Air New Zealand unleash artificial intelligence in Oz
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.
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Technology
eRevMax: ‘putting hoteliers at the centre’
Hospitality technology company, eRevMax will be attending ITB Asia, being held at Marina Bay Sands Singapore, to talk about technology and innovation in travel.
Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley revolutionizes guest convenience with mobile phone access
Luxury Australian resort The Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, has successfully implemented several of ASSA ABLOY Hospitality's innovative security technologies, including ASSA ABLOY Hospitality…
Tujia.com grows fivefold since 2016
Tujia.com founder and CEO, Luo Jun, announced via an internal message that following the separation of Tujia’s online and offline departments, the online platform has successfully completed…
Hotelogix Mobile Hotel app launches at ITB Asia 2017
Hotelogix is set to launch its revolutionary mobile app, Hotelogix Mobile Hotel, at ITB Asia, 2017.
Tour East Thailand and Expedia to operate ‘Expedia Local Expert’
Tour East Thailand, the leading destination management company in Thailand, has signed an exclusive agreement with Expedia, the world’s largest online travel company, to operate the Expedia…
Angie Hospitality brings guest rooms online
Angie Hospitality, creator of the world's first 24-hour interactive guest room assistant, is expanding its global presence by demonstrating the product at the 2017 Hong Kong Electronics…
Sabre outlines strategy for innovation
Sean Menke, president and CEO of Sabre Corporation told senior executives gathered at an industry conference in Dallas that the continued growth of low cost carriers (LCCs) and downward…
Sabre to reboot lodgings content delivery
Sabre Corporation have disclosed news of development for Sabre Content Services for Lodging. A new technology solution which will integrate multiple sources of content, including the…
Carnival Corporation will deliver best wifi in cruise industry
Carnival Corporation Will Deliver Best Wi-Fi in Cruise Industry with Launch of MedallionNet
Delta Air Lines to introduce free in-flight WhatsApp, iMessage and Facebook
Delta Air Lines will become the first airline to offer free WhatsApp messaging, enabling its customers to stay fully connected with friends whether on the ground or in the air. Access to…
Indian traveller goes mobile
Diving deeper into the customer preference data collected using Netcore’s smart platform, HelloTravel, travel and holiday marketplace has revealed several key trends that highlight the…
127 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Video Marketing
Video marketing has become mainstream in the travel industry, from large hotel chains down to small tour operators. No matter the size of the company, there are some best-practices that…
Sofitel SO Bangkok Artist in Residence: Paul the Robot
Sofitel SO Bangkok will host Paul, a portrait artist robot and two of his avatars, each with their own drawing style to combine fine art and digital media technology, from 12th to 30th…
Why Chatbots Are Transforming the Travel Industry
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…
Time Design’s Dynamic Package engine connects with Sabre’s SynXis system
Time Design, a Dynamic Package Solution company, has announced its integration with Sabre Hospitality Solutions’ SynXis Central Reservations (CR).
The move will allow global travelers to…
Adapt to digital or perish, airline leaders warn
Attendees at this week’s Aviation Festival in London received strong advice from fellow business leaders to sharpen up not only their digital platforms but also their data management…
MyBookingRewards announces global launch of agent mastercard
MyBookingRewards is launching its new mastercard this month to turn agent booking rewards into real spending money.
The card will be offered in two currencies: the British Pound for…
How new technology can fit into today’s hotel industry
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…
Brain Waves: Air New Zealand’s robot trial, VR hotel suite in Hong Kong, and more…
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…
Alaska Airlines invests in guest experience with next-generation Gogo 2Ku satellite Wi-Fi
Alaska Airlines has selected Gogo to provide next-generation satellite-based inflight Wi-Fi service across its entire Boeing and Airbus fleet. Gogo's broadband 2Ku service provides the…
MakeMyTrip teams up with Travelport to expand content
India's largest online travel agency, MakeMyTrip, has signed a major new agreement with Travelport.
Under the terms of the deal with InterGlobe Technology Quotient (ITQ), Travelport's…
TripAdvisor reveals surging Chinese demand for Thailand travel
A new report from TripAdvisor has revealed that Chinese interest in travel to Thailand continues to soar, building on already strong visitor arrivals.
China was found to be the…
Scoot targets new markets with Worldpay
Scoot is planning to expand its reach into new markets by adopting a new global payment solution.
Worldpay will now act as the low-cost carrier's "exclusive payments provider",…
Brain Waves: the travel industry’s latest innovations
Shanghai airports offer check-in by QR code
Domestic passengers in Shanghai who only have carry-on luggage can now check in for their flight using a QR code on their mobile phone.…
Expedia launches revenue management tool for Thai hotels
Expedia is launching its hotel revenue management tool, Rev+, in Thailand.
As part of Expedia Partner Central (EPC), Rev+ is designed to help hoteliers better manage their rates and…
Philippine Airlines offers free onboard Wi-Fi
Philippine Airlines has started to offer free Wi-Fi to passengers on its international flights.
Under the new initiative, PAL will provide 30 minutes or 15MB of complimentary…
Skyscanner makes monsoon travelling easy
Global travel search engine, Skyscanner has introduced a new tool aiding the Indian travelers to plan a vacation that the weather won’t put a dampener on.
