launching in Australia.

Firefly goes global

Alastair Newport Apr 11, 2019

Malaysian carrier Firefly, has hitched its wagon to Sabre Corporation, with the announcement that it has signed a new content distribution agreement with the industry tech solutions…

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