Justin Dawes travel tips

Last week was the second-biggest this year for travel startup funding. And this week’s total, $331 million, makes it the third-biggest this year.

New federal rules around airline junk fees and refunds are meant to protect consumers but they overlook the logistics of making it happen, according to Laura Chadwick, president and CEO of the Travel Technology Association.

Imagine you’re visiting the Colosseum in Rome for the first time, and you want your friends to enjoy the same view through the lenses you’re wearing. 

The AI assistant in Microsoft Teams can take notes during meetings, list follow-up points, and more. That’s been one of the top uses by Amadeus employees since they started testing Microsoft’s Copilot generative AI chatbot last August.

Apple is placing its wireless streaming technology in hotel rooms for the first time in partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts.

Google said Wednesday that it is releasing new features that share options for traveling in ways that are more environmentally friendly.

Guests at a Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills can now access in-room concierge via hologram.

Last week was the biggest for fundraising in travel tech in almost three months.

DerbySoft, a hotel distribution tech company, is expanding into the airline industry through the acquisition of Pkfare. 

Guesty, the property management platform for short-term rental businesses, said Wednesday that it has raised $130 million in series F funding. 

​​IHG Hotels & Resorts is planning to release a trip planning tool powered by artificial intelligence from Google. 

Much of the travel industry around the world is changing rapidly. The variety of startups that raised money this week is an example of how much opportunity there could be to capitalize on those changes.

Marriott Bonvoy last month released a new AI tool meant to help users search for vacation rentals under its Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy brand. 

Steve Singh, co-founder of Concur, and a group of firms have fully acquired the corporate travel agency Direct Travel. And they’re planning to release a new platform for customers later this year that combines several new technologies from Direct Travel and three other startups that Singh has a stake in.

Flying taxis raised hundreds of millions of dollars last year, and they’re continuing to raise money in 2024. Some are further along in development than others, but the one featured this week has already begun testing.

Southwest Airlines has acquired a startup that makes renewable ethanol, which can be used to make jet fuel. 

The first time that Eric Garcetti stayed at the U.S. Embassy in India was during his college years. A friend’s father had been appointed the U.S. Ambassador, and Garcetti was invited to join on a trip. He had no idea that the embassy would become his home years later.

Google said Wednesday that it is adding several new tools meant to help travelers plan trips and explore destinations. 

Executives of Amex GBT had an investor call Monday shortly after it announced plans to acquire CWT for $570 million.

Amex GBT plans to acquire CWT for about $570 million, a deal that would combine two of the industry’s largest corporate travel companies. 

Mobility is the theme for this week’s travel startup funding roundup.