Latest news with #travelTech
Skift
20-06-2025
- Business
- Skift
Ramp Raises $200 Million for Expense and Biz Travel Management: Startup Funding Roundup
Startups for business travel management and flying taxis are still raising a lot of money. Travel Startup Funding This Week Each week we round up jd@ if you have funding news. Each week we round up travel startups that have recently received or announced funding . Please email Travel Tech Reporter Justin Dawes atif you have funding news. There's a lot of money going into tech platforms to manage business travel and expenses. The most recent is Ramp, which raised $200 million this week. It comes months after TravelPerk raised $200 million, with multiple other companies raising smaller rounds. Also this week: Navan, a corporate travel agency, has taken a step toward becoming a public company. And flying taxi companies — most recently Archer Aviation — have been raising billions of dollars in their race to operate commercially. Between Ramp, Archer Aviation, and a small startup, travel companies raised over $1 billion in the past week. Ramp: $200 Million Ramp, an expense management platform with travel booking capabilities, has raised $200 million in series E funding. The latest funding values the company at $16 billion, a jump from $13 billion since its previous fundraise in March and $7.65 billion since its series D extension in 2024. Founders Fund led the round for the fifth time. Other investors included Thrive Capital, D1 Capital Partners, General Catalyst, GIC, ICONIQ Growth, Khosla Ventures, Sands Capital, 8VC, Lux Capital, Stripes, 137 Ventures, Avenir Growth, and Definition Capital. Ramp said it has now raised a total of $1.4 billion in equity financing. The New York City-based company started with a focus on corporate cards and helping clients manage receipts, but it's been building out tech since 2022 to help client companies book and manage travel. The company's Ramp Travel product allows clients' employees to book travel with inventory from Priceline. The platform also has integrations with TravelPerk, Lyft and Uber for Business. Ramp automatically collects receipts from any bookings with partners, removing the need to submit expenses. Client companies can set travel policies and manage approvals through the platform. Ramp last month released a feature that automatically rebooks a hotel if the price drops. It's one of 270 features that the company has released this year, which the company said were all developed with the help of AI. Ramp said it has more than 40,000 companies, including CBRE, Shopify, Anduril, Notion, Cursor, Vercel, and Barry's. The company said its platform handles $80 billion in purchases annually. Ramp said the funding will go toward improving the AI-powered product and expanding business, particularly in the U.S. Archer Aviation: $850 Million Archer Aviation, which is developing a flying taxi for urban use, has raised $850 million. The funding comes from a direct offering of 85 million shares of stock for $10 per share. The company had previously raised nearly $2 billion, including $430 million last year. California-based Archer is developing an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft called Midnight. It is designed to hold a pilot with four passengers and luggage for urban trips of 20-50 miles at speeds of up to 150 miles per hour. It is powered by six independent battery packs, each supporting a pair of electric engines. The company is also developing aircraft for the U.S. military. Archer said in May that it plans to provide air taxi services for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and for Team USA. The company last year unveiled plans for an air taxi network in Los Angeles. The network includes vertiports (eVTOL airports) at Los Angeles International Airport, University of Southern California, Orange County, Santa Monica, Hollywood Burbank, Long Beach, and the Van Nuys neighborhood. The company is also planning to establish a vertiport near the SoFi Stadium, home of the Los Angeles football teams Rams and Chargers. The plan is to begin LA network operations in 2026. This is in addition to plans for a network at California airports where Southwest Airlines operates, along with five vertiports in the Bay Area. Travlounge: $2.9 Million Travlounge, which designs roadside rest stops with sleeping pods, has raised $2.9 million (250 million Indian rupees). The funding comes from Gokulam Group. India-based Travlounge says its facilities include tech-enabled sleeping pods, washrooms, cafes, travel-focused markets, and charging stations for electric vehicles. The company has also released an app for trip planning. The funding will go toward expanding beyond its first two locations in India.
