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Tourism

Saudi Arabia Starts Issuing Free 4-Day Stopover Transit Visa

From issuing the first tourist visa in September 2019 to the announcement of a free-of-charge four-day stopover transit visa for air travelers, Saudi Arabia has indeed come a long way. And then of course there's the target to attract 100 million tourists per year by 2030.

Peden Doma Bhutia | 3 hours ago

Airlines

New U.S. Passenger Protection Proposal Includes Refunds and Right to Sue

Airlines have defeated consumer protection law proposals in the past, but U.S. lawmakers are adamant the sector has lost credibility and needs to be more accountable for their detrimental actions of late.

David Shepardson, Reuters | 3 hours ago

News Blog

Indian Hotels Company Enjoyed Another Record Quarter

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) plans to reach a portfolio of 300 hotels by 2025, it said on Tuesday when reporting its earnings. "We are looking to open 18 hotels a year,” said CEO and managing director Puneet Chhatwal. He cited plans to grow through conversions and new construction across India and in West Asia and…

Sean O'Neill | 7 hours ago

Skift Meetings

Cvent Said to Be Exploring a Sale

Cvent, a leading meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider, is reportedly looking into selling with private-equity firm Blackstone interested.

11 hours ago

Daily Lodging Report

Two Forecasts Point to Strong 2023 Hotel Performance

12 hours ago

Airlines

Norway’s Flyr Joins This List of Airline Bankruptcies and Failures Since Pandemic

Although aviation executives have been bullish in recent weeks about the industry continuing to make significant progress in its recovery, Flyr's bankruptcy is a clear sign many airlines' financial challenges are far from over.

Rashaad Jorden | 12 hours ago

Online Travel

Tours and Activities Should Brace for Spike in AI-Generated Fake Reviews

Generative artificial intelligence has the potential to crash the sentiment pendulum of the review model, if left unchecked. Major online travel agencies would do well to act on verification and disclaimer requirements sooner rather than later.

Selene Brophy | 13 hours ago

News Blog

Plusgrade Buys UpStay in Rollup for Travel Upselling

Plusgrade, a Montreal-based company that helps travel businesses persuade travelers to spend more, has acquired UpStay, a growing provider of upgrade and ancillary revenue solutions for hotels, Plusgrade said Tuesday. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Ancillary revenues refers to revenues generated apart from a company's primary products and services, such as advertisements…

Sherry Sun | 15 hours ago

Tourism

What My 3-Week Trip to Vietnam Reveals About the Realities of a Carbon Footprint

Calculating the carbon footprint of a trip in Vietnam was a stark reminder of how flights and luxury hotels are wrecking balls environmentally.

Stuart McDonald, Travelfish | 17 hours ago

News Blog

AI Firm Buys Legacy Hong Kong Travel Agency in More Signs of Life for China Travel

Abel Zhao, co-founder & CEO of FreeD Group, a technology innovator that specializes in proprietary enterprise application solutions, has acquired 75-year-old Connexus Travel from the parent company of Cathay Pacific, Swire Group. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed. Founded in 2015, FreeD Group is a travel technology startup offering proprietary SaaS solutions for…

Sherry Sun | 17 hours ago

News Blog

U.S. Companies Trailing Rest of World in International Corporate Travel Recovery

Just half of companies located in North America are seeing international bookings recover to their pre-pandemic levels, according to a new poll. This latest data from the Global Business Travel Association delivers a dose of reality for the travel industry. Most travel agencies are predicting an eventual 70 percent recovery. The picture is a little…

Matthew Parsons | 17 hours ago