Innovation

✈ Greater Bay Airlines (GBA), Hong Kong's newest carrier, is now accessible through Travelport+ platform, catering to seven destinations in the Asia-Pacific region. This multi-year partnership aims to facilitate GBA's expansion by connecting it with Travelport’s global travel retailer network. Agencies can book GBA fares and ancillary services, utilizing Travelport’s content and branding merchandising solutions. COO of GBA, Stephen Loh, and Damian Hickey, Travelport's global head of travel partners, emphasize the enhancement of traveler experiences and retailing processes.

💰 Mike Putman, CEO of CTS, credits the success of the e-commerce subscription economy to its global strength, as seen with Amazon Prime Day. The travel industry is adopting similar models, offering monthly or annual subscriptions for services or discounts. CTS's report, "The Age of Travel Subscription," provides eight steps for success in this realm, emphasizing business discipline, value, low acquisition cost, recurring income, market resilience, tailored benefits, customer service, and data retention. With the travel subscription economy's initial phase ending, timely action is crucial for market players.

✈ Sabre has renewed its distribution deal with Delta Air Lines for multiple years, including NDC content. Delta announced its selling and servicing transformation with NDC earlier in the year. Sabre-connected travel agents gain access to traditional EDIFACT and NDC Delta content, with an aim to integrate NDC into Sabre’s marketplace. Delta’s Jeff Lobl and Sabre’s Roshan Mendis emphasize the benefits of the extension and collaboration for optimal travel experiences tailored to customer needs.

📅 In its 25th anniversary month, iSeatz launched LXP, a travel loyalty technology platform designed to enhance agility and efficiency for businesses. LXP, notable for partnering with Delta in 2007 and American Express Travel in 2012, supports bespoke client services with an API-first microservices framework, promising adaptable solutions to meet market demands and improve customer experiences. Founder and CEO Kenneth Purcell emphasizes iSeatz's commitment to customer-centric innovation.

🌍 Wholesalers in the travel industry, like Tourico Holidays, purchase in bulk to resell to businesses. Bedbanks, such as BedbankGlobal, store and distribute accommodation inventories. DMCs/Receptives, including Abercrombie & Kent, offer local, customized travel services. Web platforms like Booking.com and Expedia provide real-time access to travel products, while metasearchers like Kayak and Skyscanner compare prices. TUI and Thomas Cook create packaged travel deals, airlines like Emirates offer complete packages and manage loyalty programs. Corporate programs, exemplified by American Express Global Business Travel, offer tailored services with benefits. Retail Travel Agencies (e.g., Flight Centre) and B2B Distribution Groups (e.g., Virtuoso) enhance product distribution and customer reach. Technological companies such as Roibos support the distribution strategy with advanced tools.

📦 Grubhub expands its Campus Dining service to over 60 schools, reaching over 4.5 million students. University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Tampa, University of Missouri, Howard University, and Tulane University among new partners. Grubhub's university partnerships grew by 21%. Robot delivery is available on over 20 campuses, with University of Mississippi, Prairie View A&M University, University of New Mexico, and University of Houston joining this semester. Amazon's Just Walk Out technology is implemented at Ursinus College, University of Virginia, and Lindenwood University, with schools like Stevens Institute of Technology and Loyola University Maryland already using it. Sustainable solution by Topanga.io's ReusePass program is deployed at Virginia Tech and SUNY New Paltz, with several other universities already on board. Grubhub+ Student provides $0 delivery and additional benefits for partnered school students.

🎶 Restaurants must ensure their music streaming service and sound system are compatible and reliable, without connectivity issues or playback errors. Public performance licenses are essential when playing music publicly, as copyright infringement fines can vary from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars per violation. The licenses, typically issued by PROs like ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR in the US, protect artists and avoid legal action against the business. Multiple licenses may be needed for different songwriters or additional uses like music videos.

📍 Grubhub expands its Campus Dining to over 60 schools, now reaching 500,000 new students, for a total of over 4.5 million. New university partners include Alabama at Birmingham, Tampa, Missouri, Howard, and Tulane, increasing Grubhub's university partnerships by 21% to over 360. Automated robot delivery by Cartken, Kiwibot, and Starship is expanded to nearly a dozen new schools, already serving 20 campuses and delivering hundreds of thousands of orders. Amazon's Just Walk Out technology is being deployed at Ursinus College, University of Virginia, and Lindenwood University, with previous implementations at Stevens Institute of Technology, Montclair State University, and Loyola University Maryland. Grubhub partners with Topanga.io for reusable packaging, with Virginia Tech and SUNY New Paltz joining this semester, adding to schools like Ohio State University and Boston University. Grubhub Campus Dining offers on- and off-campus ordering, and students at partnered schools get free Grubhub+ Student, offering $0 delivery fees, lower service fees, and other benefits.