Travel Technology News Page 18
61% of travel business surveyed experimenting with or scaling agentic AI
All indications are that 2026 will be the year of agentic AI, succinctly defined as gen AI that can accomplish real-world tasks rather than simply outputting content. Agentic AI is already playing a key role in next-generation automation within companies, increasing productivity and reducing costs. According to Phocuswright’s latest research report Budgets, Barriers and the Race to Agentic AI, more than 60% of travel businesses surveyed are experimenting with or scaling agentic AI, with 6% already actively scaling and 22% beginning to scale.
dnata showcases live microfarm spotlighting fresh culinary innovation at WTCE
dnata Catering & Retail exhibits a live microfarm installation at the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE), offering visitors a tangible demonstration of how freshness, sustainability and culinary creativity are shaping the next phase of onboard dining. Inspired by dnata’s catering facility in Melbourne, the microfarm enables culinary teams to cultivate selected herbs onsite for use in menu development. Since its introduction in 2025, the initiative has supported more than a dozen menu presentations and contributed to improved freshness, reduced waste, sustainability and enhanced menu creativity.
Sequoia Capital’s $7B AI Fund Signals a Bold New Era of Tech Investment
Sequoia’s $7 billion fund highlights strong confidence in the future of AI. The fund aims to increase capital in AI, influencing startups and established enterprises using innovative technologies. Leadership changes at Sequoia allow younger partners to drive investments in AI startups. Sequoia plans to invest the entire fund across various stages of the business life cycle without segmentation. This fund signals that investors are betting heavily on AI’s impact on the economic landscape ahead.
Spring Airlines Joins DerbySoft’s Global Data Network for Flights
DerbySoft, an innovative global technology company dedicated to accelerating travel commerce, today announced that Spring Airlines, China’s largest and best performing low-cost carriers (LCC) in China, has joined DerbySoft’s Global Data Network (GDN) for Flights—a next-generation flight distribution model that transforms the traditional hub-and-spoke model into a true network of direct connections among all participants.
SITA research finds aviation’s record technology investment hinges on one thing: data coordination
SITA’s 2025 Air Transport IT Insights report finds that, while the air transport industry invested a record $50.8 billion in technology in 2025, a common obstacle keeps emerging: where data does not flow freely between systems and partners, that investment cannot fully deliver what it was designed to unlock. The cost of this data coordination gap is higher than ever now that the conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt the industry at a global scale. Operators investing in closing that gap are building foundations that will outlast the current disruption.
Stellantis Microsoft AI Partnership: Transforming Mobility
Stellantis boosts investment in AI, partnering with Microsoft to enhance mobility and streamline operations. The partnership aims to integrate advanced AI technologies to create smarter, more connected vehicles. AI will personalize in-car experiences, improve navigation, and assist drivers in real-time. Inside the company, AI will automate tasks and enhance decision-making across various departments. This collaboration reflects a broader automotive trend toward software-driven cars and highlights AI’s essential role in future mobility.
West Palm Beach Brings Downtown to Life Through the "DowntownWPB Unlocked" Augmented Reality Tour
The West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority (WPB DDA) has partnered with app developers Hoverlay to launch an ambitious experience that brings Downtown West Palm Beach to life in a wholly new and digital way. DowntownWPB Unlocked is an interactive augmented reality (AR) walking tour that transforms everyday streets, establishments, landmarks, and public spaces into immersive encounters for visitors to uncover the secrets and surprises of downtown, all in the palm of their hand.
Dubai Introduces AI+ Program to Boost AI Skills and Innovation
Dubai launches a new program to help government employees use AI in daily tasks, focusing on practical skills rather than theory. Participants will gain hands-on experience with the latest AI technologies, including large language models, applicable across various industries. The initiative fits into Dubai’s broader vision of integrating AI into government services and operations, enhancing efficiency and user experience. The program aims to build employee confidence in using AI through structured training and real-world applications. This effort supports the UAE’s ambition to be a global AI hub by fostering growth in both public and private sectors.
New Amadeus report finds personalisation can drive hospitality revenue
Some 74 per cent of travellers say they want their trips to be personalised, and the results suggest that if modern retailing opportunities like room attributes are pitched strategically, they can deliver significant returns
The first direct booking app for hotels launches in ChatGPT, powered by Lighthouse
Lighthouse, the AI commercial operating system for the travel and hospitality industry, today announced the launch of The Hotels Network app, the first direct booking app for hotels available inside ChatGPT. Powered by Lighthouseʼs Connect AI engine, the app gives hotels a direct presence in AI conversations for the first time. The app is available to hotels of every size worldwide on a flat fee subscription with zero booking commissions.
AI Is Reshaping Supply Chains in the Gulf
Companies in Saudi Arabia and the UAE are treating supply-chain modernization as a long-term business priority rather than a temporary response to disruption. Recent reporting points to rising interest in artificial intelligence, automation, and real-time data tools as firms look for stronger logistics performance and better resilience.
One Planet Group Announces $50M in Initial Investment to Launch Quite Remarkable
One Planet Group, a closely held private equity firm that owns and operates a portfolio of technology and media businesses, today announced the upcoming launch of Quite Remarkable, a new travel and lifestyle company built to redefine the standards of modern luxury through technology, service, one-of-a kind properties, experiences and intentional design. The platform is slated for initial launch in Fall 2026.