Amazon's New AI Tools: How Travel Companies Are Using AWS

New York City is practically synonymous with New Year’s Eve. The entire world watches and waits for the ball to drop in Times Square, while revelers at the crossroads of the world and across the boroughs celebrate the upcoming New Year. Plenty of restaurants far away from the chaos are also hosting celebrations for festive meals, toasts and a fun ambiance to ring in the 2024. Here’s where to celebrate:

Skiing and snowboarding got a big participation boost from the pandemic, and leisure travel in general has been running at a frenetic pace, with demand often outstripping supply. As a result, many top winter vacation destinations are more expensive than ever. Because Marriott’s Bonvoy is the world’s largest hotel loyalty program, many frequent travelers and those who accrue points through business travel will be looking to redeem their earnings for much needed “free” vacation stays.

Alaska Airlines’ proposed $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, announced earlier this week, has the potential to alter the existing U.S. air travel landscape significantly. Whether that would prove to be for better or worse remains to be seen, but plenty of experts are already weighing in with predictions.

For most New Yorkers, Times Square is a place to be avoided at all times—especially and unequivocally on New Year’s Eve. The Ball Drop looks fun and exciting when watched from the warmth and privacy of your couch but in real life, it looks like a million people packed between police barricades and squished up against each other in the cold for way too many hours, waiting for a 10-second countdown. And there are no public restrooms.

Slow travel. Conscious travel. Regenerative travel. These are all terms that went from the fringes to the mainstream in recent years, as thoughtful tourists—and the travel agent, destination management specialists and tour operators who make their dreams come true—have started to consider the consequences for the places they visit.

As a travel company, managing risk is extremely important. Claims or lawsuits are not only a financial burden on your company — potentially resulting in bankruptcy — but can also destroy its reputation. A tainted reputation will also impact the financial health of your company. The fitness of your company depends upon you following strict risk management protocols. In its many years of administering travel industry claims, Aon has identified seven common missteps that have resulted in a claim or a poor outcome. Kenneth F. Whitman, Esq., Senior Program Manager and Counsel for the Travel Agents and Tour Operators Professional Liability Program at Aon, details how to protect your company and what should be done to avoid these detrimental missteps.

In September New York City introduced stringent restrictions on short-term rentals leading to news very quickly that Airbnb bookings in the city had “dried up”.  And this is by no means new, cities like Barcelona and Berlin already have strict restrictions on short-term rental properties, requiring hosts to obtain a licence to operate.

Trip.com Group said Thursday that it has selected Amazon Web Services as its “strategic cloud provider” in a multiyear deal meant to drive innovations in travel bookings, personalized recommendations, and customer service. 

The psychology of luxury travel has shifted since the pandemic. There’s been a change not only in what luxury travelers are looking for, but even in something as basic as the way many are thinking about travel.

It’s beginning to look a lot like the holiday season, and one of the most iconic kick offs is here with the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting.

Imagine trying to get something to eat at an airport when you’re changing planes on a tight connection many gates or corridors apart: grabbing, and then waiting on line to pay for, even a sandwich might be impossible. Due to an all-mobile innovation called flo™ Xgen, though, developed by the airport culinary concessionaire OTG for use in its restaurants, food halls and markets, a delicious, freshly prepared meal can soon be ordered up to 24 hours in advance and either picked up or delivered to the connecting gate. Called Order Ahead, it’s scheduled to be available by Q1 2024 in all 11 North American airports (10 in the U.S. plus Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada) where the company operates 350 outlets in 23 terminals. (Those with more time can use the platform now to order while in the terminal.) And it’s not the only introduction on track.

Amazon Cyber Monday deals are here, and that means there are still plenty of opportunities for travelers to save on holiday gifts or travel gear restocks of their own. As always, discounts span nearly all categories, from tech to apparel to luggage. Among the highlights: Tablets from Samsung and Google, Yeti coolers and drinkware, and suitcases from Samsonite and American Traveler. Below, find dozens of the best Cyber Monday deals on Amazon to shop now, and keep checking back for more discounts you'll want to snag before Cyber Week comes to a close.