Innovation

📈 The Advantage Travel Partnership collaborates with Vibe for a new online booking tool platform aimed at TMCs under the AMS model. This empowers agents with advanced tools, leveraging group buying power to compete with larger organizations. Stephen Baxendale emphasizes their commitment to leading technology, enhancing their One-Stop Business Hub for growing market needs. Vibe's Danny Girling highlights the leveling of the playing field, offering TMCs the ability to serve clients innovatively and profitably.

🛫 SITA partners with Saudi Arabia's Red Sea International Airport (RSI) as a Specialised Airport Systems provider for the new Main Terminal Building. RSI, developed by Red Sea Global, aims to serve one million guests annually by 2030 with a peak capacity of 900 passengers per hour. SITA will implement solutions for passenger processing, baggage reconciliation, and airport operations. The solutions include SITA Flex, Maestro departure control system, Bag Manager, and Information Display Systems, ensuring a smooth passenger experience and efficient airport management.

💰 In 2025, business travel is set to grow, with 40% of companies expecting a boost between June and July, and 42% increasing their budgets from 2024 levels. The 2024 Global Business Travel Association report highlights 86% of buyers and suppliers meeting or exceeding their targets. Corporate travel budgets are anticipated to rise for 52% of buyers. BizAway, an Italian travel management company, recorded a 47% surge in booked stays and a 57% jump in total bookings year-over-year. The UK, with a 31.3% investment rate in business travel in 2024 and expected spending of $51.5 billion, is a focus for BizAway. BizAway's BizzyFlex service saw a 152.81% increase in usage for cancellations with refunds. The company also saved clients an average of 15.5% on hotels and observed a 63% growth in train travel, reflecting a push for sustainability. Technology and sustainability investments are critical for 2025, with 49% of professionals planning to enhance tech spending.

🏨 European hotels led price parity from October 2023 to October 2024, 48% of direct rates outperformed OTA and Metasearch prices. Paris topped October 2024 rankings with 67.35% best direct rates, followed by Lisbon (66.56%). Eurostars improved direct booking rates by 39 percentage points to 78.8%. Radisson Hotel Group matched 44.5% of rates with OTAs, whereas IHG faltered. OTA Booking.com was featured in over 90% of offers, but was beaten by hotels' direct rates 47.4% of the time.

💰 Encore, a global event technology and production services provider with 12,000 team members across 20 countries, launched the ‘Overtime Savings Program’ in the U.S. to improve financial stability for its workforce facing seasonal business fluctuations. Utilizing UKG's payroll technology, the program allows employees to save overtime earnings and receive a company-paid match. Following its post-Labor Day launch, UKG Wallet™ usage surged tenfold. Additionally, the ‘Seasonal Leave of Absence Program’ offers flexible off-season breaks while retaining benefits and career status, with global expansion plans underway.

🏨 Independent hotels enhance guest arrival experiences using technology like property-management systems (PMS) and experience management systems (XMS) to improve communication and offer personal touches. Digital communication enables guests to inform hotels of late arrivals, allowing for staggered room preparation and extended check-in times. Contactless technology provides self-serve mobile check-in options or kiosk check-ins to expedite the process. Modern PMS capabilities also allow guests early access to amenities, increasing revenue and guest satisfaction.