Travel Weekly Group Ltd

💰 The Advantage Travel Partnership teams up with Sabre to revamp its technology partner portfolio, aiming for a unified hub. This collaboration allows Sabre to refine multi-source content management and workflow for TMCs, boosting productivity and economic benefits. Andrea Caulfield-Smith highlights the partnership as integral to providing members with diverse tech solutions to optimize operations and client services.

🚀 WTTC and Trip.com Group released a report at ITB Berlin detailing 16 technologies set to revolutionize travel and tourism. Key areas include digital, financial technologies, mobility, and breakthrough innovations. With 91% of travel businesses increasing tech investments, significant industry transformation is anticipated. AI could equal human intelligence in various tasks by decade's end. Supersonic flight to return within four years through Boom Technology and United. 94% of industry leaders view AI as mission-critical, with Trip.com's TripGenie usage rising 200% in 2024. A survey of 8,000 travelers found 97% desire an integrated travel platform. Virgin Atlantic completed first 100% sustainable fuel transatlantic flight. Space tourism nears reality with growing infrastructure and demand.

🏨 Holiday Extras, a UK market leader in travel add-ons for over 40 years, partners with the Business Travel Association (BTA) to support corporate travelers both domestically and internationally. BTA CEO Clive Wratten emphasizes the partnership's aim to drive excellence and innovation in the sector, enhancing the traveller experience.

💻 Cendyn, an integrated hotel technology company, acquired Knowland in October 2024 and has now expanded its business intelligence solutions with AI for smarter data and commercial insights. The expansion includes AI integration into its CRM and Knowland platform, now offering AI search capabilities. This comes with Knowland's return to the European market, starting with London, aiming to drive revenue in the MICE sector. The enhanced tools are designed to save time, provide actionable insights without manual spreadsheets, and increase direct bookings and revenue.

💻 Shiji, a hospitality technology firm, announced a full rebrand to unify its product suite. CEO Kevin King revealed the company's new identity and the 'day-night product cycle' concept to provide consistent service to hoteliers. This transformation aims to simplify Shiji's portfolio and demonstrate commitment to the hospitality industry.

📌 Cross-border payments company Nium partners with wholesale tour operator G2 Travel to use Nium's virtual card payment solution, enabling G2 Travel to pay hotel partners globally and add over 20 local currencies to its services. G2 Travel's founder, David Littlefair, cites Nium's global reach and currency coverage as key reasons for the partnership, aimed at improving payment speed, security, and reliability. Nium's SVP, Max Lehmann, highlights benefits for hotels such as faster payments and reduced fraud. The collaboration plans to grow G2 Travel's global payment capabilities and group business offerings.

💰 Hands In, a fintech innovator, has raised over £1 million in a recent funding round, aiming to expand into new sectors, enhance technology, and scale operations. The funding, complementing a previous £500,000 pre-seed in 2023, totals over £1 million within two years. Notable backers include fintech angels Ryta Zasiekina and founders of CONCRYT. Plans include activating contracts in 2025, chasing £1 million in ARR, and redefining global split payments.

📌 Mews, an Amsterdam-based hospitality tech company, secured $75 million for expansion into the US and DACH region. Previously, they closed a $110 million round led by Tiger Global with Kinnevik, Battery Ventures, and Goldman Sachs. In the last year, Mews grew over 50%, processed $10 billion in payments, and generated $200 million in revenue. Recently, Mews acquired Clarity and Quotelo to enhance its AI and revenue management capabilities. The firm has invested over $50 million in the US and plans substantial further investment.