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Sep 14Mon
  1. Pinchain Tourism

    Pinchain Week 38: Tongcheng AI Products Debut, Fliggy Partners with Eastar Jet

    Pinchain Tourism released its Week 38, 2026 online travel highlights, aggregating multiple industry developments. Tongcheng Travel showcased four self-developed AI cultural tourism products at the 2026 China Culture and Tourism Industry Expo. Qunar data showed that this week's Mid-Autumn and National Day flight and hotel bookings rose 119% week on week, while searches for Mid-Autumn "moon-viewing flights" doubled year on year. Tuniu released its 2026 Mid-Autumn and National Day travel trend forecast, showing that outbound and long-haul domestic bookings and travel periods shifted notably earlier. On September 10, Fliggy and Eastar Jet signed a cooperation agreement in Hangzhou to deepen col…

Sep 11Fri
  1. Business Travel News

    Gant Launches AI Assistant in Self-Service Platform

    Travel management company Gant Travel Management has added an AI assistant to Gant360, the self-service platform it launched last month as a single point for travelers to access trip information, profiles, invoices, disruption information and trip support. The assistant supports conversational self-service tasks such as searching and booking travel and managing reservations, applying company policy and the traveler's profile. Gant says testing showed the assistant could handle a flight booking from search to completion in under five minutes. Through Gant's membership in American Express Global Business Travel's GBT network, joined earlier this year, Gant360 has access to content from more t…

  2. Business Travel News

    Grasp Promotes Quattlebaum, Hires Emburse's Duenholter

    Data management provider Grasp Technologies announced the promotion of Tina Quattlebaum to chief customer officer and the hiring of former Emburse executive Nick Duenholter as VP of commercial growth and partnerships. Quattlebaum, formerly Pfizer's director of global travel and card operations, joined Grasp in August 2024. Duenholter will help clients use travel and expense data to improve visibility, performance and decision-making.

  3. Pinchain Tourism

    Tuniu Releases 2026 Mid-Autumn and National Day Travel Trend Forecast

    Tuniu released its 2026 Mid-Autumn and National Day travel trend forecast, showing that booking and travel cycles for outbound and long-haul domestic trips shifted notably earlier. Families and three-generation groups accounted for over 70% of travelers; among those on National Day tours from October 1 to 7, over 35% departed before the holiday and over 10% left before Mid-Autumn to avoid crowds. Long-haul domestic travel led demand, with growing shares for independent travel and small pure-play groups, while short-haul outbound private groups were popular.

  4. China Tourism News

    Shanghai's First AI-Glasses City Companion Pilot Lands in Yuyuan

    During the 2026 Inclusion Bund Conference, Shanghai's first AI-glasses city-companion pilot launched on 9 September at the Yuyuan scenic area in Huangpu District. Visitors wearing Qwen AI glasses can access historical commentary on old buildings, voice navigation, real-time translation and direct payment for goods, linking commentary, Q&A, navigation, translation and consumption while reducing phone searches and app switching. Dayuyuan said it hopes to interact with visitors intelligently, and Huangpu District cited its dense cultural landmarks and new consumption scenes as application space for AI terminals.

  5. Agoda Newsroom

    Agoda Partners with Kaohsiung City Government on Global Tourism Recognition

    Digital travel platform Agoda and the Kaohsiung City Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support Kaohsiung's goals to elevate its profile as a global travel destination. The collaboration covers co-branded marketing initiatives on Agoda's platform, exchanges of market and tourism insights, and digital training workshops to build local industry capabilities. Agoda will produce the inaugural Taiwan edition of Agoda Dialogues, a filmed conversation with the Mayor of Kaohsiung unveiling the city's tourism vision and international positioning, to be distributed across Agoda's channels in October 2026. Agoda data shows Kaohsiung is one of the fastest-growing destinations in Ta…

  6. Pinchain Tourism

    Fliggy and Eastar Jet Partner to Expand China-Korea Routes

    On September 10, Fliggy and South Korean low-cost carrier Eastar Jet signed a cooperation agreement in Hangzhou to deepen collaboration in digital marketing, membership benefits and AI. Eastar Jet covers East Asia, Southeast Asia and Central Asia, with China among its densest route networks, operating flights between some Korean cities and Shanghai, Yanji, Zhangjiajie, Yantai, Zhengzhou and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Fliggy data shows Chinese bookings for Korean travel products grew over 40% year on year this summer.

  7. TravelDaily China

    Fliggy Partners with Eastar Jet to Expand Low-Cost China-Korea Tickets

    On September 10, Fliggy and South Korean low-cost carrier Eastar Jet signed a cooperation agreement in Hangzhou to deepen collaboration in digital marketing, membership benefits and AI. Eastar Jet's China routes cover Shanghai, Yanji, Zhangjiajie, Yantai, Zhengzhou and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Fliggy data shows Chinese bookings for Korean travel products grew over 40% year on year this summer, while Korean inbound flight bookings nearly doubled.

