Kate Harden-England

🌍 Snowflake launched AI Data Cloud for Travel and Hospitality, enhancing data insights for the industry. Focusing on dynamic pricing, sustainability tracking, and developer efficiencies, it aims to bolster success in the competitive sector. Snowflake’s platform is utilized by major businesses like Hyatt and Tripadvisor to improve decision-making and guest experiences. The new system fosters data-driven innovation, operational excellence, and secure data sharing for collaboration in the travel industry.

💸 Cheshire-based Inspire Group expanded across Europe with transactional website platforms in Germany, France, Poland, Spain, and Italy to support rising sales of TravelCard by Inspire. These platforms are localized in language and currency, offering holidays from local airports with attractive deals tailored to each market. The growth in TravelCard sales is attributed to its popularity as a corporate reward and recognition tool, with no booking restrictions, and the ability to stack cards for bookings. Inspire ensures 100% financial protection for its cardholders through an independent trust account model.

💾 Shiji, a hospitality technology provider, upgraded its enterprise platform with a Single Guest Profile feature, enhancing guest experience management across multiple properties globally. CEO Kevin King emphasized the improvement in personalized service, operational efficiency, and opportunities for marketing and loyalty programs. The upgrade includes AI for intelligent profile duplication management and robust data privacy, allowing guests to control their data sharing preferences. Guest information is centralized, adhering to strict privacy standards, and available throughout the system network.

📅 Pax2pay and Diners Club International have formed a strategic deal to offer virtual cards designed for travel-related expenses. The partnership aims to extend Diners Club's travel sector presence and improve cost optimization and acceptance rates for users. Matt Sloan of Diners Club highlighted the growth and customer value, while Päivo Eerola of Pax2pay focused on the secure payment benefits for customers.

✈ CitizenPlane launches its Operating System for mid-tier carriers and fast-growing airlines, featuring a modular platform for offer creation, revenue optimisation, and distribution. Leveraging the acquisition of Travel Technology Interactive’s (TTI) Zenith software, CitizenPlane aims to expand OS capabilities with future acquisitions and innovations. Their "market-first" flight distribution solution, AIR, allows distribution to OTAs and metasearch websites like eDreams and Skyscanner. The OS adheres to IATA NDC standards, centralises customer data, and is used by over 80 airlines, including TAP Air Portugal, Royal Air Maroc, and Corendon Airlines.