Edition #117, Aug 3rd

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Hi ,

Let’s start with great news: our Pitch Competition is off to a fantastic start. While we're still in the process of evaluating the applications, I'm thrilled to announce two exciting speakers who will be joining us at the FutureTravel Summit. Fabrizio Di Martino, the Marketing and E-commerce Director at citizenM, will be sharing insights on loyalty strategies for the travel industry, while Valentine Camusot, General Manager of Europe from Rail Europe, will be discussing ways to make train travel easier and smoother. It's going to be an exciting event!

Let's dive into this week's top news covering industry trends, startups, and innovations:

• A hospitality game-changer in the Balkans. In the tech world, a revolution can be just a scan away. This is certainly the case for TouchMenu, a startup shaping the digital transformation of the hospitality industry. Recently, the company ensured the acceleration of its international expansion with an investment of €370k. More than the story of a Bulgarian startup making waves on the international scene, this is also a broader narrative about the role of tech in the future of hospitality and travel. 

• Lessons learned from a founding adventure. Over the past few days, I've been immersed in reviewing over 220 applications for the pitch competition, and it’s impossible not to think of the motto "sometimes you win, sometimes you learn" - especially for founders starting new ventures. This feeling strongly connects with a recent post on PhocusWire. Nico Barawid, the founder of Casai shared four valuable lessons from their experience of creating and, eventually, not succeeding with the popular Latin American short-term rental startup. Casai's closure comes as a reminder of the challenges startups face.

• Global Connectivity Solution. Digital SIM marketplace Airalo has secured $60 million in Series B funding. Founded in 2019, Airalo plans to use the investment to launch a new product called Airalo Partners, a connectivity service for businesses and organizations. The co-founders expressed their commitment to providing affordable and accessible connectivity worldwide, while investors anticipate Airalo becoming a travel essential. 

• 3 acquisitions, 3 new opportunities. The Indian EaseMyTrip.com is set to acquire a 51% stake in three prominent travel companies, solidifying its position in the industry and allowing it to offer a diverse range of travel experiences. The acquired companies excel in various areas, including international group tours, travel technology solutions, and integrated travel management. With these acquisitions, EaseMyTrip aims to extend exceptional services to larger markets, igniting wanderlust and delivering memorable adventures to travelers.

• When Integrations Boost Bookings. Cloudbeds has announced its seamless integration with Vrbo. Now, lodging businesses can efficiently manage all aspects of their Vrbo listings through Cloudbeds' platform, providing a smoother user experience. By connecting with Vrbo's vast base of travelers seeking family-oriented and leisure experiences, Cloudbeds empowers its customers to maximize bookings and expand their reach in different markets.

• Powering air travel insights. The global travel industry data provider OAG has acquired Infare to create an end-to-end data platform for air travel intelligence worldwide. The collaboration enhances airline partners' access to high-quality data and innovative solutions. By combining OAG's data with Infare's airfare data, customers gain insights into supply, demand, and revenue growth. This deal is set to strengthen OAG's ability to deliver accurate information across the travel value chain, fostering innovation and growth for customers.

• Cheers to an Unexpected Collaboration. In a nice twist, Korean Air has teamed up with the award-winning Korean brewery to unveil its exclusive craft beer. This unexpected partnership with Playground Brewery brings a unique fusion of tropical fruit aromas and a refreshing taste, promising an enjoyable in-flight drinking experience for passengers. At Korean Air's lounges and later onboard, “KAL's Lager” will also be exclusively available at Emart24 convenience stores and its mobile app.

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.

You can join 400 innovators at the FutureTravel Summit in Barcelona on October 27th — the place to be for those who want to shape what’s ahead for the travel industry. See you there!

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