Here's our roundup of the people, product and partner news from the global travel industry this week.
HiJiffy streamlines guest communication
Conversational AI specialist HiJiffy has introduced Campaigns Manager, which aims to further streamline and automate guest communication across the guest journey.
By integrating real-time data from a hotel’s property management system, the tool should simplify operations while delivering tailored and timely messaging to guests via WhatsApp.
“This tool was built to tackle common challenges in guest communication, such as fragmented systems and inconsistent engagement,” said Tiago Araújo, CEO of HiJiffy. “By automating repetitive tasks and centralizing messaging, the Campaigns Manager boosts operational efficiency for hotel teams while delivering a smooth and personalized experience for every guest.”
Hostaway partners with QuickBooks
Vacation rental property management software Hostaway has announced a partnership with QuickBooks Online, an accounting software provider for small and medium-sized businesses.
The integration aims to simplify financial management for property managers with features including automatic invoice generation and enabling invoices to be tailored to unique use cases.
"We know how time-consuming and complex managing finances can be, especially for those handling multiple listings and high volumes of bookings," said Marcus Rader, co-founder and CEO of Hostaway. "This integration is designed to save time, reduce errors and give property managers more of the tools they need to run their businesses more efficiently."
Sabre, Hainan Airlines
Sabre has forged a new long-term agreement with Hainan Airlines. The carrier will use Sabre’s Fares Manager and Contract Manager to manage and optimize international fares, helping to ensure competitiveness in the global market.
“As we resume routes and launch new ones, having the right fare structure across our global network is crucial to our growth strategy,” said Zhu Li, general manager of the international department of the Hainan Airlines'marketing committee.
“We’re pleased to expand our partnership with Sabre, whose advanced technology solutions are supporting our growth strategy and helping us to effectively manage and optimize our fares. This collaboration is a key component of our commitment to providing competitive and high-quality value to our passengers worldwide.”
AirAsia MOVE, SriLankan Airlines
Online travel agency AirAsia MOVE has added SriLankan Airlines as its latest direct airline partner on its platform, opening more opportunities for travelers to explore the destination.
“Sri Lanka is a unique gem in the travel world, offering everything from ancient ruins to golden beaches," said Nadia Omer, CEO of AirAsia MOVE.
"This collaboration reflects our commitment to providing our 15 million app users with unparalleled travel options and the convenience of booking flights, hotels, and more all-in-one app. We look forward to promoting Sri Lanka as a must-visit destination, particularly for travelers across ASEAN.”
UneeQ, Qatar Airways
UneeQ, a specialist in virtual assistants, has joined forces with Qatar Airways to launch an Instagram channel for Sama, the airline’s AI-powered virtual cabin crew member.
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The Instagram platform will be used to showcase destinations as well as the life of a cabin crew member.
"Sama’s Instagram presence represents an exciting shift in brand engagement—she’s not just an AI influencer but a digital human designed to create genuine connections," said Danny Tomsett, CEO of UneeQ. "Through a customer-centric approach, Sama offers a subtle and thoughtful approach to interaction, ensuring every engagement feels meaningful and personal, not just promotional.”
TPConnects, AWS
TPConnects Technologies has made its travel agents booking tool, Astra B2B Portal, available in AWS Marketplace, a digital catalog of software listings.
Astra B2B Portal aims to help airlines control content, maximize revenue and reduce distribution costs while removing integration challenges.
“Enterprises across all industries want to leverage and deploy technology solutions to get to parity with digital first companies,” said Praveen Kumar, CTO of TPConnects Technologies.
“By accessing Astra B2B Portal in AWS Marketplace, customers can now take their first step in their NDC journey to help them better serve their travel agent partners while maintaining control over their distribution strategy.”
Serko appoints Thorsen
Serko has appointed industry veteran Johnny Thorsen as vice president of strategic business development.
In his new role, Thorsen will lead Serko’s strategic growth initiatives with responsibilities to include further developing its network of travel management company partners. Additionally, Thorsen will focus on enhancing the company's product offerings through innovation, building customer acquisition strategies and fostering partnerships to ensure long-term growth in the North American market.
"I am proud to join Serko, a forward-thinking company driving innovation in corporate travel,” Thorsen said. “With Serko’s ambitious growth plans and commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions, I see significant opportunities to strengthen the brand, forge impactful partnerships and solidify its leadership in North America and beyond."
TUI CMO
TUI has appointed Amber Pine as chief marketing officer of its Markets + Airline division.
Pine will join in late April and head up the teams responsible for brand and content, marketing and sales optimization, customer experience, customer service and operations management. Pine joins from Sky where she has worked in the consumer, sales and marketing divisions.
Hospitable’s support director
Vacation rental management platform Hospitable has appointed Nouran Smogluk as director of support.
The appointment Smogluk, who joins from Komoot, is part of a drive to boost the company’s customer service as it expands further into Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas.
“Support is ultimately the bridge between the normal, everyday customer and the business,” Smogluk said. “We’re the ones who represent Hospitable to our customers and we also represent our customers to the business. We can have an impact on both sides and have a real role in shaping what we offer as well as helping hosts to extract the maximum value they can from our product. That starts with truly connecting with the people we're building that product for.”
PKFare, ZentrumHub
Travel aggregator PKFare is helping travel sellers access its hotel inventory with a partnership with API specialist ZentrumHub.
The partnership will provide retailers with access to more than 650,000 hotels through ZentrumHub, a PhocusWire Hot 25 Travel Startup for 2025. It will also enable PKFare’s partners to expand distribution.
“We are excited about the growth potential of this partnership, as Zentrum Connect will easily enable a broader client base to access PKFare’s quality inventory,” said Abhinav Sinha, co-founder and CEO of ZentrumHub.
Geosure, Trip.Biz
Safety intelligence specialist GeoSure is bringing its safety technology to travel management company Trip.Biz through a partnership between the two companies.
The collaboration enables Trip.Biz customers to access real-time safety data for more than 400,000 cities and neighborhoods worldwide. They will also benefit from GeoSure’s a new accommodation Neighborhood Location SafetyFilter.
“Safety, including hotel booking, is one of the top concerns for corporate travel managers and their employees,” said Violet Zong, CMO of Trip.Biz. “Our partnership with GeoSure represents a significant step forward in addressing this need.”
RocketRez, Morey's Piers
Tours and activities technology specialist RocketRez is providing its ticketing, guest communications and analytics solution to amusement parks operator Morey’s Piers.
“Together we can bring our world-class technology to their worldclass attractions and help deliver seamless, elevated experiences for their guests,” said John Pendergrast, CEO of RocketRez.
“We are committed to providing the best possible experience to our guests and consistently look for ways to exceed expectations, including through guest facing technology solutions. We are very enthusiastic about the technology capabilities demonstrated by the RocketRez team and excited about the value we see it bringing to our company and our customers’ experience,” said Will Morey, CEO of Morey’s Piers.