PhocusWire’s weekly travel tech news briefs: Agoda, Navan, Qatar Airways and more…

Here’s our roundup of the people, product and partner news from the global travel industry this week.

This roundup was created with the help of ChatGPT.

Medallia, City Cruises

Medallia, a specialist in customer and employee experience, has partnered with City Cruises, part of the Hornblower Group, to enhance digital customer engagement. Using Medallia’s real-time feedback and digital experience analytics, City Cruises can identify friction points, improve user satisfaction and drive data-informed website and service enhancements. The partnership supports broader digital transformation across Hornblower’s portfolio.

Resorts World Las Vegas, Oracle

Resorts World Las Vegas has fully implemented Oracle’s OPERA Cloud hospitality platform to streamline hotel and restaurant operations.

By centralizing guest data—from dining history to casino profiles—the resort empowers staff to deliver personalized service and enhance Genting Rewards experiences.

The move to OPERA Cloud unifies operations across properties, improving efficiency and guest satisfaction. With mobile access and AI-powered tools, Resorts World also boosts revenue through tailored offers.

Emerging Travel Group, InnGenius

Emerging Travel Group (ETG), whose brands include RateHawk, ZenHotels and Roundtrip, has partnered with property management software InnGenius PMS.

The integration with InnGenius PMS’ channel manager allows accommodation providers in regions such as Turkey, the United States and Southeast Asia to streamline distribution and connect with ETG’s extensive network of 20 million monthly guests and 20,000+ corporate clients.

Properties also gain access to RateHawk’s 100,000+ global travel professionals. This partnership enables seamless management of inventory, rates and promotions from one platform, reducing manual tasks and preventing overbookings, the companies said.

Retailaer’s interim CTO

Retailaer, an airline retailing and distribution platform, has appointed Ashley Raiteri as interim chief technology officer.

Raiteri will lead the development of a scalable, secure platform focused on innovation, user experience and operational excellence. With deep experience in airline technology—having worked with United, Swiss, Virgin, Scoot, JetStar and more—Ashley brings expertise in fares, scheduling and commercial distribution.

He has founded multiple successful travel startups and previously developed a competitor to ITA’s flight search engine. 

Direct Travel, Omnia

Direct Travel has expanded its eight-year partnership with Omnia Partners, the U.S.-based purchasing organization for public and private sectors.

Through this expansion, Omnia Partners members gain access to Avenir Travel Edition, Direct Travel’s advanced platform that integrates intuitive technology with expert service. The partnership continues to deliver streamlined, cost-effective travel management to thousands of organizations across sectors, representing over $30 billion in annual spend.

Copenhagen Optimization, ISS Pacific

Airport operations optimization Copenhagen Optimization has partnered with ISS Pacific, an Australia-based airport security staffing provider, to enhance security operations at major airports.

The partnership will deploy data-driven tools to optimize planning, resourcing and execution. By aligning staffing with real-time passenger demand, the collaboration aims to reduce wait times, improve operational agility and automate planning processes. This alliance strengthens ISS Pacific’s capabilities while enabling Copenhagen Optimization to refine its solutions through large-scale implementation in high-traffic airport environments.

Travomint, Tego’s Refund Shield

Travomint, an online travel platform in India, has partnered with Tego Group’s Refund Shield to enhance the flight booking experience with a one-click refund solution.

The collaboration aims to eliminate the frustration of long refund processes by offering protection for eligible cancellations, as outlined in Refund Shield’s terms. The partnership reinforces Travomint’s commitment to making travel more flexible and customer-friendly.

Bolivar Vacations expands

Bolivar Vacations, a Casago franchise partner, has expanded to manage more than 90 vacation homes on Texas’ Bolivar Peninsula after taking over properties previously run by Vacasa.

Led by longtime local operator Felipe Caldeira, the company has doubled its portfolio in the past year. The move follows Casago’s May acquisition of Vacasa and aligns with its strategy to integrate former Vacasa markets into its franchise network. Properties will operate under the Vacasa brand through summer before transitioning fully to Bolivar Vacations, with existing local staff retained.

Travelsavers, NEST

Travelsavers and NEST have upgraded AI Connect, their artificial intelligence (AI)-driven marketing assistant for affiliated travel advisors, adding “Persistent Prompts” to keep brand voice consistent across all campaigns. 

Built with partner Toby, the platform offers exclusive supplier promotions, Canva integration, multilingual tools and over 600 editable destination guides. Advisors can use AI Connect to cut content creation time, improve marketing effectiveness and focus on sales, with the company noting that subscriptions have steadily growing since its 2024 debut. 

InterLnkd, TravelUp

InterLnkd has launched an AI-powered retail shopping platform for United Kingdom-based online travel agency TravelUp, offering travelers personalized recommendations for fashion, beauty and essential products tied to their upcoming trips. 

The platform connects customers to more than 20,000 brands, from luxury labels to household names, allowing them to shop for clothing, accessories and holiday essentials directly through TravelUp’s site.

SilverDoor, Synergy Global Housing

SilverDoor and Synergy Global Housing will merge under a joint venture between Habicus Group and The Ascott Limited, uniting operations by early 2026, following an integration period. 

The combined business will operate as SilverDoor for global agency services and Synergy by SilverDoor for corporate housing management business, with branded apartments in the U.S., U.K, and Ireland. Headquartered in London with 450+ staff across 16 cities, the merger should expand market reach, streamline supply chains and boost booking technology. Synergy founders Henry Luebbert and Jack Jensky will retire post-integration. 

