Innovation

🚗 WeRide, a Chinese autonomous driving company, and Uber announced a strategic partnership to integrate WeRide's autonomous vehicles into the Uber app, starting in the United Arab Emirates. The service will launch in Abu Dhabi later this year, providing a dedicated number of WeRide vehicles to Uber app users for eligible rides. WeRide gained the UAE's first and only national license for autonomous vehicles in July 2023, allowing operation on public roads throughout the country. No plans to launch in the US or China are mentioned.

💾 Mews, a leading cloud-based hotel management software, now equips over 1,000 establishments in France, making it the country with the most Mews clients. The company's CEO, Matt Welle, highlights substantial investments in France to meet the specific needs of French hoteliers. Recent clients include The Boost Society, Valdys, Maison Mère, and Emeraude Hotels. Maison Mère, a Parisian hotel, reported a 37% increase in RevPAR (revenue per available room) since switching to Mews.

📱 WhatsApp, with over 2 billion active users, offers end-to-end encryption, along with a variety of features such as group chats and free voice/video calls. Despite being a subsidiary of Meta, it collects metadata for commercial use. On the other hand, Signal, launched in 2014 by the non-profit Signal Foundation, prioritizes security with end-to-end encryption and collects no user data, offering features like ephemeral messages and open-source transparency. While WhatsApp serves for everyday communication, Signal is preferred by privacy-conscious users.

🎁 Console SecretBox, designed for creating, promoting, and managing gift box offers autonomously, introduces new features for the holiday season. It leverages AI for simplified offer creation, interconnects with management tools (PMS, POS, table reservations), reducing time and errors, and includes group order options for corporate committees. Aimed at maximizing sales without third-party margins and cash flow impact.

🏨 In Marfa, Texas, El Cosmico hotel expands with a 3D-printed addition, using a giant printer to create 43 new hotel units and 18 homes on 16 hectares. Collaboration between owner Liz Lambert, ICON from Austin, and Bjarke Ingels Group, aiming to complete by 2026 with rates of $200-$450 per night. The Vulcan printer measures 15m wide, 5m high, weighs 4.75 tons, and uses Lavacrete for construction.

💻 Starting in 2025, Air France will provide free high-speed Wi-Fi across its fleet through a partnership with Starlink, promising stable and fast connection even in remote areas worldwide. The European first will see passengers enjoy internet browsing, streaming, online gaming, and work "like at home" at 10,000 meters up. The service, accessible to all via Flying Blue, allows multiple devices per traveler. A progressive rollout will commence in summer 2025, including regional planes, with a transition phase offering a free "messages" pass to Flying Blue members.

🛀 High-end hotels are enhancing guest experience through discreet technology in bathrooms, with advanced features like lighting adjustment for different times of the day, anti-fog mirrors, and personalized sound environments. The "Citterio M" mixer faucet at Paris's Hotel Chouchou reduces water consumption by 60%, while providing a gentle sensation on the skin. This innovation serves to differentiate in a competitive market, aiming to attract and retain discerning customers seeking modern luxury.

🚀 "Tech Care Episode 3, focused on travel tech health, was recorded at IFTM Top Resa 2024, discussing the investment crisis in startups with experts Kevin Ha, Viviane Silberstein, and Agustin CEDEÑO. Featuring startup pitches from Fairlyne, Luniwave, and Tadamm, an interview with EuroAirship CEO Marie-Christine BILBOW, and a segment by Hugo Pellegrin on the failure of French train startup Midnight Trains. Available on Spotify.

💰 Mews, a leader in the cloud hospitality sector, secured a $100 million financing from Vista Credit Partners, an affiliate of Vista Equity Partners. The investment aims to fuel Mews' M&A program and cement its market leadership. The travel and tourism industry, worth $15.5 trillion, is rapidly adopting cloud technology. Mews Ventures, the investment arm of Mews, has acquired nine companies to date, and the new funding will further accelerate growth and technological transformation in the hospitality industry. Mews CEO, Matt Welle, highlighted the significance of cloud technology in enhancing guest services.