Justin Dawes travel tips

It was a hotel-heavy week at Skift, with stories of Accor’s big investor day as well as reporting from the annual HITEC conference in Toronto. Travel tech reporter Justin Dawes was there to explain the current state of hotel technology, as well as question some of the future ideas.

Four tech startups involved with the travel industry announced fundraises of more than $31 million in the past week.

Microsoft’s announcement Thursday of new tools powered by generative AI included several examples relevant to travelers. 

Google has released an updated version of the Bard generative AI chatbot that includes extensions with real-time travel data for flights and hotels. 

HotelRunner, a hotel tech startup, has acquired the point of sale software company PayPad. 

Tripla, which provides a booking engine to hotels in Japan and Southeast Asia, has acquired a travel tech company in Indonesia.

Four travel tech startups have announced nearly $12 million in funding over the past week.

CDS Groupe, a hotel booking platform for business travel, is expanding into the German market through an acquisition. 

Apple revealed travel-related features available in the next generation of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. 

Artificial intelligence has been a major discussion in travel over the last year, and that’s why the theme of the Skift Global Forum is Connection in the Age of AI.

10 travel tech startups announced over $78 million in funding over the past two weeks. 

Most of the big travel companies — Priceline, Tripadvisor, Booking.com, and more — have released AI trip planning tools on their websites. 

Expedia Group has completed another round of layoffs. Tript Singh Lamba, a senior vice president of the travel booking giant, sent an internal message about the layoffs last Thursday, which was obtained by GeekWire.

Hosts of at least 23,000 short-term rentals in New York City are being forced to reevaluate or end their businesses as Airbnb blocks them from making new bookings. 

Six Flags said Tuesday that it plans to release generative AI tools in partnership with Google Cloud.

Three startups involved in the travel industry announced fundraises this week totalling more than $316 million.

Clarity Business Travel, a corporate travel agency based in the UK, plans to purchase two corporate travel businesses for £36.5 million ($46 million).

When George Limbert began as president of Red Roof, he met with franchise operators of the hotel brand to better understand what was going well — and what was not. 

Just about everyone has heard of Airbnb. 

Busbud, an online marketplace for bus and other ground transport tickets, is now offering more software services to operators in that industry following a company acquisition. 

Following a legal battle that lasted 11 years, American Airlines Group wants to force defendant Sabre Corp to pay its legal fees. 

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, November 3. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.