Innovation

💻 Ditto, a startup specializing in edge computing, raises over €75 million ($82 million) in a Series B funding round led by Top Tier Capital Partners and Acrew Capital. The round includes participation from USIT (Thomas Tull), True Ventures, Amity Ventures, Fundrise, Friends & Family Capital, Advance Venture Partners, and IIJ. Following a 250% increase in annual recurring revenue and doubling its customer base, Ditto's valuation approaches €423 million ($462 million). The funds will enhance international growth and deepen partnerships with cloud database providers like MongoDB. Ditto also secured a contract with the U.S. Air Force and serves clients like Japan Airlines, Delta, and Lufthansa.

🏠 Cédric Lefort, Head of Corporate Travel de Sabre France, discussed overcoming travel content fragmentation with AI at the Future of Travel Distribution event by Eventiz. Emphasizing collaboration among airlines, agencies, and travel providers, he highlighted the importance of common standards and real-time information sharing through modern APIs. AI contributes to personalizing travel offers, dynamic pricing, and customer service automation while respecting legal constraints like GDPR. He sees AI as a tool for hyper-personalization and predictive analytics in travel distribution, not a replacement for human agents. Physical travel agency bookings increased by 4.5%, while e-commerce and call centers saw a 9.6% decline, reflecting the continued relevance of human touch in the industry.

🍴 Renowned Scottish chef Tom Kitchin, Michelin-starred and at the helm of The Kitchin in Edinburgh, brings his "From Nature to Plate" philosophy to London's iconic Brown’s Hotel until May 25, 2025. Guests at Donovan Bar can enjoy seasonal small plates featuring Scotland's finest local produce. Kitchin emphasizes respect for ingredients and a commitment to quality, seasonal products, working with passionate producers and artisans for culinary experiences that connect diners to nature.

💻 "Mon Espace" by AKTO launched successfully on February 14, enhancing support for companies with apprenticeship contracts and training funding requests. The portal offers secure data access, an ergonomic interface, personalized quick access, simplified funding requests, and a dynamic dashboard for real-time tracking. The upgrade aligns with AKTO's ongoing service improvement strategy for professional sectors and companies.

💳 By 2025, a secure yet smooth payment system is deemed essential for business growth in the tourism industry. The Amadeus report highlights that travelers would require an average price drop of 38% to consider risking their banking data. Moreover, 72% insist on strong payment security assurances before booking, and 35% distrust current payment options in tourism. 37% of French people have experienced bank card fraud, emphasizing the increasing concern over financial security among two-thirds of travelers. Notably, some are willing to accept a 38% discount despite clear payment security risks, knowing they can dispute fraudulent charges. The text mentions the importance of displaying key reassurance indicators and using popular secure payment systems to prevent loss of clientele and disputes. ???? March 2025 ???? Global ???? 38% discount, 72% demand security, 35% distrust, 37% fraud victims.

🚬 Since December 2024, hoteliers associated with Booking.com have been targeted by a phishing campaign orchestrated by Storm-1865 aiming to steal credentials and financial information. Microsoft Threat Intelligence has reported that the operation is ongoing as of February 2025, using fraudulent emails to redirect victims to a fake Booking.com site to install malware. Attackers impersonate Booking.com with various email topics like negative reviews, reservation requests, promotions, and account verifications, across North America, Oceania, South and Southeast Asia, and Europe. Microsoft advises hoteliers to verify sender addresses, avoid clicking links, and directly visit the official Booking.com site for safety.

📌 Cyril Guiraud and André-Louis Rochet, co-founders of Theta Travel Tech and TW3 Partners respectively, presented a natural language model at the Future Of Travel Distribution event that queries travel distributor APIs directly. The AI translates natural user requests into computer language, refines proposals based on past preferences for existing clients, and integrates with booking systems to display options. A pilot for flight searches on a major travel distributor's website is imminent, with expansion to packaged travel searches by summer. This AI disrupts traditional travel agency and OTA models by providing personalized offers, potentially assisting agents, and shifting the focus to value-added advice. Concerns about AI replacing human decisions are mitigated by emphasizing augmentation over replacement, addressing sovereignty and the need for travel-specific AI models.

🏨 Influence Society has launched the inaugural edition of Societies Quarterly, a visual report designed to inspire exceptional hospitality through avant-garde design, immersive experiences, and technological innovation. This 30-page publication goes beyond traditional industry reports by incorporating AI in brand strategy, NFTs in travel, luxury experiences, and interior design trends. Aimed at visionary hoteliers, Societies offers a refined look into the future of the luxury hotel industry.

📈 Startups have until April 15, 2025, to apply for the 10th edition of Tremplins by Voyage Privé. Key dates include the application period (March 15 - April 15, 2025), announcement of preselected startups on April 25, 2025, a mandatory in-person speed-meeting in Aix-en-Provence on May 6, 2025, with the laureates announced the following day. A kick-off accelerator event is scheduled for June 3, and a Voyage Privé / Summer camp will run from June 1-9, either in-person in Aix-en-Provence or remotely.