Here's our roundup of the people, product and partner news from the global travel industry this week.
This roundup was created with the help of ChatGPT.
Agoda enhances property images
Agoda has launched an AI-powered content enhancement tool to improve how hotel and property images are displayed on its platform.
Using machine learning, the tool enhances image quality, removes duplicates adds better tags and ranks images by clarity and relevance—while preserving authenticity. With more than 6 million listings and 450 million images, the upgrade offers travelers faster loading, better visuals and more confidence in booking. Early results show increased engagement and more informed booking decisions.
Agoda aims to deliver a clearer, more reliable browsing experience through these visual improvements across its travel offerings.
Headout's BNPL feature
Experiences platform Headout has launched buy now, pay later feature allowing travelers to book experiences with no upfront payment and pay closer to their travel date.
Available across all cancellable experiences in 150+ cities worldwide, Headout Now, Pay Later removes cost barriers, offering greater flexibility and accessibility.
FCM Meetings debuts analytics tool
FCM Meetings & Events has launched a reporting and analytics tool aimed at transforming the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector.
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The advanced dashboard consolidates all meetings and events data to boost operational efficiency, enable smarter decisions and reveal cost-saving opportunities.
Key features include real-time data, spending insights, improved supplier negotiations and enhanced budget visibility. Integrated with venue sourcing and event request tools on the FCM Platform, it streamlines planning and fosters collaboration. Initially rolling out in the United States and Australia and New Zealand, global expansion is planned.
IRIS, Travel Curious
IRIS, a mobile ordering and guest experience specialist, has partnered with Travel Curious to enhance hotel guest experiences and generate new revenue streams.
Through the integration, hotels using the IRIS Digital Guest Directory can now offer curated, bookable local tours and experiences via Travel Curious, starting with Marriott-branded hotels.
Guests can also book on-property services like spa treatments, food and beverage reservations and room upgrades. The partnership enables seamless online payments and boosts guest engagement via pre-arrival links and in-hotel QR codes. Both companies aim to streamline hotel operations, improve guest satisfaction and drive profitability through enhanced service offerings.
Sabre, Oneworld
Sabre has renewed its long-term partnership with Oneworld, reinforcing the use of its cloud-based corporate travel data platfort, Prism.
Used by more than 30 airlines, Prism processes more than 13 million tickets monthly from 160+ countries, providing insights into corporate travel behavior from more than 26,000 corporations. It offers tools such as reports, peer analysis and predictive modeling to optimize airline corporate sales.
Allianz Partners USA appoints Lofdahl
Allianz Partners USA has appointed Shannon Lofdahl as vice president and head of field sales for North America.
Based in Henrico, Virginia, Lofdahl will lead the travel markets' field sales team, supporting retail travel advisors and wholesale cruise and tour partners. With more than 25 years of executive experience, including time at a leading travel insurance provider, her appointment reflects Allianz Partners’ ongoing commitment to expanding its presence in the U.S. and Canadian travel insurance markets and supporting partner success.
RMS Pay launches in U.S., Canada
RMS has launched RMS Pay in the U.S. and Canada, expanding its integrated payments platform already used in Australia and Europe.
Fully embedded in the RMS property management system, the tool enables operators to automate the entire payment process, reduce no-shows and chargebacks and streamline reconciliation. By consolidating operations and payments under one provider, RMS said operators save time, improve cash flow and mitigate fraud while giving guests a secure, consistent experience. To support the rollout, RMS named James MacRae head of payments, bringing experience from Visa, Sportsbet and ANZ.
Travelport, Fred. Olsen Travel, EasyJet
Travelport has signed a multi-year agreement with Fred. Olsen Travel, making Travelport the agency’s preferred global distribution system and ending its use of a dual-global distribution system strategy. Leisure consultants will use Travelport’s APIs to access content, while business travel teams will adopt the Smartpoint desktop.
Travelport and EasyJet have also renewed their content distribution agreement, ensuring agencies using Travelport+ can continue accessing the airline’s full retail-ready content with enhanced speed, choice and flexibility for travelers.
Safara launches Safara 360
Safara has launched Safara 360, a software-as-a-service platform designed to help independent hotels boost demand and enhance guest experiences.
The platform introduces a digital-first guest journey that consolidates reservation details from partner hotels in the Safara app, reducing reliance on email or direct hotel contact. It also enables hotels to collect and act on guest preferences ahead of arrival, improving personalization. A new zero-commission marketplace model should allow hotels to capture high-value bookings without online travel agency fees, targeting millennial and Gen Z travelers.
Casago expansion
Casago has expanded in San Diego, taking over more than 150 former Vacasa rentals through its local franchise led by Dave Carter, Bert King and Erik Trogden. The Carlsbad-based trio joined Casago in 2022, bringing 35 years of combined real estate experience and a focus on maximizing rental income while protecting property value.
The move is part of Casago’s push to replace centralized management with local operators who provide hands-on service, supported by national technology. Casago San Diego’s team, already recognized as Airbnb Superhosts and Vrbo Premier Partners, will continue offering personalized guest experiences.
Firsttrip's 'Combo Flight' feature
Firsttrip has launched a "Combo Flight" feature in Bangladesh, letting travelers mix two airlines in a single booking to save money and gain schedule flexibility. The tool covers domestic routes and allows users to choose different departure and arrival times, often at lower cost than single-airline trips.
The feature reflects Firsttrip’s push to innovate in online travel and offer Bangladeshi travelers more options, convenience and control over their itineraries without the friction of separate bookings.