Here’s our roundup of the people, product and partner news from the global travel industry this week.
Sabre partnerships
Sabre Corporation announced a multi-year agreement
with ISON Travel, a United Kingdom-based corporate travel management company (TMC).
This partnership will support ISON Travel’s expansion into
the United States, providing access to Sabre’s travel marketplace and enabling the
company to streamline operations through Sabre’s technology solutions.
Sabre has also partnered with TMC World Travel Inc. The agreement will enable World Travel agents to access
travel content available in Sabre’s travel marketplace including NDC offers alongside traditional
EDIFACT content.
“We are committed to excellence in customer service and so is
Sabre,” said Liz Mandarino, CEO at World Travel Inc. “Sabre is skillfully
taking us into the next phase of our technological evolution, helping us
navigate the ever-changing and complex technology environment in order to
better serve our customers and gain further expansion opportunities worldwide.”
SmartRyde unveils B2B website
SmartRyde, a provider of private airport transfer services,
has announced the launch of its B2B website.
The platform aims to streamline the booking process for
travel agencies, corporate clients and event planners, providing them with
seamless access to premium airport transfer options worldwide. In addition, the
website allows businesses to quickly browse and book private transfer services.
“At SmartRyde, we understand the importance of reliable
transportation in the travel industry,” said Sota Kimura, CEO of SmartRyde. “Our
mission is to create a global ecosystem of ground transportations that is
accessible for everyone. This portal would be used by not only OTAs but also
TTAs, Hotels and Corporate customers. We will extend our technology and
services not only to the big travel players but also to the small-mid size
agent partners. Our B2B portal is designed to enhance the booking experience
for our partners, offering them a competitive edge in providing top-notch
service to their customers.”
Amadeus partnerships
Air Canada has announced that it will be working with
Amadeus, a leader in travel technology, to help rebook disrupted passengers in 10 minutes, down from the 12 hours it can take when disruptions are managed manually.
Amadeus’
Passenger Recovery solution proposes optimal solutions for
passengers quickly, even when a significant number of flights are disrupted.
In addition, Amadeus has signed a new distribution agreement with Delta Airlines, paving the way for enhanced content. The new agreement lays the
groundwork for the introduction of new distribution capabilities (NDC) and will
continue to provide Amadeus-connected travel sellers access to Delta’s full
range of content.
Wendy Wu Tours, TProfile
Wendy Wu Tours, a U.K.based
tour operator specialising in Asia, has partnered with travel technology specialist TProfile
to transform how travel agents access and showcase specialist tours.
The collaboration intends to empower agents with high-quality content,
including visuals and immersive videos to inspire prospective customers and
enhance the booking journey. It is also expected to streamline operations for
agents, providing a seamless customer experience while driving sales growth.
“This partnership is a
gamechanger for travel agents,” said Gary King, head of trade sales at Wendy Wu
Tours. “By joining forces with TProfile, we are enabling our agent partners to
provide an even greater scope of itineraries and travel options, enriched by
our extensive touring expertise. With access to our high-quality content,
agents can now seamlessly inspire customers with the incredible, immersive
experiences that Wendy Wu Tours is renowned for. This partnership will
significantly enhance agent interactions with customers, ultimately driving
more sales and creating lifelong memories for travelers.”
Mirai, Oracle Cloud Marketplace
Mirai, a provider of booking engine web design and metasearch connectivity
for hotels and a member of Oracle Partner Network (OPN), has announced that
Mirai Opera Cloud App is available on Oracle Cloud Marketplace.
The integration allows hotels to differentiate their direct channel
strategy from that of the OTAs and offer unique advantages to customers
to book direct. Both ARI (Availability, Rates and Inventory) and reservations
are integrated so hoteliers can focus exclusively on helping maximize the
revenue of their properties and optimize their channel mix over a simplified
tech stack.
“Easing our clients’ operations and developing direct integrations with
the best partners in the hotel industry has always been our goal. Running on
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Mirai is a solid and reliable technology stack
that will help hoteliers reduce manual work and focus on what really matters:
optimizing revenue, reducing distribution costs and running the business,” said
Pablo Delgado, managing partner at Mirai.
Accelya, Air Transat
Airline distribution technology specialist Accelya has
announced a partnership with Air Transat, a Montreal-based carrier.
