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Melinda Healy

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Quarter of businesses allocate half their…

📋 Over 25% of FCM Meetings & Events' customers spend half their travel budgets on MICE. A six-week online survey by Flight Centre Corporate involving decision-makers and travel managers indicated 23% of EMEA clients allocate over 50% of their budget to MICE, while another 8% allocate 25-50%. FCM is investing $20 million globally in the sector, with expansion plans for South Africa and Dubai by early 2025. The firm aims to leverage its 365+ workforce for exponential growth and global consistency with local adaptation.
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UK companies trailing on cybersecurity…

💻 In a World Travel Protection survey of 2000 business travellers from the UK, US, Canada, and Australia, 52% of UK and 60% global business travellers worry about cyber-attacks, rising to 62% among frequent UK and 70% global travellers. UK companies lag in cybersecurity, with 25% of UK travellers stating their companies take no measures, versus 10-11% in other countries. Common measures include anti-virus software (22% UK vs 27% globally) and two-factor authentication (21% UK vs 27% globally). UK firms also fall short in data backups (15% UK vs 24% globally) and biometric security (11% UK vs 17% globally). Moreover, 17% of UK companies don't provide cybersecurity training, compared to 20% globally. With 18% of UK and 24% globally allowed "work from anywhere" policies and 16% of UK travellers mixing business trips with holidays, cybersecurity risks increase.
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PLAY airlines to launch curated travel…

✈ PLAY airlines collaborates with InterLnkd to introduce an AI-powered pre-travel shopping platform for US customers, featuring brands like Bloomingdale's and CVS. This makes PLAY the first North American airline to offer such a service, integrating it into the post-booking process for incremental revenue. European customers can access products from Marks & Spencer, WHSmith, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, and Asos. The platform is designed to provide convenience and enhance the travel experience by meeting vacation essentials needs.
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CellPoint Digital bolsters its executive…

💳 CellPoint Digital, a Payment Orchestration company, promotes Michael Sørensen to CTO and Steven Osei to CMO. Sørensen, with over 30 years of IT experience, aims to drive the company's technology strategy, focusing on scaling the tech team and innovation in offer ordering and APM integrations. Osei's promotion enhances the brand's leadership in Payment Orchestration across air, travel, and hospitality sectors. CEO Kristian Gjerding affirms the team's capacity to foster innovation and market growth.
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Hospitality cloud company introduces…

💳 Mews, a hospitality cloud provider, released the Mews Terminal S2 ePOS system to enhance hotel operations. The Terminal S2 integrates with Mews POS and Payments for seamless transactions at various property locations. It enables secure order and payment processing from a single device, reducing service time from five minutes to one minute as experienced by the Arctic SnowHotel in Lapland, Finland. The device is portable, wireless, and features a long-life battery, with capabilities to manage busy restaurants and front desks effectively.
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All-in-one software management company…

💻 RoomRaccoon, the US-based hotel management software company, has acquired Belgium's Lobbi PMS, expanding its user base by 300 properties in the Benelux region. The acquisition includes the integration of the Lobbi team and Ghent headquarters. Lobbi founders and CTO will assist with the transition, aiming to make RoomRaccoon the market leader in Benelux and enhance the offerings for independent hoteliers. This marks RoomRaccoon's second acquisition by its internal M&A department.
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AI use has surged among European travellers

🌎 European travellers plan 2.9 international holidays in two years; Gen Zers and Millennials lead in travel frequency. 33% of Gen Z willing to pay an extra €100 to reduce flight carbon footprint, versus 27% of all European travellers. Italy, Spain, and Greece top Europe destinations, with the US showing increased interest. British travellers exhibit highest travel expenditure and frequency. AI and social media, especially YouTube and Instagram, heavily used in travel planning; 27% of Europeans would pay more for sustainable travel options. 70% would extend business trips for leisure, with British and Germans most likely. For details, visit store.mmgyintel.com.
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Travel subscription sales model is gaining…

🌍 Custom Travel Solutions (CTS) has observed a growth in international transactions, now constituting 63% compared to 40% last year. Germany leads with 27%, followed by Italy at 7%, and Switzerland at 5%. In 2024, the US still holds a 37% share of total transactions. CEO Mike Putman aims for 75% of sales from outside the US by 2025, focusing on European and Asian markets, tapping into the global trend of subscription models for travel.
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Stratoflow reveals travellers’ shifting…

🏖️ Stratoflow's report highlights technology trends in the travel industry, emphasizing AI's role in enhancing customer experiences and personalization. Global tourism is rebounding, with Asia's recovery led by China and the Gulf's unified tourist visa boosting Middle East and Africa. Europe's growth is spurred by Schengen expansion and the Paris 2024 Olympics, despite potential impacts from regional conflicts. A significant 67% of tourism professionals foresee improved performance in 2025, with a mere 6% anticipating a decline. Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) increasingly rely on AI for dynamic pricing, with over 70% of consumers expecting personalization. Open-source platforms like Openkoda offer cost-effective customization. Sustainability is a growing concern, with eco-friendly options being more sought after. Augmented Reality (AR) is predicted to become crucial, though its adoption is still nascent.
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