Taylor’s terabyte tsunami. AI sidekicks. AA offloads advisors. Yugo flies with Eve.
Taylor Swift’s terabyte tsunami
It wasn’t only the airlines and hotels which had a ball when Taylor Swift performed sell-out shows in Melbourne this week.
Figures released by telco Telstra revealed that during the three nights of Swift’s Eras Tour concerts almost 300,000 people packed insi [...]
How AI boosts digital advertising and direct bookings
Recent advances in artificial intelligence’s handling of digital advertising have increased the possibilities for hotels to grow direct bookings and compete with online travel agencies, a new study found.
AI-powered ad campaigns, especially when managed alongside manual campaigns, increased the d [...]
Swifties spike Airbnb prices. STB re-engages Traveloka. Penny for her thoughts. More.
Airbnb hosts pull a Swiftie
Pop icon Taylor Swift’s appearances in Melbourne and Sydney in coming days have seen hotels in the two cities booked out – even with room rates going through the roof – while some Airbnb customers feel they been left in the lurch by landlords.
Swifties travellin [...]
Gen-AI in travel: Game-changer or hype?
Industry leaders weigh in on the real-world potential of GenAI in travel and hospitality
Speculation surrounding the potential of generative AI to ‘revolutionise’ the travel industry was rampant in 2023, yet tangible applications weren’t popping up the way GenAI advocates had hoped they would [...]
How GPT Store fits in the travel, tours and activities market
“The learning curve is so low with many of these GPTs that it really benefits those who are willing to jump in, imagine, and experiment.”
Earlier this year, OpenAI's GPT Store opened its doors to its paying subscribers, marking a pretty significant milestone in the evolution of AI-driven conver [...]
China’s outbound spurs partnership. Simplifying Thailand’s long-stayers. Airline IT insights. More.
PKFARE and Umetrip step out together
As China bounces back from the pandemic, the challenge for companies is to seize emerging opportunities in the accelerating outbound travel market – and find the right partners to achieve lasting results.
Cue, PKFARE which has inked a strategic partnership [...]
Relaxed visas, AI, and B2B loyalty programs bolster promising start to 2024
As the tourism industry sets its course for the year, Omri Morgenshtern, CEO of digital travel platform Agoda, sees 2024 as a promising period for travel enthusiasts worldwide. Speaking at the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Laos, Morgenshtern highlighted the industry's positive momentum, building upon [...]
Hotels leverage dynamic pricing and personalisation as tug of war with OTAs intensifies
The competitive landscape between online travel agents (OTAs) and hotels is heating up as per the latest insights from SHR Group's Hotel Industry Trends Report 2024. This report, based on analysis from over 2,000 international hotels leveraging SHR Group channels, sheds light on emerging trends that [...]
Seeking human advice on travel in the age of AI
Globetrotter who visited every country by age 25 joins Skyscanner as a travel ambassador and has some tips for us
“The best travel advice I’ve received from someone else would be to always carry a copy of your passport/visa with you during your travel, and to carry some passport sized photos wi [...]
Mistletoe grows; new αFund seeks to raise $300m-$400m for positive impact investments
Fund started by Taizo Son and Atsushi Tarai buys SoftBank Ventures, aims to build ecosystem of “like-minded investors and founders”
After eight years of running the global seed stage innovation driven impact vehicle, Mistletoe, as a family fund, co-founders Atsushi Taira and Taizo Son are rea [...]
