AIRLINES AND AIRPORTS
World Travel & Tourism Council | March 14, 2023
World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), a travel arrangement services company, has recently announced the Hotel Sustainability Basics (Basics) at ITB Berlin. Basics help tourist accommodation providers with their sustainability journey.
Basics is a set of globally accepted criteria that hotels should implement at least to generate a responsible and sustainable business in Travel & Tourism. The industry supports it and compiles all tourist accommodation providers, regardless of their size and location. A group of influential global hotel brands came together to demand it. It emphasizes a possible starting point over other sustainability initiatives. It will inspire accommodation providers worldwide to start their sustainability journeys and fulfill the fundamental standards of the sector.
It compromises 12 essential criteria and is available to all hotels. This endeavor aims to build a strong base for complex sustainability schemes and enhance sustainability across the industry. It got recognition from the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance as a starting point for the net positive industry. This alliance is the one that announced the latest version of the 'Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality.' WTTC has partnered with Green Key and SGS to design an online verification system to ensure the program's validity.
President & CEO of WTTC, Julia Simpson said, "We are incredibly proud to launch our Hotel Sustainability Basics and its verification scheme. The initiative is a response to the sector's need for a baseline for hotels and other tourist lodgings to introduce the exacting sustainability standards." She added, "Our research shows that most business owners are aware of their responsibility to the environment but need a step-by-step guide that is scientifically verifiable. It is a testament to the need for such a scheme that already thousands of hotel properties from around the world have committed to implement Basics, and from today can begin the verification process."
(Source – Cision PR Newswire)
About World Travel & Tourism Council
Headquartered in London, United Kingdom, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is a non-profitable and non-government organization dedicated to travel and tourism, founded in 1990. It specializes in the authority on world travel & tourism, travel, tourism, research, economics, private sector, government policies, economic impact, Covid-19 recovery, sustainability, and crisis preparedness. It represents the travel & tourism private sector at a global level. It connects industry experts, CEOs of travel & tourism companies and organizations worldwide. Its focuses on Security & Travel Facilitation, Crisis Preparedness & Management, and Sustainable Growth in the travel field.
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BUSINESS TRAVEL
Deem | February 24, 2023
On February 23, 2023, Deem, a pioneer in mobile-first corporate travel management software, announced that its improved Etta business travel booking website is now available for early access. Deem representatives can provide customers with access, allowing them to experience new features, including:
A new e-commerce-style shopping cart enables users to search and select hotels, flights, and rental cars in any order and then check out when finished.
Responsive design that improves the booking experience no matter what device is used.
EcoCheck tool features the same functionalities and data as Etta for iOS and Android.
Etta's award-winning accessibility features are now fully realized in the desktop app, allowing everyone to book corporate travel on the Etta website easily.
The delegate booking feature, available in both classic and updated Etta, enables travel managers to book, manage, and monitor travel for their entire team.
Responsive design is a crucial requirement today, as 92% of people browse the internet on their phones. Moreover, website traffic through phones is on the rise, with 59.5% as of 2022's third quarter. The new version of Etta will automatically reformat for optimal performance on the platform used to access it.
Sustainability information is also important to travelers, with 77% of business travelers responding that reducing their carbon footprint during travel is a moderate or top priority. Those between 18-34 account for the highest percentage (86%) of the respondents. EcoCheck offers reliable carbon emissions data, contextual information, and hotel ratings during the travel booking process.
Better accessibility is crucial to enable more people to benefit from digital platforms. With Deem's award-winning accessibility functionality now on the Etta website, it meets the WCAG 2 AA-level guidelines.
Customers with early access can activate the latest Etta web experience by toggling a button in the screen's top right corner. Once enabled, the toggle is applied across the site. This new version of the Etta business travel software will be available for all locations this summer.
About Deem
Deem is a corporate travel management software provider with solutions designed to help employees work and travel more efficiently while companies can apply policies and control costs. Its platform allows travel managers to customize travel programs and easily service travelers. The company's products give employees the tools to make better travel decisions, save money, and stay connected. Its technology plugs into travel management and expense providers, and its suite of tools is used by corporate customers and travel management companies globally. Deem is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, and has offices in Bangalore, India and Dublin, Ireland. It is wholly owned by Enterprise Holdings.
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HOSPITALITY TRENDS
Outrigge | February 17, 2023
Solonis, a company specializing in modern property management solutions, has recently announced a partnership with Outrigger® Hospitality Group, a barefoot-luxury brand and management company based in Honolulu that owns/operates resorts, hotels, and condominiums. Outrigger® has selected Solonis to provide its guest engagement technologies and property management system to its 16 Hawaii Vacation Condo properties.
Outrigger® has charted a course of discovery for the past 75 years. It has premier hotel and beach resort properties spanning the Hawaiian Islands, Asia-Pacific, and the Indian Ocean, including Fiji, Mauritius, Thailand, and the Maldives. The company is renowned as an innovator in tourism development, in addition to its meaningful guest experiences. Solonis will now equip Outrigger®'s Hawaii Vacation Condos with customized solutions that meet special operational requirements, enhance guest experiences, and optimize front office and housekeeping efficiencies.
Outrigger® will gain access to Solonis' comprehensive reporting capabilities, revenue management tools, guest and owner portals, and flagship property management system through this partnership. Solonis will also provide several custom development items and oversee the full onsite implementation.
Carly Clement, VP of Hawaii Vacation Condos by Outrigger®, shared, "We appreciate Solonis' thoughtful approach towards innovation and are pleased to partner with them to provide our condo owners and guests with new efficiency and operational visibility while maintaining the personal touch that Outrigger is known for."
(Source – Business Wire)
About Outrigger®
Based in Honolulu, Hawaii, Outrigger Resorts & Hotels is a beach resort company that operates premium resorts and hotels in the Hawaiian Islands, Asia-Pacific, and Indian Ocean. Each Outrigger property offers a compelling guest experience with a distinct sense of place and is associated with local culture and world-class hospitality. With 38 properties and over 7,000 rooms in operation and/or development, Outrigger's multi-branded portfolio includes OHANA Hotels by Outrigger®, Outrigger® Resorts, and Hawaii Vacation Condos by Outrigger®, in addition to managing select properties from top international hotel brands such as Best Western®, Wyndham Destinations, Embassy Suites®, and Hilton Grand VacationsTM.
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