TerraPay & XanderPay unveil first-ever payment model built for hoteliers
TerraPay and XanderPay have announced a partnership to launch the first payment model specifically tailored for hotel brands and property owners, aiming to simplify international payments and streamline financial operations. The integrated solution allows hotels to accept a broad range of payment methods while centralising all financial processes on a single platform.
Designed to reduce the friction of cross-border transactions and third-party booking complexities, it also offers tools for improved cash flow and treasury management. Koert Grasveld of TerraPay emphasised that this collaboration addresses the challenges faced by independent hoteliers, including high banking costs and limited digital access.
By combining TerraPay’s global payment infrastructure with XanderPay’s hospitality payment expertise, the solution gives hotels greater control over collections, settlements, and reconciliation. Both companies say that the model significantly reduces dependence on outdated systems like SWIFT and supports the broader digital transformation.
Expedia drops 2025 island hot list
Expedia has released its first-ever 2025 Island Hot List, spotlighting the world’s most sought-after island destinations, backed by global travel data and insights, with global island searches up by 30% on average. Among the top 10 picks are Koh Samui, Jamaica, and Fiji, each recognised for unique experiences – from affordable luxury to cultural richness and community spirit. Trending hard are Paros and Sardinia, both showing a 45% increase in interest year-on-year. The report highlights that travellers are now drawn to islands for culture, authenticity, and accessibility.
For Singapore-based travellers, island destinations closer to home are gaining traction. Expedia notes a significant spike in interest for Phu Quoc (+165%), Koh Samui (+39%), George Town (+27%), Perth (+17%), and Jeju (+17%). These destinations stand out for their ease of travel, affordability, and seasonal appeal. Lavinia Rajaram, Asia head of Expedia Group brands PR, recommends travelling off-peak to save up to 50% on accommodation and bundling flights with hotels to save up to S$400 on average. September is identified as the optimal month to travel for best value and conditions — especially outside hurricane-prone areas like the Caribbean and Southeast Asia. Expedia also released several travel tips, including using price alerts, island hopping for unique discoveries, and capitalising on the Halfway There Sale.
Google’s AI is rewriting travel search; Propellic urges travel brands to adapt
Google’s upcoming shift to AI Mode is set to fundamentally change how travellers search online, replacing static lists of links with dynamic, conversational responses. Already live as a separate tab, AI Mode allows users to ask multi-layered questions like “Which Costa Rica tours include wildlife viewing for kids under 8?” — simulating a chat with a personal travel agent. Brennen Bliss, CEO of AI-first travel marketing agency Propellic, predicts this will become the default search experience within 12 months, not years. The transformation will hit travel brands especially hard, as traditional top-of-funnel strategies — blog content and guides — risk becoming obsolete. “Your content may no longer drive traffic. It may simply train the AI,” warns Bliss.
The key metric is no longer being the top result on Google, but being the brand mentioned and trusted by the AI. “Mentions are the new clicks,” says Bliss, urging companies to optimize for AI trust instead of SEO rank. Google is rolling out AI Mode gradually, ensuring monetization strategies are in place before a full rollout. With most of Alphabet’s revenue tied to search ads, AI Mode’s integration hinges on engagement and profitability. Meanwhile, Google is developing Project Mariner, a commerce engine that could enable bookings directly within AI search. Travel brands that act now to integrate into AI’s ‘trusted memory’ may secure a lasting presence in future search, while others risk fading from visibility altogether.
WanziCloud teams up with TA Network to tackle global hotel connectivity
WanziCloud, a China-based hotel wholesale SaaS platform, has partnered with Singapore’s Trip Affiliates Network (TA Network) to tackle global B2B hotel distribution. The integration connects WanziCloud with TA Network’s Hotel Partner Network (HPN), offering two-way API connectivity to global supply and demand partners. This enables real-time rate and inventory syncing, automated contract management, multi-currency settlement via virtual cards and e-wallets, dynamic rate distribution, and unified analytics dashboards. WanziCloud’s General Manager Dong Shen said the collaboration helps deliver real-time pricing and streamlined booking flows to meet the growing needs of outbound Chinese agents and global partners.
The partnership comes at a time as outbound travel from China is expected to exceed 130 million travelers in 2025, according to the China Tourism Academy. This growth is accelerating the demand for automated, API-first travel solutions. Thomas Wong of TA Network noted that the integration expands their presence in Greater China while giving agents faster access to live hotel content.
