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“With the new blending of leisure and business travel, the idea of separate consortia for these markets is now outdated,” InteleTravel president James Ferrara said.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 04, 2023
Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE: SPHR) (the “Company” or “Sphere Entertainment”) today announced it has completed the sale of its 66.9% majority interest in Tao Group Hospitality to Mohari Hospitality, a global investment company focused on the luxury lifestyle and hospitality sectors.
The completion of the sale follows a successful bidding process with multiple parties, which reflects that since the Company acquired a majority interest in 2017, Tao Group Hospitality has transformed into a global powerhouse in entertainment dining and hospitality. As previously disclosed, in connection with the sale, Sphere Entertainment has also entered into a multi-year agreement with Tao Group Hospitality for ongoing consulting, marketing, and support services.
About Sphere Entertainment Co
Sphere Entertainment Co. is a premier live entertainment and media company. The Company includes Sphere, a next-generation entertainment medium powered by cutting-edge technologies to redefine the future of entertainment. The first Sphere venue is currently under construction in Las Vegas. In addition, the Company includes MSG Networks, which operates two regional sports and entertainment networks, MSG Network and MSG Sportsnet, as well as a companion streaming service, MSG GO, delivering a wide range of live sports content and other programming.
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TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY
businesswire | April 21, 2023
Quore, the leading provider of workflow management and productivity tools for hotels, today announced the latest enhancement to its Preventative Maintenance (PM) capabilities, adding new options and flexibility to scheduling features. Hotels can now leverage Quore’s solution to more easily maintain facilities, improve guest satisfaction, adhere to brand standards, and protect assets and revenue. In fact, customizing Quore’s PM app to meet the requirements of each brand or management company PM Program is a key step in the solution’s onboarding process, so all the heavy lifting is pre-built into the platform.
Preventative maintenance is consistently top of mind throughout the hospitality industry. Every hotel brand and management company places emphasis on PM activities so each property can extend the life of valuable on-site resources, from HVAC systems to televisions. In the new platform update, Quore added the flexibility to schedule general PMs tri-annually. This extends a list of existing frequency options, including weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and annually. Quore also added two new guestroom PM frequencies, enabling hotels to schedule maintenance semi-annually or annually in those specific spaces.
This latest update to Quore’s platform comes as the company celebrates reaching 6,000 hotel customers and completing its Cleanings Plus Data Integration Powered by IHG Concerto, allowing room status details to be leveraged to improve the performance of housekeeping teams at IHG branded hotels. The company also recently commemorated its 10th anniversary in November 2022.
“We value our customers’ feedback and tailor our solution to their needs whenever possible. So, when some of the largest hotel brands in the world requested these new PM scheduling options, we delivered,” said David Fox, COO at Quore. “We are thrilled to see our solution continue to evolve, deliver more flexibility, and meet the needs of the hospitality industry. This development builds on our recent successful Cleanings Plus integration through IHG Concerto, and we look forward to empowering our more than 6,000 customers with even more flexibility and customization options in the future.”
About Quore
Quore is an award-winning, cloud-based hotel operations solution, supporting hotels of any size to be more efficient and improve guest experiences. Founded in 2012, Quore manages all aspects of the guest experience, including preventative maintenance, guest requests and complaints, work orders, housekeeping and workforce/shift communication. Quore’s software is used by more than 6,000 hotels, including hotels from the industry’s largest brands, like IHG, Marriott, and Choice. The Tennessee-based company is privately owned and was named one of America’s Best Startup Employers by Forbes.
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