In the news: Lodgify gets new funding, Travel Parking Group’s app on Travelport, ibis Hotels partners Deezer, APAC airlines’ 2014 financial performance
With fresh funding Lodgify set to expand product development operations
Vacation rentals hoting up. (Image credit: archideaphoto/iStock)
With vacation rentals hotting up and Airbnb signalling an expansion into the sector (read story here), it’s good timing for start-up Lodgify as it closes a seed round of funding.
The vacation rental technology start-up has closed a €600,000 seed round of financing led by angel investor Chris Hitchen, HOWZAT Partners, Venrex Investment Management and other notable angel investors including Roland Zeller, former CEO of travel.ch and Kilian Thalhammer, former managing director of Rocket Internet start-up PAYMILL.
Lodgify’s browser-based service enables vacation rental owners and managers to create a website for their properties and manage their reservations in real-time, without paying commission.
The Barcelona-based start-up is a Seedcamp alumni, Europe’s leading accelerator and mentoring programme, and has seen rapid growth in its customer base across the US and Europe since launching in 2013.
“Lodgify’s mission is to empower vacation rental operators to grow their business through technology,” says Dennis Klett, co-founder of Lodgify. “Our product pipeline is filled with innovative features and new website templates tailored to the modern needs of hospitality businesses. With this funding we can aggressively expand our product development operations.”
The start-up will use the funds to enhance its website building software, expand the product team, and unveil additional features.
“We are very impressed by Lodgify’s technology-focused approach to tackling the vacation rental industry’s challenge to generate more direct bookings,” says Chris Hitchen. “Their intuitive user interface and set of innovative software tools positions them strongly in a lucrative and growing market.”
With its versatile and scalable product, Lodgify also sees itself tapping into the independent hotels market in the near future.
“Our focus is on vacation rentals, however, we are receiving a lot of interest from hoteliers who would like to challenge the dominant position of Online Travel Agencies and regain more control of their bookings,” says Klett. “They see the potential of our software helping them to drive direct bookings and build their own brand.”
Lodgify offers scalable subscription plans based on a monthly fee for both vacation rental owners and managers with 1 to 500+ properties. The service includes mobile-friendly website templates, an online booking engine, reservation system and channel manager.
TPG parks its app on Travelport Smartpoint
TPG app features airport parking in over 45 countries. (Image credit: flowersandclassicalmusic/iStock)
Travel Parking Group (TPG) has made its airport parking application, Looking4app, available to travel agencies through Travelport’s point of sale technology, Travelport Smartpoint.
TPG provides car park reservation and distribution systems for travel agents, airlines and airports. It also provides a choice of meet and greet, onsite and offsite car parks across its global supplier network, with over 2,000 airport and port parking products currently available.
The Looking4app offers Travelport-connected agents worldwide a fully integrated airport car parking payments solution that picks up flight and customer PNR details, making the booking process fast and simple while increasing profitability
The app’s key features include:
- Airport parking available in over 45 countries worldwide including the UK, France, Italy, Poland, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Australia, Africa, Asia, USA, Canada and China
- Over 2,000 parking products available
- Products to suit all budgets including valet, meet & greet, park & ride and onsite parking
- Approved and secure car parks
The plug-in is free to download via Travelport Marketplace.
It’s a musical stay for ibis Hotels’ guests in Australia
Musical treat for guests of ibis Hotels in Australia. (Image credit: ibis Hotels)
Die-hard music fans will enjoy staying in ibis Hotels in Australia as the brand has launched an innovative campaign where guests can connect, discover and participate in a world of music following its partnership with Deezer, the Paris-based international music streaming service.
Guests of ibis, ibis styles and ibis budget will have access to an exclusive microsite, called ibis PLAY. Through the site guests will enjoy regularly updated geo-localised gig guides, tastemaker curated playlists, reviews, music community news, artist interviews, photo galleries and exclusive ibis Hotels created content, while featuring some of Australia’s most talented live acts.
To celebrate the ibis Hotels and Deezer partnership, reputable boutique wine producer and known supporters of the Australian music community, Cake Wines, has joined the party with a series of out-of-the box ideas certain to cause a stir.
Bridie Commerford, vice president of marketing & communications for Accor Australia, said: “We understand that typically fans of live music travel far and wide for shows and festivals, and spending money on expensive accommodation is not a high priority. Our ibis hotels across Australia can now cleverly play the role of trip planner, enabler and host, while providing exclusive opportunities that no other hotel group can provide.”
Dona Inthaxoum, head of label relations for Deezer in Asia and Oceania, added: “This partnership with Ibis is truly representative of our vision for Australia – to make music as accessible as possible so that it becomes an integral part of the everyday lives of Australians.”
APAC airlines’ profits fell due to intense competition
APAC airlines still in for competitive flights this year.
Airlines in Asia Pacific (APAC) had a break-even year in 2014, compared to a net profit of US$2.2 billion reported for 2013.
The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), which released the airline’s preliminary financial results, listed downward pressure on airfares from stiff competition, excess capacity, effects of high fuel costs and Asian currency volatility as the major factors leading to the decline in airline profitability.
Restructuring costs also acted as a drag on the overall results.
n a media statement the association also states the following:
- Overall, the region’s carriers achieved aggregated operating revenues of US$176.6 billion for the calendar year, 1.9% more than the US$173.4 billion recorded in 2013.
- In 2014, passenger revenue increased by 1.4% to US$135.4 billion, driven by an encouraging increase in traffic demand, which more than offset the fall in passenger yields. International passenger traffic, in revenue passenger kilometre terms, grew by 4.7%.
- Combined operating expenses climbed 2.5% higher to US$173.8 billion, driven by a 4.5% increase in non-fuel expenditure, led by higher aircraft operating lease expenses as well as landing fees and en-route charges.
- Fuel expenditure declined marginally, by 1.1% to US$60.0 billion, on the back of a 7.8% decline in global jet fuel prices to an average of US$113 per barrel for the year. As a result, the share of fuel expenditure as a percentage of total operating costs declined by 1.3 percentage points to 34.5% in 2014.
Andrew Herdman, AAPA director general said AAPA carriers faced many challenges last year with capacity growth slightly outpacing market demand, leading to intense competition.
“In addition, the strengthening of the US dollar against many Asian currencies had some effects on travel patterns, as well as increasing the burden of dollar obligations. In spite of this, overall, the region’s carriers managed a thin operating margin of 1.6%, down from 2.3% in 2013.”
Looking ahead, he said: “The operating environment remains highly competitive, even though airlines have been carefully reviewing their route networks and closely matching capacity with the expected growth in demand.
“The benefits of lower oil prices should be reflected in further growth in travel demand, although the financial impact on individual airlines will vary depending on their respective fuel hedging policies.”
