Kate Harden-England1

🚢 Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Voyages partners with IDeaS for cruise industry revenue management solutions. IDeaS will provide RMS technology aimed at optimizing cabin pricing, demand-based forecasting, and automating processes. The partnership addresses historical forecasting challenges in the cruise industry by leveraging science-based strategies for revenue maximization and future scalability. Virgin Voyages acknowledges the unmatched power of IDeaS' revenue management expertise. This collaboration signifies IDeaS' expansion into the cruise industry and its commitment to pioneering RMS technology across new verticals.

✈️ Accelya, a leading airline software provider, has strengthened its leadership team with three significant appointments: Gianni Cataldo as chief product officer, Tye Radcliffe as chief customer success officer, and Alastair Pooley as chief information officer (CIO). The strategic changes aim to scale operations and drive digital transformation for airline partners. Cataldo brings over 25 years of product innovation experience, Radcliffe joined Accelya in 2021 with a background in airline and travel tech, and Pooley offers over 20 years of IT and cybersecurity expertise. CEO Sam Gilliland anticipates a new era in airline retailing and modernisation with these appointments.

🏨 Travelers view an average of 141 pages of content before booking. Google Performance Max for Travel Goals (PMTG) increases website traffic by 30% and clicks by 6% for hoteliers. In a study from January to May 2024, PMTG campaigns yielded 31 times Return On Ad Spend (ROAS), with 32 room bookings, a 6% Click-Through-Rate, $0.04 cost per click, and 62,000 average clicks per hotel. PMTG improves hotel bookings by enhancing visibility across Google channels.

🏖 Travelsoft announces the launch of Travelsoft Pay, an embedded payment service developed with Worldpay, aimed at improving payment solutions for its clients globally. The service promises advanced services, preferred payment methods, real-time transaction monitoring, and same-day bank transfers. Features include minimising fraud with Worldpay's Fraudsight, live refunds within 30 minutes, and automated payouts via a user-friendly dashboard. Charles Tandonnet, VP of Travelsoft, highlights the need for better international payment solutions. Maria Prados of Worldpay emphasizes the goal to simplify payments for travel sellers.