This is a roundup of product news and announcements for travel DEVICES in tourism and hospitality for March 2016.
Thursday 31 March 2016:
British Airways introduces multi-boarding pass service
- The airline's mobile application will now allow passengers to hold boarding passes for family members or fellow travellers, as long as they have the same booking reference. The updated mobile app is available for both Android and iOS-operated devices.
Thursday 24 March 2016:Princess unveils Places to Sea
- The cruise company is claiming a cruise industry first with the launch of its Places to Sea mobile service. The service enables users to swipe through various images depicting the sort of holiday they would like and then brings back suggestions highlighting destinations as well as matching users to a travel personality such as foodie or adventurer. The interactive technology works on both iOS and Android devices.
Wednesday 23 March 2016:Amercian Express offers Apple Pay
- The Global Corporates Payments division of the corporate services brand says UK cardholders can now use Apply Pay on their mobile devices to secure products. a unique Device Account Number is assigned, encrypted and securely stored in the Secure Element on the device.
Tuesday 22 March 2016:ButlerTech serves up city guide app
- CityButler is a destination app with recommendations for where to stay and go including hotels, restaurants, shopping, attractions and events. The app also includes booking functionality as well as ratings and reviews for businesses and services.
Wednesday 16 March 2016:Eurostar upgrades on-board entertainment
- GoMedia is behind the overhaul of the European high-speed rail operator's platform, rolling out on the service's new E320 trains between London and Paris. Passengers can use their own tablet, mobile or laptop to access films, TV shows, box sets, games and new via the train's on-board wifi.
Last Minute Travel launches
WhaToDo app
- The Travel Holdings-owned deals service has made the app so that consumers can access and book activities, attractions, tours, shows, sports events and transfers from a mobile device. Products come from 1,000 destinations around the world. The app is available for both Android and iOS-hosted devices.
Monday 14 March 2016:Horizon updates iOS6 app
- The new version of the alternative accommodation app now supports linking to listings on Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO et al, with users able to find properties that are available as sublets. An additional update in the future is expected to include filters for properties and extension of its groups tool on a desktop to mobile.
Jovago launches extranet app
- The Android-powered application from the hotel booking site for African properties allows hotel managers to confirm new reservations, search through reservations and manage rates. Jovago currently sells around 25,000 hotels on the African continent.
Friday 11 March 2016:YourWelcome personalises tablets for Airbnb guests
- The recently-funded startup (£400,000 from undisclosed investors) allows Airbnb hosts to offer additional services to guests by way of personalised tablets during a stay. The devices, which can be run by individual hosts or management companies, are preloaded with various services such as access to ground transport bookings and other facilities.
Citymaps launches new version
- The travel mapping service will now also be available as an offline map, with hotel and other service recommendations included. The company claims to have one million users of the app and more than 200 partners, including Travel+Leisure magazine.
Tuesday 8 March 2016:Mews Systems develops Mews Commander hotel app
- The service allows hotels to create a human-free model for properties, covering elements such as room designation, guest management and payments. Guests interact with the property via the app as well as receive their room key code and other services on their device. Payments can be made in 250 different methods.
Monday 7 March 2016:Rome2Rio heads to Android
- The door-to-door travel search engine released the Android version of its service on March 3, making it available for both mobile and tablet users. The app displays search results for air, train, bus, ferry and driving options between landmarks or postcodes.
Wednesday 2 March 2016:Skyscanner fully launches Alexa app
FareCompare extends Eventurist app to new countries
- The travel inspiration app will now be available to a further 15 countries around the world, including the UK, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. The app allows users to locate events around the world and search for flight deals to domestic and international destinations.
OpenKey releases updated app for hotels
- The mobile key access provider has Version 2 now available for both Android and iPhone users. The latest outing includes front desk services, check-in management, arrival time tools, as well as the existing hotel room door unlocking technology.
NB:Travel devices image via Shutterstock.