Hospitality Trends, Hospitality Management
Brittain Resorts & Hotels | September 27, 2023
Brittain Resorts & Hotels (BRH), the leading full-service hospitality management company in the Southeast, today introduced an industry-leading AI-driven business intelligence technology matrix, putting the company at the forefront of AI-led efforts within the industry. The move comes as BRH increases its service offerings as it expands further into third-party management for hotel owners seeking improved values and satisfaction measurements.
“While the hospitality industry traditionally has taken a ‘wait and see’ approach to new technologies, we have taken a much more aggressive approach at Brittain,” said Christy Jernigan, chief development officer, BRH. “AI and business intelligence are major data and analytics initiatives for Brittain, and we have integrated AI into its strategy. The business intelligence component allows us to understand and interpret our data across all channels for ongoing analysis and simplified reporting back to our owners. For the new systems we’ve added, the integration of AI, machine learning or business intelligence not only automates tasks but also offers predictive insights, optimization suggestions and enhanced user experiences.”
The new matrix includes multiple platforms, including guest data, social media management, guest messaging communication, revenue management, CRS, customer relationship management, market data, parity management, payroll and HR systems. For each, AI has been applied to improve the respective processes. For example, AI can analyze guest preferences and behaviors to automate and personalize marketing campaigns or optimize rate management by analyzing vast datasets, predict market demand, and adjust pricing strategies in real-time to maximize revenue. The system will run under Power BI, a robust data visualization and business analytics tool developed by Microsoft that connects to multiple data sources, allowing users to aggregate, analyze, visualize and share insights through interactive dashboards and reports.
“We are applying our Business Intelligence capabilities to provide multiple, tangible benefits to the hotels we operate,” Jernigan added. “From integrating with a hotel's property management system (PMS) to provide insights into guest demographics, preferences and behaviors to analyzing operational data to uncover inefficiencies in housekeeping, maintenance or F&B operations, this platform represents a cutting edge approach to working with the newest technologies available. These tools produce meaningful improvements to operations, which in turn lead to increased values for our shareholders.”
About Brittain Resorts & Hotels
Brittain Resorts & Hotels (BRH) is a full-service hospitality management company providing multi-layered expertise in all disciplines of hotel and resort operations. Since 1943, BRH has been enriching the lives of its team members, guests, partners, and the communities they serve by providing exceptional guest experiences, a supportive work environment, and superior returns. With over 4,000 rooms, suites, and condos in the portfolio, the company currently operates 22 hotels and resorts and 45+ restaurants & bars within the United States.
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Business Travel
Discover the World | September 25, 2023
BermudAir, the revolutionary all-business class airline headquartered in Bermuda, has partnered with Discover the World to enhance its presence and sales in the USA travel trade sector. This collaboration aims to introduce trade partners to the innovative airline, which will operate direct flights from New York's Westchester County Airport (HPN), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Bermuda L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA). These newly established routes provide travelers from these cities and neighboring areas with increased access to Bermuda, offering a premium travel option with an approximate flight duration of two hours. With a unique all-business class configuration on its Embraer 175 aircraft, BermudAir ensures up to 30 passengers experience the epitome of premium travel.
Titus Johnson, Commercial Director at BermudAir, said,
BermudAir has chosen to partner with Discover the World in the USA because of their deep knowledge and reach among the travel trade. In addition, they have the agility and resources to support BermudAir as we increase frequencies and future destinations.
[Source – Cision PR Newswire]
BermudAir acknowledges Discover the World's extensive expertise, dedication, and commitment to business development, which are crucial for ensuring the prosperity of this new partnership, expressed Aiden Walsh, Head of Airline Development. Additionally, BermudAir recognizes the pivotal role the travel trade industry will play in its future success. Aiden Walsh further mentioned that Discover the World has assembled an exceptional team, eagerly anticipating the implementation of their strategy to facilitate BermudAir's success.
