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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BUSINESS TRAVEL
Mondee | April 11, 2023
Mondee Holdings Inc.a technology-driven, next-generation marketplace in a $1 trillion segment of the travel market, today announced a new partnership with TISSINI, a social selling platform empowering U.S. Hispanic women. As part of Mondee's Affiliate Network program, TISSINI’s micro-network of 55,000 U.S. Hispanic women, who have to date been focused on selling products to their local communities, are now expanding into services with the opportunity to sell travel through Mondee's platform.
"We are excited to welcome TISSINI to our Influencer and Affiliate Network program and expand our reach to the growing Hispanic market," said Mondee's Chairman, CEO, and Founder, Prasad Gundumogula. "TISSINI's network brings a unique opportunity for us to connect with a community of consumers who frequently and consistently book travel as a way to connect with family and friends.”
Founded in 2015, TISSINI has quickly become a leading social selling platform focused on empowering U.S. Hispanic women, many of whom are single-mother entrepreneurs. The company offers a range of high-quality fashion and beauty products, and now, with Mondee’s partnership, will be able to expand its offerings to include travel services. TISSINI’s network of women entrepreneurs will now have access to Mondee’s vast inventory of travel products, including flights, hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages.
“We are thrilled to partner with Mondee and bring travel opportunities to our community of entrepreneurs and customers,” said Sion L. Tesone, Founder and CEO of TISSINI. “Travel is an important part of the Latin American culture, and now, with Mondee’s platform, we can provide our customers with even more ways to explore the world and visit their loved ones.”
Mondee’s modern Influencer and Affiliate Network program is designed to enhance the product line-up and increase growth and profitability for the growing closed groups of expert and influencer global travel affiliates. The program provides affiliates with access to Mondee’s inventory of travel products, as well as fintech, marketing and technology support to help drive sales and increase revenue.
“We believe that partnerships like this with TISSINI are the future of the travel industry,” said Mr. Gundumogula. “By leveraging each other’s strengths and expertise, we can create a win-win-win situation for everyone involved – from our affiliates to their customers, as well as our suppliers, offering unique and highly-targeted sales channels.”
ABOUT MONDEE
Established in 2011, Mondee is a travel technology company and a modern travel marketplace with its headquarters based in Austin, Texas. The company operates 17 offices across the United States and Canada and has core operations in India, Thailand, and Greece. Mondee is driving change in the leisure and corporate travel sectors through its broad array of innovative solutions. The company’s platform processes over 50 million daily searches and generates a substantial transactional volume annually. Its network includes 55,000+ leisure travel advisors and gig economy workers, 500+ airlines, and over one million hotels and vacation rentals, 30K rental car pickup locations, 50+ cruise lines. The company also offers packaged solutions and ancillary offerings that serve a global customer base.
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TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY
Newswire | April 03, 2023
Travel Quest Network, a leading host agency and the premier platform for building and growing a travel business in America, is excited to announce the release of the latest version of WorldVia PRO, its travel advisor business management system. The new release includes several groundbreaking features such as Trip Manager in its CRM, Content Creator™ version 2, and numerous enhancements to the CRM, designed to help travel advisors prioritize their work and maximize their business potential.
A key feature of the latest release is Trip Manager in its CRM, enabling travel advisors to clearly visualize their Sales Pipeline in the Trips Board. With nine trip lifecycle stages, this feature helps advisors prioritize their work and ensure no detail is overlooked.
Another major addition is the Content Creator™ version 2, which allows travel advisors to leverage the power of generative AI to create engaging content and market their businesses more effectively. Building on the successful release of version 1 in early March, version 2 includes three primary content tools: Profile Creator, Blog Creator, and Social Creator. Travel Quest Network members can now create a wide range of content, including agent directory bios, website about me page copy, social media profiles, general travel blog posts, top number blog posts, hotel and resort review blog posts, and a variety of social media posts for Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
According to Jason Block, CEO of Travel Quest Network, "Our latest release positions Travel Quest Network as a pioneer in AI-driven solutions for the travel industry. Content Creator v2 is a game-changer for travel advisors, forever transforming the way they create content to market their businesses. By utilizing AI, we're helping our members be more productive and stay ahead of the competition."
Joshua Harrell, Chief Revenue Officer at Travel Quest Network, added, "Agent directory bios, inbound content marketing, and social engagement are crucial for travel advisors to stand out and attract clients. Our new tools in WorldVia PRO demonstrate our commitment to raising the bar and providing our members with the best possible resources to grow their businesses."
Travel Quest Network is committed to providing its members with the best tools and resources, which is why CRM and Content Creator's Profile Creator on WorldVia PRO are available free of charge to all members. Additionally, Content Creator's Blog Creator and Social Creator are free for all members on professional membership plans that start at just $29 per month.
About Travel Quest Network
Travel Quest Network is a leading host agency and the premier platform for building and growing a travel business in America. Dedicated to providing travel advisors with the tools, resources, and support needed to thrive in the ever-evolving travel industry, Travel Quest Network empowers its members to deliver exceptional travel experiences and create lasting memories for their clients.
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