Launched late last year, the Vibe Corporate Plus service is a ‘consumer-grade’, Multi channel content, complete business travel booking tool that TMCs can offer to their users. Vibe Corporate Plus offers an entirely customizable solution that is built to the requirements of the TMC.

By implementing the Vibe Corporate Plus service, Travel Counsellors who sell corporate travel will have the ability to grow, expand and scale their already successful businesses with a human touch by: growing their client base, and implementing complex travel policies and multi level approval – all whilst benefitting from multi-channel content including air, hotel, rail and car products.

Typical corporate clients of Travel Counsellors tend to be in the SME sector and whilst often serviced by just one business owner, many Travel Counsellors now choose to work in ‘TC teams’ to support their clients as well as their business growth aspirations. The company is on track to hit over £220m in corporate travel sales by the end of 2023.

Martin Eade, Chief Commercial Officer at Vibe comments: “We have long been admirers of the success of Travel Counsellors based upon its entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to the counsellors model – so we are enormously excited to be giving their corporate counsellors a foot-up with our technology and continue outperforming in what remains a very competitive space.”

Kieran Hartwell, Managing Director of Corporate Travel at Travel Counsellors adds: “We are committed to providing our Travel Counsellors with the most innovative and constantly evolving tools and technology to build their businesses in a way that suits them, with limitless potential and scale. So after some careful consideration we felt that the Vibe Corporate technology was just ideal for our community helping them to further deliver the very best personalised and bespoke service for their clients.”

The article Travel Counsellors to grow corporate business with Vibe technology first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

The SOC 2 Type 2 Examination is a detailed examination of design suitability and operating effectiveness for the controls implemented around the information and system security. The examination reflects the third-party testing results of Mews’ security controls against the Trust Services Criteria published by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

“In the world of hospitality, data security is critically important. We designed Mews to have the highest degree of safety and confidentiality, and we’re deeply proud to be among the few PMS providers to have passed this rigorous test ”, said Richard Valtr, Founder of Mews. “Our technology empowers properties to securely handle guest data and process real-time payments, all while minimizing potential threats.”

The successful completion of the SOC 2® Type 2 examination further strengthens the growth strategy for Mews in North America, more specifically the enterprise segment in the US market.

“With this, Mews is entering a new stage of maturity. We’re unlocking new possibilities in North America and delivering industry-leading technology to modern hoteliers and their guests,” said Michael Wesner, Chief Commercial Officer at Mews. “The data security of our customers is a point of trust that Mews will continue to protect as we grow our platform and client base.”

It comes at the same time as Mews tripled their North American business with the acquisition of Hotello.

The article Mews announces successful completion of SOC 2® Type 2 examination, proving its commitment to data security first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

“Our first investment is an additional step towards building the airport of the future, which will be more autonomous and passenger-centric. These are two characteristics that we have found in Ottonomy, both in terms of their team and technology. We are looking forward to a great future together. We believe that this partnership will open new opportunities in the industry and help transform the traveler experience in airports worldwide,” says Emanuele Calà, President and CEO of ADR Ventures.

Rome Airports partnered with leading corporate and strategic partners first of which, Plug & Play Tech Center in the development of “Runway to the Future,” a program set in ADR’s Innovation Hub, which is the first industrial accelerator inside an airport with a senior mentorships of ADR’s Innovation Cabin Crew.

The Open Innovation Program of Aeroporti di Roma, called “Runway to the Future”, focuses on selecting international startups and aiming at a joint development for up to 8 months within the Innovation Hub directly located at Fiumicino airport; giving startups the chance to develop a PoC inside the airport and unlock a full roll-out solution.

While ADR Ventures aims to offer further support to startups, investing in their ideas developed within the Fiumicino Innovation Hub not only in economic terms, but also in terms of know-how and skills, fostering the development and growth of new companies and entrepreneurs to accompany the digital transformation in the industry.