The interactive Monsoon Planner…
Travelport expands ground transport bookings
Travelport has secured a new partnership that will expand the number of ground transport services offered to travel agents.
The arrangement with Ugo Transfers, which aggregates ground…
New technology “allows Airbnb owners to compete with hotels”
A new market intelligence tool has been launched that developers claim will allow Airbnb owners to "compete on the same level as hotels".
AirDNA, which specialises in vacation rental…
Melia partners Duetto to advance digital strategy
Meliá Hotels International has decided to implement Duetto's cloud-based solutions as part of its digital strategy.
The Spanish group has adopted several solutions to boost its revenue…
Seabourn gets connected with Sabre
Seabourn is aiming to generate more travel trade bookings by forming a new partnership with Sabre.
Travel agents using the Sabre GDS will now have the ability to book the luxury…
Marriott seeks Chinese advantage with Alibaba
Marriott International has formed a new partnership with e-commerce giant, Alibaba, aimed at giving the hotel group an important boost in the fast-growing Chinese market.
The joint…
Brain Waves: travel’s latest innovations including driverless buses in Taipei
Taipei tests self-driving bus
A self-driving bus was tested on the streets of Taipei earlier this month. From 1-5 August, a battery-powered EZ10 driverless vehicle was put through its…
MIAT Mongolian Airlines takes off with Amadeus
MIAT Mongolian Airlines has formed a new technology partnership with Amadeus as it aims to expand and modernise its operations.
The national carrier will adopt the Amadeus Altéa…
Webjet acquires JacTravel in major B2B travel merger
Webjet has entered into an agreement to acquire JacTravel, which will join Sunhotels, Lots of Hotels and FIT Ruums in its B2B division, WebBeds.
The GBP200 million (US$264m)…
Brain Waves: the latest bright ideas from Hertz, Delta Air Lines and more
Delta introduces biometric boarding pass
Delta Air Lines passengers can now simply scan their fingerprints to board an aircraft at Washington DC's Reagan National Airport. The new…
FIT Ruums, China Airlines create packages for Taiwanese travellers
FIT Ruums has formed a new partnership with China Airlines to provide a series of packages to travellers in Taiwan.
Under the new agreement, Taiwan's national carrier will release special…
Expedia targets Southeast Asia with latest investment
Expedia is setting its sights on Southeast Asia's booming travel industry following the acquisition of a stake in Traveloka, the Indonesian OTA.
The US-based online travel giant has…
Road Scholar’s Popular #ageadventurously Social Media Movement Encourages Baby Boomers to Think Beyond Facebook
BOSTON, J -- Road Scholar, the not-for-profit leader in educational travel for adults, recently launched #ageadventurously, a campaign designed to celebrate growing older. Beginning in July,…
Survey reveals how much technology Brits take on holiday
A survey of 1,000 British adults, as part of the UK Gadget Usage Report 2017, revealed that the average person takes at least three items of tech on holiday - one more than they would for an…
Nine Technology Trends Shaping Tomorrow’s Travel Industry
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,…
Red Planet selects SiteMinder to drive expansion
Red Planet Hotels has formed a new partnership with SiteMinder as it embarks on a major expansion plan.
The company, which operates 24 hotels in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines…
Need a better mousetrap for events?
I first wrote about this topic about a year ago. Recently I purchased a study by Tourism Economics about the relationship of room blocks to events and I realized that I needed to revisit…
Ice Portal Launches Powerful New Content Management and Delivery Platform
Hollywood, FL – July 25, 2017 – Leading visual content curator and distributor, ICE Portal, launched its powerful new and simplified content management system (CMS) and distribution…
Japan’s national parks get connected with Wi-Fi
Visitors to Japan's national parks will soon be able to learn more about the local area by connecting to Wi-Fi.
The Japan Times reports that the country's Environment Ministry is…
Brain Waves: the latest innovations from Avis, Qantas, Incheon Airport and more
Avis uses Amazon Echo for car rental bookings
Avis has now allowing customers to book and manage their car rental reservations using their voice on Amazon Echo devices. The company has…
Priceline completes deal for Momondo
The Priceline Group has completed its acquisition of Momondo, the European travel meta-search company that offers flights, hotels and car rentals.
The agreement, which is worth…
Best and Worst Countries for WiFi: South Korea Is the Fastest in the World
Ranking at #20, the USA is not even close to boasting the fastest public WiFi in the world.Ooma —a leading Internet-based communications hub that lets users make calls overseas via WiFi—has…
Boeing Global Services Forecasts 1.2 Million Pilots and Technicians Needed by 2036
20 year demand for cabin crew exceeds 800,000OSHKOSH, Wis., -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) released its 2017 Pilot and Technician Outlook today at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and projects a demand for more…
Expedia to stop selling dubious wildlife attractions
Expedia has announced that it will stop selling certain wildlife attractions.
The online travel giant said it would take guidance from "industry-leading wildlife and animal protection…
Delta launches biometrics to board aircraft at Reagan Washington National Airport
WASHINGTON, July 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta (NYSE: DAL) customers now can use fingerprints instead of their boarding pass to board any Delta aircraft at Reagan Washington National…
Tigerair Australia launches ‘Fare Freeze’ feature
Tigerair Australia has launched a new feature that allows customers to hold their fares for up to 48 hours.