Pass the Keys, Conduit 

Pass the Keys, which manages more than 1,700 vacation rental properties in the U.K. and Spain, has integrated its property management system with Conduit’s AI-powered messaging platform to streamline guest communications across more than 65 franchise locations. 

The integration unifies messaging from Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, phone and more into one interface, automating routine enquiries with 24/7 service. Conduit’s AI should replicate the tone and quality of a trained team member while speeding up resolution times, the company said.

House of Highways launches HoH+

House of Highways has launched HoH+, an AI-powered mobile app for RVers, vanlifers and nomadic families, featuring “Ask Junie,” an AI assistant trained specifically for life on the road. 

Built and tested during the founders’ second year of full-time nomadic life, the platform offers RV-friendly GPS routing, trip planning and access to the largest U.S. campground database, plus integrated services like telehealth, insurance and rentals.

Qatar Airways, Accenture

Qatar Airways has partnered with Accenture to launch “AI Skyways,” an initiative aimed at applying AI across the airline’s operations. The program will focus on areas including customer experience, operational efficiency, predictive maintenance, flight scheduling and employee development. It will also explore future AI applications for aviation, with an emphasis on responsible deployment and data privacy.

AI Skyways will operate across the Qatar Airways Group, supported by Accenture’s data and platform capabilities, to accelerate AI adoption and measure its impact. The collaboration is intended to deliver solutions that could be adapted more broadly across the aviation sector.

Alipay+, Kaspi.kz

Alipay+ and Kazakhstan’s Kaspi.kz have introduced cross-border QR payment acceptance in Kazakhstan, allowing users of 12 Alipay+-enabled e-wallets and banking apps to pay via Kaspi QR at merchants nationwide.

The move builds on a 2024 partnership enabling Kazakhstanis to use Kaspi.kz abroad. Kaspi QR’s network spans large retailers to small-town shops, with top inbound markets including China, Germany and South Korea. Alipay+ links 1.7 billion users to 100 million merchants globally.

Agoda’s AI tool

Agoda has rolled out the Property AMA (“Ask Me Anything”) Bot, an AI tool that answers hotel-specific questions in real time across its desktop, mobile and app platforms. Powered by ChatGPT and live property data, the bot can respond instantly to queries such as parking availability or breakfast quality, information that can otherwise be buried in listings or reviews.

Following a soft launch, the tool is handling over 30,000 questions a day. Agoda said the feature aims to speed up decision-making and improve booking confidence, supplementing its existing messaging system where property response times can vary.

Colorado Tourism Office’s AI travel assistant

The Colorado Tourism Office has launched “Colorado Concierge,” an AI-powered travel assistant built with Matador Network’s GuideGeek technology. Available via colorado.com, the tool provides real-time, personalized answers to questions on Colorado travel, from ski resorts and hiking trails to breweries and glamping sites.

Trained on state tourism data and integrated with over 1,000 travel information sources, it can generate full itineraries or specific recommendations based on user interests and budget. The initiative aims to enhance visitor experiences and support local businesses, joining similar AI offerings from tourism boards in New Zealand, Greece and New York City.

Navan’s new board member

Navan has appointed Anré Williams, former CEO of American Express National Bank and group president of enterprise services at American Express, to its board of directors. Williams brings over 35 years of experience in financial services, business travel and enterprise technology.

Williams joins a board that includes high-profile investors and industry leaders, positioning the company to further innovate in corporate travel and streamline traveler-focused solutions globally.

NextTrip acquires TA Pipeline

NextTrip has acquired TA Pipeline, a group travel specialist focused on the Caribbean and Mexico, aiming to combine TA Pipeline’s high-touch service with NextTrip’s automated group booking platform. TA Pipeline will continue under its brand while integrating with NextTrip’s technology, which allows individual travelers to book within collective reservations and streamlines administrative tasks for group leaders.

The acquisition expands NextTrip’s resort network and enhances operational efficiency while creating opportunities for global growth and licensing the platform to other travel operators.

Sonesta Hotels, Stayntouch

Sonesta Hotels has chosen Stayntouch as its preferred cloud property management system to support franchise growth across more than 1,100 properties. The platform offers scalable property management with fast onboarding, intuitive training and seamless integrations, aimed at simplifying operations across Sonesta’s multi-brand portfolio.

After a two-year evaluation, Sonesta selected Stayntouch to replace legacy systems, speed property launches and support full-service, midscale, economy and extended-stay hotels. The partnership is intended to help Sonesta scale its franchise network while keeping operations consistent and adaptable for hotel teams across its global footprint.

Air Astana, RateGain

Air Astana has partnered with RateGain to use its AirGain AI-powered pricing platform across its regional and global network. The tool provides real-time visibility into competitor fares on airline websites, OTAs and global distribution systems, enabling the airline’s pricing and revenue teams to monitor trends, detect anomalies and adjust fares quickly.

The platform aims to enhance pricing agility and support faster decision-making as Air Astana scales operations and responds to market fluctuations.

Zartico’s new tool

Zartico has launched its Location Intelligence Spatial Archive (LI Spatial Archive), a platform designed to give destinations a complete, real-time view of the physical-world consumer journey. Unlike traditional tools that rely on modeled data, the platform tracks actual visitor movement and spending, connecting digital intent with on-site behavior.