14th August 2024: Here are some stories that caught our attention over the week.
More funding to enhance the booker digital experience: Flyr, a travel startup that provides software to companies including Jet Blue, has raised $295 million in equity and debt in a new funding round. Flyr is modular, built on open standards and incorporates IATA New Distribution Capability (NDC) and ONE Order. According to Flyr, the additional capital will enable them to scale and accelerate the delivery of modern reservation systems and help forward-thinking travel companies like Avianca, JetBlue, Air New Zealand, Virgin Atlantic to deliver a better digital experience for their travellers.
Fascinating data and analysis on big events and impact across the travel sector: It’s not just Taylor Swift who dominates the world music stage and impacts travel spending. “While Taylor Swift continues to enchant audiences worldwide with her sold-out performances and remarkable talent, a detailed report from The Data Appeal Company, part of the Almawave Group, reveals that other major music events are also making substantial impacts on local economies and international tourism in 2024. The study, which focuses on three key events, underscores the extensive influence of the music industry, demonstrating how such events draw visitors, invigorate local businesses and the hospitality sector, and create a beneficial cycle through social media promotion”
Another OTA hotel experiment – is this any different? : Launched by Alibaba’s online travel platform, Fliggy, in collaboration with Alibaba AI Labs, FlyZoo Hotel pioneers a vision of ‘future hotels’. Situated in Hangzhou, China, the 290-room hotel is Alibaba’s bold experiment to showcase how smart technology can transform the hospitality experience. FlyZoo’s business strategy is grounded in the use of cutting- edge technology such as AI, machine learning and robots to elevate the guest experience and improve operational efficiency.
An all you can fly flight subscription. How attractive is it? : Hungary-based Wizz Air, the seventh-largest airline in Europe, announced the launch of an all-you-can-fly subscription program across its entire network — the first of its kind in Europe. The low-cost carrier is partnering with travel-tech subscription specialist Caravelo on the program. Subscribers who pay a single annual payment – currently priced at €499, climbing to €599 on Friday – can take an unlimited number of Wizz flights as long as they book within 72 hours before departure.
See the seat you are paying for: American travel tech company, Fareportal, has become the first to integrate new content from ATPCO’s Routehappy to amplify their seat maps with highly targeted visuals matching the seats flight shoppers are choosing.