As BermudAir takes bold steps to solidify its presence in the airline industry, the strategic partnership with Discover the World is a testament to its commitment to effectively engaging the USA travel trade market. BermudAir's expansion plan includes launching direct flights from major US cities, marking a significant development, granting travelers seamless access to Bermuda and redefining the air travel experience. In addition, travelers can easily book their flights directly via BermudAir's official website, simplifying the reservation process and ensuring accessibility to a wider audience.
About Discover the World
Discover the World is the industry leader in global travel distribution and services. Discover is trusted by the leading brands in the travel industry to fulfill their global sales, marketing, business processing, and distribution requirements. The company continues to be the foremost innovator in the travel industry, at the forefront of assisting travel companies to expand beyond their network, resources, or core competencies. It helps bridge the gap between diverse cultures, languages, economies, currencies, and complex business practices to maximize our clients' investment and revenue returns.
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Travel Technology
point.me | September 07, 2023
point.me, a real-time flight search and booking engine using loyalty program reward points on 150+ airlines, has announced a Series A fundraise completion of $10 million. This investment is led by Thayer Ventures and backed by notable investors, including PAR Capital Ventures and Plug and Play Ventures, and will fuel point.me's expansion.
The company plans to enhance its partnerships with leading the US card issuers, grow its premium concierge service, and scale its consumer subscription business. point.me’s platform currently operates in collaboration with major credit card providers like American Express, Chase, and Capital One, offering seamless searches and bookings. This funding will enable deeper integrations with current partners and the establishment of new collaborations, ultimately delivering enhanced accessibility for users.
point.me has amassed over 1.5 million registered users in the initial year, reflecting its remarkable growth. The company's annual recurring revenue has surged by an impressive 1860%. With this latest Series A funding, the company will be strengthening its integration with loyalty rewards programs across all its product offerings. This strategic move will further elevate the user experience and accessibility, cementing point.me's position as a leader in real-time flight booking using loyalty rewards points.
This Series A funding marks milestone in point.me's rapid ascent within the travel industry. In addition, the company had previously secured $2 million in seed funding, led by PAR Capital Ventures, with participation from WndrCo Holdings, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Sujay Jaswa, and a group of executives from Meta and DoorDash.
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Business Travel
Simpleview | September 11, 2023
Simpleview, a leader in destination marketing solutions, and Viator, a top online marketplace for travel experiences, have joined forces. This partnership empowers destination marketing organizations (DMOs) to enhance online engagement, equip partner listings with enticing offers, build tourism brands, instill traveler confidence, and drive business to their partners.
Incorporating Viator's vast catalog of tours, activities, and attractions, DMOs can curate unforgettable experiences for travelers. From exploring hidden gems to providing traveler-centric booking solutions, this collaboration positions DMOs to thrive in the competitive tourism landscape. Additionally, it equips destination marketing organizations with a powerful tool to boost website engagement.
In addition to its evident benefits for DMOs and travelers, the partnership showcases the strategic alignment between Simpleview and Viator. Combining their expertise, these industry leaders facilitate a deeper connection between travelers and destinations, making it easier for visitors to embark on exciting journeys and immerse themselves in the beauty of the world's most captivating places.
Greg Evans, Chief Revenue Officer at Simpleview, mentioned,
At Simpleview, our mission is to bridge visitors with unique local attractions.
[Source – Cision PR Newswire]
Viator broadens horizons for ‘top-of-funnel' or 'out-of-market' visitors and streamlines bookings for the 'in-market' users, embodying the company's dedication to transforming digital interactions into memorable journeys. This partnership empowers DMOs with tools for visitor growth while offering tailored content to fuel travel ambitions. Further, Greg expressed team’s excitement about bringing Viator's capabilities to Simpleview’s CMS.
About Viator
Viator, a subsidiary of Tripadvisor, specializes in simplifying the process of discovering and booking unforgettable global tours, activities, and excursions. The company offers a broad range of options for travelers, with an extensive catalog of over 300,000 experiences, whether they seek adventures close to home or in far-flung destinations. Committed to ensuring that travelers make the most of their precious leisure time, Viator relentlessly emphasizes quality, catering to various interests ranging from straightforward tours to exhilarating extreme adventures and everything else that is intriguing.
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