Travel Weekly Group Ltd - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 110

2 min

easyHotel bags new funding to fuel Spanish…

🏨 easyHotel has secured a £24.5 million loan from CaixaBank for its Spanish expansion, planning to open new properties in Madrid (Spring 2025), Valencia, Barcelona (2025), and Alicante (2026), adding 361 rooms. The hotel chain aims for sustainability with low-carbon rooms reducing CO2 emissions by 20% over 50 years. Previously, easyHotel obtained a £42.5 million loan from Santander UK and £6 million from BRED Banque for a Marseille property, indicating strong financial backing and a focus on growing its network in Spain's dynamic travel hubs.

2 min

Paxport partnerss with Airxelerate on…

✈ Paxport, an airline solutions specialist, has formed a strategic alliance with Airxelerate, aiming to simplify the distribution and management of airline content for airlines, OTAs, and Tour Operators. This partnership is designed to remove complexities in managing allotment-based content, ensuring efficient seat sales and a frictionless booking to travel experience for travelers. Simon Taylor, Paxport's head of commercial, and Nina Sifi, CEO of Airxelerate, emphasized the collaboration's role in redefining industry standards, enhancing connectivity, and unlocking new revenue opportunities.

1 min

Travelsphere reveals new partnership with…

🚀 Travelsphere partnered with TProfile to integrate its 89 itineraries into TProfile's platform, enhancing agent experience with streamlined quoting and bespoke content. TProfile, serving over 100 travel brands, processed travel quotes worth more than £8 billion in 2024. The partnership is part of Travelsphere's trade strategy, aiming to improve customer experience and operations. Just You, Travelsphere's sister brand for solo travel, will also join TProfile soon.

1 min

Spotnana builds direct NDC integration with…

📌 Spotnana integrates with British Airways for direct access to the airline's content, servicing, and disruption management, enabling seamless cancellation or rebooking with a single click. This partnership allows Spotnana customers and partners to benefit from the best prices, additional price points (APP), more ancillaries, self-service exchanges and cancellations, and no cost recovery surcharges. Spotnana supports BA's NDC-based offers throughout all travel stages.

3 min

Guest Post: Why you need culture to create…

🏖️ Travel trends are shifting as people seek off-season trips and lesser-known destinations for value and authenticity. Algorithms dominate travel recommendations, often lacking novelty. Innovative marketing strategies like "what's the exact opposite?" are emerging, exemplified by campaigns like "Closed for Maintenance" in the Faroe Islands and Scandinavian Airlines' "The 72 Hour Cabin" stunt. TikTok influences travel with 'travel dupes,' suggesting affordable alternatives like Taipei over Korea. Success in travel marketing now demands deeper audience insights and counter-culture content strategies, focusing on year-round engagement and defying seasonality to attract today's travelers.

2 min

Cendyn promotes two executives to its C-suite

📢 Nicki Graham, previously senior vice president of global marketing, has been appointed as chief marketing officer at Cendy, a hotel technology and services firm. She joined Cendyn in 2017, having experience with IPG and WPP agencies. Ricky Castoldi, with five years at Cendyn, has been promoted to chief sales officer (CSO) post-acquisition of Pegasus in 2021. CEO Jack Blaha highlights their roles in Cendyn's growth and global development. Cendyn aims to expand and innovate in hospitality technology, with a leadership team now including four women.

3 min

Data reveals Benidorm and Turin lead…

🌎 Benidorm named European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism and Turin awarded European Capital of Smart Tourism for 2025 by the European Commission. Benidorm became the first Certified Smart Tourism Destination in 2015 under UN Standard 178501, achieved a Seasonality Balance Index of 84.6, a Tourist Product Balance Index of 64.7, a 59% increase in active tourism demand, and extended average stays to 6.2 days. The city's Climate Change Strategic Plan (PACC), launched in 2021, is 40% implemented, with a positive Climate Perception Index of 90.2 (+7% over five years). Turin's transformation into a cultural destination is underscored by a Sentiment Score of 89/100, with flagship events in 2024 generating over €32 million. Its Destination Sustainability Index (DSI) score is 70/100, and an Overtourism Pillar score of 81/100 indicates effective visitor management.

3 min

Guest Post: The busiest time for bookings:…

💳 January is the busiest month for travel businesses with high online holiday search and booking numbers. The UK travel and tourism industry, highly competitive, necessitates distinct experiences and streamlined payment processes. Payment Service Providers (PSPs) facilitate diverse payment options, such as Buy Now, Pay Later, Open Banking, and tokenization, enhancing transaction efficiency and security. Pay by link with 3D Secure 2 protocols is gaining popularity for its convenience and added security. UK Finance reported over £551 million in losses to payment fraud in 2023, with spikes during peak periods. Improved payment security and transparency build customer trust. Efficient payment systems boost operational efficiency, allowing travel businesses to handle more bookings and maintain service quality during high demand. Missed payment system enhancements can lead to lost revenue opportunities. Partnerships with PSPs can provide strategic advice and tailored services, crucial for managing fraud risks and high-volume transactions.

2 min

Business travel and rail on the rise among…

📊 UK SMBs anticipate increasing domestic travel volumes (76%) and business travel budgets (79%) in 2025. Business travel grew by 74% in 2024 compared to 2023. A third (33%) of decision-makers aim to use more rail to cut carbon footprints. An impressive 87% now have emission reduction targets, up from 52% in January 2024, and 85% support lower-carbon travel financially. Regulatory influences are driving 34% of SMBs' lower carbon policies. Andrew Cruttenden of Trainline Partner Solutions underscores the value of tech solutions for sustainable rail travel growth.

2 min

Data intelligence firm Mabrian launches Gen…

📡 Mabrian launched AILA (Artificial Intelligence Live Assistant), a Generative AI-based virtual analyst for optimizing tourism planning and management. AILA, a B2B Gen AI tool, uses Mabrian's travel intelligence database in real-time responses to tourism trends. It integrates with seven data modules: Air Capacity, Traveller Behaviour, Accommodation, Spending, Telecommunications, Mobile Data, and Sustainability. AILA provides personalized insights through natural language interaction in any language. The tool will evolve into an advanced agent for predictive analysis and action plans. AILA will debut at FITUR 2025, aligning with Mabrian's vision to enhance decision-making in tourism with advanced analytics capabilities.

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