Amadeus, a global leader in travel technology, has announced the acquisition of Voxel, a prominent provider of electronic invoicing and B2B payment solutions for various players in the travel industry, including travel sellers, hotels, and other travel entities. This strategic move is poised to enhance the payment experience within the travel ecosystem and aligns with Amadeus’ commitment to delivering seamless travel experiences.
The acquisition of Voxel signifies Amadeus’ continued expansion into complementary areas that augment its existing offerings, catering to the evolving needs of its customers. By integrating Voxel’s solutions into its portfolio, Amadeus aims to provide a broader range of payment services for travel sellers while streamlining invoice management processes for tour operators, travel management companies (TMCs), hotel aggregators, and hotels.
Moreover, the acquisition is expected to bolster Amadeus’ presence in the hospitality segment and enhance its payments business, Outpayce, by enriching its product suite. The integration of Voxel’s technology will enable Amadeus to further automate the business travel experience, from reservation and payments to expense management, thereby catering more effectively to its corporate customers.
Decius Valmorbida, President of Travel, Amadeus, highlighted the significance of seamless and integrated payments in enhancing the travel experience. He emphasised the combined expertise of the teams at Amadeus and Voxel in driving innovation and facilitating smoother transactions within the travel industry. “To make the experience of travel better, it’s crucial we ensure smooth, integrated and even invisible payments. We now have a combined team of experts who are passionate about payments, and a breadth of customers who will now be able to leverage the power of Voxel and Amadeus together. This is yet another example of how Amadeus makes travel work better for everyone, everywhere,” he said.
Àngel Garrido, CEO, Voxel, expressed enthusiasm about joining forces with Amadeus and leveraging its global reach and expertise to accelerate growth and innovation in travel payments. He underscored the shared vision of both companies to deliver enhanced solutions that benefit travel sellers and providers alike. “The combination of our technology, teams, strong cultural fit, and our connections will no doubt bring us one step closer to smoother travel payments,” he added.
The impact of technology on sports tourism goes beyond the thrill of competition. It has revolutionised how we experience and engage in sporting events, shaping a global industry that connects individuals across borders and transcends geographical boundaries. This dynamic interplay is not merely changing the viewing experience, it is reshaping the very fabric of the sports tourism landscape. Mani Ganeshan shares more.
David Doctor, CEO, Outpayce, emphasised the strategic alignment of the acquisition with Outpayce’s objectives of strengthening the end-to-end payment offering and fostering an integrated payment ecosystem for travel companies. “Since the inception of Outpayce, Amadeus’ payments business, the focus has been to strengthen the current end-to-end offering as well as develop an integrated payment ecosystem to which travel companies can connect and access the latest fintech innovations. The acquisition of Voxel allows us to do both,” he mentioned. He affirmed his commitment to collaborating closely with the Voxel team to deliver frictionless travel payments.Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, Voxel boasts an extensive clientele spanning hotels, tour operators, travel companies, and restaurants across 100 countries. With over 50,000 hotels and handling more than 100 million transactions annually, Voxel’s Bavel Platform has emerged as a cornerstone of electronic payment processing in the travel industry.
The acquisition, which has now been finalised, sees over 200 Voxel employees joining the Amadeus family, further solidifying Amadeus’ position as a key player in shaping the future of travel technology and payments.
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OYO, the global hospitality technology company, has embarked on a new journey by launching its dedicated sports hospitality business aimed at revolutionising the management of large-scale sports events. With a focus on providing end-to-end solutions, OYO’s sports hospitality venture aims to seamlessly integrate accommodation, catering, and transportation services, redefining the way sports events are organized.
In a strategic move, OYO has identified 100 hotels across 12 key cities, including Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune, Lucknow, Jaipur, and Chandigarh, among others, to cater to the unique needs of athletes and sports officials participating in various sports events. These cities, equipped with the necessary infrastructure, are poised to host large sports tournaments effectively.
With an emphasis on offering a comprehensive hospitality experience, OYO will provide a diverse range of accommodation options, catering to various budget preferences, and ensuring the comfort and convenience of participants and attendees. Specialised packages and group booking options will be available to accommodate the specific requirements of sports teams and large groups.