The 'Fare Freeze' option is now available via the low-cost carrier's…
Hong Kong travellers are world’s best forward planners
Travellers from Hong Kong book their trips further in advance than any other nationality, a new report has revealed.
According the study by Agoda.com, Hong Kong residents are…
New payment solution created for Indian public transport
A new solution has been created to make public transport payments in India easier, faster and safer.
Cardtek, the global payment technology company, has worked with Axis Bank to…
Nepal’s national carrier flies into online era
The national carrier of Nepal has entered a new era with the launch of online ticketing services.
China's Xinhua news agency reported Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) as saying that the…
Brain Waves: the latest innovations including Sabre’s agent chatbot
Sabre develops Facebook chatbot for agents
Sabre has created a new AI-powered Facebook chatbot that leverages Microsoft technology. Two Sabre-connected travel agencies - Dallas-based…
Channel optimization: The secrets of data-driven hoteliers
New report from Sabre and Phocuswright shows the steps hoteliers can take to create and maintain the right channel strategy to reach and convert more customersSOUTHLAKE, Texas – March 14,…
Travelport allows Asian agents to go mobile
Travelport has launched a new mobile solution for travel agents and TMCs in the Asia Pacific region.
With 50% of this year's global mobile travel sales expected to originate in Asia…
Batik Air gets connected with Sabre
Indonesia's Batik Air has signed its first-ever global distribution system (GDS) agreement with Sabre.
The deal will see Batik, which is part of the fast-expanding Lion Group,…
Sabre Creates an AI-Powered Chatbot using Microsoft’s Intelligent and Natural Languages
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…
Phocus Forward 2017: A Look at Lodging Products and Platforms
Two significant challenges are shaping hotel chains' strategic initiatives – maintaining robust direct distribution and countering competition from private accommodation.Hotels vs. OTAsThe…
TripAdvisor delivers food to hungry travellers
TripAdvisor has partnered with Deliveroo, the food delivery service, to allow its users to place orders with restaurants and have meals delivered to their accommodation.
Integrating…
Brain Waves: Air New Zealand’s passport renewal app, Kayak’s emoji searches, and more
Air New Zealand introduces smart passport service
Air New Zealand has launched a new mobile app that can tell travellers when it's time to renew their passport. The new app will enable…
Sabre TTX 2017 Packed With Cool
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…
Emirates expands free in-flight Wi-Fi
Emirates has expanded its free in-flight Wi-Fi service, doubling the amount of complimentary connectivity it provides in economy class.
Effective immediately, all economy class…
Royal Caribbean Uses VR to Introduce Ships to Singapore
Written by Mark Elliott - Travel Daily MediaSingaporean travelers and travel agents will soon be able to experience what it’s like to cruise with Royal Caribbean without stepping foot on a…
Sabre TTX 2017 Packed With Cool
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…
Travellanda sees sharp rise in Australian sales
Travellanda, the global bedbank, has reported a sharp increase in its Australian sales and plans to ramp up is operations in the country.
In the most recent fiscal year ending 31 March…
TripAdvisor showcases Thai shopping malls to Chinese travellers
TripAdvisor has launched a new initiative designed to target Chinese outbound travellers' demand for retail therapy in Thailand.
Under the new scheme, the travel review site has…
Royal Caribbean uses VR to introduce ships to Singapore
Singaporean travellers and travel agents will soon be able to experience what it's like to cruise with Royal Caribbean without stepping foot on a ship.
The cruise line has harnessed…
New tech start-up Sujester pilots with first travel agencies
London based travel technology start-up Sujester has launched its web platform with Travel Four Seasons and Mark Bratt Travel for them to use with their customers in retail stores and…
Brain Waves: easyJet asks Alexa, world’s thinnest hotel TV, and more
easyJet offers flight status checks by Amazon Alexa
easyJet has become the first European carrier to allow its passengers to check their flight status using Amazon Alexa. The low-cost…
Travellers shrug off concerns to embrace biometrics
Travellers are becoming increasingly familiar and confident using biometric airport technology, a new report has revealed.
According to the 2017 SITA Passenger IT Trends Survey by SITA,…
Flight Centre与Airbnb建立合作
日前，Airbnb已经与亚太地区最大的企业旅游合作伙伴 Flight Center达成协议，为商务旅客提供通过旅行社直接预订Airbnb房屋，公寓或房间的服务。
目前，Airbnb旗下针对商务的房源有超过3百万，旅行者们和旅行社都可以查看到预定的细节，更改预定或是直接联系房东。…
Sabre’s New FareNabber API Inspires the Smartest Air Shopping Experience
Newest shopping capability of the Sabre platform enables developers, OTAs and agents to provide travelers with the right flight, at the right time, for the right price through the power of…
Flight Centre to offer Airbnb for corporate travellers
Flight Centre Travel Group's (FCTG) corporate division in Australia and New Zealand has formed a ground-breaking partnership with Airbnb to provide accommodation for its corporate…
American Airlines Embarks on Global Cloud Transformation with IBM
ARMONK, NY - 27 Jun 2017: IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL) will use IBM Cloud as the foundation for a massive cloud transformation designed to make…
Rich Media Exchange unveils new version of B2B library
Travel companies can now access an even wider range of imagery and video content following the launch of a new B2B portal from Rich Media Exchange (RME).
