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Let’s dive into our weekly news curation, where we bring you the most exciting updates shaping the future of travel:
- Making hotel tech stronger. Dutch hotel tech firm RoomRaccoon has made its debut acquisition, acquiring Dublin-based iHotelligence to strengthen its position in the Irish market. RoomRaccoon, a cloud-based hotel management system, seeks to expand its capabilities by integrating iHotelligence’s suite of software products for on-site property management, booking, and channel management. The move is part of RoomRaccoon’s strategy to attract a larger customer base in Ireland and establish itself as a leading player in the market.
- Visa shouldn’t be a hassle. Spanish startup Visagov simplifies the visa process with their AI platform. Established in 2021, they handle tourist and business visas for 70+ countries, boasting a 99.7% success rate and 600k+ visas processed. Visagov partners with travel agencies, airlines, and tour operators to provide hassle-free visa services, streamlining the visa application process for their customers. Getting a visa is easy: choose your destination, complete a quick 5-min
- Fantasy with a pinch of Nostalgia. One of my favorite news from the past weeks, mixes amusement park and art history. Drake’s firm DreamCrew bought Luna Luna, a fantastical, forgotten amusement park that opened in Germany in 1987. Imagine going on a Keith Harring carousel, or riding a Jean-Michel Basquiat ferris wheel, around some fantastic Salvador Dalí elements. Featuring surreal and vibrant creations the entire collection was in shipping containers near Dallas and is now set for a revival in Los Angeles. The immersive exhibition, “Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy,” will run through spring 2024.
- Plan and pay for travel. French mobility startup Lyko has recently secured €1.4 million in funding. This is pivotal for Lyko’s ambitions in travel tech, facilitating seamless planning, booking, and payment for various public and private transportation globally. With a focus on international expansion, R&D investment, and tech talent recruitment, the funding marks a significant milestone. The investment underscores the growing importance of advanced mobility solutions, especially in the evolving landscape of global travel, enhancing convenience and accessibility for users.
- The value of extended stays. Based in Spain, a Dutch startup is changing the game for digital nomads, remote workers, and adventure travelers by offering an innovative solution to booking extended stays in hotels worldwide. Frustrated with the increasing dissatisfaction of customers using private rentals (which used to be enjoyable and economical but are now plagued with scams and quality problems), Yovivo provides a solution that benefits both travelers and hotels. By facilitating the increasing demand for extended stays, hotels can stabilize their revenue, especially in seasonal properties, and contribute to the local community by providing employment opportunities for residents and attracting customers to neighborhood businesses throughout the year. After a successful seed funding round, Yovivo is now live and accepting bookings for both short and extended stays.
- Blueprint for Future Hotel Excellence. Cloud hotel property management systems provider Stayntouch has secured a significant $48 million in growth equity investment. The funding will fuel the expansion of Stayntouch’s PMS software and payment solutions, accelerate customer acquisition, and enhance services for global hotels. Stayntouch offers a complete platform that handles reservations, payments, and chain management, all designed to tackle the challenges faced by the hospitality industry. This investment is crucial for advancing technology in the travel sector, allowing Stayntouch to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of hotel management and improving overall customer experiences in the industry.