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Rafat Ali

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Amadeus Says Meta’s Muse-Duffel Partnership Reinforces GDS Model on Q3 2026 Earnings Call

✈ Amadeus CFO Carol Borg said on November 6, during the company’s Q3 2026 earnings call, that Meta’s Muse partnership with Duffel reinforces the global distribution system model. Muse uses Duffel to access flight inventory, giving Duffel—not Amadeus—the direct relationship. Borg argued that AI platforms will rely on aggregators rather than build booking systems themselves, as competitors pursue similar roles in airline distribution, hotel bookings and payments.
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Airbnb sells IP to CEO Brian Chesky’s AI lab, receives $7.1 million including expense reimbursements

🤖 Airbnb sold intellectual property in November to an AI lab controlled by CEO Brian Chesky, receiving $7.1 million for IP and expense reimbursements combined. CTO Ahmad Al-Dahle also holds a stake and works there. Independent directors approved the deal, which gives Airbnb internal-use licensing rights and future investment rights. Valuation and licensing terms remain undisclosed. Airbnb’s AI travel agent is expected in early 2027; its connection to the lab’s technology is unclear.
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Hilton’s $815 Million in Third-Quarter Franchise and Licensing Revenue Highlights Hotel Owners’ Brand and OTA Costs

🏨 Hilton reported $815 million in third-quarter franchise and licensing revenue in its October 27 results. Hilton and Marriott push direct bookings, while Booking.com and Expedia compete for reservations through their platforms. Hotel owners can bear both costs: brand fees for access to commercial systems and online travel agency fees for delivered bookings. The distribution battle leaves properties balancing these expenses against profitability.
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Certares Founder Greg O’Hara Highlights Poland as Top Investment Destination Due to Workforce and Infrastructure Advancements

Here is the blog post excerpt with key facts and information: 🗺 Greg O’Hara, founder of Certares, highlighted Poland as an investment superstar at Skift's Transatlantic Summit on October 15 in Dublin. He cited key factors like Poland’s workforce, age demographics, independent currency for monetary policy, and skilled engineers. Poland is also set to become the center of high-speed rail in Europe, with significant investments in rail, stations, and airports.
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Robinhood Partners with Duffel to Offer 10% Back on Hotel Bookings for Platinum Cardholders

💰 Robinhood and Duffel's recent partnership offers Platinum cardholders 10% back on hotels and car rentals, and 5% on flights, while Gold cardholders earn 3%. As of July 28, 2026, Expedia's Blue tier provides 1% back on hotels. Previously, Hotels.com offered a free night after ten paid nights, roughly a 10% return. Uber and Airbnb also provide similar offers, with Airbnb offering up to 15% back. These offers are prominently popular in the U.S. hotel booking market.
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