SAP Concur shuts down metasearch engine Hipmunk

PhocusWire | January 14, 2020

SAP Concur is shuttering metasearch engine Hipmunk, which the company acquired in 2016. SAP Concur says it is “retiring” both the consumer-facing Hipmunk product as well as travel and expense product Concur Hipmunk and will stop supporting the brand on January 23. The company says it notified employees of the decision this morning (January 14) before communicating the news to its customers and partners; SAP Concur says there will not be layoffs, and “employees who are currently working on Hipmunk will be moving to similar roles based on their skill set, level and job profile.” With the folding of Hipmunk, in particular Concur Hipmunk, which was designed for the small- and midsize-business segment, SAP Concur will focus its efforts on its other products including itinerary manager TripIt Pro and Concur TripLink, which offers direct, managed business travel bookings.

Spotlight

Explore cutting-edge revenue strategies in the hospitality industry. Adopt the latest hospitality management trends to optimize the revenue stream.

Spotlight

Explore cutting-edge revenue strategies in the hospitality industry. Adopt the latest hospitality management trends to optimize the revenue stream.

Related News

Business Travel

Airbase and TravelPerk Partner to Enhance Travel Expense Management for Businesses

businesswire | June 28, 2023

Airbase, the leading software provider that helps companies procure, pay, and close their books with ease, and TravelPerk, the fastest-growing global travel management platform, today announced an integration that will enable businesses to seamlessly manage their travel expenditure with less effort. This partnership brings together TravelPerk’s vast travel inventory and reporting insights, and Airbase’s complete spend management platform — which handles all non-payroll spend, including corporate cards, bill payments, purchase orders, and employee reimbursements. “We are excited to announce our collaboration with TravelPerk, a critical step in our quest to help companies manage all of their non-payroll spend,” said Airbase Founder and CEO, Thejo Kote. “This seamless integration automates workflows, reduces manual errors, and provides improved control over travel spending, facilitating rapid reimbursements and a superior user experience for our customers.” With this integration, businesses can effortlessly connect to TravelPerk from their Airbase account, define travel policies, set booking cost limits, and assign Airbase-supported virtual or physical cards for travel bookings. This leads to unprecedented visibility and control over travel expenses in addition to optimizing cashback rewards. Kevin Permenter, Research Director, Financial Applications at IDC, commented on the initiative. “The fusion of Airbase’s spend management platform with TravelPerk’s travel inventory and travel policy controls provides businesses with an enhanced level of control over their business travel expenses. This partnership helps enhance efficiency and bolster compliance for users. This integration will be a welcomed addition to the corporate spending and expense management landscape.” An early user of the integration, Ben Watiwat, VP Finance at Immutable, praised its benefits. “The automatic matching of receipts to expenses and seamless syncing to our general ledger has been a significant time-saver. This integration has been a game-changer, offering efficiency and ease of use that we cannot recommend highly enough.” The integration with TravelPerk elevates Airbase’s standing in the spend management sector, offering a smoother reconciliation process and allowing businesses to stay within budget. Airbase and TravelPerk are poised to redefine business travel and expense management, showcasing the immense potential of an integrated solution. About Airbase Airbase modern spend management combines Guided Procurement, Accounts Payable Automation, Expense Management, and Corporate Cards. Airbase provides the best way to control spending, close the books faster, ensure compliance, and make teams more productive. Airbase brings efficiency to approvals, accounting, and payments with a procure, pay, close process that employees and accounting teams love. About TravelPerk TravelPerk is the next-generation business travel platform pioneering the future of business travel. TravelPerk’s all-in-one platform gives travelers the freedom they want whilst providing companies with the control they need. The result is saved time, money, and hassle for everyone. TravelPerk has the world’s largest travel inventory alongside powerful management features, 24/7 customer support, state-of-the-art technology, and consumer-grade design, all of which are enabling companies and organizations worldwide such as Wise, Revolut, Monzo, Farfetch, Just Eat, GetYourGuide and Skipthedishes, to get the most out of their travel. Backed by world-class investors like General Catalyst, Kinnevik AB, DST Global, Greyhound Capital, Target Global, Felix Capital, Spark Capital, LocalGlobe, and Heartcore — investors in some of the most disruptive companies in tech including Airbnb, Slack, Twitter, Trello, Farfetch, Zalando and Delivery Hero — TravelPerk is reinventing business travel with an end-to-end solution that works.

Read More

Travel Technology, Hospitality Trends

Collinson Announces Partnership with Blue Sky Group to Enhance Lounge Access for Priority Pass Members in Indonesia

