Technology

MIND THE GAPS: Booking security threats that agencies often overlook

Booking flights and accommodation online means vacationers share a lot of sensitive information with travel businesses – names, addresses, passports, and more besides. However, this data may be at high risk of hacker interception – especially if travel firms don’t take steps to protect it adequately enough.

LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP: Canadians sour on social media, but continue to use

Once hailed as the future and saviour of communication for society, the ills of social media have become readily apparent to many Canadians, even as they continue to like, share, and scroll. New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds that Canadians are still overwhelmingly enmeshed in the social media environment, but that many aren’t sure about the impact it’s having on them, personally, and on broader society.

PORTER TAKES PROACTIVE APPROACH TO FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS

Porter Airlines has partnered with HTS (Hopper Technology Solutions) to introduce a new product that gives passengers more flexibility with day-of-departure flight disruptions. Available as an optional add-on, the Delay and Cancellation Assistance product offers passengers real-time solutions if their flight is disrupted by more than two hours or cancelled within 24 hours of departure.

HOW AI HAS CHANGED TRAVEL PLANNING: TripGenie compares past three years

As AI becomes an everyday part of travel planning, one thing is increasingly clear: while the technology may be global, how travellers use it is anything but uniform. New data from TripGenie, Trip.com’s AI travel assistant, reveals that three years of real-world usage have surfaced new patterns in how travellers plan, decide and navigate their journeys.

WHO’S WATCHING YOU?

For digital nomads, logging on to work from a cafe, co-working space, hotel lobby or airport lounge is a way of life. Remote working has been made possible by reliable high speed internet and turbocharged by the pandemic. For some remote workers, for various reasons that includes working from somewhere other than their home.

THE HUMAN TOUCH: Travellers show growing concerns about AI

Despite the rapid rise of generative AI tools in travel planning, 60% of travellers still prefer human-curated recommendations and verified information, according to a survey of more than 7,000 users conducted by Civitatis, a leading global marketplace for guided tours and excursions in Spanish and Portuguese.

IS AI THE ENEMY OF TRAVEL?

Artificial intelligence is a net positive for travel, according to a show-of-hands after a lively debate that rounded off the Technology Summit at this year’s WTM London. The role of AI in travel was debated by two teams who considered the straightforward proposition of whether the now ubiquitous tech is “the enemy of travel?”

GOING MOBILE: Smartphone, digital ID the future of travel

The International Air Transport Association’s 2025 Global Passenger Survey (GPS) highlights two key trends that are redefining the passenger travel experience: More travellers are managing every stage of their journey using smartphones; and use of biometrics and digital identity is expanding to enable more seamless airport processing – and travellers like it.

SABRE AI SOLUTION A BIG LEAP – FOR CONSUMERS

Sabre has launched SabreMosaic Concierge IQ for airlines, an all-in-one generative AI chat solution that helps travellers plan, book, and manage trips in one seamless conversation. Moreover, according to the travel technology giant, it does so with the “same empathy and judgement as a skilled human agent” while accomplishing what otherwise would be hours-long work in seconds.

TRAVELLERS EMBRACE DIGITAL TOOLS, BUT DOUBTS REMAINS

Digital travel tools such as smartphone-based passports, smart glasses and live translation apps are gaining traction among global travellers, especially younger respondents. But widespread adoption still faces resistance due to privacy concerns and technological limitations, according to the Global Rescue 2025 Traveller Safety and Sentiment Survey. 

DON’T RELY ON AI FOR TRIP INSURANCE

With travellers increasingly turning to tools like ChatGPT as a quick way to plan their trips, an insurance expert is warning that users might not realize the potential travel disruptions they could face caused by misinformation the technology may provide, such as missed flights or incorrect visa information.

PASSENGERS HAVE CHANGED, WHY HASN’T AIR TRAVEL?

Passengers are living digital-first lives. They manage their finances, health, and mobility from their phones. But when it’s time to fly, they’re often still asked to queue, print, and repeat. And that has to change, according to leading aviation industry IT provider SITA, which says passengers are simply demanding that the aviation industry catch up to them.