Ottonomy took part in the Hub’s acceleration programme “Runway to the Future” in September 2022 and offered added convenience to travelers via autonomous delivery. Air passengers can purchase retail items and get them delivered right up to the gate in a digital and completely frictionless experience.

During the PoC, Ottonomy reached the following KPIs at Fiumicino International Airport:

• More than 150 km traveled in terminals by Ottobots
• Zero accidents at the airport
• More than 300 clients used the service
• Three minutes delivery time on average

“We are honored to continue to work with ADR Ventures and the Innovation Hub to further the impact and convenience in the airport environment using technology,” says Ritukar Vijay, CEO of Ottonomy. “ADR is truly committed to being a leader in innovation and bringing excellence and new experience to its customers. The partnership and a multiyear contract with ADR is at the forefront of the future of the travel experience for customers all over the world.”

To support the growth of the start-ups operating inside the Innovation Hub an investment arm, ADR Ventures, was created. This is the first initiative of its kind in the air transport sector in Italy aimed at financing the development of projects in areas with an elevated innovation potential; in synergy with the airport’s operational and strategic needs. ADR Ventures operates as an engine for the development of youth entrepreneurship, ensuring support for the most virtuous and prospective start-ups, accompanying them in the integration with the business and in the management of investment processes, accelerating the process of the business growth and the commercialisation of the innovative solution devised.

Ottonomy joined the ADR innovation team during Plug and Play’s Travel & Hospitality & Smart Cities EXPO Day in Vienna to discuss the recent launch of ADR Ventures, as well as how innovation and cutting edge technologies are redefining the passenger experience. Besides that, ADR and Ottonomy will showcase the Ottobot case.

During the expo, Aeroporti di Roma was awarded – for the second year in a row- the Corporate Innovation Award for its investment in identifying innovative solutions and supporting the growth of the start-ups operating inside its Innovation Hub that are transforming the aviation industry for a better future.

The article Ottonomy, Inc. secures investment from ​​Aeroporti di Roma Ventures After Launching Ottobot at Fiumicino Airport first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

With the increasing use of smartphones and numerous technological breakthroughs in tour technology, the experience of virtual tours is becoming increasingly important and driving the tourism sector. People are increasingly selecting virtual tours since they can be enjoyed on smartphones and large TVs.

Augmented Reality (AR) is offering new growth chances to the virtual tourism sector, and with the help of modern smartphones, virtual tours are bound to expand on a greater scale and reach more people.

According to research and analysis, there are challenges with the virtual tourism sector that must be addressed and improved, with an emphasis on how technological improvements aid in advertising and the growing market.

2018 to 2022 Global Virtual Tourism Market Outlook Compared to 2023 to 2033 Forecast

Digital advancements in the tourist sector are opening up new avenues for getting the ultimate experience of various tour types. Virtual tourism is emerging as an alternative to physical travel by providing consumers with a genuine preview of tourist sites and attractions, and it is also emerging as a potential for value propositions.

Virtual reality (VR) in virtual tourism allows for interactive navigation of the environment, opening up new potential in the virtual tourism industry. VR is changing the way people envision the future of travel, and it has revolutionized the consumer experience on a budget. With increased virtual tourism experiences and the impact of the covid-19 pandemic in 2020, virtual tourism saw a significant boost as there was a desire to experience and explore despite travel restrictions.

At the time of Covid-19, virtual tourism appeared to be a solution for individuals to escape boredom and isolation. There was an increase in online bandwidth over time, and additional features were unlocked to make the entire tour experience more appealing. While new digital marketing strategies provide value to the virtual tourism business, 360-degree virtual reality videos are taking another step forward. The modern virtual tour’s origins provided a technical display paired with real-time benefits.

With the modern capabilities of virtual reality, technical improvements present a powerful medium for virtual tours where businesses are taking advantage to modernize digital marketing to add new possibilities to the client experience.

