Here's our roundup of the people, product and partner news from the global travel industry this week.
Guesty, Airbnb
Property management platform Guesty has launched its Quality Dashboard that provides Airbnb property managers with real-time insights to enhance listing performance and guest satisfaction.
The tool aggregates key Airbnb metrics like cleanliness and communication, helping managers proactively improve reviews, guest experiences and search rankings. Early results over an eight-month period show a 10% boost in quality scores, 17% more reviews and 7% more five-star ratings, the company said.
Airbnb makes total pricing default
Airbnb has made total price display the global default, showing all fees before taxes upfront in search results to boost affordability and transparency.
First introduced in 2019 in select markets—including in parts of Europe, Australia, Korea and Canada—and later in the U.S. and over 200 other countries as an optional toggle, the feature has since been used by nearly 17 million guests. The move aims to simplify comparisons and support confident booking. The update reflects the platform’s push for a more transparent experience as it enhances value for both guests and hosts.
Canary Technologies, Aimbridge Hospitality
Guest management platform Canary Technologies has partnered with Aimbridge Hospitality to deploy its digital tipping solution across Aimbridge’s global portfolio of more than 1,000 properties.
The cashless platform lets guests tip hotel staff via mobile to improve convenience, boost satisfaction scores and reduce staff turnover. Integrated with human resources systems, it automates payroll and user management to streamline operations. Aimbridge said the rollout reinforces its dual focus on service excellence and workforce support.
Boom unveils integrated accounting solution
Boom, the artificial intelligence (AI)-powered property management system, has unveiled its integrated accounting solution, designed to automate and centralize financial operations for short-term rental managers.
Boom offers native, real-time accounting with features like virtual ledgers, automated reconciliation and direct bank integration. The platform can generate dynamic profit and loss sheets by property and portfolio, meant to improve accuracy and eliminate manual errors. This launch follows Boom’s AI-driven dashboard.
AirAsia MOVE
AirAsia MOVE announced two partnerships this week.
Royal Brunei Airlines has joined AirAsia MOVE as a direct airline partner, expanding flight options across Asia, the Middle East, Australia and the United Kingdom. The partnership is meant to make travel more convenient and marks a shared push toward seamless, app-based booking.
The Singapore Tourism Board and AirAsia MOVE have also formed a partnership to improve travel experiences to Singapore, targeting key Southeast Asian markets like Malaysia and Thailand. The collaboration will offer personalized trip planning, bundling flights, hotels and attractions.
Traxo, PTC
Traxo, a specialist in real-time corporate travel data capture, has partnered with Partnership Travel Consulting (PTC) to enhance airfare auditing.
PTC’s fare audit division will now assess off-channel bookings captured by Traxo, comparing them against policy-compliant fares. With buyer consent, data flows between both firms in near real-time, allowing audits across all booking types. Hotel rate auditing is planned next.
The integration strengthens the Traxo marketplace and empowers travel managers to improve compliance, uncover savings and maintain control amid evolving booking behaviors, the companies said.
Choice Hotels, Mews
Choice Hotels International is partnering with Mews to offer its international franchisees a next-generation, cloud-native property management system.
The integration with Choice’s proprietary choiceEDGE system will provide real-time rate and availability updates across all booking channels and enable seamless guest interactions. Franchisees will benefit from full data visibility, operational efficiencies through automation, scalable infrastructure for brand growth, and enhanced guest experiences.
Amex GBT's sustainability tool
American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) has launched a new sustainability recommendations feature for Egencia users, offering data-driven insights to reduce carbon emissions based on actual travel behavior.
The tool provides actionable guidance on air versus rail choices, carbon-efficient flights, cabin class preferences and sustainable aviation fuel usage.
Travel managers can seamlessly implement these through direct policy links and a new analytics dashboard.
Amex GBT is also partnering with Finnair to deliver NDC-enabled digital content and offers to corporate customers.
