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.
Travelport, Cognizant
Travelport and Cognizant are expanding their partnership to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into Travelport's technology platforms, products and operations.
The companies have completed the first phase of a modernization initiative announced in May, establishing the technical infrastructure for further AI development. The next phase includes introducing AI tools for software development, automating operational processes and developing AI capabilities for travel agencies and suppliers. Initial engineering work focuses on Travelport Trip Services, which handles bookings, exchanges, refunds and other servicing functions. Cognizant teams across 18 countries will participate in the initiative.
IDeaS, Accor
Accor has added IDeaS’ Optix business intelligence tool to the list of referenced solutions available to its hotels globally.
Optix provides commercial reporting and performance insights and is designed to cut the time hotel teams spend manually compiling reports. It plugs into Accor’s existing commercial tech stack and uses a modular design to fit brands from economy to luxury. IDeaS, a SAS company, already serves as Accor’s revenue management system of record.
Virgin Atlantic, Apexx Global
Virgin Atlantic has partnered with Apexx Global to expand payment capabilities across its airline and holiday businesses.
The first implementation introduces an open banking-enabled direct debit option for eligible Virgin Atlantic Holidays customers in the U.K., allowing them to pay directly from their bank accounts. The payment option is delivered through Apexx Global's payment orchestration platform, which Virgin Atlantic plans to use to expand payment options and manage payment processing costs.
Shiji launches hotel experience management platform
Shiji has launched Meridian Experiences globally, a platform that allows hotels and resorts to manage bookings and operations for spa treatments, golf, wellness programs, tours and other activities.
The cloud-based system combines inventory management, reservations, scheduling, payments and staff management. It can operate independently or integrate with Shiji's broader hospitality platform, allowing hotels to connect activity bookings with guest profiles and itineraries.
HTS, Serko
Hopper Technology Solutions (HTS) has partnered with Serko to integrate its cancellation protection product and lodging inventory into the Serko.ai corporate travel assistant.
The cancellation protection allows travelers to cancel eligible flights up to three hours before departure or hotel bookings before check-in and receive a refund to their original payment method, subject to terms and conditions. Serko.ai has also added HTS's lodging API.
London City Airport, Amadeus
London City Airport has selected Amadeus to provide self-service kiosks, automated bag-drop units and biometric technology.
The technology will allow travelers to enroll in biometrics once per trip for use during check-in and bag drop, with shared infrastructure available to all airlines operating at the airport. London City Airport has already introduced Amadeus' cloud-based passenger processing system, which allows airline staff to serve travelers from different locations throughout the terminal. The upgrades are intended to increase passenger capacity and reduce queues without expanding the existing terminal.
Pet Jet Travel launches flight booking platform
Pet Jet Travel, a Barcelona-based travel agency, has launched a platform designed to combine passenger flight bookings with arrangements for pets traveling in the cabin or aircraft hold, as well as assistance dogs.
The platform uses New Distribution Capability (NDC) technology and AI agents to check pet documentation, weight, carrier dimensions and airline requirements before booking requests are submitted. Pet Jet Travel recently received International Air Transport Association accreditation and has completed a booking test in its own test environment. The company plans to add more airlines as they make pet booking services available through NDC.
Nezasa introduces AI agent for trip risk management
Nezasa has launched Tai Guard, an AI agent that helps tour and package operators identify flight, destination and connection risks before departure.
The tool uses historical and real-time flight data from OAG to assess flight reliability alongside travel alerts and itinerary connections. Operators can customize risk criteria and direct findings to staff or other AI agents for follow-up, with human approval required where specified. Tai Guard is available through Nezasa's Tai Workbench platform and integrates with its TripBuilder software or other booking systems.
1-CP launches AI agent for corporate travel bookings
1-CP has launched a browser-based AI agent that allows business travelers to book directly on airline, hotel, rail and car rental websites while applying corporate travel policies and payment controls.
Available through the Chrome Web Store, the agent checks bookings against company policies, uses virtual corporate cards for payment and captures booking and invoice data for reconciliation. The tool is designed to support bookings outside managed travel channels without requiring supplier integrations. A major German company is piloting the technology with travelers, travel arrangers and assistants.
ETG, Traveloka
Emerging Travel Group (ETG) and Traveloka have partnered to expand accommodation distribution across their platforms.
Traveloka will access ETG's hotel inventory through the RateHawk API, adding accommodation options across Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and the U.S. ETG will also incorporate Traveloka's accommodation inventory across Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, into its distribution network.
Corporate Traveler launches AI travel assistant
Corporate Traveler has launched Mel, an AI assistant integrated into its Melon business travel platform.
The assistant provides personalized answers based on traveler profiles, booking history and company travel policies. It can answer itinerary and policy questions, provide information about travel disruptions and escalate issues requiring additional assistance to a travel consultant. Mel is also accessible through Slack and is available to customers in the U.S., Canada and the U.K., with plans to expand to additional markets.
OpenVoy to launch CRM for tour operators
OpenVoy will launch an AI-powered customer relationship management and operations platform for multi-day tour operators at World Travel Market London in November.
The platform generates personalized travel proposals based on operators' products and destination knowledge, with travel professionals reviewing and approving proposals before they are sent to customers. It also supports itinerary planning, bookings, customer communications and automated follow-ups. OpenVoy said the platform was tested by 22 travel companies over six months, with preliminary results showing a 52% reduction in response times.