Weekly Travel Tech News Briefs: Kakak, Southwest Airlines, Sabre, and More by PhocusWire

In the fast-paced world of the global travel industry, there is always something new and exciting happening. This week, we have seen a flurry of announcements from key players in the industry, including Kayak, Southwest Airlines, Sabre Hospitality, Protect Group, Intrepid Travel, Justfly.com, TravelPerk, Emirates, H.I.S, IBS Software, and US-Bangla Airlines. Let’s take a closer look at the latest news and developments from these companies.

Kayak, a popular metasearch engine for travel services, has recently integrated with Southwest Airlines, allowing users to see Southwest fares in their search results. This integration will enable users to compare fare attributes, travel credit transferability, same-day changes, checked bags, and flexible seating. When ready to book, Kayak will seamlessly transfer users directly to Southwest’s website to complete the transaction, providing a convenient and streamlined booking experience.

In another exciting partnership, Sabre Hospitality has teamed up with Protect Group to integrate trip guarantee services into Sabre’s SynXis Booking Engine. This integration will allow hotels using SynXis Booking Engine to offer Protect Group’s protection guarantee at checkout, giving customers peace of mind knowing they can receive a refund for covered events. This move underscores Sabre Hospitality’s commitment to advancing retailing and travel-centric eCommerce capabilities in the travel industry.

Intrepid Travel, a leading group adventure travel company, has appointed Payton Iheme as its new chief impact officer. In this role, Iheme will lead Intrepid’s global sustainability and impact initiatives, as well as its nonprofit, the Intrepid Foundation. With her extensive experience in senior staff positions at the United States Senate, policy and advocacy roles at Facebook, and leadership roles at Bumble, Iheme is well-equipped to drive positive change and advocate for critical issues impacting communities around the world.

Justfly.com, an online travel agency, has introduced a new “Pay by Bank” feature powered by Accrue, a fintech company. This feature allows users to make payments directly from their bank accounts, eliminating the need for traditional payment methods. It offers exclusive rewards, faster settlement times, and wallet integration for customers, while providing lower transaction costs, enhanced acquisition strategy, and increased customer retention for the platform.

TravelPerk, a global business travel management platform, has expanded its inventory with new distribution capability (NDC) content and launched its 20th NDC integration with Emirates. This move highlights TravelPerk’s commitment to investing in NDC technology and optimized connectivity to provide a seamless booking experience for its users. With NDC fares representing 40% of global airline bookings, TravelPerk is poised for continued growth in this channel.

H.I.S, a Japanese travel agency specializing in affordable package tours, has extended its partnership with IBS Software, a software as a service solutions provider to the global travel industry. This renewed partnership will enable H.I.S to create a modern customer experience using next-generation digital solutions and deliver an enhanced shopping experience for its customers. By leveraging their combined expertise and shared vision for innovation, H.I.S and IBS Software are set to provide cutting-edge solutions to end-users.

Lastly, US-Bangla Airlines has appointed Mir Tajmul Hossain as the new head of digital marketing. With 12 years of experience in the digital marketing sector, Tajmul plans to enhance brand visibility, customer engagement, and online sales by developing digital marketing strategies that leverage data-driven insights. His focus on optimizing marketing campaigns and delivering exceptional customer experiences will undoubtedly drive the airline’s digital presence to new heights.

In conclusion, the global travel industry is constantly evolving, with key players like Kayak, Southwest Airlines, Sabre Hospitality, Protect Group, Intrepid Travel, Justfly.com, TravelPerk, Emirates, H.I.S, IBS Software, and US-Bangla Airlines leading the way with innovative partnerships and initiatives. Stay tuned for more exciting developments in the weeks to come.