Miscellaneous

📅 19 March, London: HBX Group launched Sponsored Listings, giving hotels premium placement in Hotelbeds and Bedsonline searches. This bid-free format optimizes exposure and captures demand with transparency through detailed reporting. Early campaigns show up to a 4% click-through rate and one booking per 46 impressions. HBX's network, with 70% international bookings, boosts revenue with higher average rates and longer stays. Present in 170 countries, HBX employs over 3,500 people globally.

📅 Travel Smarter, a London-based start-up founded in 2025, has launched an AI-powered loyalty optimisation platform targeting frequent travellers. As of 1 April 2025, British Airways and others in the Oneworld alliance have shifted to spend-based status models. The platform, with over 2,000 early-access users, simulates thousands of itinerary options, aiding users in achieving airline status efficiently. It aggregates rules and offers personalised recommendations, seeing miles as an alternative currency amidst tightening airline loyalty programs.

✈ Korean Air has adopted iFlight, IBS Software’s platform, to enhance Operations Control, Crew Planning, and Tracking. The phased deployment integrates AI for real-time decision-making and efficiency. Serving 116 cities across 39 countries, Korean Air operates 165 aircraft. This transformation aims to boost operational resilience and crew satisfaction while preparing for integration with Asiana Airlines. The iFlight platform's global deployment marks a milestone in cloud-native airline operations.