The latest version of the digital…
Brain Waves: Houston’s way-finding technology, a new travel adaptor, and more
Houston to debut new way-finding technology
Passengers are now able to find their way around Houston's airports simply by checking their smartphone. A new way-finding app has been…
Expedia completes SilverRail deal
Expedia has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in SilverRail Technologies, the train ticket booking platform.
The deal, which is aimed at advancing the online travel…
THOR, Inc. Celebrates 40th Anniversary
Travel Service Provider, THOR, Inc. Commemorates 40 Years of Service in 2017 Broomfield, COTHOR, Inc. is celebrating 40 years as an international travel services company that provides travel…
TVS reaffirms commitment to Sabre
TVS Travels continues using Sabre technology to fuel expansion strategy and drive personalised travel across the Middle East.
TVS Travels, one of the fastest growing travel management…
Lufthansa eliminates airline check-ins
Passengers may not need to manually check in for their flights in future, following the development of a new tool by Lufthansa.
The European carrier's "Innovation Hub" has launched…
TripAdvisor creates “Storyboard” photo feature for hoteliers
TripAdvisor has introduced a new photo tool that aims to allow accommodation providers to combine their best images with their top reviews.
The new “Storyboard” feature replaces static…
JAL offers free Wi-Fi on domestic flights
Japan Airlines (JAL) has decided to offer complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi to passengers on its domestic routes.
The national carrier first introduced Wi-Fi as a paid service in July 2014,…
Zumata expands AI-based hotel distribution across Asia
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…
FIT Ruums ramps up operations in India
FIT Ruums, Webjet’s Asian B2B travel brand, has arrived in India and is already ramping up its operations in the country.
The company, which first launched in November 2016, recently…
Brain Waves: the latest industry innovations, including the “world’s most advanced sunlounger”
A beach club in Ibiza has introduced Simba Blue, which is billed as the "world’s most advanced sunlounger". Blue Marlin Ibiza's new lounger combines hybrid mattress technology with a…
AccorHotels partners IDeaS for revenue management
AccorHotels has formed a new partnership with IDeaS Revenue Solutions, which provides automated revenue management technology to the hotel sector.
Under the deal, AccorHotels…
Couples affected by overuse of social media while on holiday
Too much time spent checking social media whilst on holiday could result in arguments and even complete relationship breakdowns for couples this summer, a survey has revealed.
The online…
CheapOair App Lets Customers Skip International Data with Offline City Maps
Next generation travel company integrates with Ulmon’s CityMaps2Go to provide in-app access to downloadable worldwide city maps NEW YORK, June 14, 2017: CheapOair, a leading flight-focused,…
Airlines embrace Wi-Fi as passengers demand to stay connected
In-flight Wi-Fi will become a "standard" product for airlines in the coming years, enabling passengers to stay connected and providing significant opportunities for airlines to earn…
Sabre challenges developers to reinvent travel at Hackathon:TTX, the biggest travel innovation game in Las Vegas
Coders will have first access to Sabre’s newest developer toolkit and APIs to create new capabilities for frictionless travel experiences, unified e-commerce and personalized offers…
Brain Waves: Lufthansa’s airport payments, Watson offers museum tours, and more
Amadeus creates new payment tool for airport ancillaries
Amadeus has teamed up with Ingenico to launch 'Amadeus Airport Pay', a new wireless payment solution that accepts card…
Travel app Tineri acquired by Open Destinations
Open Destinations, the travel technology company, has acquired a majority stake in Tineri, a mobile itinerary app designed for tour operators.
Founded by Tim Russell in Bangkok in 2016,…
Discover Los Angeles Launches Immersive Destination App
Discover Los Angeles, the city’s official tourism marketing organization, in partnership with the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, has released the Discover L.A. app, a pocket guide…
Mobile, Millennials and Emerging Markets: The Next Wave in Global Travel
Phocuswright's senior vice president, research, Lorraine Sileo and Erica Smalley, senior sales executive, travel at PayU, track online travel momentum in this webinar. Learn how trends in…
Online Bookings Soar in Brazil Travel Market
Latin America's populations are getting tech-savvier, leading to a boost in online bookings and Internet penetration. Looking forward, four in 10 sales will be made online in the region by…
Mobile Travel Shopping and Booking Ascends in Southeast Asia
Individual travel markets within Southeast Asia showcase distinct shopping and booking trends. While computers remain the more popular device for travel shopping and booking among Southeast…
6 Quick Facts on U.S. Online Travel
The U.S. travel sector is fighting an uphill battle against geopolitical events, Brexit's effects on the stock market and the U.S. presidential election. However, American travelers' desire…
Older Travelers Driving Move to Mobile
The mobile travel population has been growing each year as more travelers own smartphones and use them to plan and book travel. Older travelers may have been late to smartphone adoption but…
Q&A With AXUS Travel App Founder, Julia Douglas
We talk with Julia Douglas, AXUS Travel App Founder, about the apps features and customer benefits, as well as the challenges ahead:
Q: Tell us about AXUS Travel App.
