TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY
Nuvei | January 20, 2021
Nuvei, the payment technology partner of flourishing brands, announces report and overview of "Redefining travel payments in the post-COVID-19 era," a white paper report and survey pinpointing growth strategies for travel operators in the aftermath of the pandemic, driven by payment technology. Created as a team with Edgar, Dunn and Company ("EDC"), with investment from Visa, this far reaching study contains information, experiences and noteworthy insight for the travel area as it designs its 2021 rebound, including the basic significance of a computerized first system, the best and innovative payment models to receive, and what authoritative changes could all the more quickly catalyze growth opportunities.
The COVID-19 pandemic and its connected isolates and travel limitations significantly affected travel industry income all through 2020, leaving related organizations looking for arrangements. The new arrival of antibodies has flagged a promising end to current circumstances, furnishing travel administrators with the certainty to set their rebound strategies in motion. It was considering this that Nuvei got together with EDC, an autonomous, worldwide technique counseling firm having some expertise in payments and computerized monetary administrations, to deliver "Redefining travel payments in the post-COVID-19 era."
The report includes top to bottom experiences into current industry problem areas and payment-related answers for the future, interviews with top aircrafts and online travel specialists and an industry-wide review directed among September and November 2020, just as examination of the outcomes. It features changing client assumptions that require new methodologies for progress, including utilizing payment technology to a more noteworthy degree than previously and intended to support merchants in their recovery.
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AIRLINES AND AIRPORTS
Fareportal | December 08, 2021
Fareportal, the travel technology company behind leading online travel agencies CheapOair and OneTravel has announced the addition of aha! to the over 600 air carriers already available via the company's online websites. The brands were the first of the major OTA's to be selected as a preferred partner and reach an agreement with the new airline. aha! went live on CheapOair and OneTravel in late November of this year.
aha! is a leisure airline brand of Expressjet Airlines, and provides service to smaller communities with convenient, short, nonstop flights to in-demand destinations such as Reno-Lake Tahoe.
"Air service to smaller communities has reduced over the last decade, and yet consumer demand for regional travel options continues. Our company's focus on innovative technology to enhance the travel experience led aha! to CheapOair and OneTravel. We are extremely pleased to partner with aha! to provide this needed service to the traveling public."
-Werner Kunz-Cho, CEO of Fareportal
Subodh Karnik, Chairman and CEO of Expressjet states, Fareportal is a travel technology innovator, and we appreciate Cheapoair & OneTravel's ability to provide travelers with easy-to-book, customized air travel solutions. We are pleased to partner with Fareportal to market aha!'s reasonably priced, nonstop flights between Reno-Tahoe and cities in the western United States.
Domestic air travel in the United States has been strong in the last half of 2020, and experts expect US travel volume to continue to increase in 2022. To service this demand, aha! has an aggressive route expansion strategy planned for the year.
About CheapOair
CheapOair is an online travel agency that specializes in providing cheap flights and great last-minute flight deals for travelers worldwide. Consumers can book online, on mobile apps for iOS and Android, by phone or live chat. Part of Fareportal's family of travel brands, CheapOair bridges the gap between an online travel agency and a traditional agency with travel agents available worldwide to help find great deals on flights to global destinations on over 600 airlines, a million lodgings, and 100s of car rental companies. Follow CheapOair on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram��for travel inspiration and helpful travel tips.
About Fareportal
Fareportal is a travel technology company powering a next-generation travel concierge service. Utilizing its innovative technology and company owned and operated global contact centers, Fareportal has built strong industry partnerships providing customers access to over 600 airlines, a million hotels, and hundreds of car rental companies around the globe. With a portfolio of consumer travel brands including CheapOair and One Travel, Fareportal enables consumers to book online, on mobile apps for iOS and Android, by phone, or live chat. Fareportal provides its airline partners with access to a broad customer base that books high-yielding international and domestic flight, hotel and other travel and add-on ancillaries.
About aha!
aha! is a leisure brand of ExpressJet Airlines. aha! seeks to provide travelers in smaller communities, many who have seen air service reduced over the past decade through airline mergers, with convenient, short, nonstop flights to high-quality destinations like the Reno-Lake Tahoe region. In addition to offering value-priced, nonstop flights, aha! will soon partner with resorts, casinos, and attractions to "bundle" value-priced vacation packages.
About ExpressJet Airlines
ExpressJet Airlines is the union of Atlantic Southeast Airlines and Continental Express and operates Embraer ERJ145 regional jet aircraft. Over its 35-year history, ExpressJet has flown most Embraer, Bombardier, and ATR aircraft from cities across the continental United States into airports in the USA, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. ExpressJet is majority owned by KAir Enterprises with United Airlines holding a minority interest.
