Fintech
APAC at the heart of Worldline’s ambitions to enter high growth markets
19/07/2023 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
Three trends driving the region – digital wallets, efficiency, app/mobile On the back of the accelerated travel recovery being seen in Asia Pacific, Worldline, the fourth largest payments company in the world and number one in Europe, wants to expand its footprint in the region. At its Rise T [...]
China allows credit cards. New EU visa rules. Cloud-based airports.
14/07/2023 by Ian Jarrett
SITA’s technology unites India’s airports under the cloud Travel technology provider SITA has secured a landmark deal with Airports Authority of India to provide technology to 43 of India’s biggest airports. “The deal will see improvements to over 2,700 passenger touchpoints, paving the [...]
Uncovering future opportunities in red ocean and soft power of Japan
13/07/2023 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
From digital collaboration to new desires of travellers, travel brands seize new growth in Japan The first thing you notice when you land at Haneda airport is how busy it is – from immigration to customs to the taxi rank – despite it being almost 10pm. I think I waited almost an hour for a tax [...]
Sabre buys Techsembly. AI helps rhinos. Booking.com’s new Trip Planner is here.
06/07/2023 by Ian Jarrett
Sabre swoops on gift card leader Sabre Hospitality has moved closer to its long-term strategy to be the leading global hotel commerce and distribution platform by acquiring UK-based hospitality e-commerce provider Techsembly. Techsembly provides an automated e-commerce solution enabling hotels t [...]
Blogxiety is real. NFTs keep Bali’s culture. Traxo tracks NDC, more.
30/06/2023 by Ian Jarrett
NFTs help to preserve Bali’s culture and artisans Craftsmen in Bali are among  11 artisans from Indonesia who are helping to protect the country's heritage and culture by placing their work on Web3, a web feature that includes blockchain technology. A BBC report reveals the artisans have joi [...]
Spotnana and United Airlines look to create seamless traveller journeys with NDC integration
29/06/2023 by Arvindh Yuvaraj
Direct NDC integration supports bookings, post-ticketing changes, real-time analytics, and servicing through a modern retailing experience Spotnana, a travel infrastructure company, has unveiled its strategic collaboration with United Airlines to introduce direct NDC integration, providing seamless [...]
Rapid surge in chargebacks poses challenges for travel companies, reveals Outpayce study
28/06/2023 by Arvindh Yuvaraj
Perceived difficulties in obtaining refunds and increasing traveler awareness of ‘chargebacks’ driving 30% year-over-year growth A recent study conducted by Outpayce has shed light on the significant rise in chargebacks faced by travel companies, signaling a growing concern within t [...]
utu tackles tax-free shopping with US$33 million deal, acquires fintech startup CardsPal
26/06/2023 by WiT
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the travel industry is projected to reach US$9.5 trillion in 2023, representing 95% of the pre-pandemic peak in 2019. Despite this rebound, McKinsey reports that only about 1% of venture funding over the past 15 years has been allocated to the trave [...]
Finland’s phone-free island. Risk of greenwashing. Shiji’s frictionless payments, and more.
23/06/2023 by Ian Jarrett
Tourist island declares itself phone free Finland’s Ulko-Tammio tourist island is going phone-free this summer. Those travelling to the island, located in the Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park, will be encouraged to switch off their smart devices, take a break from social media and enjoy n [...]
Bye TikTok, Hello AI. Easier payments. Qatar’s try-before-fly.
15/06/2023 by Ian Jarrett
AI, it’s the only way to plan travel. A survey of US travellers has found more than one third — 36% —said they are likely to use AI to research or plan travel within the next 12 months. The survey was conducted by travel publisher Matador Network, which recently launched the personal AI tr [...]