Asia-Pacific and Australasia dominate Dragon Trail Interactive’s quarterly WeChat travel update, with strong performances from Canada, Edinburgh and Paris dotted across the six categories analysed. WeChat now has more than one billion users as of this May, the vast majority of whom are in China. In this context, the…
Oslo-based low-cost carrier Norwegian has recently renewed its distribution agreement with Amadeus and added the recently launched Norwegian Air Argentina which has been approved to serve over 150 routes. Norwegian credits its partnership with Amadeus for supporting its long-haul ambitions, saying that it has seen 110% growth in sales…
The vast majority of smaller or “simple” business meetings are booked directly with venues rather than through corporate booking tools, according to new research. A global study, carried out by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and hotel booking specialist HRS, revealed that those organising simple meetings mostly booked…
This is a viewpoint by Wulfric Light-Wilkinson, chief commercial officer at Quill. Holidays may be all about rest and relaxation, but the online booking process for consumers, by contrast, is often complex and laborious. The vital information that travellers are looking for is scattered around the web across a…
The founders of holiday rentals sharing service LaComunity have announced the launch of a new blockchain powered ecosystem consisting of a token, a DApp and a marketplace. The backers claim the platform will make it easier and more secure to manage vacation rentals, eliminating the need for intermediaries and…
Implementing the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was always going to be a challenge for travel companies, but a recent social media storm centred around British Airways would suggest that even the biggest travel brands are not completely on top of the new requirements. An IT specialist, Mustafa…
Booking’s move into mobility, some interesting hotel and airline partnerships, the latest tranche of travel tech startup funding and more in the latest update. Didi, Airbnb and Ctrip Didi Chuxing, China’s answer to Uber, has picked up $500 million from Booking Holdings. Through the related strategic partnership, Didi…
Members only luxury deals site Secret Escapes has raised another £52 million, bringing the total raised since its launch in 2011 to more than £150 million. The latest injection comes from a new investor, UK-based Old Mutual Global Investors. Old Mutual will be renamed Merian Global Investors in autumn…
The European Commission is fining Google €4.34 billion for what the Commission considers illegal practices involving the Android platform that “cement its dominant market position in internet search.” Google’s parent company Alphabet has 90 days to pay the fine or face further penalties. There were three charges against the…
The European Technology & Travel Services Association (ETSSA) has launched a formal complaint against the European Commission for failing to take action over Lufthansa’s imposition of a surcharge for bookings made through global distribution systems (GDS). ETTSA, which represents the major GDS owners and leading online travel agencies, has…