  8. Pinchain Tourism

    UTour Group Appears at 2026 CIFTIS with Over 2,000 Travel Products

    On September 11, the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services opened at Shougang Park in Beijing. UTour Group appeared with a 150-square-meter booth presenting over 2,000 travel products, including nearly 1,700 outbound and over 500 domestic products. UTour launched multiple value-for-money outbound deals covering Southeast Asia, Europe and Australia, along with a sign-up lucky draw.

  9. Hospitality Technology

    Jersey Mike's Rides Digital Growth Toward $2 Million AUVs

    On its first earnings call as a public company, Jersey Mike's set a target to raise digital sales mix from 43% today toward 60-70% over time and to lift average unit volumes from $1.3 million toward $2 million. Digital marketing has risen from 1% to 20% of its marketing mix, and loyalty registrations are up 22% year to date. Virtually all stores have a second make line dedicated to digital orders to ease front-counter pressure. The brand also aims to double its domestic footprint to 7,500 locations.

Sep 10Thu
  1. Skift Feed

    Booking's Etraveli Deal Blocked, Giving Expedia an M&A Edge

    Europe's General Court upheld a 2023 decision prohibiting Booking Holdings' roughly €1.63 billion ($1.9 billion) acquisition of Etraveli, the Swedish flights specialist and Booking partner. The court reasoned that flight bookings are a low-margin customer-acquisition channel that feeds travelers into Booking's high-margin hotel business, reinforcing its grip on the core market where the European Commission found it has a dominant position. Meanwhile, Expedia Group acquired Tiqets and Cartrawler this year to strengthen its B2B partner business, while Booking has fewer M&A options in Europe. The ruling affects the wider M&A scene in European travel and other sectors.

  2. Web in Travel

    VantisCorp Launches White-Label TMC Platform; Booking Loses Etraveli Appeal

    VantisCorp launched a white-label corporate travel automation platform for TMCs, unifying hotel and flight booking, approvals, multi-entity compliance workflows, tax-compliant invoicing and payment integration, with contracted clients live in India, the UK and Saudi Arabia. The EU General Court rejected Booking Holdings' appeal against the European Commission's decision to block its €1.6 billion acquisition of Etraveli Group, upholding the EC's finding. Spotnana announced a direct integration with Marriott International covering 10,000+ properties and the industry's first verified Marriott Bonvoy loyalty linking. Laters.com (formerly Fly Fairly) raised a $1.5 million seed round, offering 10…

  3. Business Travel News

    Traxo Integrates Data Flow with Everbridge

    Traxo has launched a product integration with safety and risk management provider Everbridge, feeding off-channel booking data into the Everbridge platform. With the integration, data from Traxo—which can detect and normalize data from booking confirmations from more than 1,000 points of sale—automatically streams into Everbridge, so users can see which travelers are affected when emergency events arise. Mutual clients of Everbridge and Traxo can have data flowing from Traxo to Everbridge after an authorization, with no additional custom development needed. Traxo CEO Andres Fabris said feeding Everbridge every booking, not just those flowing through the agency, turns a strong response capab…

  4. Pinchain Tourism

    Thailand's Rayong promotes in Chengdu, seeking deeper two-way tourism cooperation

    On 8 September, the Rayong provincial government, the Rayong provincial administrative organisation and the Rayong Hotel Association, together with the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Chengdu and Rayong offices, held a Rayong tourism promotion event in Chengdu. Rayong Deputy Governor Saralivan Tattavee said the province hopes to build long-term, stable cooperation with China's travel trade and jointly develop products and itineraries suited to Chinese visitors. Rayong offers island holidays, seafood, fruit picking, community cultural experiences and water sports, with Koh Samet, diving, SUP and marathons proving popular. TAT said it is advancing a "two-way tourism" strategy and expanding th…

  5. Pinchain Tourism

    Adora Flora City to Feature Four Original Stage Productions

    Adora Cruises announced a partnership with China Arts and Entertainment Group to create four original stage productions blending Chinese and Western culture for Adora Flora City, the second China-built large cruise ship: 'Flower Goddess Show', 'Nameless Lion King', 'Magic Kitchen' and 'Stories of Time'. Adora Flora City is scheduled for delivery on 6 November 2026 and will begin its maiden voyage from Guangzhou Nansha International Cruise Home Port on 22 November. Olympic diving champion Guo Jingjing is invited as godmother. Adora Cruises operates three large cruise ships covering East, South and North China and Hong Kong.

