Travel Weekly Group Ltd

🚂 Trainline Partner Solutions (TPS) is expanding its decade-long contract with American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) into the EU by the end of 2025. Amex GBT customers will gain access to EU train bookings through TPS, featuring seat maps, SplitSave cost savings, and carbon emission calculations. The partnership aims to promote sustainable travel and assist clients in meeting carbon reduction targets, offering seamless ticketing across various operators and improving convenience for corporate travelers.

🌎 Technoheaven, an Indian travel tech firm, launched the TechnoHub tour operating platform, targeting the US and European markets. This platform aims to streamline travel agency operations, improving booking speed and margins. It offers integrated tools for tour operators and data-backed solutions for travel management companies. CEO Vinod Kelwani emphasized its role in enhancing efficiency and profitability in a competitive travel industry. TechnoHub empowers travel professionals to deliver exceptional experiences and scale their operations effectively.

💻 In 2025, Amadeus found 64% of travelers would pay for an AI travel assistant, with 17% willing to spend up to 5% of their trip's value. However, 25% faced outdated AI info, and another 25% noted AI's failure to capture personal preferences. Furthermore, 80% valued providers' disruption handling, and 81% would rebook with efficient communicators. These insights are in the "Connected Journeys" whitepaper exploring future travel tech impacts.

📰 UK travellers in 2025 increasingly use Gen AI and travel influencers for trip planning. 60% more relied on Gen AI, while influencer use grew by 33%. Social media ads saw a 27% rise as a trip inspiration source. In China, Gen AI usage rose by 146%. Brits still consult family and friends 36% more than other sources. AI trip planning benefits include finding new destinations (39%) and confidence in decisions (38%), despite some inaccuracies (25%). 70% of Brits consider using biometrics at airports.

💻 Three Travel Management Companies (TMCs) - Advantage AMS, Stewart Travel, and Take Two Eton - along with three corporate booking platforms, Travel Counsellors for Business, Roomex, and Venue Options, have partnered with Vibe. This UK-based booking technology firm emphasizes user-friendly, industry-tailored solutions. Martin Eade, Vibe's co-founder, highlights the demand for platforms designed "by travel people for travel people." The move addresses industry needs for content breadth, commercial control, and rapid onboarding.

💻 Equator Global's new 'Advanced Intelligence' platform revolutionizes travel agent training with AI, delivering instant multi-language information on destinations, hotels, and more. Agents receive quick answers and suggested itineraries via the 'Auto-Expert', with responses also available as Auto-Podcasts. Supporting over 350,000 agents globally, this upgrade enhances learning and sales. CEO Ian Dockreay and Marketing Manager Philip Micallef highlight this as the future of travel e-learning.