Amadeus and Meituan partner to enhance hotel access for Chinese travellers
Amadeus has forged a partnership with Meituan, a tech-driven retail platform, enabling hoteliers using iHotelier Channel Management to directly connect and share their availability, rates, and inventory. Meituan, favored among Chinese millennials, gains access to a broader range of global hotel options, enhancing their offerings for users making hotel reservations.
This collaboration expands hotel options for Chinese travellers and allows Meituan users to access a broader range of global hotel content, such as iHotelier Channel Management’s network of 400+ global and local channels.
Similarly, the partnership also enables iHotelier customers to leverage Meituan’s user network, upping distribution capabilities and increasing demand for their properties.
The ultimate goal for the partnership is to boost travel bookings and create better travel experiences for users on both platforms.
Uber achieves milestone profits, sets sights on travel tours market
Uber has achieved a milestone with its first-ever quarterly net profit of $394 million, driven by a 14% growth in revenues for the second quarter ending June 30. This marks a validation point of Uber’s business model, according to CEO Dara Khosrowshahi.
The company’s focus on ride-hailing contributed significantly to the earnings, with revenue rising by 38%. Additionally, the 6 million drivers and couriers on the platform earned a record $15.1 billion during the same period.
Its recent foray into travel-related features, such as flight booking and multimodal content integration, has been met with positive reception.
Khosrowshahi sees even greater potential in the tour operator market, especially in the United Kingdom, where the company plans to offer services that rival traditional tour operators while leveraging the capabilities of machine learning to provide personalised experiences for users.
Fueled by social media, Korean personal color analysis sparks tourism surge
South Korean personal color analysis, once used by political and business leaders, has now become a TikTok craze, attracting young consumers from around the world. Gen Z travellers are flying to Seoul for sessions, seeking personalized clothing, makeup, and accessory recommendations based on their complexions and skin tones.
During the analysis, color consultants carefully examine clients’ reactions to fabric swatches draped across their shoulders to determine the most flattering colors. This trend has grown rapidly due to viral TikTok videos and celebrity endorsements, including K-pop star Jisoo and politician Lee Jae-myung.
With costs significantly lower in Korean studios compared to the US, international tourists are flocking to Seoul for the experience. The tourism surge has prompted the Korea Tourism Organization to promote it globally, even setting up a pop-up studio in New York’s Rockefeller Center.
The growing demand for English-speaking practitioners in this field has led to color consulting workshops and certification programs being offered in Korea, creating potential job opportunities in the industry. Luxury retailers like Valentino, Miu Miu, and Dior are also hosting color workshops for their VIP customers.
Bookings surge gives MakeMyTrip record-breaking quarter profits
Indian online travel company MakeMyTrip has achieved its best-ever performance in the first quarter of 2024. The three months ended June 30 saw gross bookings reach $1.98 billion, marking a 31% year-over-year increase. Adjusted operating profit also surged from $16.5 million in Q1 2023 to $30 million in Q1 2024.
MakeMyTrip’s revenue soared by almost 38% to $197 million, driven by increased bookings in air travel, hotels, packages, and bus ticketing. Notably, air ticketing revenue rose by 48% to nearly $46 million, hotels and packages by 37% to $115 million, and bus ticketing by almost 23% to $25 million.
Rajesh Magow, the group chief executive, attributed the success to robust travel demand in a seasonally strong quarter for leisure travel. The company’s diverse travel offerings, top-notch customer experience, and innovative technology played a crucial role in satisfying evolving consumer preferences and staying ahead of the market.
eSIM startup Airalo raises $60M, plans to launch product for businesses
Digital SIM marketplace Airalo, a service that’s quickly gaining traction among travellers looking for local numbers overseas, has successfully secured $60 million in its Series B funding round, bringing its total funding to $67.3 million, including the $5.4 million raised in late 2021.
The investment was led by e& Capital, the investment arm of technology specialist e&, and saw participation from various other investors such as Antler Elevant, Liberty Global, Orange, T.Capital, Rakuten Capital, and Telefonica Ventures.
Airalo plans to utilize this funding to launch a new connectivity service called “Airalo Partners,” targeted at businesses and organizations. The company also intends to expand its app and website language support from the current 22 languages to 53 languages, enhancing its accessibility and user experience.