  6. TripVivid

    Xiyu Tourism Discloses Acquisition Report, Xinjiang Culture & Tourism Investment Holds 39.60%

    Xiyu Tourism disclosed an acquisition report: 14.8976 million shares (9.61% of total share capital) held by Changji State Investment were transferred without compensation to Xinlv Changji. After the transfer, Xinjiang Culture & Tourism Investment directly and indirectly holds a total of 39.60%, the controlling shareholder remains Xinjiang Culture & Tourism Investment, and the actual controller remains the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.

  7. TripVivid

    Songcheng Performance Cancels Shares and Reduces Capital, Registered Capital Falls to 2.60887 Billi…

    Songcheng Performance announced on September 8 that its total share capital will change from 2.62469 billion shares to 2.60887 billion shares, involving the cancellation of 11,752 shares under the 2023 restricted stock incentive plan that failed to meet conditions and 15.805012 million shares in the repurchase special account. The registered capital will be synchronously changed to 2.60887 billion yuan, and creditors may declare claims within 45 days starting September 9.

  8. Pinchain Tourism

    Qunar: Mid-Autumn Moon-Viewing Flight Searches Up 2x YoY

    On September 10, train tickets for the eve of Mid-Autumn Festival went on sale, accelerating flight and hotel bookings. Qunar data shows this week's Mid-Autumn and National Day flight-hotel bookings rose 119% week-on-week, entering peak season. With only 3 days between the 2026 Mid-Autumn and National Day holidays, the 'take 3 days off for 13 days' plan went viral, unlocking the longest concentrated travel window in nearly a decade. Mid-Autumn first-day flight prices are 30% lower than National Day first-day; travelers booking flights to 2 or more destinations rose 25% YoY. Mid-Autumn 'moon-viewing flight' searches grew 200% YoY; treasure small-town product searches rose over 60% month-on-m…

  10. China Tourism News

    Destination Canada promotes autumn travel products in Chengdu

    On 8 September, Destination Canada, together with the tourism boards of British Columbia, Ontario, the Northwest Territories and Quebec, held an autumn product sharing event in Chengdu under the theme "Autumn Wonderland, Canada of Course", attended by more than 100 travel agency representatives from Sichuan and Chongqing, industry media and travel influencers. The event presented autumn resources from Canada's east to west coast and promoted brands such as "Endless Coast", "Wilderness" and "World Capital of the Aurora", plus classic itineraries linking Toronto, Niagara Falls and Ottawa. More than 350,000 Chinese visitors travelled to Canada in 2025, and Sichuan Airlines operates the Chengdu…

  11. TripVivid

    China Tourism Group Hosts Nearly 16 Million Visitors in Summer

    This summer, China Tourism Group hosted nearly 16 million visitors. In the scenic area segment, Heidushan reception increased by 30%, and Xianghu Yuejie sales and foot traffic increased by 87% and 128% year-on-year; Huaxia Cruise operated 27 voyages; travel service revenue increased by over 20%; offshore duty-free store foot traffic increased by 16% and shopper numbers by 12%.

  12. Agoda Newsroom

    Agoda Highlights Asia's Emerging Havens for Sleep Tourism

    Agoda has published a look at sleep tourism in Asia and a set of emerging destination recommendations. Sleep tourism refers to travelers planning trips around rest and recovery rather than sightseeing or activities. Agoda attributes the trend to rising burnout, chronic sleep deprivation, growing wellness awareness and the spread of sleep-tracking wearables, which have pushed sleep from a private health concern into a travel priority. Recommended destinations include Kinosaki Onsen in Japan, Khao Yai in Thailand, Sumba in Indonesia, Damyang in South Korea, Ba Be Lake in Vietnam and Alishan in Taiwan, characterized by quiet settings, natural darkness and accommodation built around genuine res…

  13. Pinchain Tourism

    oneworld Partners with Timeshifter to Offer Free Jet Lag Service to Round-the-World Travellers

    According to a PR Newswire release on 9 September, the oneworld alliance has entered a new partnership with jet lag app Timeshifter to help round-the-world travellers adapt to new time zones faster. Timeshifter is the world's most-downloaded jet lag app, with over 1.7 million users. Effective immediately, travellers who purchase round-the-world itineraries via oneworld.com can receive a free Timeshifter subscription covering the entire journey, taking into account every flight and time-zone change. Timeshifter provides personalised advice based on circadian science, flight itinerary, sleep patterns, chronotype and personal preferences. oneworld Vice President of Loyalty and Business Roger B…

  14. Skift Feed

    Navan Buys BoomPop to Push Into Meetings and Events

    Business travel platform Navan announced it has acquired BoomPop, an AI-powered platform for planning corporate meetings and events. The acquisition is the latest move in Navan's consolidation strategy, bringing meetings and events spending into the same platform where companies already book travel and manage expenses. Navan declined to disclose the acquisition price. Navan had partnered with BoomPop earlier this year, repeating a playbook it used with Smartrips.