Furthermore, OYO will collaborate with third-party agencies for catering and transportation services, offering a wide array of food options and efficient travel solutions tailored to the preferences and dietary requirements of athletes and attendees. From nutritious pre-event meals to catering packages for VIP lounges, OYO aims to elevate the overall dining experience during sports events.
To streamline the movement of participants and spectators, OYO’s transportation solutions will include shuttle services, private transfers, and meticulous coordination of transportation schedules, ensuring smooth logistics between venues, hotels, and other event locations.
OYO’s venture into sports hospitality comes on the heels of its successful management of more than ten large-scale sports tournaments in 2023, including prestigious events such as Khelo India Youth Games, National Games, and ESIC Sports Meet. With a track record of catering to over 40,000 athletes and sports officials, OYO’s expertise in event management positions it as a trusted partner for sports associations nationwide.
Commenting on the development, Pankaj Kumar, Head of Government and Sports Hospitality Business, OYO, talked about company’s commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions. He stated, “The launch of our sports event management unit aligns with OYO’s commitment to continuous innovation and customer-centric solutions. With a focus on delivering quality hospitality, OYO plans to offer athletes a conducive and comfortable environment, ensuring they can fully concentrate on their training and competitions.”
In addition to catering to mainstream sports events, OYO’s inclusive approach extends to differently-abled sportspersons, with partnerships established for events such as Khelo India Para Games and Sardar Patel National Divyang Cricket Tournament, offering round-the-clock assistance to all participants.
The introduction of the Sydney Meetings Fund by Business Events Sydney underscores BESydney’s commitment to supporting event planners and promoting Sydney as a premier destination for corporate and incentive events. With funding opportunities now available, event planners in India have access to financial support to enhance their event experiences in Sydney.
In a separate development, OYO has announced its partnership with the International Theatre Festival of India (Bharat Rang Mahotsav) as its accommodation partner. As part of the partnership, OYO has engaged over 40 hotels in various categories to cater to their requirements.
OYO will provide accommodation to more than 2000 participants, artists, and attendees with seamless
and comfortable lodging options across various cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Vijaywada, Jodhpur,
Bhuj, Jammu and Bhuvneshwar hosting the festival.
The International Theatre Festival of India organised by National School of Drama is renowned for its
celebration of creativity, diversity, and innovation in the performing arts. Drawing renowned actors,
directors, playwrights, and theater enthusiasts from around the globe.
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PayU, a leading digital payments platform, tailors its solutions to meet the unique requirements of the travel sector. Speaking at the recently concluded 2nd ET Travel & Tourism Conclave & Awards during a fireside chat on ‘Innovative financial services: Achieving growth during disruptions’ Anuradha Murthy, Head – Partnerships & Alliance, PayU shared how they study the different stakeholders in the travel ecosystem like travel agencies, booking engines, and property managers to plug in core payment solutions as well as ancillary services around reconciliation, invoicing, and more.
PayU facilitates international payments in over 32 currencies and addresses challenges like monitoring success rates and providing a dashboard for transaction reconciliation. The platform is also PCI 3DS2 compliant, adding an additional layer of fraud prevention for international transactions.
Payment solutions provider offers tailored solutions for travel industry, leveraging technology and data to meet evolving customer needs.
Anuradha Murthy, Head – Partnerships & Alliance, PayU highlighted the importance of data insights in the travel industry, citing examples of how businesses can use data to target relevant segments and improve their return on investment. She also acknowledged PayU’s efforts to facilitate payments and make them more accessible, with a focus on the knowledge behind those payments.
To increase demand and make travel more accessible, PayU offers affordability solutions like EMIs and other credit options on their checkout. Recommendation engines also nudge customers towards the most lucrative payment options based on their transaction history.
During the conversation, Murthy also highlighted how PayU is making travel more accessible and affordable for customers through easy payment solutions, such as easy EMI options and short-term lending.
Indians tend to have shorter booking windows, said Santosh Kumar, Country Head (Indian Sub-Continent & Indonesia), Booking.com, adding that for domestic travel, it is somewhere around 27-28 days, and for international travel, the window is three times higher than the other. He also spoke at length about the platform’s emphasis on alternate accommodations, a segment constituting 33 per cent of their global room nights.
