DESTINATION AND TOURISM
GetYourGuide | March 09, 2023
GetYourGuide, an online travel booking platform, has recently launched the 'Originals by GetYourGuide' platform, an exclusive travel experience for discovery. It is a part of GetYourGuide's first global campaign called 'Make Memories,' proving that formative events in life like traveling beat positive memories.
The platform is a collection of travel experiences for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to discover famous destinations, sights, cultures and history. The selected group of visitors would also get exclusive access to travel to spaces that are not open to the public. Its 'Make Memories' campaign was launched to prove that formative events in life, like traveling beat positive memories. With the popularity of its 'Turning the Lights on at the Vatican Museums' experience, where travelers visit the Vatican Museums before sunrise, it has added more offerings for a more enhanced travel experience. With a diverse team of travel enthusiasts, experts, and technologists, it connects travelers with their destinations. It helps them with the destination's best cultural activities and attractions for an authentic and extraordinary travel experience.
VP of Brand at GetYourGuide, Jean-Gabriel Duveau said, "For years, GetYourGuide has helped travelers create lasting memories on every trip they take. This year, we are gearing up to unlock even more unforgettable experiences with the launch of Originals by GetYourGuide, where travelers will get a rare glimpse into unique spaces and moments, and discover their treasures in a way no other visitor can." He added, "Together with the 75,000+ experiences we offer, Originals by GetYourGuide will help us to live up to our promise to unlock unforgettable travel experiences, and help more travelers experience moments that will leave them filled with wonder and awe for years to come."
(Source – Cision PR Newswire)
About GetYourGuide
Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, GetYourGuide, a travel booking platform, specializes in online travel, tours, attractions and local activities, tourism, e-commerce, technology, the hospitality industry, engineering, sales management, account management, marketing, and travel experiences. It has been transforming travel experiences for explorers since 2009. It accelerates growth for experience creators through access to data-driven insights, technology and a market expert. It focuses on simplifying the digital travel reality. It provides meaningful moments of discovery for travelers. It has leading venture capital investors for funding and support and various local offices worldwide.
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COMMERCIAL TRAVEL
Operto | March 21, 2023
Operto Guest Technologies, a leading provider of automated solutions for 50 million-plus rooms in the global hospitality industry, today announced that it secured US$25 million in a Series-B financing round. The financing was led by Centana Growth Partners, with participation from Thayer Ventures, FUSE, Blackpines Capital Partners and Derive Ventures.
Proceeds from the round will be used to further fuel Operto’s aggressive expansion in the global short-term rental and hotel markets, where it already works exclusively with Accor Hotels to power its global digital key program. This includes luxury hotel brands such Fairmont and Raffles, where Operto’s revolutionary contactless digital solutions can be leveraged to remove common friction points in the guest journey, while lowering operating costs and driving new sources of revenue for the hotel.
"We are delighted to announce our B-Round funding, which will enable us to build upon our exceptional company growth over the past 3 years. It will accelerate our company mission to build cutting-edge technology solutions that drive amazing guest experiences, across the entire accommodation spectrum. In addition, our solutions will continue to deliver huge operational efficiencies for property owners and hosts by lowering costs and driving additional in-stay guest revenues, which is becoming increasingly important in today’s macroeconomic environment,” said Operto CEO Steve Davis. “Hospitality is one of the last major industries to be disrupted by technology, and we believe there is a significant opportunity to bring the benefits of simple, affordable automation to the sector. We are excited about the future, and we look forward to making a real difference to the accommodation industry."
“Operto is leading the digital transformation of the hospitality industry by creating a seamless, automated check-in and check-out experience for its customers,” said Eric Byunn, co-founder and partner at Centana Growth Partners. “Centana has been following the digitization of the hospitality industry closely, and we are very excited about this sort of innovative disruption streamlining the experience of owners, hosts, and guests. We will leverage our expertise in the payments and commerce ecosystem to work with Operto as they continue to innovate in an industry with such enormous potential.”
In addition to the funding announcement, Operto is pleased to announce that Sam Shank has joined the company’s Board of Directors. Shank, who was previously CEO and founder of HotelTonight and former head of Airbnb’s Commercial Team, brings a wealth of hospitality and travel industry experience to Operto. "Operto's cutting-edge technology solutions are reshaping the hospitality industry, and I am excited to be a part of the journey,” said Shank. “I look forward to working with the team to help drive growth and innovation."
Operto’s automated, customizable platform enables hotels, property managers and others to remotely provide access as well as monitor and control a wide range of devices and systems, including smartphone-enabled guest verification, security deposit and payment, electronic elevator and room access. By providing property managers with real-time data and insights, Operto helps streamline operations, reduce costs and enhance the guest experience.
Operto Guest Technologies is well-positioned to continue its rapid growth and expansion into new markets. The company is committed to delivering innovative solutions that help property managers improve efficiency, reduce costs and provide a better experience for their guests.
About Operto Guest Technologies
Operto Guest Technologies is a Vancouver-based company that provides smart property automation solutions for the hotel and vacation rental sectors. Operto’s platform enables property owners and managers to remotely monitor and control their properties, enhancing the guest experience while improving operational efficiency. The company's solutions can integrate with existing property management software and are customizable to meet the unique needs of each property. Operto Guest Technologies' solutions have been adopted by property managers and owners in over 100-countries worldwide.
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AIRLINES AND AIRPORTS, INDUSTRY OUTLOOK
IBS Software | February 15, 2023
On February 15, 2023, IBS Software, a travel tech company, released new survey data that shows a staggering 93% of UK and US customers would book more services with airlines if given the opportunity, presenting an enormous opportunity for airlines.
Following a difficult phase of travel uncertainty, passenger confidence in US and UK is on the rise, with 83% of respondents planning to purchase airline tickets within the next six months, according to the study. However, the research also indicates that airlines have failed to maximize this opportunity, with more than a third of respondents (36%) indicating that booking a flight online is more time-consuming and complex than other online retail experiences.
56% of recent flyers would purchase additional offerings from an airline if the online reservation and checkout experience were more like that of online fashion retailers and grocery stores. In addition, a tenth of the people stated that they would book the entirety of their vacation with their airline if they could.
Nearly a quarter of respondents (24%) believe that having all confirmation details in one place is the primary advantage of booking multiple trip components in a single transaction, closely followed by saving money (22%) and having only one provider to deal with in case of issues (19%). Converting a one-time buyer into a repeat customer is difficult for any company. Free seat allocation (51%), included baggage (60%), and priority boarding (25%) are the top services airlines could provide to convert passengers into lifelong customers.
Paul Byrne, VP iFly Retail at IBS Software, explains, "As more and more industries invest in Amazon-esque tactics to compete for consumer spend, it's important airlines don't pass up the opportunity on the table. It's always challenging transforming back-end technology but now is the time to build more personalised relationships with your customers - in a difficult economic climate, can you afford not to?"
(Source – Cision PR Newswire)
About IBS Software
IBS Software is a leader in providing SaaS solutions for the travel industry based in Singapore. It manages mission-critical operations for clients in the aviation, tour & cruise, and hospitality industries. The aviation industry solutions provided by the company include fleet & crew operations, passenger services, staff travel, loyalty programs, aircraft maintenance, and air cargo management. It also operates a B2B and B2C distribution platform that provides hotel room inventory, rates, and availability to a network of hospitality companies and channels. Additionally, it offers a comprehensive, customer-centric digital platform for the tour and cruise industry that includes onshore, online, and on-board solutions. IBS Software is a Blackstone portfolio company with 15 offices worldwide.
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