While the local and central governments take various initiatives to promote virtual tourism, infrastructure development, and promotional strategies will be prioritized because virtual tourism suffers from major technological shortcomings that must be addressed for the sector’s growth and development.

Key Dynamics in the Geo-Tourism Market Worldwide

• A surge in Virtual Reality in Real Estate for Commercialization, Driving the Growth

The market for virtual tourism is growing as the real estate business increasingly uses virtual reality to advertise their homes and improve user experience, as well as for advertising and promotions. However, due to a lack of familiarity and sluggish acceptance of virtual reality, virtual tours lack a broad and meaningful user experience, restricting market growth while it is still in its early stages of development. With increased internet access and technical improvements, the virtual tourism sector has surely many chances to grow and advance.

With the tremendous expansion in the virtual tourist business, there is an increase in the use of consumer electronic devices, which is supporting the sector’s growth. While there is a common misconception that virtual tours are expensive to put up and require more labor, which is also one of the reasons for their slow adoption, this is not the case. If the WPVR plugin is utilized, for example, single 360-degree panoramas might bring in the view of the uploaded photographs and link them together to form a proper virtual tour.

• Personalized and customized experience for Virtual Tours on the rise

Virtual reality provides its customers with an undeniably personalized experience that caters to unique needs for tour experiences, made possible by technical breakthroughs that allow for customization and creativity in terms of virtual tour experiences.

VR Vision Inc., for example, delivers custom-developed programs, software experiences, and mobile apps by conceptualizing the idea of VR and putting it into action to push the brand objective further in a meaningful way. Custom VR application creation transforms the entire experience into a 360-degree world, assisting the user not only in having the tour experience but also in organizing their journey and making decisions.

Initiatives by Greece Tourism Authority to Promote Virtual Tourism

Greece was one of the top countries offering interactive websites to keep tourism in the country intact after COVID-19 completely shut down global tourism. With the undeniable foreseeable future as the entire tourism industry sat idle, facing major losses and shutting down, virtual tourism came to the rescue, and Greece was one of the top countries offering interactive websites to keep tourism in the country intact.

For instance, Greece’s tourism authorities launched the greecefromhome.com website in collaboration with Google to promote and enhance virtual tourism with the only purpose of allowing the user’s mind to travel even at home. Historical landmarks, archaeological sites, museums, beaches, music, and local traditions with the pleasure of sailing, hiking, rafting, and more from the comfort of your home. Previously, virtual visits were not generating cash as an effort, but that is when Greece began commercializing it digitally by using various technical improvements, which will continue to expand.

Installation of touchscreen multimedia for interactive communication contributed to virtual tourism development

With its historical and geographical uniqueness, Italy is one of the countries that bring cultural richness to the tourism sector, and in addition to various historic centers, virtual tours have evolved as an integral aspect of tourism. Various institutes have been involved in developing virtual visits to national artistic heritage, the installation of Interactive touchscreen multimedia for interactive communication while experiencing virtual tours, and the provision of mobile applications to enjoy territorial tourism with the advanced setup of multimedia engine for videos, images, and apps held as a unique distribution point for users.

The development of a reasonable assessment of national artistic heritage has been widely dispersed. Italian cities are thus seizing the chance to arrange tours, facilitate connection with tour operators, and provide access to all information. As a result of all of these technological improvements, the number of tourists experiencing virtual tourism is growing.

India implementing digital experience for virtual tours and working on connectivity enhancement

With its diverse culture, traditions, and heritage sites, India is one of the countries that offers a rich cultural experience. The Indian tourist industry has taken attempts to promote Indian tourism in the online market by developing virtual tour concepts. To that end, the government has already begun working with organizations to improve the design and transform the virtual tourist industry. India is also connecting consumers to tourist destinations for leisure, medical tourism, adventure, wildlife, and other purposes in the virtual tourism business.

