Travel Weekly Group Ltd

💸 RoomPriceGenie, an RMS provider for independent hotels and groups, secured a $75 million investment from Five Elms Capital to accelerate international expansion and enhance its platform. Technology executive Chas Scarantino is appointed CEO, bringing experience in global expansion and operational excellence. RoomPriceGenie, founded in 2017, aims to make automated pricing accessible for independent properties and now services over 3,000 hotel clients in 65 countries. The company is profitable with over 100 employees and introduces an OpenAPI PMS integration. Co-founder Ari Andricopoulos transitions to CSO, focusing on product innovation and strategic partnerships.

💸 FinMont partners with Azupay to revolutionize payment processes in the travel industry by integrating real-time payment solutions. Azupay, an Australian leader in real-time payments, enhances fraud prevention and streamlines reconciliation. This strategic collaboration promises to deliver a payment ecosystem tailored to travel businesses, offering faster and safer payment options to global travel merchants. CEOs Suby Valluri of FinMont and Trent Daniel of Azupay aim to challenge traditional payment systems and boost the competitiveness and customer experience for travel merchants.

✈ Spotnana partners with Cleartrip, India's rapidly expanding online travel tech company, to access local airline content through Cleartrip's API. This integration allows Spotnana's users to book flights with Indian low-cost carriers—IndiGo, Air India Express, SpiceJet, Akasa Air—and combine them with Spotnana's direct airline integrations into a single itinerary. The collaboration aims to offer competitive rates, flight extras, easy cancellations, and GST compliance, enhancing travel options in one of the world's fastest-growing travel markets.

🏨 Mews, a hospitality cloud platform, has renewed a multi-year partnership with Criterion Hospitality. Criterion, managing a portfolio of upscale and mid-range hotels, including Zedwell in London, will automate operations and improve guest experiences using Mews’ systems. Eight hotels, such as Victory House Leicester Square and Assembly Covent Garden, are already using Mews. Zedwell Piccadilly Circus features 15 self-service kiosks, with over half of guests using them for check-in. The partnership, enhancing automation and customer service, has been active since 2021, with further expansion expected in the next 18 months.

✈ Travelport, a GDS and travel technology specialist, now provides agency customers with Finnair's New Distribution Capability (NDC) content, including seat selection and baggage options. Finnair's PrioFlex for corporate customers, launched last year, is available through Travelport+. This integration allows Travelport's global agency network to book Finnair's offers and expands Travelport's content portfolio. The NDC solution is currently available in 60 countries with plans for further expansion.

💻 DataArt and GoogleCloud hosted an executive dinner with Travolution last month to discuss AI's capabilities; 30 industry leaders attended, including representatives from Awaze, Ennea Partners, On the Beach, Oneworld, and Virgin Atlantic. Trip.com revealed AI handles 97% of routine inquiries, and DataArt awarded two $5,000 prizes for DataArt Lab services during the event.

📈 At a Travlaw event in London, G Adventures' Brian Young encouraged travel companies to adopt generative AI, highlighting its 24/7 operational capabilities and potential to handle administrative tasks. Ami Naru, from Travlaw, cautioned about the risks associated with AI tools. Mark Duguid of Kuoni UK also expressed caution but mentioned that Kuoni's parent company Rewe is set to launch a major AI initiative. Experts agree AI is transformative and here to stay despite infancy and necessary caution.

🛏 In a Valpas-commissioned study, eradicating bed bugs in a 50-room hotel equates to CO₂ emissions of 229 one-way flights from London to New York. A 50-room hotel typically undergoes one bed bug infestation annually, leading to a carbon footprint of 70.8 tons of CO₂ per year from fumigation and chemical treatments. Conventional methods involve harmful chemicals like sulfuryl fluoride and neonicotinoid-based pesticides, which negatively impact biodiversity. Valpas, after a successful 2024, aims to expand its non-toxic, digital bed bug prevention solution to 2 million hotel beds by 2030, following a €4 million seed funding round.

🌎 INDI, a community for travellers and creators, launched its 'Be You' brand campaign to promote authentic travel experiences. Founded in 2022, INDI is now present in over 50 countries, including Italy, Germany, Japan, the US, Spain, and Indonesia. Their advanced matchmaking system connects explorers with local guides for unique cultural experiences. INDI's 2025 international roadshow will visit major European cities like Naples, Milan, London, Paris, and Barcelona, starting with events in Naples and Milan in February. CEO Luca Di Pierro aims to foster personal growth and authentic connections through travel.