Here’s our roundup of the people, product and partner news from
the global travel industry this week.

HotelTonight introduces Airbnb discount

Airbnb is offering its first discount program through collaboration with its brand HotelTonight, which it acquired in 2019.

Travelers from the United States and United Kingdom that book a stay on HotelTonight will earn 10% of the booking value as a credit that can be used toward a booking on Airbnb.

The offering is part of HotelTonight’s HT Perks loyalty program.

WTTC names Andrea Grisdale vice chair

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has named Andrea Grisdale, founder and CEO of IC Bellagio, vice chair of its new “Together in Travel” initiative. The program, launched with 13 founding partners, aims to support small and medium enterprises in the global travel sector by providing access to markets, investment, training and sustainability tools. Key partners include Hilton, MSC Cruises and Microsoft.

Infor, Coast Hotels Limited

Canadian hotel brand Coast Hotels Limited will implement Infor’s cloud-based hospitality applications in an effort to improve guest experiences. Coast Hotels, owned by APA Hotel Canada, Inc., operates properties across North America.

Takamasa Machiura, president and CEO of Coast Hotels Limited, said the partnership will help the brand scale efficiently, streamline operations and support global expansion. Infor’s hospitality management system and sales and event management software should help enable real-time business decisions and improved operations. 

Dida names Florian Blois strategic partnerships director

Dida, a global travel distribution company, has appointed Florian Blois as strategic partnerships director. Blois will lead global partnerships with destination marketing organizations, hotel chains, airlines and tour providers to drive business growth.

Reporting to chief marketing officer Gareth Matthews, Blois’ role will include developing personalized strategies to better Dida’s global reach. Blois brings experience from HBX Group, where he managed global partnerships and marketing campaigns. 

Giata, BeCause

Giata is partnering with BeCause to integrate verified hotel eco-certification data into its platform, offering travel agencies, online travel agencies and tour operators real-time access to sustainability information. 

BeCause’s hub, with data on over 50,000 hotels and 80 eco-certifiers, including Green Key and Green Globe, is meant to help travel companies provide transparent sustainability details to customers. BeCause CEO Frederik Steensgaard said the partnership should make sustainability data more accessible, and Giata’s Kalina Nikolova said the move is essential to meeting the growing demand for responsible travel. The data is now available to all Giata customers.

NextTrip’s online cruise booking platform

NextTrip has introduced NextTrip Cruise, a platform designed to simplify cruise booking with real-time availability, customer support and travel perks.

Travelers can access 35+ cruise partners, 10,000 sailings and discounted transfers and pre- and post-cruise stays. John McMahon, chief operating officer of NextTrip, said the platform streamlines cruise planning while delivering savings and VIP experiences.

Spotnana, Cadence

Travel agency Cadence is partnering with Spotnana to modernize its business, meeting and incentive travel programs.

The collaboration is meant to blend Cadence’s concierge-style service with Spotnana’s advanced travel-as-a-service platform, offering flexible booking options and streamlined management tools. The partnership enhances efficiency, reduces costs and ensures top-tier service for businesses and meeting planners, Cadence said.

*This roundup was created with the help of ChatGPT.