The Indian government also encourages the creation of platforms for these services with a clear travel structure. Rajasthan Studio, for example, has pioneered virtual tourism by presenting the concept of creating unique travel experiences in which visitors can virtually explore well-known Indian sites. Along with it, the government introduces new initiatives regularly to encourage all types of virtual tourism, including wellness, cultural, and spiritual tourism. The government is also working to improve connectivity in various regions to improve the online experience when taking a virtual tour.

Category-wise Insights

Which Age Group prefers to Travel More to a Geo-Tourist Location?

Students between the age group of 18- 34 prefer Virtual Tourism and geological sites visit more. While anyone of any age can enjoy virtual tourism, those between the ages of 18 and 34 are more likely to do so. The primary reason for this preference is to have fragments of virtual experience before going through the complete tour experience, regardless of destination.

Virtual sites are easy to book and experience from the comfort of your own home, and depending on the site and tour style that someone wants, it produces an excellent experience for the users. At the time of COVID-19, virtual tourism not only supported the entire tourism industry, but it was also growing due to technical improvements, and the Internet is making it easier for consumers to explore, decide, and book the tour, as well as a great experience while on the virtual tour.

With the advancement in digital apps for travel bookings, online channels are preferred more

The basic idea behind virtual tourism is to have a relaxing and comfortable experience when watching heritage sites or discovering the unknown. Since the time of COVID-19, there has been substantial growth in virtual tourism, and the number of tourists has only increased since then. With technological advancements, it is now possible to get a first-hand experience before going through the actual virtual tour.

While virtual tourism allows for the convenience of scheduling and exploring the full experience from the comfort of one’s own home, it also appears to be a fair notion for refund and cancellation. As a result, when it comes to virtual tourism, consumers are often more reliant on themselves rather than going through the process of reserving through an agent.

Competitive Landscape

Many organizations in the market are providing several tactics to corner the market in a highly competitive atmosphere. Connect technologies have been built in collaboration with companies like McLennan to optimize data in real-time, thereby replacing all handwritten data and preventing the chaos that existed previously.

Furthermore, the pace of supplier support channels is quickening, and they are successfully engaging with direct suppliers and large market participants to advertise and promote tourism.

The article FMI analysis: Increasing accessibility of VR and AR devices to drive the virtual tourism market first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

The additional features mean Climate+ is the first connected platform to support every step of a corporate’s business travel sustainability journey, from forecasting and setting carbon budgets through to in-app booking nudges and total emission analytics. It is available for the exclusive use of CTM clients.

Climate+ now incorporates the following innovations:

1. CO2 Calculations for flights, hotels, trains and car in Lightning OBT & App, including granular emissions in search comparisons from RDC Aviation based on aircraft, engine model, seat configuration, fuel burn, SAF investment and more.
2. CO2 Forecasting. A new calculator that lets clients input an estimate or flight, hotel, train and car hire activity by location, route and class to create a carbon forecast to share with stakeholders to build realistic, actionable carbon budgets.
3. CO2 Budgets in Lightning OBT, Mobile App, and CTM Portal – letting travel managers assign budgets by department, group & individual by year, quarter or month.
4. Green Choice fare labels in the Lightning OBT & Mobile App, highlighting greener travel options at point of search and intelligently nudge them to make select more sustainable choices when booking, including electric and hybrid car hire options.
5. Flight vs Train CO2 Comparisons let travellers switch to lower emission travel modes in one click with automatic dual searches on relevant routes in the Lightning OBT and App.
6. Climate+ Reporting & Analytics give total visibility on a programme’s carbon footprint through at-a-glance dashboards, traveller averages, plus impact by route, travel type, or cabin class to help companies mitigate future emissions.
7. CO2 Transfers between departments and travellers supports companies in better management of team-based carbon allowances.
8. CO2 Approvals – A Carbon Approver can be assigned should carbon budgets be reached to determine if a trip is business critical.
9. Carbon offsetting. CTM clients can offset their total travel programme’s carbon emissions by supporting a range of environmental sustainability initiatives chosen based on their company values and global footprint.

