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Skift Travel News Blog

Short stories and posts about the daily news happenings around the travel industry.

Airlines

IDEAS: Qatar Airways to Provide Cabin Crew with Smart Technology

3 months ago

Qatar Airways has launched a new digital initiative designed to support cabin crew in delivering a more personalized experience for its customers in the air.

Credit: Qatar Airways

The new in-house application provides information on passengers flying with Qatar Airways, through customer profiles that provide insights into any special service requests and preferences, as well as real-time updates on flight information.

The carrier has said in a release that it expects to reach the first milestone in this phase of the digital rollout in the coming months, by providing more than 15,000 mobile devices to cabin crew, with additional plans to expand its scope to Hamad International Airport and overseas airports and lounges.


Skift Ideas uncovers the most creative and forward-thinking innovations happening across travel. We celebrate innovation through our Skift IDEA Awards and hear from leaders on our Ideas podcast.

You can listen and subscribe to the Skift Ideas Podcast through your favorite podcast app here.

Airlines

Saudi Carrier Flynas Hires Goldman, Morgan Stanley for Potential IPO Next Year

3 months ago

Saudi Arabian low-cost carrier Flynas has hired Goldman Sachs Group, Morgan Stanley and Saudi Fransi Capital for a potential initial public offering on the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul), according to a Bloomberg report.

Flynas expects to go public next year. Earlier reports had suggested that Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund — Public Investment Fund (PIF) had been in talks to buy a stake in Flynas.  

This week, the airline announced taking delivery of three Airbus A320neo aircraft, further upscaling its fleet to 63 aircraft.

The airline has an ambitious expansion plan under the objective of connecting the world to the Kingdom, and in parallel with the objectives of Saudi Arabia’s National Civil Aviation Strategy to increase the number of international destinations linked to the Kingdom to 250.

With the latest deliveries, Flynas has more than doubled the size of its all-Airbus fleet by more than 100% in less than two years, increasing its A320neo aircraft by more than 73% to 46 aircraft. The fleet also has four A330 wide-body aircraft.

The airline signed a $3.7 billion agreement with Airbus for 30 new A320neo aircraft this June, as part of an order of 120 Airbus aircraft and approval to increase new orders to 250.

On December 1, the airline launched its newest operation base at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah with flights to 4 international destinations — Dubai, Amman, Istanbul and Ankara as well as two domestic flights to Abha and Tabuk.

Flynas now flies to a total of 10 destinations from its Madinah base, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Cairo.

Since its inception in 2007, Flynas connects over 70 domestic and international destinations, operating a schedule of more than 1,500 weekly flights. The airline aims to expand its reach further, targeting a network that spans 165 destinations in total.

Tourism

U.S.’s National Travel and Tourism Office Names Deputy Assistant Secretary

3 months ago

Alex Lasry has been sworn in as the new deputy assistant secretary for travel and tourism at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Lasry oversees the National Travel and Tourism Office, in the International Trade Administration’s industry and analysis division in the Commerce Department.

Lasry has begun to help lead the Biden-Harris Administration’s national travel and tourism strategy. The goals are to improve the competitiveness of the U.S. in attracting its fair share of inbound visitors and sustaining the country’s spot as a popular destination for foreign visitors. A key objective is to attract 90 million international visitors a year by 2027.

Previously, Lasry was senior vice president of the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team. He also led Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s successful bid to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

Ideas

IDEAS: Experience Abu Dhabi Encourages Visitors to ‘Find Your Pace’ with New Global Campaign

3 months ago

Experience Abu Dhabi has launched a new global campaign titled ‘Find Your Pace’, with the aim of inspiring curiosity ‘for every type of traveller.’

Credit: Experience Abu Dhabi

The campaign video follows four characters as they explore Abu Dhabi for the first time, with destinations featured in the campaign including Al Ain Oasis, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and the Al Wathba Fossil Dunes.

You can take a look at the video below:


Skift Ideas uncovers the most creative and forward-thinking innovations happening across travel. We celebrate innovation through our Skift IDEA Awards and hear from leaders on our Ideas podcast.

You can listen and subscribe to the Skift Ideas Podcast through your favorite podcast app here.

Travel Technology

Tripla Expands Into Taiwan Via Surehigh Acquisition

3 months ago

Tripla, which provides a booking engine to hotels in Japan and Southeast Asia, has acquired a hotel tech company in Taiwan.

Tokyo-based Tripla said it acquired 91% of Surehigh, which provides more than 1,200 Taiwanese hotels with a reservation engine and channel manager. The other 9% of the company was acquired by a venture capital firm, according to Tripla spokesperson.

Surehigh is now a subsidiary of Tripla.

That brings Tripla’s client base to nearly 6,600 hotels, the company said. 

Besides the reservation system, Tripla offers an AI ​​chatbot for hotels as well as marketing automation services. 

The company in September acquired a majority stake in BookandLink, which provides software to help hotels track and manage sales that take place through third-party distribution channels. 

Tripla has said its goal is to create a more comprehensive booking and distribution platform for hoteliers, as well as expand business to Taiwan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. The plan is to fully integrate all the technologies in the next few years and release new products. 

Tripla started trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in November 2022 with an initial public offering of $5.6 million (¥823.2 million). The company’s stock is down over 31% year to date.

Food and Drink

IDEAS: Hamad International Airport Blends Heritage with Hospitality at New Retail Experience

3 months ago

​​Qatar Duty Free has debuted Souq Al Matar – a new experiential mixed retail and dining concept – at Hamad International Airport in Doha.

Credit: Qatar Airways

Inspired by ‘the bustling energy and aesthetics of Qatar’s iconic traditional markets,’ the seven shops and two restaurants are located in the North Node terminal of the airport.