A: AXUS…
Hotelbeds Group completes Tourico acquisition
Hotelbeds Group has finalised its acquisition of Tourico Holidays, taking a 100% stake in the US-based travel wholesaler.
Regulatory and legal procedures were completed today (8 June…
Travelport renews Worldspan partnership in Korea
Travelport has renewed its partnership with Sharp Aviation K for the continued distribution of the Worldspan platform in South Korea.
Seoul-based Sharp Aviation K has operated Worldspan…
NH Hotel Group enhances commission management
NH Hotel Group has announced that it has rolled out CommPay, the commission payments solution from Onyx CenterSource, for the management and payment of all its commissions worldwide.
The…
Brain Waves: a car parking robot, fingerprint boarding passes, and more
Stan the robot employed for airport car parking
Travellers using airport meet and greet or valet services could soon have their cars parked by a robot. A new innovation from Stanley…
Independent Asian hotels seek mobile agility to help them compete
Independent and small hotel groups in Asia are seeking to harness the benefits of mobile solutions in order to attract more bookings and compete with larger chains.
Speaking to Travel…
Hotelbeds sets sights on Chinese expansion
Hotelbeds Group is increasing its focus on the Chinese travel market, with plans to expand its hotel collection and staff headcount in the country.
At last week's inaugural MarketHub…
Samsung and SONIFI Launch Integrated In-Room Technology Package
Samsung Electronics America, Inc., has announced a partnership with SONIFI Solutions, Inc., a provider of interactive guest engagement solutions, to offer hoteliers an integrated in-room…
Mobile’s Breaking Points: Are Smartphones Ready for Center Stage in Travel Planning?
Mobile's Breaking Points: Are Smartphones Ready for Center Stage in Travel Planning?
Published July 2016
Douglas Quinby Vice President, Research
Lorraine Sileo Senior Vice…
Asian travel companies to invest in data analytics
The use of data will become an increasingly important part of travel business operations in Asia in the coming years, a study undertaken by Hotelbeds Group has found.
In a survey…
Data, personalisation to change the face of travel
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.…
Hotelbeds eyes Asian expansion following GTA acquisition
Hotelbeds Group is making a strategic push into the Asian market following its recent acquisitions of Tourico Holidays and GTA, the company’s bedbank managing director, Carlos Muñoz, has…
Transformative telecoms for the travel industry
IPS solutions is the award-winning telecoms company offering tech solutions to the travel industry.
Technology is transforming the travel & tourism industry – opening up new ways to…
Bollywood star becomes brand ambassador for Yatra
Yatra.com, the Indian online travel company, has appointed Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor as its new brand ambassador.
The company said that the announcement is timed to coincide…
Erotica returns to hotel rooms with virtual reality
A company is aiming to make in-room adult entertainment a "viable income stream once again" for hotels, with the introduction of virtual reality erotica.
VR3000 says that while the rise…
Brain Waves: Virtual flight bookings, biometric baggage drops, and more…
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.…
U.S. Market Booking Channels Shifting
The U.S. travel market can be split into four major distribution channels: supplier websites, OTAs, central reservations/walk-in, and travel agencies/TMCs. Smartphone and tablet bookings are…
Expedia on track with SilverRail deal
Expedia has expanded its presence in the rail sector with the acquisition of SilverRail, the online rail booking platform.
While the exact terms of the agreement were not revealed, it…
Airlines adjust as distribution “tsunami” approaches
The nature of airline distribution will fundamentally change in the coming years, as factors including API connectivity and Google have a major impact the sector, delegates at the CAPA…
Travelport launches data tool
Travelport has launched Travelport Business Insights to its Northern European region.
This new service gives travel agencies and other companies access to a range of data sources.…
中国C919首飞成功
近日，我国首款国际主流水准的干线客机C919，在上海浦东国际机场安全落地，首飞成功。港澳各大报纸和网站都对C919的首飞进行了重点报道，并给予高度评价，认为国产大飞机的成功首飞有着重大意义。
C919首次飞行航程虽短，却是中国百年航空工业史上的重头戏，是中华民族百年“大飞机梦”的历史性突破。从此，世界上多了一款属于中国的完全按照世界先进标准研制的大型客机。…
Are You More Adventurous than the Pope? The Interactive Scratch Map for World Explorers
Holiday price comparison site TravelSupermarket.com has created an interactive scratch map that lets you see how you compare to prominent world figures – like the former Pope John Paul II,…
Scoot, Tiger made available on Sabre
Singapore Airlines' two low-cost carriers, Scoot and Tigerair, have entered into a new distribution partnership with Sabre.
The sister airlines, which are due to merge under the Scoot…
NCL partners Alibaba as it enters Chinese cruise market
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has formed a new partnership with e-commerce giant Alibaba as it prepares to make a splash in the Chinese cruise market.
