Kate Harden-England

📈 Snaptrip Group achieved record financial results in 2025, driven by the return of the LateRooms brand. In December, they acquired Staycato, Simply Sea Views, Dog Friendly Retreats, and My Design Events for seven-figure sums, boosting their presence in high-end travel and pet-friendly, coastal UK vacations. Matt Fox, CEO, emphasizes AI strategies and operational efficiency in tackling market challenges. The group now aims for global hotel bookings in 2026, with a focus on luxury and lifestyle travel.

✈️ Lastminute.com has launched its first MCP server for flights, marking the start of a multi-year infrastructure transformation. Developed internally, it provides secure, structured API access to flight booking platforms like Claude. This initiative is part of a strategic three-year plan focusing on AI and scalability. CEO Alessandro Petazzi highlights AI's transformative potential in travel planning. The server is available on Anthropic Marketplace.

🌐 Silverdoor invested in robotic process automation (RPA) to enhance its online booking tool (OBT) by enriching real-time inventory and rate availability. The digital assistant processes rates ten times faster than humans, meeting client demand for real-time access. This investment also improves rate accuracy and offers new features like enhanced preselection and a currency selector. Hanish Vithal and Sandra Borges highlight the importance of transparency and efficiency in the dynamic accommodation market.

🛩 Lufthansa Group, in partnership with Amadeus, will implement the Nevio modular AI solutions across nine of its airlines, including Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, and Swiss, as of 2026. The new "Order ID" system will replace traditional reservation numbers, consolidating flight, seat, baggage, and additional service details into a single order. This transition streamlines travel management and enhances passenger experience, aligning with IATA standards for modern retailing.

✈️ TUI Airline, December 2025, Europe — TUI becomes the first airline to adopt Navitaire's new Stratos platform, enhancing its retail capabilities for low-cost and hybrid airlines. Stratos, unveiled by Travolution in November, uses an API for an advanced shopping cart and contextual pricing. This partnership with Navitaire, part of Amadeus, spans 20 years and aims to elevate customer travel experience with personalized services and third-party options like car rentals and accommodations.

📈 Navan's 2026 report shows 90% of business travelers view trips as essential, up 8% from 2025. 80% sometimes book outside platforms, while 77% of managers find current expense tools lacking. 77% seek all-in-one AI solutions. NDC adoption leads to savings and better booking options for 88% of managers. 76% of travelers trust AI for simple tasks, up from 59% in 2024. The report highlights the growing importance of AI in business travel management.