This is a roundup of product news and announcements for travel DEVICES in tourism and hospitality for June 2016.
Tuesday 28 June 2016:
Starwood expands keyless entry programme
- Keyless 2.0, as the company calls it, will be available in additional Starwood brains such as Westin, Sheraton and Le Meridien. Enhancements include multi-key entry (more than guest) and speed of unlocking.
OYO targets business travellers
The OYO for Business service can be accessed on the branded hotel service's mobile application, with tools aimed specifically at corporate guests. These include filters for properties based on free wifi, air-con, free breakfast and other business-like amenities. Around 6,000 hotels in India are expected to feature.
Monday 27 June 2016:
Lufthansa connects short and medium-haul flights
- The entire A320 family fleet (A319, A320, A321) is expected to have web connectivity by mid-2018, beginning from October this year. Other carriers in the Lufthansa Group will follow at a later date, in a series of updates spearheaded by subsidiary Lufthansa Technik.
Thursday 23 June 2016:Hotwire updates app
- The Expedia Inc-owned online travel agency has updated the home screen and functionality of its mobile applications, allowing users to book one-way car hire, hotel rooms after midnight and select bed type. The app is avilable for both Android and iOS devices.
Tuesday 21 June 2016:Accor connects Hoist Group
- The wifi specialist will work Accor as its preferred provider of wifi connectivity in all properties in Europe, Middle East and Africa. The integration of the Fusion Gateway platform across the chain follows its deployment in a number of its hotels in the UK and Benelux over the course of the past few years.
Monday 20 June 2016:LocalLocal connects travellers through app
- The social travel application works by collecting travel tips from users, recommends destinations and things to do in a city, and matches travellers together. The app is available on both the Apple and Android app stores.
Friday 17 June 2016:XL Airways takes IMMFly long haul
- The in-flight entertainment system provider has secured its first long-haul carrier with XL Airways, with services beginning in the autumn of this year on its Airbus A330 fleet. Passengers use their own devices to access the on-board wifi network, containing films, magazines, documentaries, music and sports videos, as well as destination guides and flight information.
Wednesday 15 June 2016:Crave raves with Honeywell
- Netherlands-based Crave Interactive has worked with hardware giant Honeywell to kit out the in-room guest services AM Resorts property in Cancun. The tablet-based platform will allow guests to book hotel services and discover information about the destination, as well as control various parts of the room such as air conditioning and room lighting.
Friday 10 June 2016:Chimani and Subaru unite for national park app
- The mobile app provider has created a selection of products for each of the 59 national parks in the US, as part of a celebration of the National Park Service centennial. Each app includes navigation tools, information and other content, with car manufacturer Subaru supporting the development in order to raise awareness of reducing waste in the historic sites.
Tuesday 7 June 2016:Allianz upgrades travel app
- The insurance provider's TravelSmart mobile application now includes a real-time flight tracking service and ability to manage a traveller's policy requirements and documents. There are also details of 2,000 hospitals in 129 countries listed.
Thursday 2 June 2016:EasyJet now accepts Apple Pay
- The European airline will let customers using its iOS app pay for bookings or extras with Apple Pay, which uses fingerprint recognition and a credit card on file with Apple to process a payment. The EasyJet app already has passport scanning, live flight tracking, and mobile boarding passes.
Wednesday 1 June 2016:eDreams Odigeo overhauls mobile offering
- The Europe-based online travel agency has included notifications in-app travel guides across its eDreams, Opodo and GoVoyages applications. As part of the programme of new features, Travelport-owned mobile tech provider MTT has given Odigeo its MTT Engage platform, allowing it to send personalised messages, alerts and offers to users. Messages can be customised based on the recipient's location.
ArrivalGuides on Zeasn smart TVs
- The travel guide's ArrivalTV application will be available to all Zeasn customers in Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Zeasn covers around six million sets from the likes of Sharp, Philips, and Konka.
Esplorio sends a postcard
- The European Space Agency-backed mobile trip planning application will now allow users to send customised, physical postcards from within the app from any location around the world. the app has also launched a Notes feature for users to chart a trip within the platform.
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NB2: Mobile travel image via Shutterstock.