28th August 2024: Here are some of the stories that caught our attention over the week.
The world’s first airport to require biometric boarding is set to arrive in 2025. “The Smart Travel Project at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi will involve biometric sensors at every airport identification checkpoint by 2025.”
2025 Hotel Budget Season Forecast: The Market Trends You Need to Know. “After a strong surge in pricing performance following the lift of travel restrictions, hotels are now facing a more restrained environment for raising rates. However appetite for travel has not diminished: IATA recorded double-digit growth in revenue passenger kilometres. Business travel similarly has roared back, with double-digit growth in volumes and forecast spend in 2024″
Cybercriminal Siege On Travel Sector Demands Stronger Security Measures Seat spinning has become a prevalent issue in Asia, where bots reserve airline seats for extended periods, often up to 24 hours, without completing the purchase. This tactic allows entities such as unauthorized online travel agencies (OTAs) to market these seats at a profit, avoiding the cost of upfront payment. And a related report here.
Former Expedia exec’s start-up uses AI to help smaller companies book travel. Otto has raised $6 million in a seed round led by Madrona Ventures, with participation from Direct Travel. Angel investors in the round include former C-suite executives from services including Expedia, Ortbiz, Uber and Farecast.
Tripadvisor teams up with DerbySoft for advertising of its hotel brands. Travel platform Tripadvisor and travel technology specialist DerbySoft, have announced they are testing a new partnership that will bring display advertising to Derbysoft’s 6,000 hotel partners across the Tripadvisor platform.
