LVMH partners with Accor to fuel Orient Express growth

Duetto, the hotel revenue management company, said Thursday that it has been acquired by private equity firm GrowthCurve Capital.

Vitruvian Partners has purchased a further ownership stake in Civitatis, the leading curated online marketplace for guided tours and activities for Spanish and Portuguese speaking consumers, investing an additional USD 50m. Civitatis continues to be led by the founder and CEO Alberto Gutiérrez, who established the company in 2008. Civitatis is a rare example of a company that has been cashflow positive from day one, built by its founder without any external capital. The Company remains on track to be a future Spanish unicorn, as a curated marketplace for the large and growing tours and activities category, underpinned by a rapid digitalization tailwind.  Founder and CEO Alberto Gutiérrez said, “Our growth and profitability have been fuelled by a combination of highly effective sales channels, well-invested technology platform, and a customer-centric approach, providing the activities and tours in our customers’ own preferred language. Our customers appreciate our expertly curated catalogues of activities across the world, as well as the easy booking and, of course, the outstanding experience that they have with us. With the support of Vitruvian, we are continuing to expand our offerings and meet the demands of our rapidly growing customer base.”

Vitruvian Partners, an international investment firm, made an additional $50 million venture investment in Civitatis, a curated marketplace for tours and activities mainly serving travelers from Spain and Latin America.

India’s leading financial services company Paytm has partnered with travel aggregators Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Wego to enhance its travel segment offerings. 

Explora Journeys is launching a partnership with the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup and will be sponsoring Emirates Team New Zealand at the prestigious sailing competition later this year.

Until this year, I'd never been on a cruise — and I swore I never would. As someone anxious in general, I had plenty of reservations. What if there was a norovirus outbreak? What if I got seasick? What if the ship hit an iceberg, sinking like the Titanic? But as I brainstormed potential Spring break destinations with my 10-year-old, I reconsidered.

Lifestyle hotels continue to be the must-have item in the hospitality industry.

I walked around Singapore Changi Airport feeling like a kid at summer camp for the first time. It was my first trip away from my family in a decade.

I took my first cruise in April 2022 on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas — one of the largest cruise ships in the world. For the seven-night cruise to the Caribbean, I brought just a carry-on suitcase and a backpack.

Accor and LVMH have announced a strategic partnership aimed at revitalizing Orient Express, an iconic brand renowned for its luxurious travel experiences dating back to 1883. Originally known for its opulent train journeys, Orient Express is expanding its portfolio to include new ventures in trains, hotels, and sailing ships under Accor’s ownership since 2022.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is opposing Marriott International’s bid to trademark City Express by Marriott.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, June 14, 2024. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.