Mauricio Prieto

📈 The most clicked link in the previous newsletter was a post on "21 Ridiculously Specific Travel Tech Predictions for 2025", calling for measurable and due predictions by Dec 31, 2025. Propellic sponsored the newsletter, offering a white paper on U.S. Consumer Trends for optimizing 2025 marketing strategies. Insight Partners discussed the rise of "intelligence-first" companies, suggesting that AI could lead to a fundamental reimagination of software. Bain & Company recommended enhancing established customer habits and moving beyond chatbots for successful AI adoption in customer experience. The Global Travel Tech Thinktank in Singapore saw 50 executives from companies like Booking and Agoda discussing AI's future in travel, focusing on non-intrusive intent interpretation and loyalty prediction. Hereticon, a "conference for thoughtcrime" by Founders Fund, only features speakers with ideas controversial enough to get cancelled elsewhere. Christian Watts addressed 10 common OTA complaints with direct responses, highlighting the relationship dynamics between OTAs and suppliers. The Travel Tech Essentialist Job Board listed 286 Sales/Business Development openings, over 25% of all roles, emphasizing the importance of sales in tech companies. Air France-KLM partnered with Kolet to offer travelers eSIM-enabled internet access in over 190 countries, with perks like 1GB of free data and Flying Blue Miles. A BCG report revealed that 83% of airline employees support modernizing sales approaches, suggesting a full retail model

🏠 Travel Tech Essentialist introduces "Deep Dives", with around six per year focusing on travel tech companies. Boomerang, founded in November 2021 by Skyler Logsdon, Philip Inghelbrecht, and Augustine Diep-Tran, reimagines lost and found with AI automation. The U.S. spends $5 billion annually replacing lost items, with the average value over $250. Boomerang boasts a 50% return rate, and Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport saw an 85% increase in claims and a 79% found items increase after implementation in January 2023. Boomerang charges businesses a monthly fee and shares profits from sold unclaimed items. The platform handles the complete return process, including shipping logistics, aiming for network effects like OpenTable for seamless experiences across multiple venues.

📍 Travel Tech Essentialist introduced "Deep Dives," a new series focusing on influential travel tech companies, with Dharma being the first featured company. Dharma, a travel company that curates passion-led journeys, was established in Abu Dhabi and joined Mubadala’s Hub71 program. Charaf El Mansouri, Dharma's founder, aims to offer unique travel experiences, transforming travel into secular pilgrimages, a concept which allows non-travel professionals to plan and sell trips. Dharma's strategy includes creating 'unique content' with over $10.5 million in funding, $5 million in listed supply, growing at 25% per month, and partnering with more than 150 hosts. By 2026, Dharma aims to build a $1 billion inventory of unique travel content. A Thrillist survey found that 72% of Gen Z and Millennials consider travel core to their identity, and 88% view it as essential for personal growth. Dharma targets $6 million in revenue for 2024, leveraging influencers and creators to expand into new markets. They charge an 18%-25% commission on bookings, focusing on trust with creators, guests, and operators.

🏠 Travel Tech Association sponsors the newsletter discussing scarcity in customer behavior and startups seeking product-market fit. The Travel Tech's Passport Newsletter, delivered every Wednesday, offers news on travel, technology, and policy for industry leaders. The most clicked link in the previous newsletter was an AI-generated deep-dive podcast on Travel Tech Essentialist. The travel experience market, valued over $1 trillion with $250-310 billion in structured activities, presents digital growth opportunities. GetYourGuide partners with the Brooklyn Nets to offer exclusive experiences, tapping into the sports tourism market, valued at more than $500 billion. Andrew Chen advises startups on common pivots that don't work and suggests focusing on specific user segments that love the product. Air France plans to introduce Starlink's high-speed Wi-Fi starting summer 2025, joining other airlines with over 2,500 aircraft offering this service. Sales & Business Development roles account for 24% of job applications on the Travel Tech Essentialist Job Board, with Marketing & Communications at 15% and Product roles at 13%. Amsterdam-based Mews raises $100 million led by Vista Credit Partners, while Berlin-based Distribusion secures an $80 million Series C round.