TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY
businesswire | March 23, 2023
Sonder Holdings Inc. a leading next-generation hospitality company that is redefining the guest experience through technology and design, has expanded its business travel segment to include group bookings. Sonder also announced a new partnership with HelmsBriscoe, the global leader in meetings procurement and site selection.
Having formally launched its business travel segment in 2021, Sonder continued to expand this area in 2022, including strengthening its position on GDS platforms, and adding a significant number of corporate travel accounts. This translated into approximately $70 million in booked corporate sales in 2022, roughly 5x growth compared to 2021. The company continues to grow both corporate travel and corporate housing accounts, and is now increasing its share of group bookings within popular verticals such as sports and entertainment, hosting elite athletes and sports teams, as well as film and television production crews. Sonder offers both hotel and apartment accommodations in over 40 markets worldwide, including entertainment hubs and cities that host international sporting events.
“Partnering with an industry leader like HelmsBriscoe unlocks growth in group travel, at a time when corporate travel is still recovering to pre-pandemic levels, and the landscape is evolving with trends such as the blending of business and leisure travel. Sonder accommodations offer short-stay and long-stay groups an elevated experience at a great value. We see exciting opportunities to scale within our existing verticals, including sports and entertainment, and to add others,” said Kristen Richter, Vice President of Global Sales at Sonder.
Sonder’s portfolio now includes properties with on-site amenities and high key counts suited to groups, such as Battery Park in NYC, Business Bay in Dubai, Cielo in Mexico City, Maisonneuve in Montreal, and The Witherspoon in Philadelphia. Sonder spaces provide fast wi-fi, and many offer a comfortable place to spread out and work remotely, with fully-equipped kitchens, living rooms, multiple bedrooms and en-suite laundry.
About Sonder
Sonder is revolutionizing hospitality through innovative, tech-enabled service and inspiring, thoughtfully designed accommodations combined into one seamless experience. Launched in 2014 and headquartered in San Francisco, Sonder provides a variety of accommodation options from spacious rooms to fully-equipped suites and apartments found in over 40 markets spanning ten countries and three continents. The Sonder app gives guests full control over their stay. Complete with self-service features, simple check-in and 24/7 on-the-ground support, amenities and services at Sonder are just a tap away, making a world of better stays open to all.
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BUSINESS TRAVEL
phocuswire | April 18, 2023
Host travel agency InteleTravel has acquired Hickory Global Partners, a corporate travel alliance, to cater to demand for blended travel. The purchase price was not disclosed.
“With the new blending of leisure and business travel, the idea of separate consortia for these markets is now outdated,” InteleTravel president James Ferrara said. “This merger creates a single source of advantages and support for all travelers and the professionals who serve them – the consortium of the future.”
Hickory will continue operating as its own brand “newly powered as a wholly owned unit of InteleTravel.” InteleTravel expects to create more than 100 jobs during the development of new programs.
Established in 1991, InteleTravel has a network of more than 90,000 independent, home-based advisors across the United States, United Kingdom, Caribbean, Mexico and Republic of Ireland, and is approaching $1 billion in sales. The Florida-based company said it has developed its own booking technology for all verticals and packaging tools including cruises, discount leisure hotel rates, short-term rentals, low-cost air carriers and activities and entertainment.
Hickory, whose members are corporate travel agencies, corporate travel departments and corporations, said it negotiates with hotels, airlines, ground transportation companies and ancillary partners “to provide our members with the best rates, incentives and opportunities available.”
Ferrara and Hickory president Chris Dane will work together to lead the focus on emerging market opportunities and initiatives for systemwide advancement, including a new Hickory business travel education and certification program for InteleTravel advisors. Hickory also said it will expand InteleTravel advisors’ earning opportunities with “business travel-focused education, negotiated travel products and services through Hickory’s air portfolio, preferred hotel and amenities programs, expense management tools and ancillary supplier partnerships.”
“We have a vision for a consortium that leads into the next decades with a modern view of business and leisure travelers, and advantages, technology and supply for our members to satisfy those needs,” Dane said. “InteleTravel’s resources and reach will help us do that.”
AboutInteleTravel
Turn a passion for travel into a flexible source of income and reward. When you become an InteleTravel agent, you can sell travel to anyone, including yourself. Book cruises, vacations, hotels, all-inclusive resorts, tours, airline tickets, car rentals and more. You’ll earn a commission based on the travel you sell. InteleTravel gives you the opportunity to benefit from your love of travel. Become an independent travel agent with InteleTravel and you’ll make a profit – guaranteed!
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TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY
businesswire | May 26, 2023
Exhale™ the leading health and wellness brand, announces a collaboration with Virgin Hotels New York City to help serve hotel guests and the community with access to its transformative mind-body therapies and programming. Exhale™ continues to expand its footprint, giving communities a new standard of well-being with the proven quality and service for over the last 23 years.
The long-standing brand will now offer boutique wellness services catering to the hotel's guests and neighborhood visitors. The updated programming will include recovery services: floating massage chairs, IV drips, sound and vibrational therapy, infrared therapy and the first European snow room to be unveiled in North America. In addition to their well-known fitness and spa services, guests will have an enhanced experience that embraces new technology and services.
"Together, Exhale™ and its hospitality partners provide impactful, total mind-body wellness experiences to improve inner and outer well-being through boutique fitness classes, results-driven spa therapies and recovery services while collaborating with the industry's best-in-class partners," said Kim Vaughn, chief commercial officer, Exhale™. "We are thrilled to expand Exhale™ with such an iconic brand like Virgin Hotels, which allows even more people to access our wellbeing-focused programs. Located in this beautiful hotel, Exhale™ is a destination spa experience designed to enhance everyday life and assist our communities with their daily well-being routines."
“We look forward to welcoming Exhale™ to Virgin Hotels New York City,” said James Bermingham, chief executive officer, Virgin Hotels. “It will serve as a valuable amenity for our guests and locals looking to relax and recharge from the bustle of Manhattan life.
Exhale's foray into the hospitality space will meet the needs of travelers as well as hotel developers. Exhale™ supports several luxury and lifestyle brands across the US and Bermuda. Exhale™ at Virgin Hotels New York City is scheduled to open December 2023.
"Exhale™ has been a stalwart brand in NYC for many years, and their move into being more closely aligned with the hospitality industry makes perfect sense as wellness services have been in demand as more people prioritize self-care," said Jeffrey Roseman of Newmark. "Any real estate owner looking to amenitize their property would benefit from a partnership with Exhale™ as they can take smaller spaces and create a best-in-class wellness destination for tenants and area residents."
The new Exhale™ space requires a minimal footprint of 4,000 square feet, and the brand has an in-house development, design and construction team that can quickly build out its requirements led by its founder Julia Sutton, architect and designer James Harb and construction management team led by Peter Bryant. of IDCC, LLC This added all in-house service offers owners peace of mind since the tenant has a successful history of setting up shop in raw open space.
Exhale™ was founded in 2002 in New York City with its first location. They are most known for being one of the first pioneers of Barre classes and high-quality spa services. The Virgin Hotel marks the brand's fourth NYC outpost in hospitality.
About Exhale
Exhale™ is a unique well-being brand that has addressed mind and body through spa and fitness for 23 years. Dedicated to total well-being, Exhale™ operates in luxury hotels across the U.S. and Caribbean, offering dozens of proprietary boutique fitness classes and award-winning, transformative spa therapies, including new recovery services with Therabody and IV drips.
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