Travel Technology
prnewswire | August 14, 2023
ALTOUR, one of the world's largest travel management companies and a division of Internova Travel Group, is launching an innovative new product, ALTOUR Capture, that will help corporate clients keep better track of their employee travel.
Even the most well-managed business travel programs experience some leakage — with employees booking trips outside the TMC of record. That can lead to a loss of savings acquired through negotiations with preferred suppliers and a breakdown in duty of care obligations.
ALTOUR Capture solves the leakage problem by allowing travel managers at companies that are ALTOUR clients to view all travel bookings made by employees, whether or not they go through the TMC of record. Travel managers can then leverage that information for use in negotiations, conduct a price comparison and wrap duty of care to ensure travel notifications and traveller safety. This real-customer data will help drive change in one of business travel's thorniest issues.
"Capturing all travel bookings is crucial for providing proper duty of care to employees," said Dr. John Rose, Chief Risk & Security Officer for ALTOUR. "It enables the company to proactively manage risks, respond to emergencies effectively, comply with legal requirements, and foster a culture of safety and employee well-being."
With customer data driving change, ALTOUR Capture is the result of a partnership with three leading technology companies in the travel industry: CapTrav, capturing and aggregating off-channel booking data to populate ALTOUR's reporting environment; Prime Numbers Technology, providing best-in-class travel management reporting; and Oversee (formerly Fairfly), providing re-shopping for off-channel bookings when it makes sense for the client. Under the direction of Dr. John Rose, ALTOUR is committed to ensuring a more holistic duty of care program, no matter where the traveller books.
Brandon Strauss, CapTrav President and a partner and cofounder of KesselRun Corporate Travel Solutions, says KesselRun has been studying the problem of off-booking for more than 20 years across clients of all sizes and industries. He estimates airline leakage at 15 percent or more and hotel leakage at 40 percent or more.
"Even with world-class best efforts, there will always be off-channel bookings for a travel manager to deal with," said Lee Thomas, ALTOUR's Chief Operating Officer and President, Business Travel. "Road warrior preferences, loyalty incentives, supplier encouragement, travel disruptions, last-minute changes and moderate travel policies all contribute to off-channel booking. By connecting the travel manager to this off-channel world, ALTOUR Capture closes the loop on managed travel."
"We are thrilled to announce the seamless integration of CapTrav's data into the Prime Analytics platform," said Mark Bresnahan, President, Prime Numbers Technology. "This partnership empowers ALTOUR clients with an unparalleled wellspring of travel data reporting. By combining off-channel booking data, GDS itinerary information, TMC data, and post-trip expense details, we offer a comprehensive solution. Clients can effortlessly oversee their travel program, accessing real-time reports, dynamic dashboards, and automated stakeholder presentations directly to their inbox."
"Oversee is proud to partner with ALTOUR on launching ALTOUR Capture," said Aviel Siman-Tov, cofounder and CEO. "Our partnership expands upon our mission of leveraging technology to deliver cost and operational efficiencies for our partners and customers. We have consistently achieved significant savings for our clients that allow budgets to be stretched while optimizing their overall travel program."
About ALTOUR
With sales of more than $3 billion, ALTOUR is one of the largest travel management companies in the United States and around the world. Serving the corporate and leisure luxury and mid-markets and entertainment community, ALTOUR has over 43 offices and nearly 700 travel professionals worldwide. In addition to travel management services, ALTOUR companies include ALTOUR Air, ALTOUR Leisure, ALTOUR Entertainment, ALTOUR Meetings and Incentives and ALTOUR Global Network.
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Travel Technology
prnewswire | July 03, 2023
Shoes on or off? Full recline or no recline? Is skipping the security line ever OK? What about standing at the gate before your boarding zone is called? These are all questions we've asked ourselves when flying and likely have strong opinions about yet aren't quite sure what is considered socially acceptable versus outright rude. KAYAK is here to help. Known for searching hundreds of travel sites to find people the perfect flight, hotel or rental car, the world's leading travel search engine is taking it one step further by conducting an extensive search across the Internet, leaving no digital stone unturned to uncover how Americans truly feel about travel etiquette.
The search included blog posts, social media platforms, news outlets, online forums, and other sources to identify the most hotly debated topics surrounding air travel. From there, the company conducted a survey with aytm (Ask Your Target Market) revealing 64% of travelers have witnessed bad plane etiquette underscoring the urgency for establishing travel rules ahead of the most popular holiday travel weekend of the summer (July Fourth)**.
