Better packages

InteleTravel just acquired Tickitto, a UK-based platform that gives real-time access to events like sports, concerts, and cultural stuff. This means travel agents can add experiences to a trip without chasing down tickets.

It makes building packages way easier. Flights and hotels are just one part, and what people do on the trip matters too.

The non-event

Earlier this month, the tourism board of Isla Mujeres stepped in to say something rare but necessary: they had no idea Fyre Festival 2 was being planned on the island. No permits, no event approval, no communication. Just a website selling tickets and a lot of social media buzz. This week, the organizers announced it’s happening in Playa del Carmen instead.

If you forgot: the original Fyre Festival was a 2017 disaster, an overhyped music event that left ticket holders stranded with no artists, no beds, and no food (yes, that sad cheese sandwich). Netflix did a documentary about it.

The fact that a destination had to publicly distance itself says a lot. It’s not easy for a tourism board to step into viral noise, but it helps protect both visitors and the place itself. And in an era of influencer-led hype and spontaneous "experiences," clarity like this goes a long way.

While everyone’s chasing the "live tourism" wave, this is a reminder that in a world of viral events and influencer promos, someone still has to fact-check. And sure, maybe this time it actually happens. But if you're going, maybe bring your own sandwich... just in case.

Bye, taxi queue

Bolt is rolling out live flight tracking for airport pickups. Drivers can now see if a flight is delayed or early and adjust accordingly. No more waiting around or missed connections.

We talk a lot about seamless travel, but it’s these small in-between things that often get overlooked. Flights are delayed, drivers are confused, and people end up waiting in the wrong spot. Flight tracking won’t change the world, but it does make the airport pickup part a little less messy.

Re-coding hotel chains

Gaiarooms just raised €10 million to grow its fully digital hotel model. That means no reception desks, no lobby staff, just software. The Spanish startup currently manages 900+ rooms and aims for 4,000 by 2028.

It gives hotel owners a way to stay independent while skipping the manual work. They plug into a centralized system and run things more efficiently. When everyone is talking about new ways of staying, this feels like a shift in how hotels are run: less about hospitality and more like software.

Running lean

There are more people rethinking how hotels run. Here is a story that got my attention this week: McDreams, a budget brand in Germany, runs a 131-room hotel with just 3 people. And it works. They have a strong tech stack and smart systems handling check-ins, bookings, and day-to-day tasks. And that’s how staff can stay small.

Not every hotel needs to go full digital. But we see more teams choosing lean over large. And behind the scenes, seems like hotels are quietly being redesigned.