PR Newswire | July 05, 2023

Today, Collinson, a global leader in the provision of airport experiences, loyalty and customer engagement solutions, and owner and operator of Priority Pass, announces a new partnership with Blue Sky Group, a hospitality provider in Indonesia that manages premium executive lounges in airports across Indonesia, alongside hotels and restaurants. This partnership will allow Priority Pass Members to access 13 airport lounges, eight of which are exclusive to Priority Pass Members, in Indonesian airports. This includes Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK), Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport (BPN), and Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport (PLM). Blue Sky Group's airport lounges offer comfortable spaces for travellers to relax pre-flight, as well as VIP rooms for informal meetings. Lounges at Balikpapan (BPN) and terminal 2 of Soekarno-Hatta (CGK) airports provide complimentary buggy services that transport guests from the lounge to immigration. In addition to curated lounge spaces, members will be able to enjoy Ippolito coffee – Blue Sky's in-house brand, roasted locally – as well as sample Indonesian cuisine, such as Pisang Goreng and varieties of Jajanan Pasar. "This is an exciting time for the travel industry in Indonesia, as the country has set a goal of attracting nearly 7.4 million international arrivals in 2023; almost double the number of arrivals when compared to last year," said Todd Handcock, Global Chief Commercial Officer and Asia Pacific President at Collinson. "We are delighted to partner with Blue Sky Group, one of the top hospitality providers in Southeast Asia, to vastly enhance our Priority Pass Members' experience when visiting Indonesia, through inventory that both provides a taste of the local culture, and a memorable airport experience." Linan Kurniahu, CEO of Blue Sky Group said, "We are thrilled to partner with Priority Pass to provide their members with access to our premium airport lounges in Indonesia. Our airport lounges combine the best of local culture and cuisine with the highest levels of international travel service. This partnership represents a significant milestone for us as we continue to expand our footprint across Asia Pacific's travel industry." Indonesia has a rapidly growing economy and is fast becoming a major international business and leisure travel destination. Recognising the importance of this market to Priority Pass Members, together, both partners will make travel to and within the Indonesian archipelago more comfortable and relaxing than ever before. About Collinson Collinson is the global, privately-owned company dedicated to helping the world to travel with ease and confidence. We work with the world's leading payment networks, over 1,400 banks, 90 airlines and 20 hotel groups worldwide. We deliver market-leading airport experiences, loyalty and customer engagement, and insurance solutions for over 400 million end consumers. About Priority Pass Priority Pass is the world's original and market-leading airport experiences programme. We provide travellers with access to 1,300 airport lounges and travel experiences in over 650 airports in 148 countries. Members can access an ever-growing range of premium experiences – from spas to sleeping pods to dining – that help elevate every journey into something special. By building partnerships with other leading brands, we help to bring a better travel experience to the world. About Blue Sky Group A nationwide company focusing on hospitality, property services and restaurant management, Blue Sky Group started in 1973 as one of the few hotels in Balikpapan, Indonesia. Since 2003, Blue Sky Lounges serve in major cities in Indonesia, such as Balikpapan, Jakarta, Pekanbaru, Pontianak, etc. We are the sole privately owned brand with multiple outlets that have partnership with major banks and corporate & government entities in Indonesia. Our aim is to continue to be the destination for travellers before their journey, with the goal of going to international market in the future.

Read More

Hospitality Trends

Phunware to Launch Smart Hospitality Solution at Thumper Pond Resort

Globenewswire | July 10, 2023

Phunware, Inc.the pioneer of Location Based SaaS that offers the only fully integrated enterprise cloud platform for mobile that enables brands to engage, manage and monetize anyone anywhere, announced today its Smart Hospitality Solution is being launched at Thumper Pond Resort. Set in the heart of Minnesota, Thumper Pond Resort is an oasis of relaxation and recreation. With its championship golf course, luxurious spa, world-class dining and an invigorating indoor water park, Thumper Pond Resort offers an unrivaled blend of tranquility and exhilaration. Surrounded by over 200 acres of verdant woodland, the resort promises a captivating escape from the everyday, immersing guests in a world where the ambiance of natural beauty is complemented by top-tier amenities and a commitment to outstanding service. "We are thrilled to bring our Smart Hospitality Solution to the prestigious Thumper Pond Resort in partnership with its innovative new owner who is committed to digital transformation," said Russ Buyse, CEO of Phunware. "Our technology will help redefine the guest experience by offering a unique blend of personalized services and digital amenities that seamlessly integrate with and enhance the existing infrastructure across such a beautiful property." Key features of Phunware’s Smart Hospitality Solution include: Mobile Application: Native iOS and Android applications optimized for hospitality that can take advantage of core device capabilities that make experiences more secure, intuitive and engaging. Contextual Engagement: Guests can receive notifications based on their location and preferences, improving communication and enhancing the guest experience. Location-Based Services: With these features, guests can easily find their way around the resort with indoor navigation, wayfinding and mapping. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Analytics: Using AI and machine learning, the platform collects, analyzes and makes recommendations based on data to provide insights that can improve services, personalize engagement and increase operational efficiency. "Phunware's Smart Hospitality Solution aligns perfectly with our commitment to providing guests with a superior and personalized experience," said Jatin Patel, Owner of Thumper Pond Resort. "By embracing this advanced technology, we hope to create an unforgettable stay for our guests, offering them innovative and engaging services." About Thumper Pond Resort Featuring 78 spacious suites and 26 RV sites across more than 210 acres, Thumper Pond Resort is a premier choice in central Minnesota lakes country for family reunions, corporate retreats, golf outings and destination weddings. With a stunning golf course and enough activities onsite to keep everyone busy, the resort is a premier choice of Otter Tail County hotels for group and corporate travel. Thumper Pond Resort is located three hours northwest of the Twin Cities or ninety minutes southeast of Fargo. About Phunware, Inc. Everything You Need to Succeed on Mobile — Transforming Digital Human Experience Phunware, Inc. (NASDAQ: PHUN), the pioneer of Location Based SaaS that offers the only fully integrated enterprise cloud platform for mobile that enables brands to engage, manage and monetize anyone anywhere. Phunware’s Software Development Kits (SDKs) include location-based services, mobile engagement, content management, messaging, advertising, loyalty (PhunCoin & PhunToken) and analytics, as well as a mobile application framework of pre-integrated iOS and Android software modules for building in-house or channel-based mobile application and vertical solutions. Phunware helps the world’s most respected brands create category-defining mobile experiences, with approximately one billion active devices touching its platform each month when operating at scale. For more information about how Phunware is transforming the way consumers and brands interact with mobile in the virtual and physical worlds, visit https://phunware.com.

Read More