That's why KAYAK is posting the Unspoken Rules of Air Travel in the one place no one argues: the Internet. So now travelers will know what IS and IS NOT OK when taking their next trip.
These comprehensive rules address a wide array of topics, ranging from whether it's OK to put your feet on the chair in front of you (which 68% agree it's not) to the food you should never bring on a flight (spoiler alert: it's hard boiled eggs, according to 74% of North Americans.) Let this be your travel moral compass (which apparently we all need): Simply scroll through the rules on your own or share them with someone who needs them.
So… what ARE the Unspoken Rules of Air Travel? According to a survey conducted in partnership with aytm and work facilitated by Brandwatch's Consumer Research Platform, here are the Unspoken Rules of Air Travel as defined by all travelers:
Sit back and Relax. 88% of people say it's OK to recline your seat. But timing is important to some with 1 in 3 saying it's only okay to recline your seat on a long or overnight flight.
Arm rests are up for grabs. 57% say the middle seat is not entitled to both arm rests
Socks stay ON. 76% say you're NOT allowed to take your socks off.
Stinky foods stay at home. 92% of people agree that you should not bring any food with strong smells on a plane. That includes the biggest offenders: tinned fish (89%), hard boiled eggs (74%) and a rack of ribs (84%).
Keep your feet on the floor. 68% say you are NOT allowed to put your feet up against the back of the seat in front of you.
Noise control. 70% say you are not allowed to watch something without headphones. And, headphones on is the equivalent to do not disturb according to 94% of people.
Sleeping is not a valid excuse… for just about anything. Leaning on a stranger's shoulder (77%), snoring loudly (66%) and refusing to wake up to let the passenger next to you get up (66%) are not welcome.
Hold the phone…call. 69% agree you are NOT allowed to call someone before you get off the plane.
Nail care is a no-no. 92% say you are NOT allowed to clip or paint your nails at your seat. Filing your nails is also a no no, according to 81% of people.
Storage wars (overhead bin edition). 73% say you are allowed to store small items or jackets in the overhead bin
Below are some additional findings that KAYAK was shocked to learn:
Shoes ON during flights. 56% of North Americans agree your shoes should stay on during a flight. But, the fact that this was SO close (56% vs 44%) is a bit disturbing…
Furthermore… 1 in 5 people believe it's OK to use the restroom without shoes on. That means someone in your row likely did this during your flight… gross!
No Babies on Board. 1 in 4 people (26%) say it's NOT okay to bring a baby on a flight… ever. Wahhh.
Who called the fun police? 58% say you are not allowed to laugh loudly at a movie when on a plane.
Long Hair, Don't Care. Over 1 in 4 people (26%) say it's OK to hang your hair over the headrest/onto the front of the seat behind you.
It's NOT Crunch time. 55% of people say no to eating crunchy food on a plane.
"Travel etiquette is one of those things that is universally acknowledged yet frequently debated," said Matt Clarke VP of NA Marketing. "Even within our own team at KAYAK, we couldn't all agree whether it was or was not OK to recline your seat on a flight. So, we wanted to put an end to the debate once and for all. By launching these rules as summer travel really picks up, we hope to create a more enjoyable and agreeable summer travel experience for all."
The rules will be running on digital displays in major airports throughout summer and will also be available via a modernized seatback manual downloadable at www.kayak.com/rules starting Tuesday, June 27.
"In a perfect world these would grace the seat back pockets of every US flight. But, we recognize this ambitious endeavor cannot be achieved singlehandedly," continued Clarke. "In solidarity with flight crews everywhere, we hope that airlines will get on board with establishing official etiquette guidelines on all future flights. Imagine hearing 'please stow your rack of ribs' or 'keep your socks on when using the bathroom.' Planes everywhere would be a better, happier and overall more enjoyable place."
About KAYAK:
KAYAK is part of Booking Holdings Inc, one of the world's most prominent search engines for travel. It helps people find the vacation package, hotel, rental or shared car, and flights they want. The company enables travelers to search for the best flight deals and book with flexibility, as it's pretty reliable and completely free to use. With trip planning tools like a flight tracker, trip planner, and bag measure, KAYAK ensures that travelers' overall experience is more than just a flight search site!
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Business Travel
businesswire | August 28, 2023
Selina Hospitality PLC ("Selina"; NASDAQ: SLNA), an emerging lifestyle and experiential hospitality company serving millennial and Gen Z travelers, is proud to announce a global corporate brand partnership with Globant (NYSE: GLOB), a digitally native company focused on reinventing businesses through innovative technology solutions. Launched on August 17th, this thoughtfully constructed cultural alliance offers unique benefits and enhanced travel experiences at Selina's locations worldwide for Globant's vast network of 27,000 employees (“Globers”), as well as Globant alumni, their friends, and family.