Under the new agreement, NCL will make…
Holland America Line launches ‘Navigator’
Holland America Line is the latest cruise line to introduce a digital app for guests with the launch of Holland America Line Navigator, a free mobile-friendly tool. Navigator does not need…
Inter-regional travel on the rise in Middle East
Careem has revealed, through analysis of region-wide app-based data, that inter-regional travel is on the rise.
11% of the company’s registered users booked through the…
Channel Surfing: Where Consumers Shop for Travel Online
Channel Surfing: Where Consumers Shop for Travel Online
Published August 2016
When consumers plan their leisure travel, they quickly discover that there's often more than one way to get…
Europe Experiencing Skyrocketing Online Booking Rates
Europe Experiencing Skyrocketing Online Booking Rates
Published October 2016
European travelers have historically chosen a mix of online and offline sources to book their…
When They Get There and Why They Go
When They Get There and Why They Go
Published June 2016
Douglas Quinby Vice President, Research
Last year, the global travel market reached US$1.3 trillion – most…
There’s More to Travel’s Online Rentals Story Than Airbnb
There's More to Travel's Online Rentals Story Than Airbnb
Published November 2016
Douglas QuinbyVice President, Research
Airbnb may capture most of…
New Tech Start-Up, Criton, Introduces First Self-Build Digital Concierge for Travel Sector
Travel tech start-up, Criton, has launched a digital concierge for the UK’s thousands of property owners and small businesses offering holiday accommodation to transfer the guest information…
Malaysia Airlines to start tracking all flights
Malaysia Airlines has signed up for a new flight tracking solution that will enable the carrier to monitor all of its flights, anywhere in the world.
The new "Aircom FlightTracker"…
AirAsia acquires stake in travel planning start-up
AirAsia is acquiring a 50% stake in Touristly Travel, the Malaysian online travel planning start-up.
The deal, which will consist of an asset injection and loan valued at MYR11.5…
Middle East millennials drive demand for personalization
At this year's Arabian Travel Market (ATM) from 24-27 April, Travelport says it will highlight how travel tech is allowing airlines and travel agents to meet Middle East travellers’…
Dusit lures Chinese guests with WeChat Pay
Dusit has become the first Thai hotel group to enable guests to pay for rooms via the popular Chinese social media service, WeChat.
The company has started to accept WeChat Pay, the…
Brain Waves: NASA-inspired bedding, remote baggage drops, and more…
AccorHotels enables mood-based searching
AccorHotels has started enabling guests to search for stays based on what kind of mood they are in. Whether they are feeling romantic, chilled out…
PAL equips crew with tablets
Philippine Airlines is aiming to improve its in-flight service by equipping its crew members with tablets.
The national carrier has rolled out SITA's OnAir solution, which allows…
Embark On a Journey Through British Columbia’s Wilderness With Google Maps And BC Journeys
Destination BC is putting British Columbia on the map, literally. Through a partnership with Google, stunning imagery from BC's wild places has been added to Google Maps, complemented with…
Hyatt starts offering in-room streaming
Hyatt has started enabling guests to stream content from apps including Netflix and YouTube from their mobile devices to their in-room TVs, via the Hyatt app.
The hotel group has…
Jet becomes first Indian airline to offer UPI payment solution
Jet Airways’ passengers can now buy tickets online using the industry’s latest payment mechanism - Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
The new system allows funds to be transferred…
AccorHotels acquires Availpro
Following its acquisition of Fastbooking in 2015, AccorHotels has announced the acquisition of Availpro. Created in 2001, Availpro is a leading European software provider to hoteliers with…
Rich Media Exchange makes UK debut
Rich Media Exchange (RME) has launched its visual content resource in the UK, giving travel agents and suppliers the ability to create, archive and access thousands of images and videos to…
Uber plans to enter Cambodia
Uber has expressed an interest in entering the Cambodian market, according to local media reports.
The Phnom Penh Post revealed on Friday that representatives from global ride-hailing…
Qantas starts to trial fast, free Wi-Fi service
Qantas has started trialling its new free in-flight Wi-Fi service, as it moves to improve its domestic passenger services.
The carrier is working with ViaSat and nbn, the Australian…
Sabre helps drive online travel in Sri Lanka
Sabre, the travel technology company, recently held a major event for the travel trade in Sri Lanka, with the aim of showcasing the company's solutions and advancing the country's online…
AirAsia speeds up Wi-Fi service
AirAsia has signed a deal that will increase the speed of its in-flight Wi-Fi and entertainment services.
The group has penned a Memorandum of Understand (MoU) with Inmarsat for the…
SIA moves in-flight newspapers online
Singapore Airlines passengers will now be able to access free digital newspapers and magazines via their mobile devices.
Using SITA's DigitalMedia solution within the SIA app, the new…
Travelport seals Zuji deal
Travelport will continue to supply its GDS content to Zuji, the Asia-focused online travel agency, following the extension of their existing partnership.
This will provide users with…
The Trouble with TRIP
We've been close followers of TripAdvisor since the launch of its grand transformation from traveler review platform to hotel metasearch-cum-booking channel. Travel's largest website – at…
Marriott brings virtual reality to meeting space
Marriott International has started allowing meeting planners to visualise their event before they even book, using virtual reality.