Sep 9Wed
  1. Skift Feed

    Why Personal AI Assistant Hype Matters More for Travel Than Any AI Travel Product

    Skift founder Rafat Ali argues that general-purpose personal AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are incorporating travel booking into their capabilities, posing a greater threat to the travel industry than dedicated AI travel products. These assistants can directly access emails, calendars, and more, simplifying trip planning and booking, potentially disrupting traditional OTAs and TMCs.

  3. Business Travel News

    Travelport Names Skyscanner Executive Hahn to Chief Commercial Role

    Travelport named Skyscanner's Naomi Hahn as chief marketing and commercial operations officer. Hahn will lead Travelport's go-to-market, marketing and communications, and commercial operations functions. The company did not specify an effective date for her appointment. Hahn most recently was VP of strategy, operations and data at Skyscanner, which she joined in March 2020, and previously spent more than 11 years at Auto Trader UK.

  4. Business Travel News

    Omio Business Expands Globally, Widening Multimodal Booking Access

    Omio announced that Omio Business, its platform designed for small businesses and individual travellers such as freelancers, has expanded from its earlier UK launch to global availability. The platform lets users book flights, hotels, trains and buses in one place, with VAT-compliant invoicing and a centralized booking history. Omio said it has seen promising demand, particularly in Italy, Spain and the United States. Separately, the wider Omio platform announced a $10 million investment in July for expansion across Japan and Southeast Asia, and parent company Omio Group agreed in July to acquire Rail Europe.

  7. TravelDaily China

    Direct Travel Integrates ANYICHENG and Avenir into Global Travel Solution

    Direct Travel China announced the deep integration of its two flagship business travel platforms, ANYICHENG and Avenir, into a coordinated, self-controlled global digital service capability matrix. The company said this is not only data interconnection but a system-level response to uncertainty in multinational travel programs. Based on this, Direct Travel is delivering to Chinese enterprises an ANYICHENG x Avenir global integrated travel solution, built on a TaaS (Travel as a Service) architecture with open API interfaces to connect with existing enterprise systems and provide unified response to domestic and international travel needs.

  8. Pinchain Tourism

    Tongcheng Travel AI Products Debut at 2026 China Cultural Tourism Industry Expo

    Tongcheng Travel showcased four self-developed AI products at the 2026 China Cultural Tourism Industry Expo: DeepTrip smart itinerary planner, AI face-to-face translation screen, AI companion tour guide, and AR souvenir tickets. DeepTrip supports 17 languages and parses vague queries in 5 seconds; the translation screen covers over 150 languages and 27 dialects; AI companion has been deployed at attractions like Niushoushan.

  9. Travelport Press Releases

    Travelport appoints Naomi Hahn as Chief Marketing and Commercial Operations Officer

    Travelport announced on 9 September 2026 the appointment of Naomi Hahn to lead its Go-to-Market, Marketing and Communications, and Commercial Operations functions. Hahn brings more than 25 years in the digital industry, including six years on Skyscanner's Executive Team as Chief of Staff, VP Strategy & Operations and latterly VP Data, where she led global data strategy and transformation; she previously spent 11 years at Auto Trader, joining its Executive Team in 2014. Travelport CEO John Mangelaars said the appointment will help build a more connected, data-driven, customer-focused organization.

  10. Hospitality Technology

    Navan Partners with Engine to Embed Direct API for Corporate Hotel Bookings

    Navan has partnered with Engine to embed Engine's Omni API into its corporate booking platform, enabling extended-stay inventory, group bookings, and dynamic modifications. This integration bypasses traditional GDS, supporting flexible API-driven workflows like unnamed room blocks and mid-trip changes. Engine's network spans over one million properties globally, enhancing hotel options for corporate clients.

Sep 8Tue
  3. Navan Press Releases

    Navan and Engine Announce Strategic Technology Partnership

    Navan and Engine announced a strategic partnership to bring Engine's intelligent content, infrastructure, and payment capabilities into Navan's platform. Travelers will benefit from more choices, especially for extended stays and group trips, and greater flexibility for changes. The partnership leverages Engine's Omni API to provide seamlessly connected technology, supporting group bookings, extended stays, and last-minute changes. Initial features roll out this month.

  4. JTB Group Newsroom

    JTB and Shikoku Aquarium Launch 'Traveling Aquarium' Cruise Event

    JTB is partnering with Shikoku Aquarium Development to hold a 'Traveling Aquarium Cruise' on 14 November 2026, sailing from Takamatsu Port around the Seto Ohashi Bridge. Two departures are offered, a day cruise and a sunset cruise, featuring onboard marine-life exhibits, live music, a fish quiz rally and onboard sales. Adult fares are 4,000 yen for the day cruise and 5,000 yen for the sunset cruise, with child fares of 2,000 yen and 3,000 yen. The event is the second in the 'XX Aquarium' series and sits under JTB's Setouchi Island Concierge Service (SICS).