“Look at leisure travel. As an example, a lot of customers actually look for easy payment solutions, not just from a perspective of convenience, but from a perspective of affordability. So, for example, an easy EMI solution, right, or looking at other credit or lending options, short term lending options, it could be a flexi cache, we provide these kinds of solutions in order to make it convenient for a traveller to sort of afford these solutions,” she mentioned. Emerging areas PayU is focusing on include social commerce on platforms like WhatsApp and providing data insights to help travel businesses better acquire and target relevant customer segments. The representative highlighted how priority settlements within an hour and other value-added services help address the working capital needs of the travel industry.
“Technology is key. Data is a great source, in order to predict user behaviors. So, when you combine the two, for example, what you can do is that you can nudge the customer towards a certain kind of behavior,” Murthy said.
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In a presentation during the 2nd edition of ET Travel & Tourism Conclave & Awards, Amadeus Lab’s Associate Vice President, Global Technology & Cloud, Ranaj Biswas elaborated how technology and sustainability are redefining the very essence of travel in 2024 and adding value to the rapidly evolving landscape of the travel industry.
Biswas highlighted the remarkable strides made in the industry since the post-Covid resurgence. He stressed the dominance of artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine learning (ML) as a driving force behind the transformative changes.
“Examples like Walt Disney’s heavy investments in virtual experiences and Qatar Airways‘ metaverse offerings, allowing users to virtually experience airports, showcase the tangible impact of AI,” he shared.
Transitioning to the role of Amadeus, which is the key travel technology solutions provider, he continued talking about the company’s strategic collaborations, notably with Microsoft, showcasing how these partnerships have revolutionised content and shopping searches within the travel industry. He emphasised that AI and ML aren’t just concepts but are actively addressing crucial challenges.
“In the past December, a significant incident regarding air crew scheduling occurred within a major airline. We’ve heavily integrated AI and ML to guarantee that no flight takes off without a properly staffed crew—a reality in practice, not just a concept on slides. Our operational systems are already equipped to forecast specific flight patterns. For instance, using AI and ML algorithms, we can predict how bookings will unfold for a journey from point A to point B. These advancements are being integrated across our product suite, whether in revenue management or any facet of the airline industry, where managing revenue is a complex task. But incorporating AI into this process provides a service that can significantly transform operations,” explained Biswas, speaking during the session on travel technology redefining the ease of business. Biometrics, he said, has also helped Amadeus pioneer the efficient payment systems since 2015, leading implementations across global airports. “While methods like Google Pay were once unfamiliar, today, facial recognition facilitates payments. This technology isn’t novel for us; we’ve been implementing these solutions since 2015, starting with New Zealand, expanding to the USA, and most recently, achieving a full biometric solution in Japan’s Narita Airport in 2021,” he detailed, adding that this significantly streamlines airport operations, case in point the Changi airport, where the use of biometric interfaces translates to considerable time savings and enhanced efficiency.
Besides enhancement of customer experiences, the core of Amadeus’ mission is to maintain sustainability throughout its operations. “Sustainability stands as a cornerstone of our ethos. Our investments in cutting-edge entities reflect our dedication to greener practices,”Biswas affirmed.
Addressing the imperative shift towards sustainability in the travel industry, Amadeus positioned itself as a contributor through technological interventions as well as collaborations. “One organisation, based in the United States, we invested in, is pioneering the development of intelligent AI and ML algorithms specifically tailored to optimise flight bookings and capacity management. This innovation addresses overbooking scenarios by offering viable alternatives or the provision of free tickets for passengers relinquishing their overbooked seats. Not only does this approach save countless flights but it also empowers customers by adjusting carbon footprints,” he added.
During the ET Travel & Tourism Conclave, Arvind Singh, Former Tourism Secretary & AAI Chairman highlighted India’s tourism growth, projecting a INR 16.5 trillion contribution to the economy in 2023, a mere 3.5 per cent dip from pre-pandemic 2019 figures. Singh also discussed global tourism’s outlook, foreseeing a 23.3 per cent surge in Travel and Tourism GDP, nearing USD 9.5 trillion for 2023.
The other entity that Amadeus has invested in, CAPHENIA, from Germany, has devised a groundbreaking method to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) more affordably and on a scalable level. “Our investment in this venture aligns with our broader commitment to champion sustainable travel practices. This arena presents a tremendous opportunity to enhance the efficiency of aviation fuels, a critical focus area within the travel industry’s sustainability initiatives. However, this domain is still evolving, navigating regulatory frameworks and conducting rigorous use case testing before reaching full fruition.”
