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 Claude.
Expedia Group automates hotel onboarding
Expedia Group has introduced an automated onboarding process that allows hotels to join its distribution network through their existing connectivity software.
Hotels can select Expedia Group as a distribution channel and transfer property information, including rates, availability and amenities, without entering the data separately. Expedia Group said the process can be completed in less than 24 hours. The system was developed with five pilot partners: HotelRunner, Yanolja Cloud Solutions, RoomCloud, RateGain and Eviivo. It is part of a broader effort to automate hotel distribution processes.
Amadeus adds travel protection to iHotelier
Amadeus has expanded its iHotelier central reservation system to allow hotels to offer travel insurance and weather protection during the booking process.
The integration includes travel insurance from Battleface, covering trip cancellations, delays, medical emergencies and lost baggage, and automated Weather Guarantees from Sensible Weather, which compensate guests when qualifying weather conditions occur during their stay. Hotels can earn ancillary revenue from the products, while the providers handle coverage administration and claims.
Bilt, JetBlue
Bilt has partnered with JetBlue to allow members to transfer Bilt loyalty points to the airline's TrueBlue loyalty program at a 1:1 ratio.
Members can transfer points earned through housing payments and other eligible activities for use toward JetBlue flights and select partner airline flights. Bilt points can be transferred through its app and website in increments of 1,000 points. JetBlue becomes Bilt's 27th travel partner, including airlines, hotels and rail providers.
Tern adds hotel booking, commissions
Tern has launched hotel booking within its travel advisor platform, allowing advisors to search availability, compare rates and make reservations alongside their existing client and trip management workflows.
Tern guarantees commissions on bookings made through the platform, with payments automatically reconciled and sent to agencies or host agencies within seven days after checkout. The company also provides 24/7 booking support. Tern also introduced artificial intelligence (AI)-powered email marketing tools and a mobile app including hotel booking and trip management.
Visit Orlando appoints travel industry sales VP
Visit Orlando has appointed Adam Rogers VP of travel industry sales. He will oversee the destination marketing organization's global travel industry sales strategy and its travel industry sales and market development teams.
Rogers brings more than 30 years of experience in travel sales, marketing and leadership. Most recently, he served as VP of market management at Dnata Travel and previously held leadership roles at Hotelbeds, Kuoni and Meeting Point.
Altovo adds AI agents for flight sales
Altovo has introduced AI agent capabilities to its TradeDesk airline distribution platform, allowing AI assistants to search live fares and availability and hold seats for travelers.
Each participating airline operates its own AI booking server connected to its existing reservation system. Travelers receive a secure payment link to pay the airline directly, without the AI assistant handling payment details. Tickets are issued automatically after payment, while unpaid reservations are canceled and seats released when the airline's ticketing deadline passes. The capabilities are available to airlines using TradeDesk.
Visiting Media introduces AI search and staging tools
Visiting Media has introduced two AI capabilities designed to help hotels make their visual content accessible to AI search engines and create customized event space presentations.
Its AI search optimization feature converts information from hotel photography, 3D walkthroughs and virtual tours into structured metadata that AI systems can interpret. The AI staging tool allows hotel sales and marketing teams to use natural-language prompts to customize 3D and 360-degree walkthroughs for events while preserving the property's architectural features. The search optimization tool is rolling out to enterprise customers, while the staging tool is available for early access.
HIH Digital launches tour app
Ireland-based HIH Digital has launched CloverTrip, a white-label travel companion app for tour operators and group travel organizers.
Available for iOS and Android, the app provides travelers with day-by-day itineraries, offline maps, travel documents and trip updates. Operators can customize the app with their own branding and manage itineraries, content and translations through a back-office platform. Travelers access their trips using a code or QR code within the CloverTrip app. The platform is available for trips worldwide, with a free four-week pilot offered to operators.