Who will be in Paris? Not the locals.

Hi there,

Today we are heading directly into the latest travel trends, innovations, and startup news.

Who will be in Paris? Not the locals. The 2024 Olympics are starting today, bringing 11.3 million visitors to Paris. This influx is pushing many to escape to places like Italy, the US, and the UK. Flights from Paris to the US have increased by 9%, with rising demand for cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. The Olympics are already reshaping travel in a big way - even for those escaping the crowds.

The world closed last week with a bang. And by “bang,” I mean a power outage. The team at International Airport Review provided real-time updates on the global crisis, covering its impact on airports and airlines. The outage affected various sectors, including healthcare, online payment companies, and travel, leaving around 8.5 million “blue screens of death” worldwide. The culprits: Microsoft and CrowdStrike. But Microsoft says the European Union is to blame.

Launch your business with the backing of a global community. Applications are closing soon for wmnsWORK’S September cohort! wmnsWORK is a 12-week business accelerator for early-stage women/non-binary entrepreneurs in tourism. Participants will get expert-led workshops, 1-on-1 & group mentorship, and peer support. Apply by July 31 to join this powerful community and boost your business.

Bringing digital to multi-day tours. Barcelona-based travel tech platform Exoticca just secured €60 million in Series D funding. The funds will help them fine-tune their AI-powered platform aiming to streamline booking processes, improve customer experience, and expand into new markets. Exoticca has doubled sales yearly since 2015, becoming a leader in the digital travel sector.

New speaker confirmed! We're happy to announce that Jan Hase, CEO & Co-founder of Wunderflats, will join us at the FutureTravel Summit 2024! Since 2015, Wunderflats has raised €35 million and revolutionized Europe's mid-term furnished housing market. Under Jan’s leadership, they offer travelers hassle-free, cozy mid-term housing solutions. At the event, Jan will inspire us with insights, challenges, and exciting opportunities in the sector. Don't miss out - get your ticket today!

New routes ahead. Lisbon-based RV rental Indie Campers, just raised €35 million to boost its global presence. This funding will help improve their digital platform, streamline operations, and expand their fleet. With over 7,000 RVs in 20 countries, Indie Campers aims to become the world’s top road trip platform, making spontaneous travel more accessible and memorable.

In case you missed it: we extended the deadline for startups to apply to our Pitch Competition. 10 finalists will be selected to pitch at the event in Barcelona, on November 28th. Startups can apply until July 31st!

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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