Latest News

Latest News

Stay up to date with the latest travel technology news, startup updates, and industry developments from across the global travel ecosystem.

Ctrip adds tours and activities inventory to Trip.com
News / Online
Ctrip adds tours and activities inventory to Trip.com
By Jill Menze | August 21, 2018
Ctrip is bringing tours and activities to more customers by adding its Things to Do product to Trip.com.... Read More
Getaround 300M funding series D
News / Startups
Car-share service Getaround nails $300M funding round
By Mitra Sorrells | August 21, 2018
Getaround, a platform that provides instant and keyless carsharing, has secured $300 million in a Series D financing round led by SoftBank, with participation from Toyota Motor Corporation.  ... Read More
Travel startups: What's the ten-year investment, growth and failure picture?
News / Startups
Travel startups: What's the ten-year investment, growth and failure picture?
By Kevin May | August 21, 2018
The number of new travel startups has fallen dramatically in the last two years, coinciding with a significant increase in the amount of money flowing in to the market.... Read More
WayBlazer postmortem: Why did travel's highest-profile AI company fail?
Opinion / Technology
WayBlazer postmortem: Why did travel's highest-profile AI company fail?
By Arnie Weissmann - Travel Weekly | August 21, 2018
Among the reasons many of us were surprised last month by the demise of WayBlazer, travel's highest-profile artificial intelligence initiative, was that we had become habituated to the success of enterprises operated with Terry Jones' oversight.... Read More
BCD points to specific use cases for emerging tech
News / Technology
BCD points to specific use cases for emerging tech
By Rob Gill | August 21, 2018
Emerging technologies including blockchain, virtual reality and bots can help corporate travel buyers to improve their sourcing from suppliers, according to a new guide from travel management company... Read More
SAP Concur wins $9.3 million US govt contract to streamline travel planning
News / Distribution
SAP Concur wins $9.3 million US govt contract to streamline travel planning
By Marisa Garcia | August 21, 2018
In a contract worth $9.3 million, US Department of Defense (DoD) has selected SAP Concur to develop a business travel system prototype that would replace its current Defense Travel System. In the a... Read More
Alipay South Korea mobile tax refund
News / Technology
Alipay enables paperless tax refund service for travelers
By Mitra Sorrells | August 21, 2018
China-based mobile payment platform Alipay is making it easier for its users to get tax refunds for purchases they make when they travel.... Read More
Thomas Cook talks up Expedia deal, TUI talks up its app
News / Technology
Thomas Cook talks up Expedia deal, TUI talks up its app
By Rob Gill | August 21, 2018
Thomas Cook is to extend its “white label” online booking partnership with Expedia across European markets over the next few months. The tour operator started selling Expedia’s city break and hotel... Read More
Making sure young travellers get the joke
News / Technology
Making sure young travellers get the joke
By Viewpoints | August 21, 2018
This is a viewpoint by Becky Power, travel lead for Google UK. They famously say that humour doesn’t travel. Well, whoever ‘they’ are, Hostelworld decided to put ‘them’ to the test by dropping Phil... Read More
From NDC to modern dynamic air commerce
From Our Partners / Technology
From NDC to modern dynamic air commerce
By Sponsored Content | August 20, 2018
Sponsored by PROS Three-letter acronyms – TLAs - are common-place in almost every aspect of 21st century life, and travel technology is no exception. Ever since IATA introduced its “new distributi... Read More
Using customer service as a growth tool for travel tech providers
Opinion / Technology
Using customer service as a growth tool for travel tech providers
By Lukas Hempel - BookingKit | August 20, 2018
The game for tour and activity software providers is decided by winning over new suppliers and monetizing them.... Read More
ATPCO gets real-time air ticket filing go-ahead
News / Technology
ATPCO gets real-time air ticket filing go-ahead
By Kevin May | August 20, 2018
Global aviation fare registration platform ATPCO will use the recent award of a technology patent to redevelop its pricing calculation system.... Read More
STARTUP STAGE: WhyHotel turns luxury apartment buildings into pop-up hotels
Interview / Online
STARTUP STAGE: WhyHotel turns luxury apartment buildings into pop-up hotels
By Mitra Sorrells | August 20, 2018
WhyHotel transforms unoccupied apartment units in brand-new luxury buildings into temporary hotel rooms. The pop-up hotels employ 24/7 on-site staff with the intention of giving guests the "like-home" experience of a home-share with the service quality of a hotel.... Read More
Surveying the travel startup landscape, part 3: The support systems
News / Startups
Surveying the travel startup landscape, part 3: The support systems
By Mitra Sorrells | August 20, 2018
In the last few years, several support programs have launched to help entrepreneurs evaluate, develop and grow their innovative ventures across every aspect of travel and tourism. ... Read More
UK airline pax less satisfied, despite better search and booking processes
News / Technology
UK airline pax less satisfied, despite better search and booking processes
By Marisa Garcia | August 20, 2018
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has published its latest consumer survey which shows a drop in overall airline passenger satisfaction to 83% compared to 90% in the first survey conducted in the... Read More
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