Traditional Offline Travel Management Companies Offer New Technologies
(“TMCs Unveil Tech Enhancements at GBTA,” November 17, 2021 via Business Travel News)
(CWT Plans $100 Million Technology Investment,” November 16, 2021 via Phocus Wire)
Last week, two stories detailed investments being made by some the largest traditional offline travel companies into new travel technology. At last week’s Global Business Travel Association’s Convention, travel management companies, BCD Travel, Corporate Travel Management and TripActions, announced new technologies focused on risk management and trip disruption. The new mobile application, passenger notifications and risk-based trip approval system are all designed to address clients’ COVID-induced travel risk, security and well-being concerns. Separately, CWT – fresh off its one-day Chapter 11 bankruptcy — announced plans to invest $100 million in its myCWT travel management platform, which include improvements to its online hotel booking experience.

Amazon Ads Targets Travel Companies
Amazon Ads Wants to Help Travel Outfits by Sharing its Customers’ Buying Habits,” November 17, 2021 via Skift Travel News) (subscription may be required)
Over the past 18 months, Amazon’s advertising business (Amazon Ads) has been targeting travel and hospitality industry businesses. The new ad program allows customers to leverage Amazon’s wealth of customer data (think Prime members purchasing luggage tags or travel guides) to deliver targeted ads to users of Amazon’s many platforms (including Alexa).

Other news:

Wyndham Hotels Signs Distribution Deal With Trip.com
November 18, 2021 via Hotel Management – Hotel news
More than 9,000 hotels globally operated by Wyndham Hotels and Resorts can now be searched and booked on Trip.com after the two parties signed a comprehensive distribution agreement to sell the hotel’s inventory across its family of websites.

TravelBank Acquired by U.S. Bancorp
November 17, 2021 via Phocus Wire
TravelBank will become part of the U.S. Bancorp portfolio of businesses following an acquisition announced last week. Details of the deal have not been disclosed. U.S.-based TravelBank, a member of the PhocusWire Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2020 collection, is a travel and expenses management platform.

Green Travel: Booking Holdings Launches a New Sustainability Badge for Accommodations
November 16, 2021 via Yahoo Finance – Top Stories
Glenn Fogel, Booking Holdings CEO, joins Yahoo Finance Live to discuss the travel company’s new feature to help consumers find hotels and accommodations that are implementing sustainability practices.

Welcome to the Hot 25 Startups for 2022
November 15, 2021 via Phocus Wire
PhocusWire presents the Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2022 – the annual list of new companies in travel, tourism and hospitality that they think will make a mark next year.