The hotel group is harnessing VPViewer, a new mobile…
Airbnb could cooperate with Chinese rival
Airbnb is in talks with Chinese home-sharing company Xiaozhu, regarding a potential collaboration.
The state-run China Daily reported Chen Chi, CEO of Xiaozhu, as saying that the two…
Brain Waves: Forbidden City goes digital, Tokyo’s new VR channel, and more…
Forbidden City to digitalize entire collection
The Forbidden City in Beijing will digitalise its entire collection and make the images available to the public. Officially known as the…
Asian LCCs continue to embrace GDS sales
More Asian low-cost carriers are committing to the travel trade.
Scoot, the Singaporean LCC, has become the latest airline to renew its distribution agreement with Amadeus, ensuring…
Lufthansa launches social networking platform
Lufthansa has launched its digital “Lufthansa Memory Network” campaign with the slogan “Ready to remember?”
The new website aims to inspire individuals and connect memories of travel…
Are Mobile Payment Methods Catching on in Europe?
The European payment landscape stands at a crossroads. While traditional forms of payment still dominate in most markets, travel suppliers and intermediaries across the region must embrace…
Sabre revamps business travel solution
Sabre has launched a new version of its corporate travel booking tool, GetThere.
Following feedback from business travellers, Sabre has now introduced a range of new features, which…
Airlines call for “urgent” alternative to laptop ban
IATA, the global airline body, has urged governments to "urgently" find alternatives to the recently introduced ban on laptops and tablets on certain flights.
The association, which…
Online Video Proves to be Powerful Marketing Channel
Online video has proven to be a powerful channel for marketing in recent years, particularly when it comes to the travel and hospitality industry, where growth has been particularly…
This One Chart Explains the Hotel Loyalty-vs.-OTA Problem
It's been the defining debate in online travel over the past two years: hotels' battle for the customer and direct booking amid tough competition and skyrocketing growth of online travel…
Princess Cruises to add ‘Ocean Medallion’ to 2 more ships
As a new era of cruise personalisation and game-changing guest service nears, Princess Cruises, will soon prepare two more vessels with the world's first interactive guest experience…
FairFX returns as a sponsor of Sky Sports F1
FairFX, the multi-currency payments specialist, has agreed a deal with Sky Media, the advertising arm of Sky, to be a sponsor of Sky Sports F1 for the 2017 season; having previously…
Onboard electronics ban ‘could last months’
Middle East carriers have moved quickly to meet the rules banning electronics items being brought onboard as carry-on items on flights to the US and the UK.
The US has introduced the…
Chinese Airlines Get Serious About Direct Bookings
The Chinese government's early-2016 directive, calling for China's state-owned airlines to sell at least half of all tickets directly by 2018 and avoid online travel agency (OTA)…
Brain Waves: Flexible hotel check-ins, Italy’s first capsule hotel, and more…
New booking site offers flexible check-in/out times
A new hotel booking site has launched that offers travellers early check-in and late check-out times as part of their reservation. …
Cathay Pacific enhances online booking system
Cathay Pacific has unveiled a new online booking system, which is designed to be easier to use and to improve the customer experience.
Featuring responsive technology, the upgrade has…
Amadeus offers tracking tool to help agents
Amadeus has launched a new solution that enables travel agents to harness data to improve their businesses.
The new 'Productivity Tracker' tool, which forms part of the Amadeus Agency…
Sabre’s Technology Report: The Three Emerging Technology Trends to Watch and Get Ready For
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…
Q&A: with CEO Hotels of The Future – hotels.com
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,…
Mobile Ride-Hailing: The Corporate Travel Challenge
Mobile Ride-Hailing: The Corporate Travel Challenge
Published September 2016
Cathy Walsh Senior Research Analyst
This white paper – sponsored by Lyft – tracks the…
Amadeus invests in airfare locking tool
Amadeus has invested in a tool that allows bookers to lock in the price of their flight prior to purchase.
A common complaint of travellers is that the price of their desired flight…
Brain Waves: Westin’s “bedtime calls”, Lufthansa’s high-tech business class, and more…
Westin to offer "bedtime calls" to guests
Guests at Westin hotels can now receive a "bedtime call", telling them when they need to go to sleep. The new service is a reminder of when…
航空公司设“飞行体验”机票搜索
近日，四家全球大型的航空公司日前表示，将为旅客在搜索机票时提供了“飞行体验”的选择，如飞机型号和机舱布置等。
空客（Airbus）与飞行商贸平台Routehappy展开了合作，帮助了航空公司创造了新的在线内容来突出其重要的一些细节卖点，包括座位宽度、腿部伸展空间，机上娱乐设施以及便利的链接等等。…
Air searches to be filtered by “flight experience”
Four of the world's largest airlines will soon allow passengers to filter their flight searches by the in-flight "experience" offered, such as aircraft type and cabin features.
Airbus…
MSC Cruises launches ‘MSC for Me’
MSC Cruises has this week unveiled its fleet-wide digital innovation programme, MSC for Me. The Company envisions a fleet-wide roll-out of the programme, to the 11 upcoming next-generation…
Agoda reveals Asia’s rising destinations
Agoda, the hotel booking site, is seeing rising demand for many of Asia's lesser-known destinations.
