In D-EDGE’s latest Hotel Distribution Report for 2024, an analysis of the past five years reveals big shifts in online booking behavior, especially following the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The report, which draws from the data of almost 5,000 independent hotels and small hotel groups across Europe and Asia, provides insights for hoteliers looking to navigate the evolving digital landscape. The report highlights the recovery of international travel, with Europe leading the way. In 2023, international travel accounted for 69% of online booking revenue in Europe, compared to 18% i ..read more

Company’s growth already accelerating in 2024 driven by its focus on online travel sellers and tourism boards Holibob, the B2B2C provider of tours & experiences technology to online travel sellers and tourism boards, has confirmed that it saw record growth in 2023 and provided an update on the highly positive outlook for 2024. During the full 2023 year, the company – whose decentralised experiences platform drives tours & experiences sales for B2C facing travel businesses – saw a 213% growth in transactions as well as a 152% increase in booking value through its platform. The company n ..read more

Asian hostel bookings represent 25% of Hostelworld’s traffic, second only to Europe, with Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia doubling year-on-year. Hostelworld, in collaboration with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), recently launched a new sustainability framework called the ‘Staircase to Sustainability’. The framework introduces a universal measurement system tailored for hostels.  According to new research, hostels emit 82% less carbon compared to hotel counterparts, making them a more sustainable accommodation option. However, hostels face challenges in communicating their s ..read more

Tech is driving car rental evolution A report from OAG has taken a deep look at the car rental industry which, the airline data analyst says is “undergoing its biggest transformation yet, fuelled by aviation data, advanced technology and shifting consumer preferences”. Collaborations, greener solutions, and the rise of alternative mobility options will further impact the future of airport car rental services, OAG said. Hertz pioneered the first airport car rental franchise at Chicago’s Midway Airport in 1932, “since then airport car rentals have become a cornerstone of the travel ecosystem”, t ..read more

Launching rail product, eyeing corporate travel and expansion to Asia Born and raised in Pamplona, Inaki Uriz knows better than to take part in the Running of the Bulls, the annual festival which was immortalized by Ernest Hemingway in his book “The Sun Also Rises”. “I’d never risk my life; it isn’t worth it. There is a reason why so many people run, but very few repeat,” laughs Uriz, who instead took the risk of betting it all on Caravelo, an airline tech startup that has had as many twists and turns as a bull run, but thankfully, the business is now riding high on the rising tide of airline ..read more

Sabre data reveals preferences of top 10 early bird markets Travellers from Britain are the world’s biggest early birds when it comes to making holiday plans for 2025, according to Sabre booking data. Seemingly keen to escape chilly British weather and ensure they have a trip to look forward to next year, more Brits than any other nation have already booked their 2025 getaway. They are followed by holidaymakers from the US, Germany, Korea, and Australia, who have also already made travel plans well in advance. Also making up the top 10 early bookers for 2025 are France, Denmark, Canada, Thaila ..read more

Without disrupting migratory paths, Sensoryscape remains a stopover for birds heading south In the latest WiT Studio episode, we chat with Michael Ma, Assistant Chief Executive of Sentosa Development Corporation, to chat about the background and innovative digital aspects of Sentosa Sensoryscape, a key project under the Greater Sentosa Masterplan. Initially conceptualised as a thoroughfare connecting the north and south of Sentosa, Sentosa Sensoryscape quickly evolved into an immersive experience that combines natural and digital elements, covering a length of about 350 meters and occupying an ..read more

Booking.com has conducted its annual global sustainability survey, and this year’s results indicate travelers have a tinge of weariness and disillusionment about their attitudes and decisions related to sustainable travel. The online survey was conducted in February and gathered insights from more than 31,000 people across 34 countries and territories who had traveled at least once in the past 12 months and who are planning to travel in 2024. More than three quarters – 83% – of respondents said sustainable travel is important, and 75% said they want to travel more sustainably over the nex ..read more

Spotnana, known for itsTravel-as-a-Service platform, has collaborated with Copa Airlines to bring advanced NDC capabilities to travellers across Latin America. This integration, developed in just one day, provides travellers with direct access to Copa Airlines’ content, including sales promotions and other ancillary products. “We are witnessing a growing demand for NDC content in Latin America from our largest global customers and are thrilled to partner with Copa Airlines to meet this demand,” stated Sarosh Waghmar, Founder and CEO of Spotnana. Speaking to WiT, Waghmar said, “This is the fast ..read more

As summer approaches, Southeast Asia is gearing up for a surge in domestic travel, with the Philippines and Indonesia leading the pack in interest for local getaways. A recent report by Milieu Insight, a survey software company in Southeast Asia, sheds light on the summer travel plans of Southeast Asians, with safety and budget considerations taking precedence. The study, conducted by Milieu Insight’s proprietary survey community, polled 1,966 individuals from the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Representative of the online adult population aged 16 and above, and the fieldwork ..read more