Travel Technology

Offline Travel App Maps.me raises $50 Million in Funding Round Led by Alameda Research

PYMNTS.com | January 19, 2021

Offline travel application Maps.me has brought $50 million up in a funding round led by Alameda Research, joined by new financial specialists cryptocurrency lender Genesis Capital and crypto firm CMS Holdings, as indicated by a Monday (Jan. 18) declaration, Coindesk announced.

The new funds will be reserved for the rollout of a multi-cash wallet on Maps.me and will empower a decentralized finance (DeFi) environment on the stage, Coindesk said. With DeFi, it desires to form the apparatus into an "everyday app," making Maps.me more standard.

The disconnected planning application has 140 million clients worldwide and is endeavoring to make a decentralized money biological system inside the guide application.

The objective is to launch an inserted multi-currency wallet inside Maps.me, which gives travel aides and guide benefits and permits clients to take an interest in yield-making finance and to win money back by means of exchanges through the wallet.

“By embedding and democratizing access to yield-earning finance to millions of users via an everyday app, Maps.me has the potential to really propel DeFi mainstream adoption and bring a groundbreaking technology to the masses,” Sam Bankman-Fried, founder and CEO of Alameda Research and also crypto exchange FTX, told the news outlet.

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Travel Technology, Business Travel, Airlines and Airports

American Airlines and TravelBank offer better travel booking experience through New Distribution Capability (NDC)

PR Newswire | August 23, 2023

TravelBank is now offering New Distribution Capability (NDC) booking features with American Airlines through the TravelBank platform. The investments in technology made by American Airlines and TravelBank, which is now part of U.S. Bank, provide customers an enhanced shopping experience with more access to fares and greater availability of services and benefits offered by American Airlines through the TravelBank platform. TravelBank users are now able to use credits from a canceled or changed flight to keep everything in one place. Now, American Airlines makes legacy EDIFACT tickets exchangeable through NDC-based connections. It is the first airline to have this type of functionality. Users can expect a consistent and seamless experience booking, canceling, and rebooking any American Airlines flight booked on TravelBank regardless of the content source. "American Airlines is focused on providing a modern retailing experience and this is just one more initiative that gives customers access to enhanced content and functionality," said Neil Geurin, managing director of Airline Retailing, American Airlines. American Airlines makes it easier for its fliers using TravelBank to: Reschedule flights and turn canceled flights into new flight fares; Use existing tools and browse the ecosystem on their own, shortening processing times and Benefit fromNDC options, resulting in a more seamless experience with relevant, tailored content via modern retailing channels. "American Airlines is helping us maintain our mission of bringing customers a best-in-class experience and the most up-to-date technological advancements," said Duke Chung, co-founder and CEO of TravelBank. "Customers booking on American Airlines will now have the most seamless experience from pre-booking to post-booking." About TravelBank TravelBank is an all-in-one travel, expense, and corporate card management platform acquired by U.S. Bancorp, parent company of U.S. Bank, in 2021. TravelBank powers data-backed financial decisions for more than 15,000 companies. TravelBank helps reduce company expenditure by 30% on average while improving the employee experience through a user-friendly design, fast expense reimbursements, and travel rewards program. Businesses can design and deploy custom travel and work from home expense policies with ease, and create a baseline for spend that matches the needs of an organization. TravelBank's platform guides employees to stay within their company budget, so financial admins and decision-makers can focus on the core business, not the nuances of a company policy. Organizations of all sizes can harness the experience of TravelBank's in-house travel team alongside a dedicated customer success team for 24/7 concierge-level support, available by phone, email, or chat. Learn how to better manage your company's business spend by visiting travelbank.com today.

