The Middle East travel market: Resilient, reset, and recalibrating
Three months after the first attack on Iran sent shockwaves through the region, I spoke to four OTA leaders operating across the Middle East to get a read on where things stand. What emerged wasn't a single story but four different ones, shaped by market size, business model, and temperament.
&nb [...]
Asia-Pacific airlines achieved 11.5% increase in demand
March passenger demand up 2.1% globally but sharp regional differences
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for March 2026 global passenger demand:
Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 2.1% compared to March 2025. Total capacity, mea [...]
Booking Holdings’ play to keep travellers in ecosystem with AI
Booking Holdings is positioning its artificial intelligence (AI) efforts as a moat against general AI models. The company reported early testing showed lifts in user conversion, reduced customer service interaction and other positive metrics across brands.
CEO Glenn Fogel shared a [...]
Uber expands into travel with hotel bookings and new in-app features
Uber announced a new set of products and features at its annual GO–GET product event, including hotel bookings and new travel tools.
The updates reflect Uber’s continued platform strategy to bring more of everyday life into a single app.
“Uber is becoming an app for everything—helping [...]
The age of wellness tourism is here and tech is cashing in
From AI-powered jet lag apps to spa booking platforms, the wellness travel industry is quietly becoming one of the most exciting spaces in travel tech. Here's what you need to know.
If you thought wellness tourism was just overpriced yoga retreats and green juice, think again. The sector is under [...]
Hyenas, hippos and the human experience: Beyond the room in Africa
What makes a hotel stay truly unforgettable?
For one panellist, it was waking to the sound of a baby wildebeest being hunted by hyenas and wild dogs just beyond the balcony railing. For another, it was the simple ritual of a cup of coffee delivered to bed at exactly the right moment, rugs laid out, [...]
The battle against AI commoditization in experiences: Be specific and weirdly human
In a world of scale, accelerated by AI, how do you keep the soul of experiences? Four voices from The Experience Economy – from audio tours to safari bookings, AI recommendations and intrepid travel – share their lessons.
The global experiences market is booming. According to “The Outloo [...]
Amadeus wants biometrics. Spotnana, Air Canada link up. PKFARE and AirAsia MOVE offer booking bundles.
Spotnana, Air Canada link up on NDC and flight pass integration
Spotnana has announced a partnership with Air Canada that includes two integrations: a direct NDC connection covering the full booking and servicing lifecycle (continuous pricing, negotiated fares, unused credit management, self-servic [...]
The aspiring traveller has spoken, now who will build for them?
MOVE’s Nadia Omer on unlocking ASEAN's next wave of travellers
The desire to travel has never been stronger in South-east Asia. The problem, says Nadia Omer, is that the industry hasn't caught up with the person doing the desiring.
Speaking at Travel Tech Thursdays Kuala Lumpur, themed “ [...]
K-culture is driving higher-value travel to South Korea
A new Airbnb report shows that South Korea’s global cultural influence is driving travel demand to Korea and shaping a higher-value segment of travellers who spend more, stay longer, and seek deeper cultural experiences.
Key takeaways:
K-culture influenced 94% of visitors and [...]
