Travel Weekly Group Ltd - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 78

1 min

Vietnam Airlines expands partnership with…

🚀 Vietnam Airlines expanded its partnership with Adyen, a financial technology platform, in 2024 after initially partnering in 2017 for gateway solutions. The collaboration now includes Adyen’s global acquiring capabilities, leading to a 5% uplift in authorization rates for the airline. Adyen's network connects to Visa and Mastercard card schemes, offering lower transaction fees and improved local market adaptability. This move is part of Vietnam Airlines' digital transformation, providing travelers with a secure and flexible payment experience.

2 min

KAYAK debuts AI platform to pilot AI-first…

💻 KAYAK, a travel metasearch engine, launched KAYAK.ai, an AI platform, using OpenAI's technology combined with their own data. KAYAK.ai features over 400 providers' pricing, aiming to transfer successful features to KAYAK.com. CEO Steve Hafner announced the new platform and the appointment of Yaron Zeidman as CTO, a former Agoda veteran with 29 years of experience, to lead KAYAK's 400+ product and engineering teams in AI advancement.

1 min

Expedia launches travel agent affiliate…

📆 Expedia Group launched its Travel Agent Affiliate Programme (TAAP) in the UAE, targeting partners and travel agents across the Middle East. TAAP offers commissions on total booking value, user-friendly tools, and marketing materials. Expedia, with platforms like Rezlive, Halalbooking, and Blackrock Technologies, aims to promote Middle Eastern destinations through partnerships with Experience Abu Dhabi, Visit Oman, Jordan Tourism, Emirates, and Adeera. An Arabic-language site is upcoming. Robin Lawther, VP of Expedia TAAP, will speak at ATM on April 30 about ethical AI and maintaining a human touch.

1 min

Cloudbeds launches integrated payments in…

🏡 Cloudbeds has expanded its integrated payments solution, CB Pay, into Thailand, becoming one of the few hospitality platforms offering end-to-end payment options for hoteliers in the country. The platform enables hoteliers to automate onboarding, manage ledgers, settle payments in local currency, and securely process both local and international credit cards. In partnership with dLocal, Cloudbeds facilitates fast settlements in Thai Baht, optimizing cash flow and financial management for Thai hotels. CEO Adam Harris highlights the solution's ability to handle collection to reconciliation on a centralized platform, aiming for global deployment.

1 min

Technoheaven debuts predicting pricing…

🏨 Indian travel solutions firm Technoheaven launched the Smart Markup module at the Arabian Travel Market event in Dubai. Utilizing AI, it analyzes over 50 million daily searches, booking history, search behavior, nationality trends, and seasonal dynamics for predictive pricing, enabling travel businesses to set dynamic margins for maximum profitability. Vinod Kelwani, CEO of Technoheaven, emphasizes control and adaptability in pricing with their new inventory system that also helps businesses become a Bedbank.

2 min

RateHawk teases huge success with 2024…

🏢 RateHawk celebrated nine years with a net booking value increase of 1.8 times and a 67% growth in bookings compared to 2023. Emerging Travel Group, its UAE-based parent company, reported a $3.7 billion gross transaction value in 2024, with RateHawk as a key contributor. Last year, RateHawk expanded its inventory to include over 120,000 directly contracted properties and over 2.6 million accommodation options. Transportation bookings doubled in 2024, and within three months of launching railway ticket services in Europe, over 25% of hotel booking travel professionals also used this service. The company doubled its API integration contracts in 2024, partnering with over 500 new entities, including Ctrip. RateHawk now supports 32 languages, opened a new Singapore headquarters, and saw a 50% increase in partners, reaching over 93,000 travel professionals. In the UK and Ireland, there was an 80% growth in net booking value year-over-year.

2 min

HBX Group shouts about new developments in…

💻 HBX Group, a B2B travel technology marketplace, is elevating the travel industry with advanced AI integration, optimizing hotel distribution and customer service. AI manages 20% of customer service at HBX, offering rapid response. Xabier Zabala, COO, emphasizes AI's role in improving efficiency and market adaptation. AI solutions handle booking, service, and partner management, including omnichannel service, content, anomaly prediction, and agent training. The AI anticipates customer needs, enhancing user experience and operations. HBX ensures data protection and complies with GDPR, continuously auditing AI models for bias and alignment with company values.

1 min

Eurostar unveils new service centre at St…

🏨 Eurostar unveils a new Service Centre at St Pancras International aimed at improving ticketing and customer support. The facility includes three seated desks, two of which are wheelchair-accessible, featuring hearing induction loops. Additionally, five self-service ticket machines are provided. These developments follow Eurostar's Border Control Enhancement Works Programme, enhancing passenger flow through border controls. The Service Centre operates daily, except on Christmas Day, signifying Eurostar's dedication to an enhanced customer experience.

1 min

Eurostar unveils new service centre at St…

🏨 Eurostar unveils its new Service Centre at St Pancras International, featuring three seated desks for ticketing and support, plus five self-service ticket machines. Two desks are wheelchair accessible with hearing induction loops. The aim is to enhance the customer experience, following the recent completion of Eurostar’s Border Control Enhancement Works Programme. The Service Centre is open daily, except Christmas Day.

2 min

GCC rail progresses, opening tourism…

🚂 GCC Railway project, connecting six countries by 2030. Kuwait signed a $8 million contract with Proyapi for a 2,177-km railway design. Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are already progressing with construction. GCC Grand Tours Visa, enabling travel to all six GCC countries, launching in 2025. Saudi Arabia's SAR tendering design consultancy for the $7 billion Saudi Landbridge, featuring over 1,500 km of new track. Luxury train, Dream of the Desert, with 14 carriages and 34 suites by Arsenale, starting service in Q3 2026. UAE's Etihad Rail to link Dubai and Abu Dhabi in 30 minutes at 350 km/h, with no set launch date for the passenger service.

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