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Business Travel

Hotel Engine Announces Limited-Time Promotion for Summer Business Travel

Hotel Engine | July 20, 2023

Travel technology leader Hotel Engine today announced a first-of-its-kind promotion for new customers to save big on future bookings. Beginning July 19th, 2023, new customers who sign up and book $500 or more before the end of July will receive 25% back on their spend to use on future stays in the form of Hotel Engine Travel Credits. To qualify, new users must: Be a new Hotel Engine customer and sign up to join the platform with their business email here Book at least $500 in rooms before July 31, and complete the stays before October 1, 2023 “We’re on a mission to radically simplify trip management and are confident that our platform offers businesses and travelers the best solution on the market,” said Elia Wallen, Hotel Engine founder and CEO. “We hope this promotion will help new customers experience how Hotel Engine can save them valuable time and money on their lodging programs, especially in this economic environment when every dollar counts.” Trusted by more than 40,000 businesses of all sizes, Hotel Engine is a free-to-use hotel booking engine for businesses focused on securing the best possible rates, delivering exceptional customer service and providing intuitive, flexible bookings tools. Key attributes of the platform include: Cost Savings: Hotel Engine offers up to 60% off rates through relationships with direct hotel partners and wholesalers. And with its free cost savings calculator, Hotel Engine helps customers estimate the potential cost advantages of booking accommodations through its platform. Secure, Consolidated Billing: All reservations at any hotel are consolidated into a single monthly statement, eliminating both the need to chase down endless invoices and the potential for fraud. Rewards & Loyalty Pass-Through: Customers have access to Hotel Engine’s robust rewards program and their favorite hotel chains, including Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy and more. With more than 700,000 hotel partners worldwide, customers don't have to compromise on the hotels they want to stay at or the rewards programs they want to maximize. Intuitive Booking Insights: Data-driven reporting and customized visibility into every company's travel program is available to help companies make more informed decisions. Free Live Support: Hotel Engine's in-house team provides 24/7 support, with virtually no wait times. Last month the company announced significant enhancements to Groups, the platform’s intelligent group booking solution, making it easier for member companies to save time and avoid hassle when booking large or complex reservations. Hotel Engine also released FlexPro, a first-of-its-kind industry subscription that provides companies with complete flexibility to cancel or modify any reservation. About Hotel Engine Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Denver, Hotel Engine is one of the world’s fast-growing hotel booking engines. The company is on a mission to radically simplify trip management for businesses through rapid innovation and customer obsession. Its Double-sided marketplace connects ~40,000 member companies to a growing portfolio of 700,000+ global partner hotels to create a smarter and more rewarding business travel network.

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Destination and Tourism

Spirit Airlines and Liberty University Join Forces for Pilot Pathway

Spirit Airlines | September 15, 2023

Spirit Airlines partners with Liberty University to launch the Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway program, focusing on nurturing the next generation of skilled pilots. Liberty University aviation students can apply for the program after their sophomore year and a faculty recommendation, gaining conditional employment offers from Spirit Airlines, mentorship, and essential resources. The program enhances the academic experience at Liberty University and aligns with Spirit Airlines' commitment to developing a proficient and motivated pilot workforce. The company emphasizes its growth, new aircraft acquisitions, and improved pilot benefits, offering a promising future for Liberty Aeronautics graduates. On September 14, 2023, Spirit Airlines, a leading customizable travel options provider, has announced a collaboration with Liberty University to cultivate the next generation of pilots. Spirit Airlines has unveiled the Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway program, a strategic initiative to expand its pool of skilled aviators. This innovative program, hosted at Liberty University's School of Aeronautics in Lynchburg, Virginia, marks a significant milestone in the airline's mission to bolster its ranks of professional pilots. Liberty University students pursuing aviation degrees benefit from this partnership. Students may apply to the Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway program after completing their sophomore year and obtaining a faculty recommendation. Successful candidates will receive conditional employment offers from Spirit Airlines, essential resources like a Spirit Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) and invaluable mentorship opportunities. As they progress through their academic journey and accumulate flight hours, program participants will ultimately step into the role of a Spirit First Officer, contributing to the airline's commitment to excellence in aviation. This initiative enhances the educational experience at Liberty University and reinforces Spirit Airlines' dedication to cultivating a highly skilled and motivated pilot workforce. Ryan Rodosta, Senior Director of Flight Operations and System Chief Pilot at Spirit Airlines, shared, We put a lot of hard work into developing the Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway program and assembling a great group of partners making it incredibly rewarding to reach this key milestone. Liberty University offers a premier pilot training program designed to provide graduates with the skills to lead in the aviation field, and Spirit's growth creates opportunities for those graduates to achieve their dreams with us." [Source – Cision PR Newswire] Spirit's Pilots fly some of the industry's newest, most fuel-efficient aircraft to 90+ destinations across the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. Eight brand-new Airbus A321neo aircraft are expected to be delivered in 2023, creating opportunities for First Officers to get promoted to Captain quickly. Recently, Spirit's pilots ratified a contract that includes a substantial pay raise and improved benefits. In addition to industry-leading training, Spirit provides its pilots with an exceptional quality of life. The partnership would open exceptional prospects for their graduates, offering Liberty-trained aviation professionals a distinctive pathway to Spirit Airlines upon meeting the requisite training and experience standards. Rick Roof, Dean of the School of Aeronautics, emphasized that Spirit Airlines would gain access to pilots distinguished by their outstanding technical competencies and character, making them valuable contributors to the aerospace sector. He further noted that Liberty Aeronautics graduates could envision themselves as integral members of the Spirit team, enjoying the advantages of being associated with a renowned industry leader and operating some of the most advanced aircraft worldwide.

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