Spotnana partners with Booking.com
Spotnana has announced a major partnership with Booking.com, integrating directly with the OTA’s latest API to give its customers and TMC partners full access to Booking.com’s global inventory, including rates that were previously only available on the website. The connection supports the entire traveller journey, offering a consumer-grade booking experience, flexible cancellation and modification options, and seamless global servicing through Spotnana’s agent desktop. Travel buyers and sellers also gain access to a range of perks, from flexible payment choices and loyalty member rates to closed-user group pricing, geo-specific deals, long-stay support, “work-friendly” accommodation tags, and consolidated multi-language responses.
Booking.com says the partnership extends its mission to make the world easier to experience, with VP of Partnerships Mark van der Linden noting Spotnana’s architecture helps deliver an exceptional traveller experience while simplifying servicing for TMCs. Spotnana’s EVP of Content and Commercials, Bill Brindle, added that the goal is to eliminate content fragmentation by building deep, direct connections with major travel providers — and that activating Booking.com content within Spotnana Cloud for TMCs is now “as easy as flipping a switch.”
Otto The Agent is a smarter, chattier way to do business travel
Otto The Agent has officially stepped out of its nine-month beta, promising to make business travel feel less like admin and more like having an efficient EA in your pocket. Backed by Madrona Venture and former CEOs of Orbitz, Expedia and Concur, the AI assistant handles everything from booking flights and hotels to adjusting itineraries mid-chaos – no website redirects, no retyping payment details, just a simple “book it.” CEO and founder Michael Gulmann says Otto is built for “freedom and simplicity,” while Concur founder Steve Singh calls it the start of a future where business travel is “personal, predictive and effortless.” Otto links to your calendar, learns your preferences, and even tags in a human via Direct Travel if you ever want to talk to a real person. Users can access it on web, mobile or email, with integrations across Microsoft 365, Google Calendar, Spotnana and Booking.com.
DreamFolks buys 60% of Easy to Travel to boost its global lounge network
DreamFolks has picked up a 60% stake in Dubai-based Easy to Travel (ETT) for about $4 million, a move it says will accelerate its push toward building a global travel experience ecosystem. ETT already brings lounge access and airport services across 120+ countries and 500 airports, and DreamFolks calls the acquisition a major milestone that pairs ETT’s tech and partnerships with its own agile platform. The company expects the deal to strengthen its global lounge business, diversify clients, expand services and ultimately enhance customer experience worldwide. The timing is notable, just months after DreamFolks stepped back from offering airport lounge services in India as operators moved toward direct access.
GCash and Klook launch joint “GCash Klook Travel Card” for global-ready spending
GCash and Klook have teamed up to introduce the GCash Klook Travel Card – a Visa-powered debit card designed for both Philippines-based and global travellers. The card includes a “Welcome Pack” offering travel vouchers (for airport transfer, eSIM, hotel bookings), automatically upgrades users to Klook’s Gold rewards tier, and promises more than ₱10,000 in travel-related savings in the first year.
Beyond perks, the card retains the core features of a GCash Card: no foreign-exchange service fees, low forex rates, acceptance in over 200 countries, and access to ATMs worldwide. It’s usable for travel-related purchases on Klook, as well as regular online or in-store transactions globally.
Azerbaijan Airlines adopts HTS’ Disruption Assistance
Azerbaijan Airlines has partnered with Hopper Technology Solutions (HTS) to introduce DAFAR (Disruption Assistance For Any Reason), a fintech product designed to give passengers more control during flight delays and cancellations. Integrated directly into AZAL’s website and app, DAFAR lets travelers pay a small add-on fee to receive automatic monitoring, instant notifications, and the ability to rebook on any airline at no extra cost if disruptions occur, or opt for a full refund. AZAL’s Chief Commercial Officer, Jamil Manizade, said the collaboration reflects the airline’s goal to offer more responsive services, while HTS co-founder Dakota Smith highlighted the value the solution brings to passengers across the Eurasia region.
