🔥What’s hot and what’s next: 2024 Travel Tech Market Landscape

Hi there,

I’ve packed this edition with the latest in travel innovation, but with the FutureTravel Summit just 2 weeks away, I’ll be diving fully into event prep from here. ✌️

If you’re coming, I can’t wait to see you there! 

And if not, I’ll be back in your inbox soon to catch up. 

Enjoy this week’s insights!

AI-powered travel agents. Barcelona-based Acai Travel has raised €3.7 million in seed funding. Using AI, Acai’s platform streamlines travel tasks so agents can work quicker, cut expenses, and provide better customer service. With key clients in place, the startup plans to make travel agencies twice as efficient.

Beyond one-stop trips. Tourlane, based in Berlin, is scaling up its AI-powered platform for creating personalized, multi-stop travel experiences.The company plans to make trip planning smarter and more tailored - offering travelers unique destination suggestions, optimized itineraries, and responsive support along the way. Aiming for sustainable growth, Tourlane is expanding across Europe to bring data-driven travel to even more adventurers.

2024 Travel Tech Market Landscape. ROCH Ventures and Dealroom.co have teamed up to release a very comprehensive Travel Tech Market Landscape. This overview spotlights the industry’s most transformative players across various sectors, from innovative distribution models and AI-driven personalization tools to sustainable travel solutions. These advancements are reshaping how we travel. Check it out here:

Ready for Travel Tuesday? So far mostly popular in North America, Travel Tuesday is gaining traction as a new shopping day for travel deals. While US and Canadian consumers are already on board, the interest in this “deal day” has grown fivefold over the past two years. Super interesting analysis - it’s worth watching to see if Travel Tuesday grows into a global event, similar to China’s Singles Day (11/11). 

Luggage storage, everywhere. San Francisco-based Bounce has raised $19 million in Series B funding to expand its luggage storage network and roll out new services, including partnerships with hotels. Bounce aims to double its locations by 2026, focusing on key spots for travelers and growing in markets like Asia-Pacific. They envision a "cloud storage for the physical world," offering convenience-based services for storing and moving belongings worldwide.

VOSAIO’s power play. European DMC VOSAIO, has acquired Operation Europe, a well-established group tours specialist. VOSAIO is planning to expand by acquiring complementary brands. In this case, the acquisition strengthens VOSAIO’s B2B offerings in Europe, combining its tech-driven workflow with Operation Europe's expertise in creative, special interest tours for international markets.

All aboard? Known for its carpooling services, BlaBlaCar is expanding into train ticket sales, starting in Spain and set to launch in France by 2025 or 2026. BlaBlaCar wants to deliver a single platform for users to compare train and carpool options, targeting travelers needing flexible routes between major cities and smaller towns.

See you soon,
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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