Here’s our roundup of the people, product and partner news from the global travel industry this week.
UMusic, Oracle
UMusic Hospitality & Lifestyle plans to implement Oracle NetSuite, OPERA Cloud and Simphony Point of Sale to enhance guest experiences and scale global operations for its
UMusic Hotels brand.
By integrating live events, e-commerce and branded merchandise with high-end hospitality, UMusic Hotels hopes to redefine traditional hotel models. The Oracle solutions provide real-time data visibility, streamlined financial workflows and improved operational
efficiency across international locations.
OPERA Cloud enhances guest engagement through mobile tools while Simphony supports seamless dining and retail experiences.
Rail Europe recruits VP of product
Rail Europe has appointed Siebe Gerbranda as VP of product.
Gerbranda, who has more than 15 years of global experience, has led product teams at Taxfix, AliExpress, Google and Glownet, where he drove growth, innovation and successful exits.
At Rail Europe, he will lead the global product organization with a focus on simplifying user experiences, improving delivery speed and fostering high-performing teams. His appointment follows Rail Europe’s successful transformation into a global train
booking platform.
InterLnkd launches AirMall
InterLnkd has launched AirMall, a white-label digital shopping platform that transforms inflight Wi-Fi into a retail experience, connecting passengers to more than 20,000
brands.
AirMall is designed to reduce airlines’ connectivity costs and requires no onboard stock or crew involvement. it is accessible via passengers’ devices and offers personalized shopping with home or destination delivery.
The plug-and-play solution integrates with loyalty programs and supports in-flight payments. It uses a smart engine to tailor products based on passenger profiles and destinations.
Amadeus, Shiji
Amadeus and Shiji are expanding their partnership to cross-license and refer to each other’s
hospitality solutions, creating a more integrated end-to-end technology stack for hoteliers.
The collaboration includes products such as Shiji Daylight property management software, Infrasys POS, Amadeus HotSOS, Delphi, iHotelier
and Amadeus Central Reservation System (ACRS). A new ACRS integration will act as the master record for inventory, rates and availability, enabling greater personalization, streamlined vendor management and global support while addressing industry
challenges around fragmentation and connectivity.
Navan appoints chief travel advisory officer
Kim Hamer has joined Navan as chief travel advisory officer, bringing more than 20 years of experience in managing large-scale global travel programs. Known for her leadership
at Visa and recent consulting roles at Results Plus and Garner, Hamer has been recognized as Business Travel News’ 2022 Travel Manager of the Year.
At Navan, she will leverage her deep expertise in procurement, operations and implementation to support clients in optimizing travel programs. Hamer joins to help bridge the gap between technology and real-world travel needs, championing innovations like
New Distribution Capability, integrated payments and artificial intelligence to drive meaningful change in corporate travel.
IBS Software, Emirates Skywards
IBS Software has deployed its cloud-native iLoyal platform with Emirates Skywards,
the loyalty program of Emirates and Flydubai, serving more than 35 million members.
The move marks the start of a strategic partnership to modernize and future-proof Emirates’ loyalty ecosystem. ILoyal enables real-time personalization, faster partner integration and flexible program design, supporting 100+ global brand partners. Emirates
aims to enhance member experiences and drive long-term growth through this innovation.
RemoteLock, ChargeAutomation
RemoteLock has partnered with ChargeAutomation to deliver a unified
guest experience platform for property managers.
The integration combines RemoteLock’s cloud-based smart lock technology with ChargeAutomation’s digital guest tools, enabling contactless check-in, ID verification, payments, upsells and digital guidebooks through a single system.
CellPoint Digital appoints executives
CellPoint Digital has added two travel technology veterans to its board: Julia Sattel, former president of airlines at Amadeus, and Kathleen Merrill,
former SVP and CIO at Southwest Airlines. Both played key roles in major airline digital transformations and bring deep expertise in IT, payments and retailing.
Their appointments bolster CellPoint Digital’s push to expand its payment orchestration and travel retailing platform, the company said. CEO Kristian Gjerding said their leadership underscores the company’s role in shaping the future of travel payments
as airlines increasingly merge retailing with digital customer experience.
Ethiopian Airlines, SITA
Ethiopian Airlineshas
signed a memorandum of understanding with SITAto
co-develop technology solutions that enhance operations and improve passenger experiences. The partnership will draw on startups, accelerators and industry partners to address challenges facing Africa’s fast-growing aviation market.
As Ethiopia emerges as a tourism and trade hub, the collaboration aims to help the carrier meet rising traveler expectations while streamlining increasingly complex airline operations.
