Here's our roundup of the people, product and partner news from the global travel industry this week.
Priceline hires CTO
Priceline has hired Sejal Amin as its chief technology officer. She will be responsible for product engineering, data and technology operations and infrastructure for the company. Amin will also lead adoption and integration of generative and agentive AI at Priceline.
She has 25 years of experience and most recently served as CTO at Shutterstock where she led AI integration.
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"We are thrilled to welcome Sejal to Priceline. Sejal's extensive experience will be instrumental in advancing our technology strategy and enhancing the travel booking experience for our customers," said Brett Keller, CEO of Priceline. "We are confident that Sejal's leadership will help us continue to cement Priceline's position as a travel tech leader and further build our culture of innovation."
Amadeus, Microsoft
Amadeus has renewed its partnership with Microsoft, enhancing its cloud and AI capabilities to help drive innovation in the travel sector. Key initiatives include AI-powered tools for corporate travel, airports and hotels such as Cytric Easy, the Virtual Airport Operations Centre and Amadeus Advisor. The partnership also boosts internal productivity, with 94% of Amadeus employees using Microsoft 365 Copilot, saving over an hour and a half weekly per person.
"We are pleased to write a new chapter in our strong partnership with Microsoft. It has proven to be a reliable partner for our cloud migration, and, in just a few years, we are already delivering innovative solutions that leverage the technical excellence of both companies, and which have the power to transform the travel of tomorrow," said Sylvain Roy, CTO of Amadeus.
Serko hires head of marketing
Serko has hired Katharine Farrell as head of marketing for managed travel. She will lead global marketing initiatives for the managed travel vertical.
“Serko is now the second largest booking tool by volume in the US market, with a portfolio of solutions including GetThere, Zeno and Booking.com for Business. We’re accelerating with a $100 million investment in technology innovation over the next 3 years, and we need marketing leadership that can drive that growth. Katharine has already proven herself as a corporate travel industry leader capable of supporting our ambition and we’re thrilled to have her on board” said Nick Whitehead, Serko’s chief marketing officer.
Previously, Farrell led the sales digital marketing communications team at Delta Air Lines.
Mindtrip, Discover Puerto Rico,
Mindtrip, an AI-powered platform, has partnered with Discover Puerto Rico to turn its content into personalized, actionable trip plans. Integrated into Discover Puerto Rico’s website, Mindtrip creates customized itineraries using conversational AI, offering detailed recommendations based on traveler preferences. The platform aims to ensure up-to-date information and local insights, including safety tips and recommendations for families. Visitors can share and collaborate on itineraries enabling the destination management company to collect valuable data on traveler plans. Mindtrip’s solution also connects travelers to local businesses like hotels and tour operators.
Safara, Skipper
Hotel booking and cashback rewards platform Safara has acquired software company Skipper, which focuses on providing independent hotels with seamless shopping and buying processes.
“By combining Safara’s best-in-class marketplace product with Skipper’s powerful direct booking technology, we’re creating a platform that’s never existed before,” said Doug Schuessler, CEO and co-founder of Safara. “This union allows us to offer unparalleled value to both independent hotels and travelers, unlocking new ways for hotels to grow and for guests to benefit from a better digital experience.”
Safara also raised additional funding from defy.vc, Sequoia Capital, Thayer Ventures and H20 to foster growth, bringing the company’s total funding to $14 million.
Travelport, Chase Travel Group
Travelport has expanded its partnership with Chase Travel Group.
The pair have formed a new agreement to give Chase Travel Group access to a wide range of Travelport content for a long-term period.
“As an integral travel partner for Chase Travel Group, this agreement solidifies our partnership and supports Chase Travel Group’s unwavering commitment to its loyal customers,” said Andrew Jordan, chief product and technology officer at Travelport. “Travelport is laser-focused on simplifying the complex travel industry, and we will continue to innovate ways to normalize and optimize multi-source content for our partners, all through the lens of the end traveler.”
Travelport is also providing agency customers access to Finnair's NDC (New Distribution Capability) content through Travelport+. The content includes ancillaries such as seat selection, baggage and in-flight services, as well as Finnair's corporate product, PrioFlex. The partnership enhances the ability for agencies to view, compare, and book dynamic NDC offers.
AirAsia, Plan3
AirAsia has partnered with passenger disruption management platform Plan3 to improve service during flight delays and cancellations.
The five-year collaboration enables real-time identification of disruptions and automated, personalized recovery options for passengers. Plan3 consolidates solutions into a single platform, allowing passengers to choose the best options for their needs. The partnership strengthens AirAsia's customer-centric approach and enhances disruption management, improving the overall passenger experience.
“Flight disruptions are an unavoidable part of air travel, whether due to weather or other
factors beyond the airline’s control," said Alexia Leong, head of customer happiness for AirAsia. "Through our partnership with Plan3 we have
implemented a dedicated passenger solution that enhances our ability to manage
disruptions more efficiently, ultimately leading to an improved customer experience.”
Spotnana, Cleartrip
Spotnana is partnering travel technology company Cleartrip to provide customers with access to local airline content in the India market including carriers such as Aaksa Air, SpiceJet, IndiGo and Air India Express.
“India is one of the fastest-growing travel markets in the world. It has always been Spotnana’s
goal to provide partners and customers with access to the most comprehensive global travel
content,” said Sarosh Waghmar, founder and chief product officer at Spotnana. “By partnering with Cleartrip, we can deliver extensive travel content in India to meet the rising
demand for domestic offerings."
The integration with Cleartrip's API will support multi-source bookings giving travelers and travel agents capability to build one itinerary including flights from Cleartrip in addition to other content sources. The integration will also include negotiated rates, self-service cancellations, ancillaries and other features.
Sabre appoints account manager in Ireland
Sabre Corporation has hired Trish O'Leary as its sales and account manager for Ireland to help Irish travel agencies to streamline operations and adopt advanced solutions.
“Travel agencies need access to multi-source content and capabilities in a single retailing environment to improve efficiency and respond to evolving airline distribution strategies,” said Trish O’Leary.
“With Sabre Travel Marketplace, agents can access dynamic offers, compare multiple options, and simplify the booking management process in an increasingly complex landscape. Irish travel agencies will benefit from access to more NDC and low-cost carrier content, which is essential for serving a market with a strong mix of corporate and leisure travelers.”
Firsttrip launches B2C
Travel technology agency Firsttrip, an initiative of US-Bangla Airlines, has launched Firsttrip B2C, designed to improve how customers plan and book travel experiences.
“We believe Firsttrip B2C will redefine the travel booking experience for our valued customers. By offering a secure, seamless, efficient, and flexible platform, we are bridging the gap between innovation and convenience," said Mir Tajmul Hossain, head of marketing for Firsttrip.
The new platform is meant to be all-in-one solution, enabling travelers to book flights, select seats, add baggage, choose in-flight meals, plan holiday packages, reserve hotels and help with visa processing or Umrah package booking.
Accelya opens Windsor headquarters
Airline technology solutions provider Accelya has a new flagship in Windsor, United Kingdom, which it believes will strengthen its presence in the region and support its growth.
“We are excited to open our new headquarters in Windsor, a modern and dynamic space designed to foster collaboration and innovation,” said Funda Saltuk, chief human resources officer at Accelya.
“Its prime location near Heathrow and London enhances connectivity for both our employees and customers, while the thoughtfully designed workspaces and advanced technology create an environment that encourages meaningful interactions and drives our next phase of growth.”