Digital currencies take off
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) will offer digital currencies in the financial settlement systems it operates for the aviation industry.
The first digital currency to be offered is the digital Renminbi, which will be available in the China Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) by the end of 2024.
“China is one of the most advanced countries in the world in the adoption of digital currency. Recognizing the trend, IATA’s China Airline Committee requested for the digital Renminbi to be included in the BSP. This is an important development, and IATA will accommodate the digital Renminbi by year-end,” said Albakri.
“Digitalization impacts many aspects of our daily lives, including the currency we use. With the increasing use of digital currencies, it is imperative that IATA’s industry financial settlement systems adapt to support the needs of those using our services,” said Muhammad Albakri, IATA’s senior vice president for financial settlement and distribution services.
IATA is also examining the potential to offer other digital currencies in its settlement systems. “The experience gained in introducing the digital Renminbi will help IATA in onboarding other digital currencies in the future,” said Albakri.
In July, IATA added the Renminbi Offshore (CNH) currency to its IATA Currency Clearance Service (ICCS)- a global cash management system – bringing the total number of currencies handled by the service to 74.
“Payment should be seamless. A customer shouldn’t be frustrated by not having their payment method of choice available. Nor should airlines lose out on deriving the proper value from their ticket sales,” said Albakri.
Singapore gets AI travel planner
Booking.com’s AI Trip Planner (beta) is now available for travellers in Singapore.
The country is the first market in South-east Asia to launch, following earlier rollouts of the AI Trip Planner in Australia, New Zealand, the US and the UK.
The AI Trip Planner is partially powered by large language model (LLM) technology from OpenAI’s ChatGPT API to create a new conversational experience for people to start their trip planning process.
Travellers can ask the AI Trip Planner general travel-related questions, as well as more specific queries to support any stage of their trip planning, including scoping out potential destinations and accommodation options, providing travel inspiration based on the individual’s needs and requirements, as well as creating itineraries for a particular city, country or region.
The AI Trip Planner takes the trip planning process one step further by providing travellers with a visual list of destinations and properties, including Booking.com’s pricing, with links to view more details.
Travellers can switch between their chat with the AI Trip Planner and the Booking.com app as they consider trip options. With a tap on their desired booking type, whether it’s accommodation or attractions, users can complete their reservations within the app.
A recent study conducted by booking.com found more than half (55%) of Singaporean travellers are inclined to use AI tools for their travel planning and trips.
Additionally, close to half (48%) of Singaporean travellers are specifically looking for technology amenities and services, such as AI-enabled touchpoints, in their accommodations.
A thousand stories waiting to be told
Profitroom, which provides advanced direct booking technology to hotels, has released a film as part of its mission to gather 1,000 inspiring stories from hotel workers worldwide.
The film highlights the human side of hospitality and captures the dedication and creativity of the people behind it.
“Hospitality is an industry built on people, and ‘The Keepers of a Thousand Stories’ is about honouring those who give so much of themselves” says Marcin Dragan, founder of Profitroom.
“Their work may be unseen, but it’s absolutely essential. We wanted to create something that truly reflects their dedication and the joy they bring to guests’ lives.”
Profitroom’s technology is designed to help top-tier hotels maximise direct revenue and enhance guest engagement.
Justyna Michalczyk, chief marketing officer at Profitroom, said, “We’re calling on hotel staff everywhere to tell their stories—moments that reveal why they love their work and inspire others to see hospitality in a new light.”
To watch the film and share a story, visit 1000hotelstories.com
Emma, so nice to meet you
Germany’s first AI-generated travel influencer, ‘Emma’, has been launched by the German National Tourist Board to inspire potential visitors.
Emma, a 30-something Berliner, interacts with travellers through Instagram and the tourism board’s website, sharing travel tips and personalised itineraries.
Emma is expected to evolve into a key brand ambassador for German tourism – potentially partnering with hotels, airlines, and travel agencies.
Taking it easy with China Airlines
Taiwan-based China Airlines has launched its new 2025 “Take it Easy, Take it Slow” calendar and a new brand commercial, “#Storybehindthetrip”, turning the drama from trips into short and funny memes.
The calendar is presented as check-in posts on social media while the brand commercial is narrated by the traveller’s inner voice, allowing viewers an inside peek into everyday situations.
The airline says stories are “humorous and inspirational”, aligning with China Airlines’ mission “to create wonderful more moments through flying”.
All-new China Airlines “#Storybehindthetrip” brand commercial:
Travex on the move in UAE
Foreign exchange brand Travex has launched a major expansion in the UAE with the addition of 13 new stores across Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports.
At Zayed International Airport, Travelex is doubling its store footprint from seven to 14 stores, including six new on-the-move kiosk (OTM) locations at arrivals baggage, airside departures and pre-immigration, and one new traditional landside store.
The new landside store will offer both a cash management service that will enable the airport’s businesses to process cash, as well as traditional consumer cash services, including access to 62 currencies.
At Dubai International (DXB), Travelex is in the process of launching six new stores across all three terminals, including new traditional stores and stores upgraded from OTMS. Two ATMs dispensing AED were also installed at Terminal 3 Arrivals earlier this year.
