TOP NEWS

💰 Airobot, founded in 2018, simplifies airline and airport ancillary sales for travel agencies and airlines with services like Automated Check-in, boosting ancillary revenue. They will attend the Phocuswright Conference in Phoenix, November 19-21. Virgin Atlantic considers separate loyalty programs for US and European customers, addressing the high point accumulation from US credit cards and the need for fixed points for European customers. McKinsey highlights Travel Tuesday's growth, after Cyber Monday, as a prime time for travel deals. Booking Holdings, Expedia, and Airbnb report Q3 results with room night bookings up by 8%, 9%, and revenue growth by 10%, respectively. Paid services to skip lines at theme parks and airports are on the rise, with GetYourGuide noting a fivefold increase in sales of such experiences since 2019. Phocuswright's top 25 travel startups to watch in 2025 include companies recommended by Travel Investor Network in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Travel Tech Essentialist Job Board lists positions like Senior AI Engineer in New York City with a salary range of $185k - $220k plus equity. Newsletter sponsorship opportunities for 2025 are now open for travel tech professionals.

🎵 Accor's research predicts 2025 travel trends, revealing 1 in 7 Brits will use AI-driven 'AI-tinerary'; searches for this tech in travel increased 100% in a year. 58% prefer lesser-known places, with "hidden gem holidays" searches surging 150%. 24% of Brits plan solo trips, as related searches grew 30%. Food tourism attracts 32%, "cooking tourism" queries up 250%. Concert travel is popular, with 32% planning trips around music events like Oasis, Coldplay, and Dua Lipa tours in 2025. Top 2025 destinations: New York City, Singapore, Maldives, Mauritius, Dominican Republic.

📌 Hospitality Hued, led by founder Ashli Johnson, aims to elevate Black and Brown leaders into positions of leadership and ownership in the hospitality industry. The initiative provides hospitality professionals with tools, networks, and insights for success. Ashli emphasizes the transferability of hospitality skills to other industries, noting the sector's attractiveness for its mix of business and heart. She credits the late Ray Bennett of Marriott International as a formative influence, highlighting his dedication to accessible leadership and creating opportunities for others. Hospitality Hued is actively changing recruitment strategies to address the lack of diversity in hotel executive leadership. Ashli Johnson's work exemplifies a commitment to a more inclusive and equitable hospitality industry.

🍴 Northcote's Obsession, a gourmet festival in Europe, marks its 25th year from January 24th to February 9th, 2025. Featuring 21 chefs with a combined 27 Michelin stars, the event will unfold over 17 nights at the luxury Lancashire hotel, Northcote. Chefs from around the world, including Singapore and South Africa, will participate. Obsession began in 2001 and continues to offer guests memorable culinary experiences. Tickets for Obsession25 go on sale on November 13th, priced at £220 per person, with optional wine flights from £70.

🏨 Global hotel RevPAR rose 13% in Q3 2024 compared to Q3 2019, attributed to events like Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and the Paris Olympics according to JLL. Asia Pacific demand was unstable, influenced by China's economic slowdown. Cross-border investment surged, with U.S. private equity focusing on Europe and Asia. International travel nears full recovery, urban RevPAR outperforms 2019. Transactions in Q3 2024 reached $42.1 billion, 953 in total, with luxury trades exceeding $2 million each. Top markets were London ($2.1 billion), New York ($1.6 billion), and Osaka ($1.4 billion).

🔔 Gianni Di Fede, Senior Vice President at Radisson Hotel Group since 2017, aimed to enhance revenue operations. Radisson has structured global revenue management that extends from global to local levels. The Revenue Club, with technology partner Duetto, held its first post-pandemic meeting in Gran Canaria in June. Radisson's Corporate Support Office comprises teams for revenue management, distribution, and business intelligence, with specialized units like rate loading, five-year planning, and revenue operations. Madri, St Petersburg, and Dubai serve as Global Centres of Excellence for their respective regions. EMMA, Radisson's technology platform, integrates core functions and utilizes Duetto. Cluster operations help manage revenue in multi-hotel cities by applying unified strategies, while local input involves flexibility and empowerment at the hotel level.

📦 Restaurants must meet customer expectations with efficient ordering systems across online, mobile, and phone channels. In-house delivery control ensures quality and standards are met, while statistical data shows that 67% of consumers avoid third-party apps due to fees, 23% desire better delivery tracking, and 51% are influenced by coupons and promotions. Investing in technology like advanced POS systems and integrated online ordering can maximize profits, reduce errors, and increase customer loyalty.