This is a roundup for product news and announcements for travel devices in tourism and hospitality for January 2017.

Wednesday 4 January 2017:

ChatSim to open 24 airport retail stores

• The mobile chat service, which gives users unlimited access to WhatsApp, WeChat, Facebook Messenger et al), will launch outlets in Italian airports during 2017 and others over the course of the next three years in major hubs such as London, New York, Hong Kong and Frankfurt.

Helsinki Airport accepts Alipay

• The first group of retail outlets is now accepting the mobile payment option at the airport. Helsinki Airport joins Munich and Frankfurt in providing the service. Finavia, the airport operator, adds Alipay to other services for Chinese travellers such as its Chinese-speaking guides and its WeChat and Weibo social media accounts.

NB: Travel devices image via Shutterstock.