AMEX GBT AND SAP CONCUR AIM TO RESHAPE BUSINESS TRAVEL

American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT and SAP Concur have announced a strategic alliance to launch a new integrated travel and expense platform designed to reshape how technology and services come together in managed travel.

HOW AND WHY CANADIAN TRAVELLERS ARE USING AI

Canadian travellers appear to be embracing the role of artificial intelligence in the travel planning process, according to a new survey by Booking.com. The Global AI Sentiment Report reveals that nearly eight in 10 Canadians (78%) want to use AI in their future travel plans; however, only 4% fully trust it.

NEW EXPEDIA TAAP TOOLS EMPOWER AGENTS

Expedia Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP) has launched several new platform enhancements designed to help travel advisors work more efficiently and better serve their clients. Shaped directly by feedback from travel advisors around the world, TAAP says the updates provide powerful tools that simplify trip management, expand payment flexibility, and offer new ways to increase revenue.

CONSUMERS LACK TRAVEL INDUSTRY TRUST FOR I.D. PROTECTION

Digital identity protection may be taking a more prominent spot on the packing checklist with nearly half of global consumers (44%) lacking confidence in the travel industry’s ability to protect them from AI-powered fraud including identity theft and account takeover fraud, according to a recent study.

SMART TRAVEL WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE: How to avert swipe-and-run phone-snatching trend

If you haven’t heard, smartphone snatching is a thing. A friend of TIT recently had hers snatched out of her hand while walking down a busy sidewalk in a major European city, describing two young people hopping a curb on a scooter in broad daylight and absconding with the device in a lightning quick drive-by strike.

SETTLING IN WITH AI: And how it’s transforming Canada’s travel industry

By Suzanne Sangiovese/    AI is no longer just an emerging trend in travel – it’s a driving force behind smarter, more seamless experiences. It’s proving valuable in destination research and itinerary optimization, as well as transforming how businesses and travellers engage with services. From tailored trip planning to streamlined customer support, intelligent solutions are redefining how the industry operates and meets diverse travel needs.

SKYROUTE, FARENEXUS INTRODUCE NEW NEXT-GEN BOOKING PLATFORM

Toronto-based Skyroute Travel Group has partnered with travel technology provider Farenexus Group to launch NetFaresHub, a next-generation, intelligent booking platform designed to empower travel agencies across the Canadian market.

THE REEL THING: Expedia converts social media into bookable travel

Expedia Trip Matching is a new first-of-its-kind feature that allows travellers to seamlessly build an itinerary based on reels found on Instagram and then book directly on Expedia. Travellers can share any publicly available travel-related reel – whether from content creators they follow or trending posts – directly with Expedia and receive customized itineraries, destination ideas, and travel tips based on the video.

TRAVEL’S TROUBLE WITH BAD BOTS

A new report says automated bot traffic surpassed human-generated traffic for the first time in a decade, constituting 51% of all web traffic in 2024. And while some bot traffic is from good bots, bad bots can have a huge negative impact on a website or application. And that’s bad news for the travel industry, which saw API-directed attacks surge to 44% of advanced bot traffic, with the travel sector topping the list for bot attacks overall.

WILL AI REPLACE CORPORATE TRAVEL MANAGERS?

A new Corporate Traveller (CT) survey conducted by YouGov reveals that while 75% of small and mid-market enterprises (SMEs) are adopting artificial tools for travel management, only one in six fully trust it. But while the trust gap poses a challenge for corporate travel managers, CT warns that with AI adoption accelerating, early adopters could gain a competitive edge – while skeptics risk falling behind.

EMMA IN GERMANY: Meet the new face of German tourism

The German National Tourist Board’s (GNTB) inaugural AI influencer project utilizes artificial intelligence to promote Germany as a travel destination on an international scale. With the launch of ‘Emma’ – an AI-generated influencer – the GNTB has created an interactive brand ambassador designed to virtually inspire potential travellers to visit the European country.

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