News

 alt="Airbnb turns attention to other cities but would reopen talks with NYC"  title="Airbnb turns attention to other cities but would reopen talks with NYC"
News / Online
Airbnb turns attention to other cities but would reopen talks with NYC
By Morgan Hines | September 28, 2023
Airbnb's Brian Chesky said the new rules make New York more expensive for travelers, but the head of the city's DMO said he is not concerned about an impact on the city's economy.... Read More
 alt="Sabre launches AI-based seat upgrade tool in collaboration with Google, Hopper"  title="Sabre launches AI-based seat upgrade tool in collaboration with Google, Hopper"
News / Technology
Sabre launches AI-based seat upgrade tool in collaboration with Google, Hopper
By Mitra Sorrells | September 28, 2023
Sabre built its new solution in partnership with Hopper, which has just renamed its B2B product from Hopper Cloud to Hopper Technology Solutions, offering fintech, travel portals and a new suite of e-commerce solutions for travel suppliers.  ... Read More
 alt="NUMA raises $59M to grow its hospitality brand across Europe"  title="NUMA raises $59M to grow its hospitality brand across Europe"
News / Startups
NUMA raises $59M to grow its hospitality brand across Europe
By Mitra Sorrells | September 28, 2023
NUMA has more than 4,500 rooms and apartments in 10 countries across 28 cities in Europe including Berlin, Rome, Milan and Barcelona, with a focus on “boutique studios for modern travelers.”  ... Read More
 alt="Airline ancillary revenue hit $69B in 2022, beating 2019 levels"  title="Airline ancillary revenue hit $69B in 2022, beating 2019 levels"
News / Distribution
Airline ancillary revenue hit $69B in 2022, beating 2019 levels
By Linda Fox | September 28, 2023
The top five U.S. airlines - Alaska, American Airlines, Delta, United and Southwest - generated ancillary revenue of almost $23 billion from loyalty programs in 2022.... Read More
 alt="Delta Air Lines on using AI throughout its business"  title="Delta Air Lines on using AI throughout its business"
News / Technology
Delta Air Lines on using AI throughout its business
By Morgan Hines | September 28, 2023
 Delta's senior vice president and chief digital officer Eric Phillips shared some of the carrier’s AI strategy, citing a “digital thread" throughout everything it is doing.... Read More
 alt="TravelLocal raises $10M Series B to accelerate international growth"  title="TravelLocal raises $10M Series B to accelerate international growth"
News / Online
TravelLocal raises $10M Series B to accelerate international growth
By Mitra Sorrells | September 28, 2023
TravelLocal offers tailor-made holidays by connecting its clients with local experts in each destination, combining advice from vetted experts with the convenience of online booking.... Read More
 alt="Despegar rolls out generative AI trip planner, starting in Argentina"  title="Despegar rolls out generative AI trip planner, starting in Argentina"
News / Technology
Despegar rolls out generative AI trip planner, starting in Argentina
By Mitra Sorrells | September 27, 2023
Travelers can use the planner to receive customized itineraries, put together packages that combine flights, accommodations and car rentals and receive recommendations of what to do in their destination.    ... Read More
 alt="2 months after split with Expedia, Hopper adds hotel inventory from Hotelbeds and WebBeds"  title="2 months after split with Expedia, Hopper adds hotel inventory from Hotelbeds and WebBeds"
News / Online
2 months after split with Expedia, Hopper adds hotel inventory from Hotelbeds and WebBeds
By Mitra Sorrells | September 27, 2023
The new "long-term" strategic partnerships with Hotelbeds and WebBeds add more than 700,000 hotels around the world to Hopper's platform.... Read More
 alt="Accenture to pilot Amadeus Cytric Easy AI-powered chatbot"  title="Accenture to pilot Amadeus Cytric Easy AI-powered chatbot"
News / Technology
Accenture to pilot Amadeus Cytric Easy AI-powered chatbot
By Michael B. Baker - BTN | September 26, 2023
Using Microsoft technologies including Azure Open AI Service's GPT models, Microsoft 365 and Teams, the AI assistant will be able help corporate travelers across their trip, including planning and booking.... Read More
 alt="Bookings for vacation rentals in Asia are on the rise"  title="Bookings for vacation rentals in Asia are on the rise"
News / Online
Bookings for vacation rentals in Asia are on the rise
By Morgan Hines | September 26, 2023
Trip101 reports that vacation rental bookings jumped 84% in Asia from 2022 to 2023 with stay length also increasing.... Read More
 alt="While no longer unexpected, the "cost" of air travel disruptions continues to rise"  title="While no longer unexpected, the "cost" of air travel disruptions continues to rise"
News / Online
While no longer unexpected, the "cost" of air travel disruptions continues to rise
By Morgan Hines | September 26, 2023
Two new airline industry reports provide insights into how consumers feel about air travel disruptions and also the costs – both economic and environmental – that these problems bring. ... Read More
 alt="Ireland’s Shackle raises £12M for digital hospitality platform"  title="Ireland’s Shackle raises £12M for digital hospitality platform"
News / Startups
Ireland’s Shackle raises £12M for digital hospitality platform
By Mitra Sorrells | September 26, 2023
The startup provides contactless tools to manage hotel services such as check-in, room entry, food ordering and payments and last year raised $5.5 million in seed funding.    ... Read More
 alt="Poor security, clunky processes driving online hotel booking abandonment"  title="Poor security, clunky processes driving online hotel booking abandonment"
News / Online
Poor security, clunky processes driving online hotel booking abandonment
By Linda Fox | September 25, 2023
Most important to consumers when booking accommodation online is an easy and secure booking and payment experience, 53%, followed by video and images of rooms and the property, 50%.... Read More
 alt="Amex Ventures makes strategic investment in travel risk platform Sensible Weather"  title="Amex Ventures makes strategic investment in travel risk platform Sensible Weather"
News / Startups
Amex Ventures makes strategic investment in travel risk platform Sensible Weather
By Mitra Sorrells | September 25, 2023
Sensible Weather said the funding advances its goal to support travel, event and outdoor businesses in the face of growing weather uncertainty.  ... Read More
 alt="Booking to appeal EU regulators' decision to block Etraveli acquisition"  title="Booking to appeal EU regulators' decision to block Etraveli acquisition"
News / Online
Booking to appeal EU regulators' decision to block Etraveli acquisition
By Linda Fox | September 25, 2023
Booking says the dispute does not affect its strategy to build out flights as part of its connected trip vision.... Read More