The collaboration allows Amex GBT clients to access Finnair’s best available fares without surcharges, enhancing value and program efficiency. The agreement also supports Amex GBT’s expanding global new distribution capability (NDC) program, which now includes more than 20 airline partners and more than 1 million NDC tickets processed since January 2024.
Expensify simplifies pricing
Expensify has introduced a simplified pricing model for its collect plan, offering a flat rate of $5 per member per month.
Aimed at making financial management more accessible to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), the plan includes full access to features like expense tracking, corporate cards, travel booking and team chat with no hidden fees.
The update underscores Expensify’s focus on transparency and its commitment to supporting SMBs often overlooked by enterprise-focused competitors.
Hopper, Frontier Airlines
Hopper has launched an NDC partnership with Frontier Airlines, giving users access to the airline's best published fares, content bundles and ancillary pricing through Hopper’s app and its B2B division, Hopper Technology Solutions.
The integration offers greater flexibility and transparency, allowing travelers to select fare options that match their needs. Hopper’s advanced merchandising tools also enhance the booking experience, especially for Gen Z and millennial users, the company said.
Santa Monica's AI travel assistant
Santa Monica Travel & Tourism has launched an AI-powered travel assistant on its website developed using GuideGeek technology from Matador Network.
Called Santa Monica Guide, the tool offers personalized itinerary planning and real-time answers about activities, dining, wellness, hotels and more, tailored to user preferences.
Accessible via a chat box on the site, it complements the city’s in-person visitor information centers.
Santa Monica is the first California city to use this AI, reinforcing its “Silicon Beach” identity and commitment to innovation. The tool supports all types of travelers, from tech event attendees to vacationers seeking curated local experiences.
SuiteOp appoints head of growth
SuiteOp has appointed sales-as-a-service (SaaS) strategist Jordan Cohen as head of growth to lead its next phase of expansion after raising $3 million in seed funding. Cohen brings extensive experience in proptech and SaaS growth, most recently scaling revenue at redIQ ahead of its acquisition.
At SuiteOp, he’ll oversee demand generation, partnerships and go-to-market execution across short-term rentals and boutique hotels. “Jordan’s strategic vision and execution make him the ideal fit,” said co-founder Simon Seroussi.
Pkfare’s branded fares product
Pkfare has launched a branded fares product that enables online travel agencies (OTAs) to sell airline services and offer richer fare options via a plug-and-play application programming interface. The solution delivers bundled extras like price-lock guarantees and travel insurance, while easing integration challenges OTAs face with global distribution systems, the company said.
“We’re simplifying complexity and enhancing value,” said Pkfare president Jason Song.
Zucchetti North America appoints vice president
Zucchetti North America has appointed Estella Hale as vice president of commercial strategy. With over 20 years in the industry and a decade in strategic roles, Hale will lead efforts to expand the company’s presence in North America and align its tech stack with regional market needs.
Previously chief commercial officer at HotelIQ, Hale brings expertise in hospitality technology and a background in innovation-driven leadership. “Her vision and insights will drive our next phase of growth,” said CEO Mark Lewis Brown. Hale will guide commercial strategy and cross-functional market development initiatives.
Thrust Carbon’s route analyzer tool
Thrust Carbon has launched its Airline Route Analyzer tool, which compares data points to help data managers make more sustainable procurement decisions and reduce emissions.
The tool can conduct route-specific analyses to identify those with the highest emissions and use data to provide insights into carrier performance. It can also calculate potential emissions savings for different routes.
“We’ve created a powerful tool that transforms complex travel data into actionable insights and offers huge promotion emissions savings,” said Kit Aspen, founder and CEO of Thrust Carbon, a PhocusWire Hot 25 Travel Startup for 2022.
HBX expands AI integration
HBX Group is increasing its use of AI to automate parts of its hotel distribution network and customer support operations. About 20% of customer service interactions in certain areas are now managed entirely by AI, enabling faster responses to routine inquiries, the company said.
HBX is also using AI to support agent training, improve travel content and detect booking anomalies. The company says it is monitoring the technology’s performance and maintaining compliance with data protection regulations.
*This roundup was created with the help of ChatGPT.