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TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY
Cobalt Robotics , Bear Robotics | August 24, 2021
The pandemic upended many sectors with mass layoffs at the beginning of COVID-19 and ended with record labor shortages. The hospitality sector in particular was deeply hit with massive unemployment gaps that ran well above the national unemployment rate during the pandemic. While other industries have started on the road to recovery, the hospitality industry is still 2.8 million jobs shy of where it was in February 2020.
With more than 60% of Americans willing to travel again, 55% of U.S. companies planning to resume business travel within the next three months and more than a third of current hospitality workers planning to exit the industry, the hotel industry is in a bind.
Long-term labor solutions in the area are needed to meet the rising demand for travel and seismic shifts in the hospitality workforce. This is where 3D camera-equipped robots can play a role. Robots are some of the most impactful forms of hospitality technology hoteliers can invest in to maintain efficiency, serve guests and aid understaffed operations.
Solving staffing shortages
From retail stores to the hospitality realm, customer-facing industries are already solving staffing shortages and improving operations through robots equipped with 3D imaging sensors. For example, restaurants have added self-navigating robots for food delivery and table bussing while grocery chains have discovered that robots can assist in cleaning, providing stock management alerts and checkout duties.
These tasks are typically limited in their customer-facing duties but are repetitive and time-consuming activities that are easily programmed into digital sidekicks. This makes robots an ideal solution to the staffing shortages many hotel properties are experiencing. Properties of all sizes are starting to realize the practical uses for service robots - or “co-bots,” which work alongside humans to extend and improve performance, taking the burden off human workers so they can handle more demanding responsibilities.
Versatile functionality
A popular function behind the implementation of 3D camera-embedded robots is the ability to increase self-service functionality, increase convenience and improve customer experiences for guests. Mobile robots can perform navigation tasks that include guiding guests to their rooms and delivering commonly requested room service items such as pillows, blankets, towels and toiletries. They can even operate as roving security guards throughout the property.
3D facial authorization, like the technology used to unlock your smartphone, can be employed to recognize guests and address them by name, adding a sense of personalization and high-class service. Meanwhile, guests can say goodbye to fumbling for key cards, and hotel staff no longer have to worry about reprinting numerous key cards.
Housekeeping and sanitization may be the most demanded and high-ROI use of 3D robots. Robots can manage in-room and common area cleaning tasks such as vacuuming and sanitation, while specially equipped units can completely disinfect high-touch areas and items. Equipped with a UV light and disinfectant sprays, these popular cleaning companions can eliminate germs off the surface of elevator buttons, doorknobs and TV remotes in just seconds.
Safety and efficiency of 3D tech
3D cameras are the key to robots handling tasks alongside human workers. 3D camera technology enables mobile robots to identify and avoid obstacles and people with extreme accuracy. The camera technology can accurately perceive depth to navigate highly populated space: From high foot traffic in hallways to luggage and bags stacked in lobbies, 3D robots can navigate through it all. Using their depth-sensing capabilities, they can also spot anomalies like an open hallway door or atypical presence of individuals in a given space.
When combined with SLAM (Simultaneous Location and Mapping), the technology that scans and creates a digital map of the space, self-propelled 3D service bots can deliver food, drinks and other amenities anywhere within the hotel property. No matter the obstacle, SLAM-supported 3D can seamlessly navigate and deliver guests what they need.
Robotic ROI
Cobalt Robotics and Bear Robotics are two companies utilizing 3D camera technology in the hospitality robotics sector. Cobalt Robotics, a U.S.-based company, develops 3D camera-equipped robots available for security, facilities management and concierge services. Bear Robotics offers robots specializing in food service deployments. The cost of utilizing robot workers in these instances is often comparable or less than an hourly worker. Combine these savings with the elimination of sick days, injuries or other disruptions and hotel managers are left with a more cost-effective way to handle routine tasks.
Another vital form of ROI in employing 3D robots in hotels is that they can collect data on guest preferences, facility status and upkeep, security and more. This information is critical in helping hotels run more efficiently and with a greater focus on customer satisfaction.
The future of hotels
The pandemic has created vast uncertainty for the hospitality industry. It remains to be seen how guest bookings and behaviors, hospitality economics or competitive activity will change for the long-haul post-pandemic.
What is certain, however, is that labor will be forever impacted - and that technology, specifically reliable and multifunctional robots, will be part of the future of hotels.
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