CTM Climate+ – the power of one sustainable platform

CTM’s EMEA CTO, Brian Sheerin says: “We frequently hear travel managers saying they are under extreme pressure to demonstrate progress in making their travel programmes more sustainable, but they don’t have the correct toolset in their travel tech stack to make a meaningful impact.

“Our internally developed online booking tool (OBT) Lightning already goes further than others on the market in terms of sustainability functionality, including displaying granular CO2 calculations per flight result based on aircraft age, seat configuration, engine model, fuel burn and other factors like airline sustainable aviation fuel investment to give customers the most accurate guidance in choosing more sustainable flights.

“At CTM, we’re in a unique position thanks to our agile, end-to-end technology approach and Climate+ really leverages that to the benefit of travel managers, their programme, their people, and the planet.

“As a connected suite of tools, Climate+ shares data seamlessly. This makes it easy to get started and removes the challenge many buyers face, using a fragmented approach with a standalone OBT with one calculation method, emissions reporting by their agency in another, forecasting via consultancies using bespoke approaches, and offsetting through yet another partner they must manage.

“Our ethos is simple – the easier we make it for clients to drive change, the bigger sustainable impact they can make – and that’s Climate+ in a nutshell.”

The article CTM expands Climate+ to create first end-to-end business travel sustainability platform first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Following a competitive tender process, IDeaS’ G3 RMS was selected for its innovative automation and ease of integration within the wider tech stack. G3 RMS will be deployed at 17 properties, including Park Plaza branded hotels across the UK and the Netherlands, as well as art’otels in Amsterdam, Rome, and in London at its newest property, art’otel London Battersea Power Station.

• Holistic optimisation: Manually managing multiple properties without an automated system became unsustainable. PPHE Hotel Group needed a sustainable solution for the long term that capitalized on the depth of their data. This future-proofs the business and enables modern pricing capabilities that optimize legacy and emerging business segments and channels.
• Advanced pricing capabilities: The IDeaS system enables simultaneous dynamic pricing across hotel products based upon demand patterns to increase incremental profitability from all products.
• Centralise insights and management: With efficiency and portfolio oversight a key need, Park Plaza realized centralised clustered revenue management environment was an essential need for the group. The solution’s deep insight into demand, cancellation, and no-show patterns and its ‘What-if’ simulation analysis was key in the group’s selection of IDeaS.

Darren Thacker, director of revenue, digital marketing, and analytics, PPHE Hotel Group, said: “IDeaS G3 RMS will revolutionise revenue management within our group. The system’s intuitive and automated decision-making is what helped it stand out from the competition. With IDeaS, we’ll be able to respond more quickly to changing market conditions than we could previously, providing peace of mind that our rates will always be optimised and in line with our business strategies.”

Michael McCartan, area vice president, EMEA, IDeaS, said: “Park Plaza Hotels Europe is well recognised within Europe for delivering innovative, customer-focused experiences across its Park Plaza and art’otel brands. We’re delighted to be working with them to elevate their revenue management and help them achieve their strategic objectives and improve their commercial results.”

The installation of IDeaS G3 RMS is scheduled for Q2 2023, following the roll-out of a bespoke system-wide training program designed by IDeaS for PPHE Hotel Group.

The article IDeaS Powers Park Plaza Hotels Europe’s Revenue Management first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

• 10 Seconds to Tip: Branded QR-code-based tipping experience for guests with no application download required.
• Charge-to-Room: In addition to credit card and digital wallet, through the OPERA Cloud integration, guests can select “Charge to Room” which consolidates all charges for their stay onto a single bill – a benefit 20% of guests opted in for in beta testing
• Automated Allocations: Ability to automate allocations based on in-house tipping rules and PMS room cleaning assignments
• Flexible Tip Disbursement: Tips can be disbursed to staff directly or via payroll. Grazzy Direct unlocks instant tip disbursement – a benefit over 70% of staff members prefer.
• Robust Reporting including:
  – Automated tax reporting and compliance
  – Tips per occupied room
  – Top performing teams, team members
  – Positive Guest Feedback
  – Performance reporting by team, property, brand, and group

The article Grazzy’s digital tipping and instant earnings disbursement solution now integrates with Oracle Hospitality OPERA Cloud first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Valpas, the new health and well-being standard that makes every trip safe from bed bugs and every room free from pesticides, welcome 29 new safe member hotels in the City of Love, Paris. The total number of Valpas safe member hotels increases to over 200 across over 30 destinations.