At the heart of Globant lies the individual journey of each Glober. This partnership, acknowledging Globers' shared love for exploration and discovery, aligns with Globant's dedication to fostering unique personal experiences. In tandem with Selina, a leading brand in experiential hospitality, the partnership aims to extend unforgettable experiences that transcend boundaries. The alliance offers Globers exclusive hospitality discounts, encouraging adherence to Globant's core values, wherever they travel.
“In our rapidly globalizing world, professional expectations are shifting. Today's workforce seeks more than just comfortable accommodations with standard workspaces. They are increasingly drawn to authentic experiences, a sense of community, and a connection with local culture,” states Sam Khazary, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Corporate Development of Selina. “In partnership with Globant, we rise to meet these evolving needs, positioning Selina as a gateway to unique local experiences tailored to the Globant community.”
This innovative program, embracing over 27,000 Globers and the vast Globant Alumni network, serves as a portal to an array of bespoke Selina benefits. With access to preferred rates for our globally dispersed accommodations, Globers can immerse themselves in the breadth of Selina's curated experiences, network of co-working spaces, wellness Mantra by Selina retreats, and the unique explorations of all our offerings.
This partnership caters to diverse preferences, from global cities to remote destinations, luxury suites to glamping tents. Benefits include exclusive discounts on local tours, packages, and on-site restaurants, as well as access to recreational activities, wellness areas, and Selina events worldwide.
“Selina is more than a hospitality company; we have established a global platform designed for remote working professionals and digital nomads,” adds Khazary. “In a competitive landscape where businesses are vying to attract and retain top talent, our alliance with Globant fortifies our commitment to transforming traditional corporate benefits, asserting Selina as a prominent player in experiential corporate travel.”
“At Globant, our mission is to forge strategic alliances that serve as powerful catalysts for our Culture's growth, scalability, and impact. By crafting extraordinary and meaningful experiences, we aim to make each Globers' journey feel as exceptional as they truly are. As we unite our values and foster stronger engagement, we embark on #TheEpicalJourney, redefining possibilities,” said Globant’s People Experience Director, Pablo Bumaschny. “Our partnership with Selina stands as a testament to our commitment to innovation, as their customer demographic seamlessly resonates with ours, making this alliance a harmonious stride towards the future we envision.”
The collaboration between Selina and Globant sets a new precedent for each company, demonstrating how businesses can creatively enhance the value proposition for their employees. “We're introducing a new standard that marries hospitality and corporate benefits to empower the modern workforce,” says Khazary. “By extending these opportunities to Globant's employees, alumni, and their network, we aim to cultivate professional interaction, cultural exchange, and access to inspiring workspaces, enhancing job satisfaction, employee motivation, and ultimately, Globant's overall success.”
The shared vision for the future between Selina and Globant fortifies this partnership as a key step in shaping how businesses support and reward their talent. “This is more than a partnership; it's a mutual commitment to fostering community spirit, nurturing talent, and enhancing professional growth,” concludes Khazary. “We're eager to welcome the Globant community and invite them to join us on this transformative journey, experiencing first-hand the benefits of community-based experiential travel that Selina champions.”
About Globant
We are a digitally native company that helps organizations reinvent themselves and unleash their potential. We are the place where innovation, design, and engineering meet at scale.
We have more than 27,000 employees and we are present in 25 countries and 5 continents working for companies like Google, Electronic Arts and Santander, among others.
We were named a Worldwide Leader in AI Services (2023) and Worldwide Leader in CX Improvement Services (2020) by IDC MarketScape report.
We were also featured as a business case study at Harvard, MIT, and Stanford.
We are active members of The Green Software Foundation (GSF) and the Cybersecurity Tech Accord.
About Selina Hospitality PLC.
Selina is one of the world's largest hospitality brands built to address the needs of millennial and Gen Z travelers, blending beautifully designed accommodation with coworking, recreation, wellness, and local experiences. Founded in 2014 and custom-built for today's nomadic traveler, Selina provides guests with a global infrastructure to seamlessly travel and work abroad. Each Selina property is designed in partnership with local artists, creators, and tastemakers, breathing new life into existing buildings in interesting locations in 24 countries on six continents – from urban cities to remote beaches and jungles.
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