Offerings include Al Attar, an apothecary style store selling teas, herbs and spices; Sogha, a souvenir shop selling traditional Qatari keepsakes; Al Darzi, a women’s fashion shop carrying traditional garments, and Basta, a dining experience serving traditional Qatari food with a modern twist.

Credit: Qatar Airways

The design of the new retail offering has taken inspirtation from traditional Qatari architecture and design, and features elements including wicker woven ceilings, arched doorways and traditional textiles.


Skift Ideas uncovers the most creative and forward-thinking innovations happening across travel. We celebrate innovation through our Skift IDEA Awards and hear from leaders on our Ideas podcast.

You can listen and subscribe to the Skift Ideas Podcast through your favorite podcast app here.

Online Travel

India’s TBO Acquires Booking Platform Jumbonline

3 months ago

TBO has acquired Jumbonline, an online booking system by Jump Tours Group. TBO Co-Founder Gaurav Bhatnagar made the announcement on LinkedIn on Monday. Based in India, TBO.com is a travel distribution platform.

Jumbonline is a Spain-headquartered distribution platform for wholesalers and tour operators. Under the acquisition, TBO will have access to Jumbonline’s content, technology, clients, and talent, said Bhatnagar.

“This acquisition gives us access to great supply across Europe, the Caribbean, and North Africa amongst other destinations,” said Bhatnagar. “We also get access to Jumbo’s extensive client portfolio across Europe.”

Earlier this year, TBO fully acquired Switzerland-based BookaBed, a business-to-business accommodation wholesaler. The acquisition deepened TBO’s footprint in Ireland and the UK, the company told Skift.

Tourism

Morocco Expected to Set Tourism Record Despite Headwinds

3 months ago

Morocco is on path to set a record for tourist arrivals this year in spite of challenges such as disruptions from September’s massive earthquake and the aftermath of Hamas’ attacks in Gaza.

The country’s tourism ministry anticipates hitting 14 tourist arrivals by the end of the year, eclipsing the record of 13 million set in 2019. Roughly 13.2 million international travelers visited the North African nation during the first eleven months of 2023.

Morocco welcomed 11 million tourists last year.

Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor said Morocco is looking to hit 17.5 million visitors by 2026 with the help of new airline routes. Ryanair announced recently it would launch 24 international routes to Morocco from eight European countries.

Morocco has continued to experience tourism success this fall despite being hit by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in September that resulted in at least 2,900 deaths. The country welcomed 960,000 international travelers that month, a 8.5% jump from September 2019. Skift reported in October that several historical sites in Marrakech — near the epicenter of the earthquake — had reopened to visitors.

Hassan II Mosque
Morocco’s attractions – like the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca – are set for record tour numbers this year (Source: YoTuT/Flickr).

Tourism

Nepal to Host First-Ever LGBTQ+ Tourism Conference in January

3 months ago

Nepal will be hosting its inaugural LGBTQ+ tourism conference next month with the goal of establishing the country as an inclusive and welcoming destination for sexual minorities.

Scheduled for January 18 in Kathmandu, the two-day conference follows a landmark decision last month, making the Himalayan nation the first in South Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.

According to the latest data available from the Nepal Tourism Board, in the first 10 months of 2023, Nepal welcomed around 810,000 tourists. 

Tourism plays a crucial role in the Nepalese economy, serving as a significant source of foreign exchange and revenue. Approximately 6.7% of the country’s GDP is attributed to the contributions of the tourism industry.

The LGBTQ+ Travel Market

Prior to the pandemic, the global value of LGBTQ+ travelers was estimated at a staggering $218 billion. 

Sunil Babu Pant, Asia’s first openly gay former parliamentarian and a prominent LGBTQ+ rights activist, expressed Nepal’s standing as a champion for LGBTQ+ rights in South Asia and emphasized the nation’s readiness for LGBTQ+ tourism.

Pant highlighted the potential to attract visitors and create job opportunities, particularly for individuals facing challenges securing employment abroad due to their distinctive identity.

Pant emphasized the importance of tapping into markets like China and India, both having substantial LGBTQ+ populations that often encounter social, cultural, and political discrimination.

Role of Travel Companies

The LGBTQ+ travel research conducted by Booking.com, in June this year, had highlighted how travel companies play a crucial role as allies in creating inclusive environments and implementing inclusive policies for LGBTQ+ travelers.

Shedding light on both the progress made and the recent setbacks faced by these communities in terms of travel experiences, the research showcased how concerns about attitudes, discrimination, and violence towards LGBTQ+ individuals have had a significant impact on their choice of travel destinations.

Tourism

Mexico Inaugurates Flagship Tourist Train

3 months ago

Mexico is holding a ceremony on Friday to commemorate the launch of its Tren Maya, a tourist train considered the flagship infrastructure project of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

“It’s the most important public work in the world,” Lopez Obrador said about the roughly 965 mile-long project. Mexican tourism agency Fonatur has said the railway could create up to 715,000 new jobs by 2030.

The first section of the Tren Maya runs from the southern state of Campeche to popular tourist destination Cancun while another section from Palenque to Cancun is slated to be inaugurated by the end of December. Mexican officials have said the remaining routes will be up and running in February.

However, the project has attracted an enormous amount of criticism due to its impact on the environment. More than 3 million trees have been cut down, according to government data. And environmentalists have argued that the deforestation has been catastrophic for the habitats of animals like jaguars and spider monkeys.

The Tren Maya has also been plagued by cost overruns. Originally expected to cost $7.5 billion, Mexican authorities have conceded the train will be more than three times over budget — $28 billion.