Innovation

📶 Travel brands are leveraging eSIM technology to transform the travel experience. By providing constant connectivity, eSIMs enable real-time engagement with travelers, enhancing in-destination experiences and fostering loyalty. This technology allows brands to send timely messages, offer relevant upsells, and gain valuable insights. Unlike traditional communication methods, eSIMs remain active and trusted, bridging the gap between booking and travel experiences, and turning connectivity from a product into a platform for personalized engagement.

📅 May 21, 2025: Accor unveils a digital ecosystem connecting 5,600 hotels, 2.5M square meters of event space, and 800,000 guestrooms. Launching late 2025, it's integrated with Oracle and Amadeus tools. Pre-launch features include Salesforce integration and booking for up to 30 rooms. Full functionality by early 2026. Tied to ALL Accor for loyalty, targeting a $2 trillion business travel market by 2028, with corporate travel spend at $1.4 trillion by 2026. Key regions: Europe, MEA, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific.

🗺️ May 21, 2025, Perplexity, a promising generative AI platform, unveils a travel-focused search experience launched in March 2025, offering curated destination content, trending destinations, and inspiration cards. The interface can suggest hotels with reviews and practical details. The move aligns with Perplexity's goal to evolve agentic AI travel assistants for real-time trip management. Monetization began in 2024 through Sponsored Questions, providing a unique ad model compared to competitors like ChatGPT.

💻 May 21, 2025, Google launched "AI Mode" at its developer conference, now available in the U.S. with Gemini 2.5 AI model integration. This aims to replicate expert conversations in search, impacting web traffic by reducing site visits. 1.5 billion users access AI overviews, causing a 30% drop in click-through rates. Future features include live video search and smart glasses. Google introduces a $250/month "Ultra" AI plan with 30TB storage amid competition from AI rivals.

🏨 Otelier partners with Preferred Hotels & Resorts, joining its Alliance Partner Program to offer business intelligence solutions globally. Preferred Hotels & Resorts, featuring over 600 luxury properties in 80+ countries, enhances guest experiences via Otelier's IntelliSight, which centralizes data across revenue streams like F&B, spa, and retail. IntelliSight aids hotels in making informed decisions, replacing spreadsheets with visual insights for trend spotting and opportunity identification, improving operational and financial performance.

🛌 Otelier partners with Preferred Hotels & Resorts in a global Alliance Partner Program. With more than 600 luxury properties in over 80 countries, Preferred Hotels & Resorts enhances member services through Otelier's IntelliSight, a business intelligence solution. IntelliSight centralizes data from all revenue outlets, replacing spreadsheets with visual dashboards. This aids hotel teams in making informed decisions and improving guest experiences. Otelier CEO Rob Lawrence emphasizes empowering hotels to deliver exceptional service.

📅 Accor plans to launch a new digital meetings and events platform in late 2025, covering 5,600 hotels with 2.5 million square meters of event space and 800,000+ guestrooms. The platform will be fully available in early 2026. Partnering with Oracle, Backyou, iVvy, and Amadeus, this initiative aims to enhance booking experiences and integrate with Accor's loyalty program. Business travel spending is projected to rise to $1.4 trillion in 2026, reflecting increased value in face-to-face meetings.

🗺 Planning a trip to Machu Picchu? Modern tour packages include virtual previews, AR on-site enhancements, and immersive audio guides to enrich your journey. With real-time translation and interactive maps, you’ll explore the ruins with ease. Safety is prioritized through wearable tech, while eco-friendly practices reduce environmental impact. Virtual reality add-ons allow remote family participation, and pre-trip simulations prepare you for altitude and trails. Choose packages wisely to blend history and technology seamlessly.

📱 Fewer than 31% of travel operators use mobile booking apps, according to a TravelTech Show survey. Held on June 25-26, 2025, in London, the survey noted barriers like complexity (37%) and security concerns (15%). Despite 98% of Millennials and Gen Z owning smartphones, 83% of operators avoid cryptocurrency payments. Security investment is rising, with 10% planning to invest in security tech within 12 months, up from 4% in 2024. Mobile app usage aims for $212BN by 2035.

💰 European Travel-Tech leader lastminute.com launched a new marketing campaign targeting UK, France, Germany, and Italy, with a strategic entry into Sweden. Leveraging trends of bookings within 30 days of departure, the campaign aims to boost summer bookings and brand awareness. CEO Alessandro Petazzi emphasizes their expertise in last-minute travel deals. Chief Marketing Officer Paul Cumiskey stresses the message's consistency, reassuring travelers of great last-minute deals without stress. The campaign highlights customer convenience and emotional connection.