Edition #105, May 11th

View this email in your browser

Reading time: 3 minutes Click here to read our past editions

Hi ,

Here is your weekly overview of the top news on travel innovation, trends and startups.

• Europe's gateway to growth? Air France-KLM is interested in a possible deal with TAP Air Portugal, taking advantage of TAP's strong position and connections to Brazil. European airlines like Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, and IAG are attracted to the strong performance of flights to Latin America. Despite challenges, European flights to Latin America have only decreased by 2%, showing opportunities for growth. By joining forces through mergers and partnerships, airlines aim to improve their competitiveness in the Europe-Latin America market. If these deals go through, more flights between Europe and Latin America will lead to recovery and increased revenue. Currently, European airlines do not have partnerships with Latin American airlines for intercontinental flights. These strategic moves are meant to strengthen their presence, improve efficiency, and meet the changing needs of travelers.

• 300 new aircraft for Ryanair. Budget airline Ryanair has made a significant deal with Boeing, worth $40 billion, to purchase up to 300 new aircraft in the next ten years. Ryanair plans to use these fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly aircraft to support its projected 80% growth and reach 300 million passengers annually by 2034. The deal is expected to create over 10,000 new jobs and enhance affordable travel options - a total game-changer in the history of commercial aviation.

• Influencer marketing for destination boost. For anyone looking into how to leverage influencers in their marketing strategies, this is a great piece from Skift about how the travel industry is capitalizing on the power of influencers in destination marketing. With their extensive reach, influencers have proven to be more influential than traditional advertising methods, creating content that has the ability to sway audience opinions and drive travel decisions. As social media platforms increasingly serve as search engines for travel discovery, particularly for Generation Z, destinations actively seek collaborations with influencers and allocate significant resources to influencer campaigns. While influencers provide metrics similar to those offered by advertising agencies, destinations are also seeking more robust methods to measure ROI beyond “just” engagement and reach.

• MadeComfy feeling comfortable with a 120% growth rate. Australian short-term rental and property management platform, MadeComfy, has secured $10 million in funding. The funds will support the company's expansion across Australia and the advancement of its technology and data analytics platform. MadeComfy has experienced significant growth, surpassing $20 million in annual revenue and maintaining a growth rate of over 120%. The company plans to enhance its B2B platform, expand internationally, starting with New Zealand, and establish new corporate partnerships. It seems like investor interest in the short-term rental sector remains strong.

• Asian tourists to the Gulf. Morocco's tourism promotion office, ONMT, has struck deals with Asian tourism professionals and operators to bolster its tourism industry. They want to increase flights from Gulf airports, promote Morocco's attractions in Asian markets, and offer training sessions for operators preparing for the joint bid for the 2030 World Cup. Morocco has set a goal to welcome 17.5 million tourists and earn $12 billion in tourism revenue by 2026. These collaborations are part of their efforts to achieve those targets. It's an exciting time for Morocco as they work towards attracting more visitors and growing their tourism sector.

• Booking flights on Uber. Uber's introduction of a flight booking tool for UK customers is another notable step towards the intersection of fintech and the travel industry. In partnership with Hopper, Uber's app now allows users to conveniently book domestic and international flights, further solidifying its position as a comprehensive "super app" for all travel needs. By expanding their services to include flight bookings, Uber is embracing the trend of integrating fintech with travel solutions. Users can effortlessly find and reserve flights within the app, while Uber benefits from a small commission on each booking. Additionally, in the UK, Uber already offers train, boat, and bus bookings through partnerships with local companies.

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.

If you are looking for the most disruptive startups in the travel industry right now, check out our Premium Report: “Top 100 Travel Startups” which might be relevant for you.

Looking for a space to promote your business or service for more than 21k subscribers? Let’s talk.

FutureTravel is a weekly newsletter about the future of travel, featuring the most exciting news about innovation, trends and startups in the industry.

Subscribe now

Copyright (C) Want to change how you receive these emails?You can update your preferences or unsubscribe