Travel Weekly Group Ltd

🛫 Global Travel Collection (GTC) launched Atlas, an AI platform developed with Microsoft, to enhance itinerary planning. It aims to save 1.5 million hours annually for over 1,500 luxury travel advisors globally. Atlas integrates diverse travel systems, reducing planning time by up to three hours. Security features include GDPR and PCI compliance. GTC is exploring monetisation by featuring preferred partners within Atlas for high-end leisure, corporate, and entertainment clients.

🚗 Blacklane and Lucid Group collaborate to expand premium EV transportation in Saudi Arabia. By 2025, Blacklane aims to double operations in key cities like Riyadh and Jeddah. Lucid’s vehicles, including the Lucid Air sedan and Lucid Gravity SUV, will join Blacklane’s service. The partnership will enhance EV charging infrastructure, aligning with Vision 2030. Dr. Jens Wohltorf, Blacklane CEO, highlights the venture's sustainable mobility commitment. Lucid’s Faisal Sultan emphasizes pioneering future mobility in the Kingdom.

🛠 CaptainBook has introduced the first AI Assistant tailored for the Tours & Experiences sector, now available in 49 countries, primarily in Southern Europe and the USA. Launched in 2021, it automates customer service, operates 24/7 in multiple languages, and simplifies booking processes. This innovation follows a pre-seed funding round in January 2023. The AI Assistant helps increase direct sales and organizes customer interactions, boosting revenue and expanding new income streams for partners.

💻 Leading F&B and hospitality platform, IRIS, handles over $250,000 in orders annually across 100+ countries and 2,000 hotels, with staff in the UK, North America, China, Europe, and South East Asia. Partnering with brands like Marriott and Hilton, IRIS clients see a 20%-70% boost in F&B revenue. New features like Charge to Room and Advance Ordering enhance guest experience, while maintaining high security and global support. CEO Mark Horne highlights strategic growth and industry investment.

💸 Of 4,000 business travelers surveyed, 83% struggle with expense reconciliation, and 26% use personal credit cards for large purchases, with 28% facing delayed reimbursements. Nearly 19% are unsure about reimbursable items, and 25% worry about overspending. Automated processes are favored by 24% of employees. A third (36%) book through consumer platforms, and 25% lose receipts. Automating expense processes can reduce report entry time from 10-15 minutes to 10 seconds, saving significant time.