Tourism stories

SiteMinder extends hotel distribution into AI chat tools, aiming to keep 53,000 hotels bookable as travellers increasingly start searches there.

Minor Hotels teams up with Google, Salesforce, OneTrust and Deloitte on an AI-led data platform to sharpen guest service across 640 properties.

Agoda opens Bangkok technology hub to unite nearly 4,000 staff in a seven-floor office at One Bangkok, boosting regional operations and collaboration.

Cloudbeds report shows independent hotels face softer rates, rising OTA reliance and stark regional splits, with Asia Pacific hit hardest.

Grundfos solar pumps cut diesel use and fuel bills at Northern Territory outback hideaway, boosting irrigation for hay and tourism.

Chaty links its AI voice receptionist to ROLLER, letting attractions take bookings, payments and manage calls automatically around the clock.

Ubigi teams with Tripsora to fold travel eSIM data into AI trip planning, promising savings of up to 75% and fewer roaming bill shocks.

TerraPay and Sabre have struck a multi-year deal to power instant cross-border bank payouts for travel agencies, airlines and hotels.

Vodafone teams with Netcompany on a global travel eSIM, promising instant, data-only connectivity in 200-plus destinations worldwide.

ChatGPT has swept Apple's 2025 app charts in Australia, topping both free iPhone and iPad download lists as AI tools surge in popularity.

Ant International's Alipay+ now links 1.8 billion users across 100+ markets with AI-powered travel and payment services, boosting global transactions by 30%.

Hoteliers can boost profits and enhance guest experiences by using AI technologies like generative AI and predictive analytics to forecast demand and understand customer choices.

Despite widespread AI use in travel, only 4% of Australians fully trust it, with 92% expressing concerns, reveals Booking.com's Global AI Sentiment Report.

Curtin University and Cisco extend Innovation Central partnership to Singapore, boosting regional collaboration in AI, cybersecurity and digital health innovation.

Hotel bookings across Australia for Easter 2025 have surged by 19.6% compared to last year, signalling a trend towards earlier travel plans.

The expansion of North America's largest oil and gas pipeline is set to boost New Zealand's amphibious aircraft exports by USD $70 million over the next decade.

Babeltext's multilingual chat platform revolutionises business communication, translating messages across 135 languages into English for seamless customer engagement.

SiteMinder's latest report reveals Australian travellers are wary of AI, with only 32% open to using it for accommodation, lagging behind Asia and Latin America.

A Cloudflare study reveals 41% of cybersecurity leaders in Asia Pacific faced data breaches last year, amid growing fears over AI's role in such incidents.

The Club of United Business (CUB) is opening a new clubhouse in Brisbane CBD to help Queensland businesses tap into the AUD $200 billion opportunity from the 2032 Olympic Games.