To travel safe, travelers and travel agents or managers just need to book with a hotel that carries the Valpas ‘bed bug safe’ -label. All hotels that carry the label have the Valpas standard equipped in all rooms, from standard to suite, that safeguards all guests and trips made to the hotel. Below are 29 new Parisian Valpas safe hotels across 5 popular neighbourhoods to book with this summer and travel safe, healthy, and always with a peace of mind:

Montmartre – 6 Valpas safe hotels
Montmartre is a charming neighborhood located in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, known for its cobblestone alleys, hidden cafes, artists, and nightlife. It is located on a hill and is home to the magnificent Sacré-Coeur Basilica that offers panoramic views of the city. Montmartre has a real sense of local life with restaurants, streets, and shops to explore.

Montmartre is a melting pot of cultural influences and it is visible in hotels too: the hotel R. Kipling pays homage to the English writer Rudyard Kipling and has an early 20th Century elegance to it. Hotel Joséphine is inspired by the worlds of Cabaret and Moulin Rouge, decorated with colourful floral elements.

For someone that enjoyes the extra space, look to MyMaisoninParis, Montmartre that stands out with its carefully curated apartments that capture the essence of the artistic spirit of Montmartre. Friends of architecture will enjoy the newly renovated hotel Cervantes, inspired by art nouveau, or hotel Le Cardinal for more classic styles like Haussmannian architecture. Finally, hotel The Playce offers unique and hip artistic spaces with various concept rooms and themed suites to match different personalities.

Rive Droit & Canal Saint-Martin – 8 Valpas safe hotels
The right bank of the Seine offers a unique blend of historical landmarks and modern attractions, like the Louvre Museum, home of Mona Lisa, or the Opera Garnier, an opulent opera house known for its stunning facade and grand interiors. One of the most exciting neighborhoods on the ‘Rive Droite’ today is the hip Canal St. Martin, characterized by its picturesque waterway and charming tree-lined streets.

There’s a place to stay for every taste in this area. MyMaisoninParis, Louvre provides a comfortable, spacious and authentic stay in the heart of the city. Hotel Cordelia offers a charming retreat with its elegant rooms and convenient location. For those exploring the trendy Sentier area, MyMaisoninParis, Sentier also offers upscale and spacious apartments with hotel-like amenities. Hotel Brady is a perfect fit for business travelers, with easy access to the main train stations Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est.

If you like to stay connected with nature during your city-escape, look to hotel Bonne Nouvelle and hotel Magenta38: the first has a lush inner yard to escape from the city, the latter serene views to the Saint-Martin canal where Parisians enjoy ‘pique-niques’ and beers after work. For a stay in a modern luxury interior with a Wes Anderson-like palette, choose hotel Kabanel. Finally, hotel De Neuve, with its quaint charm and welcoming atmosphere, is another excellent choice for a memorable stay in this vibrant part of Paris.

Rive Gauche & Eiffel Tower – 6 Valpas safe hotels
The ‘Rive Gauche’ region, also known as the Left Bank, is located south of the Seine River in Paris and is home to not only some of the city’s top landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, the Champs de Mars, and the Pantheon, but also antique shops, open-air markets, art galleries, boulevard cafés, and signature Parisian bistros and brasseries – it’s the Paris you see in postcards.