These regional rising stars are gaining in popularity with travellers, and Agoda…
Facial recognition technology arrives at Asia Pacific airport
Brisbane Airport has become the first in Australia to trial facial recognition technology.
In partnership with Air New Zealand, the airport is now utilising SITA's "Smart Path"…
首架波音737 MAX 9型飞机正式下线
波音公司7日在其位于伦顿市的工厂举行了首架737 MAX 9型飞机下线仪式。
737 MAX 9是737 MAX家族的第2名成员，比737 MAX 8长近9英尺。737 MAX 9最大载客量220人，最大航程3515海里。
737 MAX 9将于未来数周内进行首次试飞，预计2018年投入服务。737 MAX 8即将于今年第二季度投入商业运营。目前，787 MAX…
Sabre expands GDS car hire content with Hertz
Sabre has expanded its agreement with Hertz, making the car rental company's full inventory available via the GDS.
This means that travel agents, both traditional and online, will be…
India offers free SIM cards to tourists
The Indian government has launched a new scheme aimed at making it easier for tourists to stay connected when they visit the country.
Recently unveiled by India's Tourism & Culture…
Brain Waves: Skyscanner boosts bookings, Changi converts loose change, and more…
Finnair offers bookings within Skyscanner
Finnair passengers are now able to book flights and ancillaries via Skyscanner, without leaving the travel search site. The new initiative, which…
Asian attraction site set for major expansion
Klook, the online platform for Asian attractions, tours and activities, is set for a significant expansion after it secured US$30 million of funding.
The investment, led by Sequoia…
Amadeus boosts GDS rail sales
A new business model developed by Amadeus, the travel technology giant, is providing travel agencies with a way to sell multiple global rail networks.
Amadeus will act as a sales…
Finnair partners with Amadeus on new NDC capability
Finnair has partnered with Amadeus to launch a new solution, Amadeus Altea NDC, which is based on IATA's NDC (New Distribution Capability) XML-based messaging standard.
Finnair is…
In-flight Wi-Fi reaches new top speed
In-flight Wi-Fi will be faster than ever in future, after major provider Gogo revealed that its connectivity has reached a new top speed.
The company has taken the performance of its…
Time-constrained Asians flock to travel search sites
In the fast-paced Asian cities of Singapore and Hong Kong, travellers are using travel comparison sites in an effort to save time when planning their trips, a new report has found.
In a…
flydubai and HackMania launch second Air Travel Hackathon
flydubai has announced details of its second Air Travel Hackathon in association with Hyderabad-based tech startup HackMania.
The Hackathon, which is supported by the E-Cell of…
The Travel Network Group rolls out members’ portal
The Travel Network Group has launched a new intranet designed exclusively for its 920 members.
The Hub has been designed by the group’s internal marketing and digital team led by…
Thai Lion Air targets trade with Amadeus
Thai Lion Air is aiming to enhance its travel trade sales by distributing its content via the GDS with Amadeus.
The Bangkok-based low-cost carrier is making its fares and inventory…
World Travellers Group upgrades with Travelport
World Travellers Group, the New Zealand-based retail travel network, has made a significant investment in its future by signing a new multi-year technology agreement with Travelport.…
Nine reasons not to miss Travel Technology Europe
Travel Technology Europe kicks off today in London. Here are nine reasons why this year’s show in an unmissable event:
Keynotes from Google, easyJet, Contiki, Decode, Button and…
Traveltek rolls out data-driven mobile travel booking services
Traveltek Group is rolling out data-driven UX (User Experience) and CRO (Conversion Rate Optimisation) services to help its clients prepare for the boom in mobile travel searches and…
Brain Waves: HKIA’s new robot, Skyscanner helps plan public holidays, and more…
HKIA appoints robot "ambassador"
Hong Kong International Airport has employed a new staff member - a humanoid robot called Timmy. The airport's "ambassador", Timmy was initially…
Traveldoo makes key appointments
Travel tech firm Traveldoo has announced the appointments of Daniel Fitzgerald as Chief Product Officer and Romain Ehrhard as Chief Technical Officer.
Working closely with the R&D and…
mTrip Releases Versatile Mobile App for personalized Business Travel
mTrip, a leader in the mobile travel applications industry, has launched a brand new mobile solution for business travel and travel management companies in January 2017. With this innovative…
Travelogix Announces New Launch at TTE 2017
Travelogix, the specialists in dedicated data management and reporting solutions for corporate travel, will be exhibiting at Travel Technology Europe for their fourth consecutive year in…
My 15 Minutes of Fame (and why Airbnb is Killing it)
In 2010, I was working on an update to our U.S. vacation rental market research, and one name kept popping up: Airbnb. I began digging in. The model was odd – people rent out their primary…
Clock Software Opens New Opportunities For Hotels
With the new feature that automates the processing of advance payments and deposits for online bookings, thus reducing manual errors and improving data safety, hotels can boost their revenue…
APAC Leads all Markets in Mobile
While smartphone bookings soar globally, some countries continue to blaze their way as leaders in mobile travel. Asia Pacific (APAC) leads all markets in mobile booking adoption, according…