Globe and Mail
18-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
From Map to Mobile; How Adventure Tourism Logistics is Being Transformed
Digitalization is revolutionizing the way outdoor tourism operates. Manaslu Adventures is joining this transformation with tools that integrate efficiency, expansion, sustainability, and user experience. For decades, planning an adventure trip meant exchanging dozens of emails, printing maps, coordinating equipment, and trusting that everything would go as planned. Today, thanks to the digital transformation led by agencies like Manaslu Adventures, all that logistics now fits in the palm of your hand. Headquartered in Barcelona and operating in more than 15 international destinations, Manaslu has succeeded in automating and centralizing the complex organization required for an outdoor journey: permits, transportation, local guides, insurance, meals, meeting points, and more. And it has done so by developing its own technological platforms that connect the agency, suppliers, and travelers in real time. Technology That Breathes Life into Operations In the words of its Marketing Director, 'Our goal is for the traveler to focus only on enjoying the experience.' This means integrating everything from interactive maps and digital check-in to weather alerts, baggage control, and personalized options based on the type of activity and the client's experience level. Process automation has reduced internal logistics management time by more than 40%, freeing up resources for route design, improved customer service, and collaboration with local communities at each destination. A Transformation with Institutional Support This technological leap has been driven, in part, by the 'Última Milla' program, a national initiative by the Spanish Ministry of Tourism that promotes the digitalization of small and medium-sized tourism enterprises. Thanks to this support, Manaslu has been able to scale its sustainable travel model to strategic markets such as the United States and the United Kingdom, where demand is growing for responsible, active, high-quality experiences. This future-oriented vision positions the agency as one of the most dynamic players in the global outdoor sector. Digitalizing to Protect the Planet Beyond efficiency, Manaslu's digital transformation also has a direct impact on sustainability: optimized routes that reduce emissions, visitor management in sensitive areas, and dynamic itineraries that adapt to changing environmental conditions. In short, a more conscious approach to adventure tourism also requires smarter logistics. From Kyrgyzstan to Peru, passing through Georgia and Iceland, each route is now managed with great precision — but with the spirit of a true traveler. Because in the new era of adventure tourism, technology doesn't replace the soul of the journey — it sets it free. Media Contact Company Name: Manaslu Adventures Contact Person: Press Office Email: Send Email Country: United States Website:
Skift
30-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
What's Next for Short-Term Rentals: Regulations, Airbnb, AI
The evolution of the short-term industry shows no signs of slowing down, and we examine how trends in travel and tech will impact the sector. Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit and Head of Research Seth Borko talk travel every week. Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit and Head of Research Seth Borko talk travel every week. Learn More This episode of the Skift Travel Podcast featured a discussion with Vered Raviv Schwarz, president and chief operating officer of Guesty, a property management platform for the short-term rental industry. Raviv Schwarz, Head of Research Seth Borko, and Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit delved into the current state of short-term rentals, the role of technology in the sector, and the impact of Airbnb's relaunched experiences, among other topics. Listen Now Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS Five Key Points Market Trends Favoring Short-Term Rentals: The rise of blended travel, digital nomadism, and extended stays have favored the short-term rental sector. Travel Tech and Short-Term Rentals: Raviv Schwarz says investors remain bullish on travel technology, recognizing it as ripe for innovation and disruption, especially compared to more legacy sectors like airlines and hotels. The short-term rental segment, being younger and more tech-forward, is seen as a gateway to broader transformation in hospitality tech. Regulation Is Inevitable but Not Necessarily Harmful: While regulation of short-term rentals is growing globally, Raviv Schwarz views it as an opportunity for greater professionalism, consistency, and guest satisfaction. The key, she says, is education and advocacy by host communities to shape favorable policies that recognize their economic contributions. AI Is Transforming Hospitality Operations: AI adoption among Guesty customers has risen from 40% to 70% in a year. AI is being used for guest communication, dynamic pricing, and review analysis, helping hosts provide faster, more intelligent, and personalized service—bridging the gap between tech efficiency and human touch. The Hospitality Landscape is Diversifying: Raviv Schwarz emphasized that there's room for both hotels and short-term rentals, as travelers seek different experiences for different occasions. The industry isn't shifting to one dominant model but rather expanding to accommodate a range of preferences, from standardized hotel stays to unique, personal short-term rentals. Episode Summary Borko, Kopit, and Raviv Schwarz discussed Guesty's global scale, its offerings for both small and large rental operators, and its role in managing operations for hundreds of thousands of properties in over 80 countries. Guesty has surpassed $100 million in annual recurring revenue, backed by prominent investors like KKR and Innovia. The three also touched on short-term rentals in depth, questioning whether they still count as 'alternative accommodations' given their mainstream growth. Raviv Schwarz said she's seen a continued blurring of the lines between short-term rentals and hotels, predicting that in five to 10 years, those accommodations may become indistinguishable. Despite economic uncertainty, the global short-term rental market remains stable with slight growth, especially in drive-to destinations and affordable stays. And Airbnb's recent push into experiences is seen as a major industry move that could enhance the appeal of short-term rentals.
