Kate Harden-England - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 27

1 min

Starhotels expands its global presence with…

🏨 Italian hotel chain Starhotels opens a new global sales office in the UK, targeting growth in the UK and Northern Europe. With 30 properties, the expansion follows recruitment in the Middle East and India, adding to representatives in the US, Latin America, Russia, and CIS. Antonio Ducceschi, chief commercial officer, highlights the UK's growth potential. Romano Campione is appointed to head this strategic move, aiming to broaden the customer base.

2 min

Cloudbed appoints two AI and ML experts to…

🏨 Cloudbeds hires AI experts Amit Popat and Nikhil Shah as head of machine learning and head of data science, respectively. The appointments aim to develop "unparalleled applications" for the hotel industry, leveraging Cloudbeds' extensive hospitality data sets. Popat previously held senior roles at Valtech and London Town Group and founded an AI software consultancy. Shah, with a PhD in computational optimisation, co-founded energy tech firm S-Cube. Both co-founded Hotel Cloud in 2020. Cloudbeds CEO Adam Harris emphasizes their potential to drive profitability and collaboration across hotel departments.

2 min

Research reveals ChatGPT is most popular AI…

📱 Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money research shows 45% of AI-using travellers prefer ChatGPT. Other tools include Roam Around (27%), Guide.com (25%), Microsoft Copilot (24%), and Out of Office (23%). Among 2,000 UK leisure travellers, 10% used AI for travel planning, with 20% likely to reuse. The 18-24 age group is most inclined at 46%, versus 10% of those 65+. Noteworthy is the 91% facing AI constraints, including generic responses (38%), missing information (37%), and privacy concerns (over 25%).

2 min

Vueling publishes sustainability report…

💸 Vueling, part of IAG, published its 2023 environmental, social, and governance report, achieving a 9.5% reduction in CO2 emissions per passenger/km from 2019 levels. The airline used 1,285 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel, a fourfold increase over 2022. Vueling's operations contributed to 167,736 jobs and €10,741 million to GDP in key markets like Spain, France, Italy, and the UK. The management committee was 57% female, with 44% in top management roles, achieving gender parity throughout the workforce. Onboard waste was cut by 59% since 2019. The carrier transported 156 organs in 2023, leading organ transport in Spain, and supports humanitarian causes, including aid for natural disasters like the Turkey and Syria earthquakes.

2 min

Cendyn launches Learning Centre to advance…

🎓 Cendyn, an integrated hotel technology and services firm, launched a new Learning Center designed to enhance hoteliers' product knowledge for improved commercial performance. The Learning Center offers 17 curriculums immediately, accessible through Cendyn’s Knowledge Cloud, with more to be added. Users can personalize their learning experience and track it via a tailored dashboard. Alan Rudolph, Cendyn’s COO, emphasizes the center’s flexibility and personalization. Courses come with badges and certificates, and users can network through the Communities function.

2 min

Brit smartphone hotel bookings overtake…

📱 Brits now book hotels via mobile more than desktop, with 51.3% of UK staycations booked on smartphones, up 6.1% from last year. Desktop bookings fell by 3.8% to 46.5%, as tablet bookings dropped 33.4% to just 2.2%. Despite desktop bookings generating more revenue at 50.1%, compared to mobile's 47.3% and tablets' 2.5%, the trend is shifting with mobile revenue increasing by 6.6% against desktop's decrease of 3.6%. International travellers, including Americans, Australians, Canadians, and Europeans, still predominantly use desktops, with Americans at 80% for UK hotel bookings.

2 min

ATPI strengthens Middle East presence with…

📈 ATPI appoints Angelina Bunting as head of commercial strategy in the UAE, bolstering its energy sector presence. With nearly 30 years in travel, Bunting's previous role was senior director at Navan, a Reed & Mackay company, for over two years. Her expertise is expected to integrate global strategy with Middle East operations and foster strong supplier partnerships. ATPI has a significant Middle East presence, with offices across the GCC including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, plus services in Kurdistan and Federal Iraq.

2 min

Crystal launches new travel advisor booking…

🛳 Luxury cruise line Crystal launched its new booking engine on August 1, 2024, to improve the booking process for travel advisors. Integrated into Crystal Cruises' website, the engine features an intuitive interface, real-time availability, suite categories, pricing, advanced algorithms for personalized cruise recommendations, and options for back-to-back voyage combinations. Crystal offers training resources and a dedicated support team for advisors, emphasizing their commitment to innovation, with remarks from Chief Sales Officer Marett Taylor and Head of GCC Sales Dan Essex.

2 min

Pauline Houston bags top job at Reed &…

📈 Pauline Houston appointed as global managing director of Reed & Mackay Events, supporting a growth strategy signaled by the recent hiring of James Kent and Emma Chamberlain. Houston brings experience from ITM, Women in Travel, GBTA, American Express, and CWT. CEO Julie Oliver highlights the firm's commitment to integrating travel and event management, emphasizing the importance of meetings and events for collaboration and talent retention.

2 min

Virgin Hotels opens its latest hotel with…

🏡 Virgin Hotels opened Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch and offers double Virgin Points for stays during September-December 2024 to members of The Know loyalty program. Guests earn 14 points per £1 spent on room rates. The hotel at 45 Curtain Road, features Spanish restaurant BiBo, a rooftop bar, pool, Marlin's Mediterranean restaurant, a gym, and treatment rooms of Blue Marlin Ibiza's sanctuary. The 120-bedroom hotel is undergoing a phased transformation, including a Commons Club and personalized services via the Lucy app.

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