There are several hotels to choose from around this area. MyMaisoninParis, Champ de Mars offers luxurious accommodations with easy access to the Eiffel Tower. On the other hand, its sister, MyMaisoninParis, Invalides is perfectly located to explore Parisian gastronomy right from its doorstep. If you want to explore Notre-Dame and Panthéon, then head out to the hotel Best Western Quartier Latin on legendary Rue Monge. Hotel Au Pacific is another great option for the budget conscious, located near the Invalides Museum and the Eiffel Tower. Want to stay 5 minutes from the Eiffel Tower but still relax in a sauna after a full day exploring? Look at the hotel Cadran. Finally, hotel Jardin Des Plantes is a charming boutique hotel with views over the nearby Jardin des Plantes botanical garden.

Arc De Triomphe – 3 Valpas safe hotels
The Arc de Triomphe region is popular among first-time Paris visitors and a great place to stay while visiting the city. The Arc de Triomphe monument stands at the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle, also known as the “Place de l’Étoile”, next to the world-famous Champs-Elysees with its luxury boutiques and French department stores.

There’s three new options to stay around this area. Hotel O.lysée is a charming hotel a 10-minute walk away from the Arc de Triomphe, offering friendly service and comfortable rooms. Hotel Saint Ferdinand is another hotel that is located in the heart of the city and is just a short walk from the monument. Hotel Boris V is a great option for those looking for a place to stay in a calmer area, away from the hustle, but still only a 5 min cab ride or a few metro stops away from ‘the Arc’.

Greater paris Area – 6 Valpas safe hotels
The greater area of Paris offers a diverse range of experiences when you want to experience a more nuanced, local Paris. Porte de Versailles is a vibrant hub for exhibitions and trade shows at the metro station Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. There you’ll find four options: bAbaca Messidor, that provides a cozy and convenient stay; hotel Izzy, that offers a modern and elegant stay; hotel Bootcamp, that leaves you with a unique experience with its fitness-themed concept; and hotel Ohm, that offers contemporary accommodations with a touch of sophistication.

Parc Montsouris is a beautiful park located in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, featuring a lake and a waterfall. For accommodation options in this area, hotel B55 provides a comfortable and stylish retreat. Suresnes, a charming suburb just outside of Paris with a mix of picturesque landscapes and cultural sites. Here you’ll find the hotel Atrium that focuses on providing guests with a delightful and personalized experience. This hotel creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, making each guest’s stay a truly enjoyable one.

The article 29 new Parisian hotels join the Valpas standard community to make every trip bed bug safe ahead of the summer 2023 first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Expanding on a collaboration with three of the country’s largest airports, SITA will extend the benefits of its passenger touchpoints to Regina International Airport and Region of Waterloo International Airport with the delivery of check-in and self-bag drop systems. This will bring the number of SITA touchpoints to 725 kiosks and 2,003 workstations across five of Canada’s major airports.

SITA’s flagship common-use check-in systems, including SITA’s new-generation TS6 kiosk, will be deployed by summer 2023 at both airports. These touchpoints will streamline check-in processes thanks to a combination of workstations for airline staff and self-service TS6 kiosks for passengers. Waterloo Airport will additionally benefit from two self-service bag drop stations, developed in partnership with baggage handling experts Alstef Group, speeding up the checking in of baggage for passengers.

In addition to meeting Canadian accessibility requirements, the new touchpoints will make it easier to incorporate both contactless and biometric capabilities in the future, enabling airports and airlines to evolve as processes modernize and tailor the system to their needs.

This project builds on SITA’s collaboration with airports in Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary which has placed Canada at the leading edge of innovative check-in solutions and reshaping the passenger experience. The deployment of this technology vision continues to support the recovery of Canada’s broader aviation industry by creating a common experience to simplify travel.

Sean McKim, Manager, Cybersecurity, Technology & Customer Solutions, Regina International Airport, said: “We’re pleased to announce our collaboration with SITA, aimed at enhancing our common-use systems throughout our airport. Through the implementation of SITA’s common-use solutions, we seek to provide a more accessible, efficient, reliable, and user-friendly passenger experience at Regina International Airport. Our focus remains steadfast on our customers, and we are committed to making improvements to streamline their journey.”