The partnership will allow Air Transat to utilize Accelya’s FLX Platform to deliver personalized offers, enhance traveler experiences and
take control of its distribution.
“Accelya
continues to increase NDC enabled modern retailing with our FLX Platform, and
this agreement with Air Transat emphasizes our leadership position,” said Sam
Gilliland, CEO of Accelya. “Airlines have their own distribution strategies and
technology environments, and we pride ourselves on our platform’s open and
modular design. At Air Transat, Accelya is Integrating with Radixx Res, an
example of our FLX platform’s ability to interface with existing technology and
bring modern retailing capabilities to airlines.”
InterLnkd, FlightHub
Ancillary revenue technology specialist InterLnkd has announced a partnership with Canadian online travel company FlightHub.
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Leveraging
InterLnkd’s innovative AI-driven solution, the new virtual shopping mall
provides FlightHub customers with personalized shopping recommendations from
thousands of fashion, beauty and retail brands, specially curated for their
upcoming vacations.
“We are always looking for ways to enhance our
online offering for travelers,” said Ramzi Rahbani, vice president of products
and customer platforms & innovation at FlightHub. “Powered by InterLnkd,
our new travel shopping platform does just that by bringing a curated shopping
experience to our customers across Canada, helping them find the perfect
fashion, beauty, and essential products for their upcoming vacations.”
Mews, BWH Hotels
Hospitality technology specialist Mews has partnered with BWH
Hotels to become a certified property management system provider.
With Mews, BHW Hotels will have access to hospitality technologies
to help boost operational efficiencies and guest satisfaction.
“The collaboration with Mews
aligns with BWH’s dedication to delivering exceptional guest experiences. Mews’
cloud-native platform offers flexibility and scalability, enabling European BWH
properties to seamlessly integrate Mews with their existing systems and
adhering to our commitment to technological advancement and operational
excellence,” said Ron Pohl, president of WorldHotels and international operations at BWH Hotels. “We look forward to working with Mews to help
increase hotel operational efficiencies and guest satisfaction.”
RTS Labs, Twiddy & Co.
RTS Labs, a provider of AI
solutions, and Twiddy & Co., a vacation rental management firm, have
announced a partnership to blend Twiddy’s southern hospitality expertise with
cutting-edge AI technology.
By combining Twiddy’s focus on
personalized guest care with RTS Labs’ AI expertise, the partnership will
enhance customer interactions, streamline operations and improve business
performance.
“AI is giving hours, even days, back
to our team, empowering us to foster stronger relationships with both owners
and guests,” said Blake Stockslager, CIO at Twiddy & Co. “With RTS Labs’
support, we’ve been able to reduce our workload backlog, handle customer needs
24/7, and focus on prioritizing and resolving guest concerns in real time.”
The Data Appeal Company, Visa
The Data Appeal Company, part of
Almawave Group and a platform that specializes in data and AI, has entered a
partnership with payments specialist Visa.
This collaboration will enable The Data Appeal Company to offer deeper
insights into tourist behavior, specifically focusing on visitor spending at
top global destinations.
“This agreement enhances our ability to help destinations understand and
respond to visitor needs, allowing us to support DMOs in crafting tourism
promotion strategies that are data-driven and impactful,” said Valeria Sandei,
CEO of Almawave.
DragonPass, Boddy
DragonPass, a specialist in travel and
lifestyle benefits, has partnered with Boddy, a Swiss-based travel-tech company specializing
in wellness experiences for global travelers.
The partnership will focus on
scaling their combined offerings across The Americas, Europe, the Middle East
and Asia. In addition, it will enable DragonPass’ clients, including payment
networks, global banks, insurers, airports and telecom providers, to enrich
their customers’ travel experiences with exclusive access to Boddy’s vast
network of health clubs and wellness centers. DragonPass’ own customers will also
gain access to a broad range of wellness services.
“Our collaboration with BODDY
aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver unparalleled travel
experiences,” said Sam Heins, chief product officer at DragonPass. “With Boddy’s
expertise in connecting travelers to top-tier fitness & wellness
experiences worldwide, we are excited to offer a new dimension of health and
well-being to our members and partners across the globe and to jointly
strengthen our presence in emerging markets.”
