Want to join us on stage at FutureTravel Summit?

Hi there,

Every year at our FutureTravel Summit, we aim to put the spotlight on those leading travel innovation - from startup founders to seasoned industry leaders.

We explore a range of topics, connecting big-picture strategies with practical steps for implementing ideas into real-world products and services, making sure the event captures the wide range of voices driving the evolving travel landscape.

We’re excited to announce that our call for speakers is now open! If you have stories or strategies to share, we’d love for you to apply. It’s a good opportunity to speak to an audience of over 400 travel executives and innovators. Ready to take the stage?

And hey - if you're interested in joining us as a sponsor, now is the perfect time to get in touch. It’s a fantastic way to boost your brand’s visibility and connect with industry leaders. Let’s talk? :)

Here's your weekly roundup of the latest trends, innovations, and startup news in travel.

• Tailored digital guides for guests. Barcelona-based Identify Travel has secured €400,000 to enhance its technological solutions for tourism. The company provides digital destination guides and gamified travel experiences that help diversify tourist traffic and improve guest loyalty in accommodations. This investment will enable the startup to expand its innovative services to more regions, including Spain, Portugal, the UK, and Morocco, emphasizing cultural tourism and reducing overcrowding in popular areas.

• Travel insurance, but with a twist. Europe’s second-largest neobank, bunq has teamed up with insurtech leader Qover to redefine travel insurance across 7 global markets. Through bunq’s app, travelers can get hassle-free activation and a swift claims process, emphasizing ease and transparency. This collaboration between a fintech and an insurtech to introduce travel products highlights an interesting shift - possibly setting new benchmarks for travel insurance solutions and broadening the scope of what’s possible in travel tech.

• DACH just got a hospitality boost. Recently achieving unicorn status, Mews has just announced the acquisition of HS3 Hotelsoftware, significantly enhancing its presence in Germany. This strategic acquisition brings over 3,500 customers to Mews and supports its expansion in the cloud-based hotel management sector, where it now manages more than 30,000 beds in the DACH region. This acquisition is set to advance hospitality management in Germany, keeping pace with the sector's increasing focus on automation and technological innovation.

• European countryside escapes. Munich-based Holidu is expanding its presence in the tourism sector by acquiring Spanish portal Clubrural. This acquisition integrates Clubrural's 28,000 rural properties across Spain and Portugal into Holidu's platform, enhancing offerings for both hosts and guests. The addition of Clubrural promises a wider international reach and modernized service capabilities, strengthening Holidu's position in the European market and supporting growth in rural vacation rentals.

• Google’s effect on travel dynamics. At Google I/O yesterday, the company announced the latest updates to Gemini AI. If you are wondering about its potential impact on the travel industry, Travel and Tour World provided some insights into how it can revolutionize travel planning, mentioning its personalized recommendations, integrated itinerary management, seamless booking experience, cost optimization features, and 24/7 travel assistance. The updates will bring significant challenges for traditional travel operators by offering streamlined itinerary management and booking - creating new ways to plan and experience travel experiences.

See you next week,
Ana

Thank you for reading until the end.

The content of this newsletter is curated and published by Ana Metz, an innovation expert, passionate about technology and excited about the future of travel.

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