Travel Weekly Group Ltd

✈ Bolt, a mobility app, introduced a flight tracking feature, allowing travelers' taxis to be ready upon landing at the airport. Users enter their flight number to sync the ride with the flight's real-time status, adjusting pickup times automatically, and offering free cancellation if the flight is canceled. This aims to eliminate rescheduling, extra costs, and unexpected wait times.

🛫 EaseMyTrip UAE, part of Indian parent EaseMyTrip, expanded into Saudi Arabia and launched two new ventures in Dubai. Easy Trip Planners Saudi Arabia caters to domestic and international travellers with tailored experiences, including airline ticketing, hotel bookings, and holiday packages. The company, founded in India in 2008, reported a 73% growth in 2024 over 2023 and has a network of over 400 airlines and two million hotels. For Eid 2025, it offers packages to destinations like Georgia, Thailand, and Bali. Offices are located in various countries, including the UK, US, and Brazil.

💰 HBX Group refinanced all outstanding debt with credit facilities maturing in 2030 and 2032. The refinancing includes a €600 million Term Loan A (Euribor + 2.00%), a €400 million multi-currency Revolving Credit Facility (Euribor + 2.00%), and a €600 million Term Loan B (Euribor + 2.75%). Moody's gave a Ba3 rating to the Term Loan B due 2032, and S&P rated HBX Group and the loan BB, both with stable outlooks. Joint Lead Arrangers are notable banks including BBVA and Barclays, with Deutsche Bank as the Sole Physical Bookrunner.

📱 SHR launched a new AI Assistant for content automation within CRS and CRM platforms. The AI Assistant facilitates multilingual updates, maintains consistent messaging, and improves accessibility compliance, optimizing room descriptions, promotional materials, and image alt-text. SHR's CEO, Rodrigo Jimenez, emphasizes the AI's role in enhancing guest experiences and driving bookings. This innovation is part of SHR's forthcoming series of AI-driven enhancements to elevate the hotel guest journey.

💳 Global payment platform FinMont has partnered with Payfast by Network International to integrate Payfast's payment processing solutions into FinMont's global ecosystem, enhancing the payment gateway offerings in South Africa. The collaboration aims to provide merchants with a seamless payment experience, as expressed by Suby Valluri, CEO of FinMont, and David Adams, managing director of Payfast. The partnership focuses on expanding FinMont's client access to secure, scalable, and efficient payment solutions in the travel industry.

👤 69% of travelers across generations look forward to business trips, with 70% of Gen Z (18-28) eager but also stressed. Gen Z (63%) less likely understands employer's duty of care compared to 68% overall and 73% of Millennials. UK and US travelers (84% UK, 90% US) feel supported by employers during disruptions. 45% of Gen Z experienced travel disruption, more than Millennials (36%) and Gen X (32%). 60% are interested in digital tools, 70% want human assistance. Over half are comfortable with AI for tasks: flights (62%), expenses (60%). Millennials more comfortable with AI than Gen Z. 62% US/UK travelers extended trips for leisure, 65% maintain personal values on work trips, frequent flyers (78%) more so. 40% of remote workers consider travel opportunities important for job choice. 55% expect more travel in five years, 66% think it will get easier.

🛩 Airbus plans to introduce a "commercially viable" hydrogen-powered, fully-electric passenger aircraft possibly by the late 2030s. The ZEROe aircraft will feature electric propeller propulsion systems, four propellers, and hydrogen fuel cells that emit only water when using renewable energy-produced hydrogen. Technologies include four two-megawatt electric propulsion engines and two liquid hydrogen tanks. Airbus reaffirms its commitment to hydrogen for aviation decarbonization, with further refinement and testing of associated technologies to come.