Chris Wood, Director, Region of Waterloo International Airport, said: “We are happy to be furthering the adoption of shared digital systems across Canada’s largest airports to create a more streamlined experience for passengers, not just within the airport but when traveling across the country. The addition of self-bag drop units will further ease pain points at the check-in stage and free up our staff to focus on more complex tasks.”

Matthys Serfontein, President for the Americas at SITA, said: “It is exciting to see more Canadian airports joining a wave of digitalization which will transform the passenger experience and simplify travel through shared technology. Working with three of the country’s largest airports has given us a firm understanding of the unique challenges and requirements within the region, and we look forward to expanding this collaboration to Regina and Waterloo.”

The article Regina and Waterloo international airports wave of Canadian digitalizatiopn thanks to SITA technology first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Nestpick is a digital platform connecting those seeking furnished rentals for 30+ days globally to thousands of properties around the world. The platform had over 15 million users and generated $80 million in gross booking value in 2022. Blueground will use Nestpick’s tech, integration infrastructure, and expertise as a global platform to establish its Partner Network and grow Blueground’s business beyond its core network of managed properties.

Blueground operates the largest, curated global network of furnished rentals for 30+ day stays for individuals and corporate clients alike. The company was co-founded 10 years ago by CEO Alex Chatzieleftheriou, who, after many years as a business traveler, had experienced first-hand the pain points of living out of hotels for work for months at a time. He aspired to create a way that people could feel settled and at home, while free to explore the world.

“Blueground has been building the future of living over the last decade with the goal of not only becoming the largest, curated global network for 30+ day stays, but also supporting people in their journey to find and book high quality, furnished rentals to explore the world easily,” says Alex Chatzieleftheriou, CEO and Co-founder, Blueground. “We are thrilled to welcome the Nestpick team to Blueground as we look forward to further developing the Partner Network and improving the rental experience for the 30+ day sector.”

Blueground’s Partner Network is launching with 18,000 units with the goal of adding 50,000 units within 2024. The apartments will be located both in already existing Blueground markets as well as markets the company is not yet in- continuing its strategic growth plan. Currently, Nestpick works with 120 of the best professional operators in the 30+ day sector with connections to nearly 40,000 listings around the world. Blueground will bring selected partners and their portfolio of listings over to the Partner Network, such as Kasa and Placemakr, based on established criteria to meet the needs of current and future Blueground guests. The Partner Network properties will be listed on Blueground‘s website, denoting the partner operator, creating an easier way for travelers to find trusted, high-quality furnished rentals for monthly stays.

Not only does the Partner Network support Blueground guests, but providers joining the network will also benefit with increased visibility and access to Blueground’s global audience, including both individual travelers and corporate clients. Partners will also benefit from attractive commissions as well as access to Blueground’s core operations expertise including in-house marketing and photography, cleaning services, on the ground operations teams, 24/7 customer service, background checks, and insurance.

Founded in 2016, Nestpick will continue to operate as an independent platform under the leadership of Aycan Özcan, while current CEO Omer Kucukdere will join Blueground as VP of the Partner Network bringing his expertise in the marketplace business to help grow and expand Blueground’s Partner Network.

“During the last seven years, Nestpick has connected millions of people with furnished rentals around the globe and achieved profitability – something we are very proud of,” says Omer Kucukdere, VP of Blueground Partner Network. “We are looking forward to joining the Blueground team as we believe in the company and the combined power of the two companies to impact the 30+ day sector.”

This is Blueground’s third acquisition in the last twelve months, as the company previously announced the acquisitions of Brazilian PropTech startup, Tabas, and on-demand furnished rental company, Travelers Haven.

The article Blueground acquires monthly furnished housing platform Nestpick first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.