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.
Airbnb, Delta
Airbnb and Delta Air Lines have expanded their partnership, allowing SkyMiles members to earn miles beyond stays. Users now earn three miles per $1 on qualifying Airbnb experiences and services and one mile per $1 on stays.
Previously, rewards applied only to stays. Travelers must link accounts and book within a set window to qualify, with mileage estimates shown before booking. The update aims to extend loyalty benefits across more parts of a trip and encourage repeat travel by linking accommodation and activities with airline rewards.
Ripe, GuideGeek
Ripe and GuideGeek have partnered to integrate Ripe’s real-time lodging data into GuideGeek’s artificial intelligence (AI) travel tools. The integration allows travelers to receive personalized recommendations with live availability and pricing, plus direct booking links through destination platforms.
Aimed at destination marketing organizations, it supports direct bookings and reduces reliance on online travel agencies and their commissions. The collaboration is designed to keep more tourism revenue within local markets while improving the accuracy and usefulness of AI-driven trip planning.
BizTrip AI builds product strategy team
BizTrip AI has appointed Valerie Layman as head of product strategy to lead product vision and work with enterprise clients. She brings more than 20 years of experience in corporate travel and SaaS, with previous leadership roles at BirchStreet Systems, Yapta and Coupa.
The company also hired Katherine Tomera as director of product management. These hires support BizTrip AI’s growth and development of its AI-driven platform for managing corporate travel decisions across policy, budget and suppliers in real time.
Casago, Roam
Casago has partnered with Roam to offer flexible cancellation options while protecting homeowner income. Roam’s platform covers lost revenue from cancelled bookings if dates are not rebooked, allowing operators to offer more flexible policies without financial risk.
The integration is designed to improve booking conversion, visibility and booking windows. It gives Casago’s franchise network a way to stay competitive while maintaining consistent returns for property owners.
Homhero appoints CTO
Homhero, a property management and channel management software provider in Australia and New Zealand, has appointed Dominik Wilkowski as CTO. He previously managed large engineering teams at Shopify and served as CTO at The Working Party.
At Shopify, he worked on improving app APIs and led a rapid product design update while maintaining high system uptime. At Homhero, he will focus on product development and solving technical challenges in the short-term rental sector.
Key Data CEO to retire
Key Data CEO and co-founder Jason Sprenkle will retire at the end of May, with president Dustin Downing set to take over as CEO in a planned transition.
Sprenkle will remain on the board to support the handover. Downing, who joined as president in April, brings experience from technology and data-focused companies and will focus on product development and growth. Sprenkle led the company for more than eight years, helping establish it as a key provider of market intelligence for the short-term rental sector.
Duetto promotes Schäffner
Duetto has promoted Michael Schäffner to the role of chief sales officer from his previous position as SVP of global sales. He will lead the company’s global commercial operations, including sales strategy and enterprise partnerships.
Schäffner has experience in hospitality and technology, with roles at major hotel organizations and tech firms. His appointment comes as Duetto focuses more on large-scale partnerships and adapting to industry pressures such as rising costs and tighter margins. The company is positioning its platform to help hospitality businesses link revenue decisions more directly to overall profitability.
Visiting Media, UpMail
Visiting Media has partnered with UpMail to integrate virtual tours into digital sales proposals for hotel teams. The combined platform replaces static PDFs with interactive, trackable proposals, allowing sales teams to monitor client engagement and tailor follow-ups.
Early results show improved performance, including a reported increase in conversion rates at a resort using the solution. The partnership aims to help hotels present properties more effectively and use data insights to improve sales outcomes.
Not In The Guide Books lands investment
Maven Cognition has made an investment in Not In the Guide Books (NITGB) to support its growth in the U.K. and international travel markets. Founded in 2018, NITGB offers curated, locally hosted travel experiences through a mix of travel agents and direct sales.
The company uses a repeatable model for building destination offerings, already proven in Lapland and expanding to markets like Morocco, Sri Lanka and Costa Rica. As part of the deal, travel entrepreneur Richard Downs has joined as chair. The funding will help scale operations, expand destinations and invest in technology.
Agoda, Macao Tourism
Agoda has expanded its partnership with the Macao Government Tourism Office to promote boutique and independent hotels, focusing on the Outer Harbour District.
The campaign builds on earlier efforts and targets a wider range of international markets, including parts of Asia, the Middle East and newer segments such as Brazil and Central Asia. It aims to increase visibility for smaller properties and encourage exploration beyond core tourist areas. The move follows rising interest in Macao from diverse regions, particularly strong growth in searches from the Middle East and several Asian countries.
TravelX appoints APAC director
TravelX has appointed Bryan Olaguer as APAC director to support expansion in Asia Pacific and strengthen airline partnerships. He will focus on regional strategy and adoption of the company’s platform.
Olaguer has more than 20 years of experience in airline revenue management, most recently at Philippine Airlines, and previously at Etihad Airways. His background includes pricing, distribution and system modernization. The hire reflects TravelX’s push to grow its presence in APAC and develop new revenue opportunities from existing airline bookings.
Porter Airlines, HTS
Porter Airlines partnered with Hopper Technology Solutions (HTS) to offer Delay and Cancellation Assistance, an optional add-on for passengers facing same-day disruptions.
HTS monitors flights, alerts travelers when a flight is delayed more than two hours or canceled within 24 hours of departure and lets eligible customers rebook on any airline up to a maximum amount. Passengers who do not accept rebooking options can receive a full refund while keeping their original flight. The product operates separately from Canada’s APPR.