All Posts

The travel industry is facing a quiet crisis as AI-driven "inspiration" search breaks legacy infrastructure. Modern metasearch sites are trapped in a Look-to-Book iceberg: AI agents now trigger millions of unproductive server pings for every single booking. As airlines refuse to subsidize this traffic, companies must pivot from being simple search engines to becoming high-value orchestration layers. The era of the "click" is dying; the era of the "Resolution Fee" has begun.

Intent-driven travel is the shift from inventory-led search to narrative-driven discovery. By moving away from "Where and When" and toward "Why," leaders like Voyage Privé achieve a 4x lift in revenue per visitor. Success in Modern Airline Retailing requires more than AI; it demands NDC dynamic bundling and AEO (Agent Engine Optimization) to ensure products are machine-readable. With a €15M potential lift at stake, the transition is a 3-year strategic transformation.

Most travel brands confuse discounts with loyalty. If less than 40% of your revenue comes from known customers, you are renting demand, not owning it. Structural loyalty (subscriptions, cards, passes) is a useful “cage”, but customers only stay when value holds. Emotional loyalty is the safety net built through disruption handling, reliability, fair rules and real insider access. The travel brands that win will combine both: strong structures plus operational excellence, meas

Subscription models like eDreams Prime and Travelstart+ have proven that recurring fees and “member-only” deals can boost revenue and repeat bookings for OTAs. Yet this loyalty is fragile, because it depends on travellers constantly feeling they “saved more than they paid.” By contrast, OTA‑branded payment cards, powered by embedded finance, create daily, habit‑based engagement: every tap earns travel rewards, even outside the booking journey, and gives the OTA richer data an

The Shift from Google to AI Assistants

DMOs and Telcos are quietly redesigning the moment you land: free tourist SIMs kill roaming panic, destination apps serve up personalised deals for local experiences, and Fintech turn your phone into a low‑FX travel wallet—so the entire visit feels more connected, curated and cost‑efficient

GenAI transforms super apps into intelligent ecosystems, powering personalized recommendations, dynamic chatbots, and seamless service integration like travel and commerce. This boosts engagement, loyalty, and revenue through real-time, context-aware interactions. How could REVOLUT use this technology to powercharge their Travel ecosystem?

Visa and MasterCard are redefining travel payments by offering perks-packed cards and partnering with airlines for loyalty rewards. Banks buy miles from programs like Emirates Skywards, turning everyday spending into travel benefits for customers. As fintechs and tech players join the mix, travel and finance are merging—creating smarter, more rewarding experiences for travelers everywhere.

Airline disruptions (IROPs) are rising, challenging passenger trust and loyalty. Passenger rights vary globally, with the EU’s being the strictest. Other countries like the UAE, India, and Australia are strengthening protections. Poor disruption management costs airlines billions annually. To balance cost control and service, airlines turn to integrated IT and AI systems, unifying fragmented processes for better efficiency, resilience, and passenger experience in managing irr

European travel businesses should focus on the Gulf region due to its growing tourism market and strategic destination marketing organizations (DMOs). By understanding and leveraging Gulf DMOs' effective strategies, European agencies can tap into new opportunities, increase cross-border travel, and enhance partnerships. This approach drives sustained tourism growth and business expansion in this dynamic and lucrative market.