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.

🏖️ Travelport, a global GDS and travel technology specialist, partnered with Berge & Meer Touristik, a tour operator in the German-speaking market. Berge & Meer integrated Travelport's air cache solution for dynamic trip package booking, tailoring to customers' needs. The collaboration also enhances group booking capabilities. CEO Marcel Mayer advocates the user-friendly interface and real-time itinerary delivery. Thomas Schillinger of Travelport emphasizes the advancement of group travel and trip packaging strategies for an improved shopping experience.