SITA appoints senior vice president
SITA, the air transport industry’s
IT provider, has announced the appointment of Nathalie Altwegg as senior vice president
of its airports business unit.
Altwegg plans to spearhead SITA’s
further growth in the airports market, building on the company’s presence in
more than 1,000 airports globally, as well as its drive to reinvent and
digitalize operations and journeys across the world through cutting edge
technology and innovation.
“We’re world leaders in the airport market,
focusing on the future of our thousands of airport, airline and ground handler
customers across the world,” Altwegg said. “We’re bringing great changes as we
reinvent journeys and processes to deliver the ultimate travel experience with
the most advanced, efficient and sustainable technologies. Our Airports
business is a jewel in the industry and I can’t wait to steer it into the
future.”
Travel Compositor appointments
Travel Compositor,
a provider of booking engine solutions for online leisure travel sellers, has
announced two appointments to its leadership team.
Linda Noskova has been appointed as chief commercial officer,
and Eduardo Batista joins as sales manager for Brazil. The hires come at
a pivotal time for the company as it continues its global expansion,
strengthens business relationships with over 600 partners worldwide and
opens new opportunities in emerging markets.
Noskova said, “I am very happy to take on this wonderful new
challenge, in which I have a team with a lot of experience to rely on. I am
eager to apply all my previous knowledge of the tourism sector.”
New president and CEO for New York City Tourism + Conventions
The New York City Tourism +
Conventions has appointed Julie Coker as
president and CEO, with the role beginning on December 9, 2024.
Coker currently serves as the president
and CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority, where she oversees the
organization’s efforts to promote San Diego as a top destination for meetings,
conventions, overseas travelers and leisure visitors.
“Leading the San Diego Tourism
Authority has been an incredible journey, and I’m immensely proud of what
our team has accomplished,” said Coker. “Together with our Board of Directors,
members and the local tourism community, we successfully navigated the
challenges of the pandemic and have driven San Diego’s tourism recovery. This
resilience and collaborative spirit have laid a strong foundation for my
new chapter with New York City Tourism + Conventions. I’m eager to bring my
passion for the tourism industry to New York City and look forward to building
upon the remarkable work of the talented team in place, further enhancing the
global appeal of one of the world’s most iconic cities.”
Corporate Travel Management appoints global CCO
Corporate Travel Management (CTM), a global provider of
travel solutions, has appointed Ana Pedersen as global chief commercial
officer.
In the role, Pedersen will lead CTM’s initiatives to
accelerate global growth and innovation, enhancing its position as a leader in
corporate travel solutions.
“I am honored to join CTM at such a pivotal time for both
the company and the industry,” said Pederson. “As we navigate the evolving
landscape of corporate travel, my focus will be on driving strategic
initiatives that deliver lasting value to our clients. By deepening our global sales
and account management capabilities, forging stronger supplier relationships
and implementing cutting-edge technologies, we will not elevate CTM’s market
position but also set benchmarks for excellence in corporate travel.”
Reed & Mackay appoints new vice president of business development
Reed & Mackay, a provider in strategic corporate travel
and event management, has announced the appointment of Annie Peiser as vice president
of business development in the U.S.
Peiser plans to drive new business opportunities, strengthen
existing client relationships and spearhead initiatives to expand the company’s
presence across key industries, including financial services, law and other
professional service firms.
“Annie is a seasoned sales leader whose extensive
experience and proven track record will be instrumental in accelerating our
growth in the U.S.,” said John Keichline, Reed & Mackay CEO, U.S.
“Her expertise in developing long-term client relationships and securing
significant new business aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering
tailored, high-touch, tech-enabled solutions to our clients.”
Take2Eton Group appoints new CEO
Take2Eton Group, a
travel management and events company, has announced the appointment of James
Parkhouse as CEO.
Parkhouse brings over 25 years’
experience in business leadership and program management in diverse industries,
in both private and public sector organizations.
“I am delighted to be invited to
join Take2Eton as Global CEO and to work with Chris and the team on taking a
unique market proposition to the next level,” Parkhouse said. “I have long
admired the knowledge, expertise, and ambition that the company has and can’t
wait to use my industry and leadership experience to drive the business to
future success.”