Travel Daily News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Stay22 simplifies affiliate setup with fast, self-serve Script Builder
Stay22 launches Script Builder, a free self-serve tool helping content creators boost affiliate revenues through automated link conversion and AI optimization. MONTREAL – The travel tech company Stay22 is going a step further to help content creators increase their affiliate revenues with the launch of a new feature: the Script Builder. The tool, available in the Stay22 hub, is a self-serve tool that allows content creators to generate and set up their scripts in a few clicks without any approval and totally free. The script itself is lightweight and powerful, instantly enabling access to top travel suppliers such as Expedia, among others. Once installed, it handles automatic link conversion and real time optimization eliminating the need to manage affiliate links one by one. Additionally, the Script incorporates products such as NOVA, Stay22's AI booking agent that boosts bookings by up to 50%, as well as Spark, which auto-inserts relevant affiliate links to boost bookings by 12%. 'Think of Script Builder as an express lane to our whole toolbox,' explains Laura Di Costanzo, Head of Product at Stay22. 'Drop in the code once and you instantly tap into top travel suppliers, real-time optimization and future features we roll out – no extra approvals needed.' The Script Builder is available whether you're a blogger, media publisher, independent creator, or niche site owner regardless of the site traffic. It also offers access to every Stay22 supplier in one hub. The Script Builder is the latest tech company's development after the Creator Calculator, which shows the revenues that a site could be making, and the new Stay22 Map Button that makes bookings for accommodations, events and other travel experiences faster and simpler. As the other Stay22 solutions, these new features help publications to make passive income through their content based on AI-powered affiliate tools.
Travel Daily News
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Travel Daily News
Car rental industry maintains momentum in Q1 2025 amid changing consumer trends
Mobile wallets and alternative methods now account for nearly 15% of transactions processed on the travel technology provider's platform, which reaches 1 billion passengers annually – about 25% of the global car rental market. The divergence in adoption rates between the U.S. and other regions suggests not only a lag in alternative payment adoption but also a risk: as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and BNPL gain ground elsewhere. The global car rental industry began 2025 on a strong note, showing resilience and adaptability despite ongoing economic uncertainty, supply chain pressures, and evolving customer expectations. According to new industry data, total booking volumes have continued to rise, reflecting the broader recovery of the travel sector and signalling sustained demand for flexible, tech-enabled mobility solutions. Growth Aligned with Travel Industry Recovery Booking volumes have increased significantly since early 2023 and maintained momentum into Q1 2025. March saw a notable year-on-year (YOY) rise in bookings, following predictable seasonal peaks in summer and dips around the winter holidays. While regional variations persist, the global trend points toward recovery and growth, buoyed by new partnerships and expanded travel offerings. Prices Stabilise, But Won't Return to Pre-Pandemic Levels After a period of volatility, average car rental prices are now showing signs of stability. Between March 2023 and March 2025, average booking costs fell from 312 euros (USD 347) to 262 euros (USD 291), driven in part by stabilising fleet supply and consistent demand. Despite significant increases in luxury and SUV rentals—up 81% and 51% respectively—overall prices have moderated. However, experts warn that lingering inflation and new U.S. auto tariffs may exert upward pressure in the medium term. Breakdown of average rental prices by region (March 2025): Europe: 238 euros (down from EUR 289 in 2023) UK: 236 euros / GBP 199 (down from 301 euros / GBP 253) North America: 284 euros / USD 316 (down from 332 euros / USD 369) EV Rentals Surge, Then Plateau Electric vehicle (EV) rentals grew from 0.6% of total bookings in January 2023 to 4% by March 2025, peaking at 5% in late 2024. Hybrid vehicle rentals increased more modestly, reaching 1.2%. North America leads in EV adoption, where EVs now represent 5% of rentals. Hybrid demand is stronger in Europe and the UK, accounting for 1.6% and 1.4% of bookings respectively. Booking Behavior Shifts Toward Flexibility The average lead time for bookings declined from 49.5 days in January 2024 to 42 days in March 2025, reflecting increased demand for short-notice rentals. Same-day bookings remain common during peak seasons, highlighting consumer preferences for spontaneity and flexibility. Meanwhile, desktop continues to dominate bookings globally (63%), though mobile usage is on the rise in the UK. Alternative Payment Methods Gain Traction Credit card usage for car rentals dropped from 90% to 85% globally YOY, with Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and BNPL options steadily gaining ground. The UK shows the most significant shift, with credit card payments falling to 83% of transactions. North America remains credit-card dominant (99%), largely due to a higher rate of post-paid bookings. Outlook: Opportunities for Tech-Enabled Growth Despite macroeconomic headwinds, the car rental market remains healthy, agile, and increasingly customer-focused. Consumers now prioritize sustainability, immediacy, and digital convenience – factors that favour alternative mobility models and fuel continued innovation across the sector. Brands that adapt by expanding EV options, offering flexible booking and payment tools, and embracing data-driven personalization are well positioned to capture market share in a rapidly evolving mobility landscape.
