INDUSTRY OUTLOOK
Internova Travel Group | February 06, 2023
One of the world's largest travel service providers, Internova Travel Group, recently announced plans to launch a new magazine OLTRE. The magazine is produced for 100,000 affluent customers of Global Travel Collection's luxury travel advisors. Global Travel Collectionpremium and luxury travel division, Global Travel Collection, is the world's most sophisticated group of travel agents and agencies.
Elaine Srnka, who used to work for Virtuoso and is now the Senior Vice President of Editorial at Internova, will oversee OLTRE. She is in charge of all Internova's business units and their brands' editorial strategies and content. Laura Sport, another Virtuoso employee, has been appointed Vice President of Publishing. Brad A. Johnson, Editorial Director, worked for Modern Luxury Media for ten years as the national travel editor, and Devin Duckworth, Design Director, came from Fodor's Travel.
Four issues of OLTRE will be published each year, each with a print run of 100,000 copies and an even larger digital audience. Each collectible volume will be printed on eco-certified, archival-quality paper that appears like a keepsake.
The first volume of OLTRE will be debuting this year's spring. Volume 1 will cover the globe from the North to the South poles, adding stops at Bangkok, Mykonos, California, and all points in between. Photo shoots in Italy, London, and other places add to the visual sophistication, and the editors' Look Book guides the most anticipated events in the fashion industry. In addition, every issue will have interviews with exciting travelers in the style of Marcel Proust, tips and insights from travel advisors, and articles about culture, style, and other luxury travel topics.
About Internova Travel Group
One of the largest travel services providers in the world, Internova Travel Group, is a collection of top brands that offer high-touch, personal travel expertise to both leisure and business clients. The company manages leisure, business, and franchise enterprises through the portfolio of different divisions. The travel group represents 100,000+ travel advisors in more than 6,000 company-owned and linked with 80+ countries located primarily in the US, Canada, and the UK.
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HOSPITALITY TRENDS
Plusgrade | February 01, 2023
On January 31, 2023, Plusgrade announced the acquisition of UpStay, a fast-expanding provider of upgrade and auxiliary revenue solutions for the hospitality industry.
UpStay helps hundreds of hotels in 17 different countries make more money by giving their guests more value. Meanwhile, this integration strengthens its five global travel ventures, adding hotel upgrades and other innovative ancillaries to its ancillary revenue and loyalty products. As a result, it expects to generate about $5 billion in new revenue opportunities for its partners in 2023.
Ken Harris, CEO of Plusgrade, said, "The acquisition of UpStay is another step forward for our vision and mission of becoming the Global Ancillary Revenue Powerhouse. We have been accelerating this mission through a series of innovations, launches and acquisitions, and have come into 2023 as a powerhouse for the global travel industry. We are thrilled to have the UpStay team join us, and look forward to tapping into their expertise and innovative technology to bring even more value to our now 200+ airline, hospitality, cruise, rail and financial services partners around the world."
(Source - Cision PR Newswire)
Tzafrir Blonder, CEO of UpStay, expressed, "This is an exciting day for UpStay. After 4 years of incredible growth and success, we are thrilled to be joining forces with Plusgrade to invest further in our product offerings and enhance our ability to drive ancillary revenue for our partners through upselling additional on-property amenities and services. I look forward to continuing to lead the hospitality ancillaries vertical in the company, as we grow with Plusgrade in 2023 and beyond."
(Source – Cision PR Newswire)
About Plusgrade
Plusgrade, one of the leading technology companies providing ancillary revenue solutions in the global travel industry, has partnered with about 140 airlines, hotels, cruise lines, financial services companies, and passenger rails worldwide since 2009. Headquartered in Montreal, it assists companies in creating new revenue streams and travel experiences for their guests and passengers. It maximizes the return on unsold premium inventory through the customer journey. The company provides travel partners with incremental ancillary revenue and merchandising strategies by introducing new products, loyal branding, and customer satisfaction.
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HOSPITALITY TRENDS
Outrigge | February 17, 2023
Solonis, a company specializing in modern property management solutions, has recently announced a partnership with Outrigger® Hospitality Group, a barefoot-luxury brand and management company based in Honolulu that owns/operates resorts, hotels, and condominiums. Outrigger® has selected Solonis to provide its guest engagement technologies and property management system to its 16 Hawaii Vacation Condo properties.
Outrigger® has charted a course of discovery for the past 75 years. It has premier hotel and beach resort properties spanning the Hawaiian Islands, Asia-Pacific, and the Indian Ocean, including Fiji, Mauritius, Thailand, and the Maldives. The company is renowned as an innovator in tourism development, in addition to its meaningful guest experiences. Solonis will now equip Outrigger®'s Hawaii Vacation Condos with customized solutions that meet special operational requirements, enhance guest experiences, and optimize front office and housekeeping efficiencies.
Outrigger® will gain access to Solonis' comprehensive reporting capabilities, revenue management tools, guest and owner portals, and flagship property management system through this partnership. Solonis will also provide several custom development items and oversee the full onsite implementation.
Carly Clement, VP of Hawaii Vacation Condos by Outrigger®, shared, "We appreciate Solonis' thoughtful approach towards innovation and are pleased to partner with them to provide our condo owners and guests with new efficiency and operational visibility while maintaining the personal touch that Outrigger is known for."
(Source – Business Wire)
About Outrigger®
Based in Honolulu, Hawaii, Outrigger Resorts & Hotels is a beach resort company that operates premium resorts and hotels in the Hawaiian Islands, Asia-Pacific, and Indian Ocean. Each Outrigger property offers a compelling guest experience with a distinct sense of place and is associated with local culture and world-class hospitality. With 38 properties and over 7,000 rooms in operation and/or development, Outrigger's multi-branded portfolio includes OHANA Hotels by Outrigger®, Outrigger® Resorts, and Hawaii Vacation Condos by Outrigger®, in addition to managing select properties from top international hotel brands such as Best Western®, Wyndham Destinations, Embassy Suites®, and Hilton Grand VacationsTM.
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