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Kate Harden-England

133 posts

Perk Opens Middle East Office in Abu Dhabi, Aiming to Triple UAE Business Travel Spend by 2028

💸 Perk, an AI-native platform, has opened a Middle East office in Abu Dhabi's ADGM with Abu Dhabi Investment Office's support. By 2031, the UAE aims for AI to contribute 20% of non-oil GDP. Perk targets tripling UAE business travel spend by 2028, as the market is expected to hit $94 billion by 2030. Their business, which grew 48% in 2025, is nearing $400 million in annualized revenue. The UAE is Perk’s ninth-largest market.
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Holibob Launches Prompt-Based Booking System for Experiences, Now Integrated with Google's Things to Do Platform

🗺️ Holibob launched a new prompt-based booking system for in-destination experiences, now integrated into Google’s Things to Do. It allows travelers to book from over 500,000 experiences by describing preferences in natural language. This system replaces traditional keyword searches, enabling comparisons, date selections, and payments in a single conversation. Most bookings offer free cancellation and are led by vetted local guides. Co-founder Craig Everett emphasizes its alignment with modern travel dreaming and planning.
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Take2Eton Group Appoints Kelly O’Sullivan as Head of Technology and Promotes Leann Forrest to Global Operations Head

📄 In 2023, Take2Eton Group appointed Kelly O’Sullivan as Group Head of Technology and promoted Leann Forrest to Global Head of Operations. O’Sullivan, with 25+ years in business travel tech, will enhance the company’s AI-driven services. Forrest, with 30 years in operations, will lead travel consultants across the Atlantic. The company, rebranded in 2025, emphasizes a blend of technology and personal service, with consultants averaging 15 years of experience.
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Turquoise alpine lake surrounded by rocky mountains and forest; several small wooden boats with people swimming and paddling near shore.
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Summer 2026 Travel Insights: US Flight Bookings Up 13%, Hotel Searches Down 16%, Europe Sees Increased Demand

🗺 US flight bookings increased by 13% year-on-year, while hotel searches decreased by 16%. European domestic flight bookings rose by 35%, intra-European by 37%, and international inbound by 11%. Top summer destinations for US travelers include Mexico (8.7%) and Canada (7.5%). London leads in European travel, accounting for 13.7% of US bookings. Middle East hotel search activity is below 2025 levels, with Western Europe down 49 points and South Asia down 61 points year-to-date.
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Mastercard Survey Reveals 49% of Brits Plan 'Skilliday' Trips, Prioritizing Learning New Skills Over Traditional Breaks

🏠 The 'skilliday' trend is on the rise as 49% of Brits plan skill-based trips. A survey of 27,000 European holidaymakers reveals that 48% of Brits have already booked such trips. Notably, 70% of 18-24 year-olds are leading this trend. 44% of tourists are willing to pay more for skill-learning experiences, reflecting a shift towards valuing experiences over goods. This trend supports local SMEs, contributing to tourism's 10.5% of EU GDP. Key interests include food production (33%) and language skills (32%).
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Travelsoft Appoints Nathalie Cabos as Eventiz Managing Director to Drive European Media and Events Expansion

🚀 Nathalie Cabos, with over 15 years of B2B media experience, was appointed as managing director of Eventiz in April. She will guide Eventiz's strategic direction, focusing on growth and European expansion. Eventiz aims to connect travel professionals through media and events. Following the 2025 Travolution acquisition, Eventiz strengthened its UK presence. Cabos, previously at Infopro Digital, managed 200+ events annually across 30 brands. Christian Sabbagh, CEO of parent company Travelsoft, expressed optimism about her impact.
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CMAC Group Acquires Minicabit to Enhance End-to-End Ground Transport Solutions and Boost Ancillary Revenue

🚘 Cab comparison platform minicabit has joined CMAC Group for an undisclosed amount. The group, including Suntransfers.com and CoachHireComparison.co.uk, now offers end-to-end ground transport solutions. This acquisition enhances CMAC's B2B2C revenue in the UK travel trade. Amer Hasan, minicabit’s founder, remains as managing director. CMAC's CEO, Peter Slater, highlights minicabit's technology and consumer reach, aiming to provide partners with scalable, reliable cab comparisons. The timing aligns with the upcoming peak travel season.
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Ecommpay Report Identifies £16.5 Billion Revenue Potential for UK Travel Industry Through Improved Payment Strategies

🛰 With a staggering cart abandonment rate of 81.7% in e-commerce, the UK travel sector could unlock £16.5 billion by optimizing payment strategies. Ecommpay's report analyzed 2025 payment stacks of top OTAs like Booking.com and Airbnb, identifying gaps and innovations. Mobile-first experiences and flexible payment options like BNPL and open banking are crucial. Enhancing payment processes can boost conversion rates, trust, and revenue for travel brands.
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Yanolja Unveils 3.0 Strategy to Boost AI Innovation with New Leadership and Global Expansion Plans

🚀 South Korean travel tech company Yanolja unveils Yanolja 3.0, aiming for AI-driven growth. New leadership includes Chan-Seok Choi (CEO Corporate), Junyoung Lee (CEO Enterprise Solutions), and Cheol-Woong Lee (Consumer Platform NOL). Yanolja focuses on customer-centricity, tech innovation, and "One Team Yanolja." Group CEO Sujin Lee emphasizes AI's rapid industry transformation. Yanolja 3.0 aims to enhance global travel experiences, leveraging AI and data-driven solutions.
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Mint Payments Partners with ABTA to Expand UK Presence in Travel Payment Solutions Industry

🛫 Travel industry fintech Mint Payments, founded in 2007 in Sydney, is now an ABTA Partner as of 2025. This partnership strengthens its UK presence, building on success in Australia and New Zealand. Mint Payments aims to enhance ABTA member relations and elevate travel industry professionalism. UK Managing Director Simon Bowles emphasizes their commitment to integrity, transparency, and bespoke payment solutions tailored for the travel sector's complexities, reinforcing ties with The Travel Network Group.
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