Travel Weekly Group Ltd

🏢 84% of consumers prefer rewards over issuer reputation. 55% dine/drink pre-flight, 60% (71% Gen Z) want streamlined experiences. Wellness tourism is projected to grow from $637 billion (2022) to $1.35 trillion by 2028. 62% might switch cards if benefits are lost. Personalisation and partnerships are key for loyalty programs. AI enhances experiences, offering lounges, spas, and local discounts. Loyalty is evolving to include wellness and personalisation, aligning with broader lifestyle trends.

🛫 As of 2025, 60% of travelers use AI responses for travel planning on Google. Google’s AI Mode, launched earlier this year, enables dynamic searches like “family-friendly tours in Costa Rica.” Less than 10% of bookings via AI Mode go through traditional OTAs, versus 56% directly with hotels. AI recommendations score over 4.3 out of 5 in trust. Average query lengths have doubled, emphasizing conversational searches. Propellic advises adapting strategies for AI-driven travel planning.

💻 The Institute of Travel & Tourism (ITT) partnered with SystemsX to offer the Sense AI platform to students at over 35 UK universities and colleges. This initiative aims to enhance travel and tourism students' skills through interactive learning and instant AI feedback. Claire Steiner of ITT highlighted the importance of this tool for real-world experience. The platform, now live, will prepare students for careers in the industry as they train with technology used by travel companies.

📱 Aristara AI launched a multilingual digital assistant at the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) World event, enabling real-time information access in over 50 languages via WhatsApp. Delegates can inquire about sessions, speakers, venues, and schedules, while organizers send notifications. Based in Los Angeles, Aristara aims to enhance hotel operations through automation and personalization. This launch marks their entry into the Arabian Gulf, a significant growth area, according to CEO Rosanna Wang.

📹 Expedia's "The Science of Wanderlust" study surveyed 7,000 travelers across seven markets, revealing key content preferences. Video influences travel decisions three times more than static images, with 71% favoring video. Authenticity builds trust, with 52% valuing transparency. Optimal video length is 2-9 seconds. 41% value AI content with human input. Generational divides show younger audiences prefer videos and influencers, while older groups favor brand messaging. Partnered destinations include GoTürkiye and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.

✈️ SITA, in partnership with easyJet, launched the SITA Agent App after a year of collaboration, tested at Gatwick and four other UK airports. The app allows ground crew to assist passengers anywhere in the terminal, freeing them from fixed desks. During trials, over 1,000 crew members issued 40,000 boarding passes and checked in over 30,000 passengers, boarding 5 million travelers. At Gatwick, 1.4 million passengers were boarded in eight months, streamlining operations and reducing infrastructure costs.

💻 Mews, a hospitality operating system, acquired US-based AI company DataChat. DataChat's expertise in natural language processing and data-driven automation will enhance Mews’ development of autonomous agents for hotel operations. These agents will optimize reservations, distribution, and guest experiences. Richard Valtr, Mews' founder, emphasized that the integration will unlock data for smarter operations. Viken Eldemir, CEO of DataChat, highlighted the transformational potential for intelligent personalization in hospitality, advancing Mews' AI roadmap for improved revenue and cost optimization.