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Ronan Daniel

160 posts

FCM Travel's MICE Arm Acquires Fresh Agency, Expanding UK Headcount to Nearly 100 and Adding Manchester, Edinburgh Hubs

📊 FCM Travel's MICE arm has acquired fresh, a brand-experience agency, expanding UK headcount to nearly 100 specialists with hubs in Manchester, Edinburgh, and London. This move enhances their capabilities in event logistics and creative services. FCM M&E has seen a 50% business increase from 2025 to 2026. The acquisition aligns with growing demand for in-person events, with 76.5% of professionals prioritizing attendee experience. FCM M&E boasts over 20 years of expertise and a global team of 350+ specialists.
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Canary Technologies Report Reveals 85% of Hotels Plan to Allocate 5% of IT Budget to AI Tools in 2026

💻 In early 2026, Canary Technologies surveyed over 400 hotel technology decision-makers globally. 71% find AI's impact significant, with 82% anticipating increased use within a year. 85% plan to allocate at least 5% of their IT budget to AI. 51% have deployed AI solutions, enhancing guest interaction and satisfaction. IT budgets prioritize guest experience (52%) and operational efficiency (52%). Asia-Pacific leads in adoption with 62%, while luxury hotels show broad use. Barriers include data security (43%) and integration (40%).
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Viking Libra to Become World's First Hydrogen-Powered Cruise Ship, Launching November 2026 with Zero-Emission Capabilities

🛳️ Viking Libra's float-out occurred at Fincantieri’s Ancona yard, Italy, marking a major milestone. Set to be the first hydrogen-powered cruise ship, it features 499 cabins for 998 guests. Delivery is slated for November 2026, with Mediterranean and Northern Europe sailings. The ship uses hybrid propulsion, combining liquefied hydrogen and fuel cells, delivering up to 6 MW. Viking Astrea, another hydrogen vessel, is set for 2027. Scaling depends on low-carbon hydrogen and port infrastructure.
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Trip.com Reports 400% Year-on-Year Increase in AI-Assisted Orders with TripGenie in 2023

📰 In 2023, Trip.com launched TripGenie, an AI assistant that now handles 60% of booking-related interactions. In Asia, markets like Hong Kong and Singapore use it for real-time decisions, while Europe and North America, especially Germany and the UK, use it pre-travel for comparisons. Hotel comparison tools reduce clicks by 80% and boost revisit rates by 45%. AI-assisted orders grew 400% year-on-year, with multimodal usage increasing user satisfaction, evidenced by doubled revisit rates.
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KAYAK Appoints Cédric Lefort and Tristan Hindley as Country Managers to Drive K4B Growth in UK and France

💰 KAYAK is accelerating growth of KAYAK for Business in the UK and France with new leadership appointments as of March 2026. Cédric Lefort and Tristan Hindley lead as Country Managers for France and the UK, respectively. Susan Lichtenstein and Laure Godfrin Kahra take on global roles. KAYAK for Business, part of Booking Holdings, offers comprehensive travel management solutions. Two top five firms from Business Travel News’ 2025 Corporate Travel Top 100 use this platform.
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Aven Hospitality and Hovr Partner to Integrate Dynamic Video Technology into Hotel Booking Engines for Enhanced Guest Experience

📺 Aven Hospitality partners with Hovr to integrate video technology into Aven’s Booking Engine, enhancing hotel booking experiences worldwide with immersive content. The collaboration, announced in May 2023, aims to boost conversion rates by deploying dynamic video content at the transaction point. This strategic move caters to evolving traveler preferences for visual engagement and supports commercial teams in differentiating their offerings. Aven's Ethan Wiseman emphasizes staying ahead in tech trends, while Hovr highlights reduced friction and increased purchase likelihood.
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Amadeus Partners with Tata Consultancy Services to Enhance Airline Solutions with AI-Powered Nevio Service Center

🛫 Amadeus partners with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to enhance global travel technology. TCS will focus on scaling the Amadeus Nevio platform and developing the Nevio Service Center user interface, leveraging AI to improve efficiency. TCS operates in 55 countries with 202 service centers, generating over US$30 billion in revenue by March 2025. This partnership aims to innovate airline operations, focusing on AI, cloud capabilities, and personalized customer experiences. Initial roll-outs of the Service Center will soon commence.
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Travel Smarter Launches AI-Powered Platform to Optimize Airline Loyalty, Targets Oneworld Members Initially

📅 Travel Smarter, a London-based start-up founded in 2025, has launched an AI-powered loyalty optimisation platform targeting frequent travellers. As of 1 April 2025, British Airways and others in the Oneworld alliance have shifted to spend-based status models. The platform, with over 2,000 early-access users, simulates thousands of itinerary options, aiding users in achieving airline status efficiently. It aggregates rules and offers personalised recommendations, seeing miles as an alternative currency amidst tightening airline loyalty programs.
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HBX Group Launches Sponsored Listings for Hotels on Hotelbeds and Bedsonline, Achieving Up to 4% Click-Through Rate

📅 19 March, London: HBX Group launched Sponsored Listings, giving hotels premium placement in Hotelbeds and Bedsonline searches. This bid-free format optimizes exposure and captures demand with transparency through detailed reporting. Early campaigns show up to a 4% click-through rate and one booking per 46 impressions. HBX's network, with 70% international bookings, boosts revenue with higher average rates and longer stays. Present in 170 countries, HBX employs over 3,500 people globally.
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eTip Acquires Shiny Solutions to Enhance Workforce Engagement Platform with Recruitment, Scheduling, and Performance Insights

💰 eTip has acquired Shiny Solutions, a US workforce-technology company for hospitality. This acquisition enhances eTip's offerings with recruitment, scheduling, and performance recognition modules. The integration provides real-time insights and aims to improve workforce optimization. Labor costs in hotels often constitute 40–50% of operational spending. The goal is to reduce turnover and enhance service quality. Shiny Solutions' mission, addressing labor shortages through tech, aligns with eTip's mission to empower employees and optimize operations.
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