Travel Technology tips

At ITB Berlin – the world’s leading travel trade show – Weeva launched its new AI capabilities in an industry-defining first for the travel and tourism sector. Since providing a preview of the new AI features at the Phocuswright Conference in October 2023, the formal launch now means that the award-winning sustainability management platform is the first to integrate generative AI capabilities into its user experience.

New federal rules around airline junk fees and refunds are meant to protect consumers but they overlook the logistics of making it happen, according to Laura Chadwick, president and CEO of the Travel Technology Association.

Google said Wednesday that it is releasing new features that share options for traveling in ways that are more environmentally friendly.

Tourism.co.th is excited to announce the debut of Thailand.org, a groundbreaking website aimed at transforming how tourists experience Thailand. This platform not only highlights the authentic essence of Thai culture but also underscores sustainable tourism practices. As a non-governmental agency, Tourism.co.th ensures that Thailand.org serves as a beacon for travelers intent on exploring Thailand responsibly.

Travelsoft Group, the European leader in travel SaaS comprising the renowned brands Orchestra, Traffics, and Travel Compositor, is proud to announce the launch of its second StartUp Contest. With prizes worth up to €250,000, the competition aims to identify and support innovative startups in the technology and travel sectors across Europe. Travelsoft StartUps Contest, conducted jointly with Travelsoft brand Travel Compositor, which organised the first edition of this contest in 2022, and the other Travelsoft Group companies Orchestra and Traffics, will select up to three winning projects among those that participate. Available in Spain, France, Italy, and Germany, it welcomes technology and travel-based ventures with a history of up to two years in the market.

Destination NSW has launched a new corporate website that provides a dynamic digital hub for visitor economy stakeholders seeking the latest research, information, tools and resources to support their growth. The state-of-the-art platform caters to the needs of its diverse community of users with data and insights on visitors and markets; training, resources and other business support via the NSW First Program; a newsroom featuring media releases and updates; information on major event investment, industry, and business events; and the latest marketing campaigns and partner toolkits.

The Singapore Hydrogen Cooperation Committee sees hydrogen fuel playing a potential role in the state’s aviation decarbonisation journey.

FlightsChannel has been in existence since 2016 and they have found that a number of their customers are from Latin America, who prefer to deal in Spanish language. This Online Travel Agency (OTA) offers air tickets to passengers flying from, to, or between the USA, Canada, and Mexico. So, far English has been the language of choice for offering flight tickets to customers. Recently they have launched a Spanish site with every functionality that is available in the English version of their website. This has been done according to the demand for tickets from the Spanish-speaking community in the USA itself.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has launched a new app for Apple Watch users that will provide them access to the latest information about their flight from their wrists.

As we step into the promising dawn of 2024, the world is poised for a transformative journey in the realm of global travel. The travel industry, having weathered the storms of the past, is set to soar to new heights, embracing innovation, sustainability, and a redefined sense of exploration. Revolutionizing Technology: The advent of cutting-edge technologies is reshaping the way we travel. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are becoming integral tools for immersive travel experiences, allowing individuals to virtually explore destinations before making a commitment. Advanced artificial intelligence (AI) is enhancing personalized travel recommendations, making every journey tailor-made for the individual preferences of the traveler.

Travellers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) plan to increase their spending on breaks and holidays over the next three years and will have more of an eye on sustainability than ever before. In fact, most now check the sustainability of their travel plans, and are prepared to pay over 20% more for environmentally-friendly accommodation.

Boom Supersonic, the company building the world’s fastest airliner, announced multiple milestones across the Overture airliner, Symphony engine, and XB-1 supersonic demonstrator programs. The company also confirmed closing of an investment round, including a strategic investment from the NEOM Investment Fund (NIF). Boom’s total funding to date now exceeds $700 million.

Frankfurt Airport is set to expand its suite of biometric touchpoints to passengers of all airlines within the facility.

Hospitality technology solutions providers WorldVue® and Infrateq have announced they have signed an agreement that will mark the entry of WorldVue’s full tech stack into the EMEA region powered by Infrateq.

History tends to repeat itself, particularly in the travel industry. We resist or fear change, predicting the end to life in the sector as we know it; then we adapt; we survive; and the learning process is then, somehow, erased from our memory.

Travel Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) group Travelsoft is thrilled to announce a significant milestone in its journey to revolutionise the travel tech industry. Today, Travelsoft welcomed Capza, a prominent investment firm, through its Flex Equity Mid-Market II fund, to accelerate and fortify the company’s ongoing consolidation strategy.

United Airlines has announced that it will launch a suite of new tools and policies at the end of 2023 that have been designed to improve the travel experience for customers who use a wheelchair.

DidaTravel – a tech-driven global travel distribution company – has warned that western hotels have missed a great window of opportunity for capturing the attention of international outbound Chinese tourists by not actively promoting their properties ahead of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival currently taking place this week.

In a dynamic world where technology is rapidly advancing, the hospitality industry is at the precipice of a transformative era. Embracing innovative technologies promises to elevate guest experiences, empower hospitality employees, and streamline operations. Rotana, one of the leading hotel management companies in the region with hotels across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and Türkiye ,  has recognized the potential of technology and is at the forefront of this revolution. In a recent interview with Thynk.Cloud, Guy Hutchinson, President and CEO of Rotana, sheds light on the future of hospitality and emphasizes the need to break down silos to fully harness the benefits of technology.

More than 400 global travel leaders have arrived in Singapore today for the start of the annual Web in Travel (WiT) conference.  In response to the rapid acceleration of AI, this year’s event is dedicated to taking control of its growing presence in travel. The event, titled ‘The Human Revolution’ and taking place from October 2-4, will focus on the scale of change within the travel industry and the ongoing evolution of artificial intelligence.  It seeks to find a solution in how humans and machines can work together to bring personal, authentic and imaginative experiences to travellers – but recognising that humans need to push the capabilities of technology, rather than the other way around. 

Saudi Tourism Authority and Ant Group have signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) to explore introducing Alipay+, a suite of unified global mobile payment and marketing solutions, to Saudi Arabia, aiming to provide a seamless mobile payment experience for Asian tourists in Saudi and beyond and to further expand Alipay+’s global coverage.