Marketing

🏨 Sonesta International Hotels Corporation will finalize a strategic alliance with AKEN Hotels & Resorts LLC by mid-year, enhancing Sonesta’s international growth in South America and the Caribbean. Their collaboration aims to integrate AKEN’s properties into Sonesta's loyalty ecosystem, tapping into Latin America’s cultural richness and ecotourism, and providing guests with immersive local experiences. The alliance is expected to create a broader global audience for South American hospitality and contribute to Sonesta's expansion strategy, leveraging AKEN’s local insight and operational excellence.

🏨 Zleep Hotels launched in the German market with Zleep Hotel Frankfurt Airport Kelsterbach, near Frankfurt International Airport. The 175-room hotel features Danish design, Scandinavian simplicity, a fitness room, snack bar, lounge area, parking, and a complimentary airport shuttle. CEO Dr. Stephan Hungeling marked it as a significant milestone for brand expansion in Germany. Managed by Sonar Development, the hotel aims at business and leisure travelers, offering proximity to Kelsterbach city train station and Frankfurt city center. Zleep Hotels plans further European expansion with a franchise focus, leveraging lean operations and the H Rewards loyalty program reaching over 270 million potential customers.

📢 Debiprasad Sarangi published an article on November 9, 2017, discussing the "hotel direct booking war" and the determination of hotel owners to increase their property's direct bookings.

📈 Google retains third-party cookies in Chrome, impacting the digital ad industry. Google's stock rose 3.8% after the announcement. The Trade Desk, LiveRamp, and Yahoo are potential winners, with LiveRamp's stock increasing over 7%. SSPs like PubMatic and Magnite could benefit from enhanced ID signals and contextual insights. Open web publishers, including Vox Media and Newsweek, may see sustained revenue streams. Criteo, while avoiding a $40 million loss, faces sunk costs in Privacy Sandbox investments. Privacy advocates and consumers are likely losers, missing out on promised enhanced privacy protections.

🍕 Marriott Bonvoy partners with Chef Pati Jinich for exclusive gastronomic experiences for members. Jinich, a James Beard Award-winner and NYT best-selling author, brings the heart of Mexican culture and cuisine to Marriott Bonvoy. Recently named in "Post Next: 50 People Shaping Our Society in 2025" and as a Top 5 Border Ambassador by the Council of the Americas, Jinich will also host Marriott Bonvoy Moments, like the recent event at JW Marriott Mexico City Polanco.

🔋 Major power outages in Spain and Portugal yesterday led to a state of emergency in Spain and widespread disruptions in Madrid, Barcelona, and Lisbon. Flights were cancelled and businesses struggled with payments. Trava CEO Maxim Sevastianov emphasizes the need for travel firms to enhance resilience by setting up geo-redundant systems and automating processes to better handle such disruptions.

📆 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.

📌 On April 29, 2025, TPG acquired Sabre Corporation's Hospitality Solutions for $1.1 billion. As an independent entity, Hospitality Solutions aims to enhance hotel technology services, affecting over 40% of top hotel brands. TPG plans to grow the software's capabilities, while Sabre refocuses on airline IT and travel distribution. The deal is set to close by end of Q3 2025 with a smooth transition for hotel customers.

🏡 In Yen Bai Province, Northern Vietnam, the Banyan Group opened Garrya Mu Cang Chai, a new resort in the iconic Mu Cang Chai region, celebrated for its mountain landscapes and rice terraces. The resort covers 6.5 hectares, providing 110 rooms, suites, and villas with panoramic views. Room sizes range from 30 to 154 square meters, featuring bamboo accents and brocade motifs. Facilities include the 8LEMENTS Spa, Hydro Wellbeing Area, ReCharge Gym, and an 8-metre-high bamboo ballroom. The resort is accessible from Hanoi by a six-hour drive and is located over 300 kilometers north of the city.