Innovation

🚀 Ukraine's largest airline, SkyUp Airlines, has migrated to IBS Software’s iFly Res to support its commercial operations restart as the airline resumes regular flights in the EU. This transition is seen as a "key milestone" for the airline's recovery after its temporary phase as an ACMI and charter carrier. The new Passenger Services System (PSS) provided by IBS Software aims to enhance customer service and ensure operational efficiency. Chief Commercial Officer Daria Alieksieienko expresses excitement for future opportunities and the strengthening of the airline post-conflict in Ukraine.

📈 Amadeus, a GDS and travel technology specialist, invested in hivr.ai via Amadeus Ventures. Based in Germany, hivr.ai was founded by four ex-Expedia managers and offers AI-led solutions to automate and consolidate group sales across various channels like hotel websites and third-party venues. Their technology aims to streamline hotel processes, shorten sales cycles, and boost revenue from meetings and groups. Amadeus is also planning to integrate hivr.ai's tech with its own sales and catering solution, Delphi, and enhance its MeetingBroker product. Terms of the investment are undisclosed.

🏩 Air India introduced eZ Booking, an AI-driven platform for easier reservation. Exclusive to Maharaja Club members, this feature simplifies booking by reducing steps and screens on their website. Powered by Agentic AI, eZ Booking employs machine learning and natural language processing. Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Dr. Satya Ramaswamy, highlighted its aim to enhance customer experience. The Red Dot Design Museum in Singapore displays the award-winning design concept. eZ Booking will soon be available on Air India's mobile site and app.

✈ SITA and Cathay Pacific have embarked on a new agreement to upgrade network bandwidth in 51 global airports, increasing it by up to five times through SITA Connect Go service. The service offers up to 300 Mbps bandwidth, dual Internet connectivity, and includes three Gateways for legacy systems. The 12-month project began in April 2024, expecting completion and full operation in early Q2 2025, enhancing operational efficiency and Cloud application transition while ensuring cost-effectiveness.

📍 TPConnects Technologies has integrated NDC content for Air France and KLM on its Iris platform, enhancing distribution for the airline group and expanding TPConnects' airline partnerships. Travel sellers will gain access to fares, seating, baggage options, special meals, and more, with guaranteed live availability and real-time pricing. This strategic enhancement demonstrates TPConnects' commitment to providing comprehensive content, as stated by VP Giuseppe Candela. Hichame Lahkim Bennani, commercial director for Air France-KLM in India and the Middle East, highlighted the integration's value in their NDC distribution strategy.

✈ Corporate Travel Management's (CTM) booking tool Lightning now shows Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) scores for over 250 airlines during flight selection. Initially tested with a pilot group in the UK and Europe in early 2024, SAF scores are now free for all customers in North America, Asia, with Australia and New Zealand to follow in 2025. This feature aids in making sustainable travel choices, considering factors like price, policy status, seat availability, and detailed carbon emissions.

✈ 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.

🚀 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.

🥣 Lauren Kennedy and Derek Hannum discussed food safety tech at NRF 2025 in NYC, addressing FSMA 204 compliance for high-risk foods like seafood and fresh produce, effective January 2026. Companies must record Critical Tracking Events (CTEs) for such foods; this is vital as the FDA recalls over 100 million units of food quarterly. The ReposiTrak-Upshop partnership enhances traceability, reduces waste and improves operations. Businesses are advised to prepare now, audit supply chains, adopt traceability solutions, and plan for scalability.

📌 In a podcast recorded in January 2025, Tim and Dan from Revenue Generation discussed the evolving landscape of the hotel industry, focusing on revenue and profit optimization, and the pivotal role of data science and AI. Tim narrated his career journey, starting as a reservation agent in Omaha, Nebraska, progressing through roles at Starwood Hotels and Host Hotels, and eventually founding Revenue Generation. Dan, with a background in revenue management across casinos and multifamily sectors, emphasized the importance of data-driven decisions and highlighted his work in predictive analytics. Both highlighted the need for a single source of truth for data, the importance of understanding and defining data elements, and the role of technology in accelerating decision-making. They stressed the significance of clean data, business intelligence tools like Power BI, and the potential of AI in enhancing revenue management strategies. Summary: Tim and Dan from Revenue Generation, with extensive careers in hotel revenue management, discuss the industry's challenges and the potential of data science and AI for revenue and profit optimization in a podcast recorded in January 2025. They advocate for clean data, strategic use of business intelligence tools, and adopting AI to drive efficient and faster decision-making. For more details from their comprehensive discussion on the future and current state of revenue management in the hotel industry, including the evolving use of AI, listen to the full podcast.