We’re getting closer to the completion of Vistara’s merger with Air India, which will combine fleets, routes, and — most importantly for frequent flyers — loyalty programs. Starting November 12, Club Vistara will merge into Air India’s Flying Returns, bringing changes for millions of loyal customers. Members will not be able to redeem Club Vistara Points and vouchers for flights after...
Hostaway, a platform for managing short-term rentals, has raised $365 million — one of the largest fundraises of the year and among the largest ever in its sector. The fundraise values the company at $925 million. The fundraise comes shortly after hotel analytics tech company Lighthouse raised $370 million, the largest fundraise of the year for a travel software company. Private equity firm...
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Blue Lagoon has been experiencing a recovery in guest bookings after repeated closures due to volcanic activity in southwest Iceland. Occupancy for the Retreat Hotel, Blue Lagoon’s luxury resort, in September and October at the retreat stood around 70%, which was in line with last year’s numbers, said Siggi Thorsteinsson, head of brand, business development, design & construction for...
As the travel industry in India continues to evolve at a rapid pace, Skift India Forum is set to bring together some of the most influential companies shaping the future of travel and hospitality. Taking place on March 17-18 in Delhi, this year’s event will welcome a diverse mix of global brands, innovative startups, and key stakeholders from across the travel ecosystem. This includes a cohort of...
Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines haven’t been profitable in recent years. And now they’re making moves you wouldn’t expect from ultra-low-cost carriers — they’re bundling fares and offering a premium product. But will it work? “This is a perilous time for [ultra-low-cost]. We have a difficult environment right now,” said George Novak, the head of the National Air Carrier Association, a...
United Airlines announced Thursday it will allow friends and family to create joint accounts to pool frequent flier miles through its loyalty program. The move is intended to make it easier for friends and family to use miles when booking award tickets for flights and was spurred by an uptick in family and friends travel since the pandemic, said Luc Bondar, the chief operating officer of United...
Online travel company MakeMyTrip on Monday announced its acquisition of expense management platform Happay from Indian fintech company CRED. The deal would allow MakeMyTrip to deepen its foothold in the expanding corporate travel market. Happay’s team would “continue to seamlessly support the existing client base while working in close partnership with MakeMyTrip’s corporate travel services...
The Chinese government has declared 2025 as “Visit Nepal Year in China” — an offering that came during a Nepal-China diplomatic consultation meeting in Kathmandu earlier this month. Boosting tourism from China will help Nepal reach ambitious targets: It wants to attract 2 million foreign tourists annually by 2025, up from 1.1 million last year. Tourism is a cornerstone of...
Gullah Geechee communities are turning tourism into an empowering force that can help keep them in control of their ancestral lands and stories while preserving and sharing their unique heritage. Gullah Geechee traditionally lived on the coastal areas and sea islands of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida. They are descendants of West and Central Africans slaves brought to...