Here's our roundup of the people, product and partner news from the global travel industry this week.
This roundup was created with the assistance of ChatGPT.
Loveholidays names VP of land
Loveholidays has named Sarah Helppi VP of land, a new role created as the online travel agency (OTA) splits its product organization into land and air functions. Land will include accommodations and ancillaries.
Helppi will lead the company’s Land marketplace and commercial supply teams. She joins from Trainline, where she was general manager for the U.K. and foreign travel, and previously held leadership roles at eBay and Expedia.
EDreams scales Prime in South Africa
EDreams Odigeo has moved its Prime subscription service in South Africa into full-scale expansion after more than a year of operating in the market.
The company said South African subscribers have a Net Promoter Score of 62, and that the country’s domestic travel demand, digital maturity and smartphone penetration make it a strong fit for the model. The move is part of the brand’s broader plan to grow Prime to more than 13 million subscribers by 2030.
Key Data appoints president
Key Data has appointed Dustin Downing as president to support its growth and product expansion. He brings nearly 20 years of experience in data-driven technology, including roles at Sabre, LTK and OrderMyGear. At Sabre, he worked on core travel products, led product development and has scaled technology teams in other companies.
Downing will focus on improving products and AI capabilities, refining go-to-market strategy and strengthening operations. His appointment comes as demand rises for real-time data in the short-term rental sector, where companies increasingly rely on data and AI to guide decisions.
Lumo, BizTrip AI
Lumo and BizTrip AI have partnered to combine predictive disruption technology with agent-based AI for corporate travel. The integration brings Lumo’s flight disruption predictions into BizTrip AI’s platform, enabling real-time, automated travel decisions.
The system allows companies to adjust itineraries, reduce risk, and manage costs proactively rather than reacting to issues. It also coordinates factors like policy, budget and traveler preferences. The goal is to improve efficiency and traveler experience while reducing disruption-related costs through automation and predictive insights.
Smartvel's accessibility tool
Smartvel has launched TravelAble, a platform that helps passengers with reduced mobility navigate air travel by providing personalized, step-by-step guidance. It consolidates fragmented airline and airport accessibility information into one system, tailored to individual needs such as mobility equipment and travel context.
The platform explains procedures across the journey and simplifies technical service codes into plain language. It addresses common issues like unclear information and uncertainty around equipment handling. TravelAble can be integrated into digital platforms, offering benefits for both travelers and operators, and is expected to expand to support a broader range of accessibility needs.
Nuitée, Globe Thrivers
Nuitée and Globe Thrivers have announced a partnership to add hotel search and booking to Globe Thrivers’ creator-led travel platform.
Globe Thrivers will use Nuitée’s hotel API infrastructure and content to expand its global lodging inventory while keeping booking within a social, community-driven experience. The deal is meant to better connect travel inspiration, planning and booking, while also giving creators a way to earn commission when their hotel recommendations lead to trips.
Track, Expedia Group
Track, formerly TravelNet Solutions, has expanded its support for hotel properties on Expedia Group through a completed integration with the company’s Reservation Delivery, Reservation Retrieval, Availability and Rates and Product APIs.
The integration gives Track hotel partners a more automated and scalable connection to Expedia Group, including real-time reservation data, automated rate and availability updates and more flexible management of rooms, rates and amenities.
Dida, Tsinghua x-lab
Dida has signed a five-year partnership with Tsinghua x-lab to develop travel technology and support talent development. The agreement deepens existing collaboration, linking academic research with industry needs to speed up practical, scalable solutions.
The partnership will focus on R&D, project incubation and training future professionals. It builds on prior initiatives including a 2025 hackathon. Dida also announced a global travel tech competition to expand innovation internationally. The collaboration aims to better connect academia and industry in travel technology.
Traveloris AI booking engine
Traveloris said its artificial intelligence (AI) trip planning and booking engine has gone live on Tasmania.com and Cairns Discovery Tours, marking a new deployment for the Australian travel technology company.
Traveloris said the product combines personalized itinerary planning with single-transaction checkout, allowing travel businesses to add AI-driven trip planning and booking to their own websites. The company said the platform is built for real-world travel logistics, including routing, opening hours, availability and bookability, while also offering inventory connectivity, analytics and website integration.
Navan launches audit engine
Navan has launched an audit engine for its business travel and expense platform with more than 45 configurable checks, including anti-corruption and bribery screening.
The company said the tool uses AI and transaction data to flag risks such as sanctioned individuals, politically exposed persons, excessive tipping, fraudulent receipts and policy violations in real time. The audit engine is now available to customers globally, while its anti-corruption and bribery check is in beta ahead of a broader rollout.
TProfile, Nomupay
TProfile has partnered with Nomupay to integrate payment processing directly into travel booking workflows. The integration enables travel agencies, tour operators and cruise companies to offer multiple payment options, including cards, digital wallets, pay-by-bank and local methods, within a single system.
The companies said the approach is designed to reduce friction in the booking process and support conversion. Nomupay’s acquiring network also expands TProfile’s ability to support cross-border transactions through one integration.
HI USA, Cloudbeds
Hostelling International USA (HI USA)has selected Cloudbeds to modernize operations across its hostel network. The cloud-based platform will unify property management, distribution, revenue and guest experience systems, replacing legacy workflows and supporting more standardized operations.
HI USA said the move is part of a broader digital transformation aimed at improving efficiency and operational visibility. The system is also intended to give property teams greater autonomy while streamlining day-to-day processes.
NextTrip partners with QSTAK on tokenized rewards
NextTrip has partnered with QSTAK to develop a tokenized rewards layer for its travel platform, linking content engagement with booking activity. The system will allow users to earn digital tokens through actions such as watching content and completing bookings, with rewards redeemable for future travel.
The companies said the approach is intended to deepen engagement and create new monetization opportunities beyond traditional advertising. QSTAK’s infrastructure also introduces a model for leveraging digital assets and supporting non-dilutive capital strategies tied to platform activity.
Repayd appoints Erik Crouch to support expansion
Repayd has appointed Erik Crouch as it expands its global payments business in the travel sector. Crouch, who previously worked at PaymentCloud, will focus on growing Repayd’s merchant base and partner channels, including ISOs and agents.
The company said the hire reflects rising demand for payment infrastructure tailored to travel, particularly for cross-border and high-value transactions. Repayd provides multi-currency merchant accounts designed to address sector-specific challenges such as long booking cycles and deferred delivery, as travel companies seek to scale internationally.