“Despite these early stages, the outlook is exceptionally positive, reinforcing our belief in its potential to drive meaningful change,” said Biswas, adding that Amadeus lays out a three-pronged approach—people, places, and the planet—vowing aggressive targets for carbon neutrality by 2024-25.
Shifting focus to predicted trends in 2024, Amadeus anticipates the rise of music tourism, which will amplify family travel experiences as well as the influence wielded by social media influencers on travel plans. Electric skyways, although not currently available in Indian cities, are a tangible reality elsewhere, shared Biswas, adding that organisations in Europe are already facilitating swift travel across various locations in minimal time.
Additionally, the concept of a ‘lux-lite’ business class, offering a business class experience at a slightly lower cost than traditional business class fares, is swiftly becoming a reality, shared Biswas, hinting that airlines like Emirates and Qatar are already pioneering these options on specific routes.
Also, the utilisation of chatbots for ticket bookings is gaining traction, especially with advancements in tools like Chat GPT, offering potential for easier and more comfortable interactions. “Regarding generative AI and machine learning, we anticipate a significant surge in these technologies for 2024 and beyond,” he said.
However, going forward with the cautious use of these tools, it’s crucial to navigate challenges in security, guidelines, and governance, especially considering its application not only in the travel industry but across various sectors, he added. “This area will likely demand increased attention and development in the coming years, shaping the trajectory for the industries,” he concluded.
Biswas was representing Amadeus at the 2nd edition of the Economic Times Travel & Tourism Conclave and Awards. Amadeus also co-sponsored the event organised on November 30, 2023 at the Eros Hotel New Delhi Nehru Place and attended by over 250 delegates.
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In recent years, the startup ecosystem has transformed industries worldwide by introducing innovative and convenient solutions that have significantly improved people’s lives. The travel industry, too, has experienced this wave of innovation, and it has had a profound impact on small and medium-sized travel agencies.
With a focus on convenience, these innovations have made the seemingly impossible a reality. Today, travel start-ups are revolutionising the way small and mid-sized travel agents access cost-effective, fast, and secure payment solutions, enabling them to compete more effectively in the market.
The Indian travel agency business is predominantly composed of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). With nearly 3 lakh travel agent businesses catering to holidaymakers, the industry’s post-pandemic revival and improved infrastructure have greatly benefited these smaller businesses.
Travel trade associations’ conventions have traditionally been platforms for industry players to connect and exchange ideas. While this remains a crucial aspect, the purpose of these events is evolving. Conventions now serve as accelerators for innovation, providing a space for the discussion of trends, technologies, and strategies that can redefine the industry.
Travel start-ups, particularly those operating in the B2B segment, have played a pivotal role in the industry’s resurgence. They not only bring innovations that benefit both consumers and businesses but also empower small agencies to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with large Online Travel Agencies (OTAs).Building online presence with integrated payment gateways: Today’s customers demand quick and smart solutions for their travel needs, including making payments on the go. While larger OTAs can afford to invest in expensive online payment gateways, smaller businesses can forge partnerships with travel start-ups to gain access to such gateways. This allows their customers to make online purchases seamlessly, enhancing the overall user experience.
TravClan for instance allows travel agents to purchase a white label travel website with an integrated payment gateway, that allows them to collect payments from their customers directly. Agents are able to access an otherwise expensive feature at a very affordable rate.
UPI payments revolution: Traditionally, online payments for businesses required significant working capital, putting MSMEs at a disadvantage. However, the rise of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has been a game-changer. Travel start-ups are often more open to accepting payments through UPI, making it easier for smaller agents to collect and make payments without the need for substantial working capital.
Enhanced safety and security: Travel start-ups typically leverage robust technological integrations that ensure safer payment processes and secure online transfers. This heightened level of security instills trust among customers and businesses alike.
According to a recent survey by Uber India, the ride-sharing giant has not only revolutionised the way women in India travel but has also significantly influenced their daily routines and decisions regarding vehicle ownership. The increased convenience has resulted in 47 per cent of women feeling that exploring new places and attending events has become easier.
Digital wallet integration: Many travel start-ups incorporate digital wallet options into their platforms. This integration enables travel agents to receive and manage payments more efficiently while offering customers incentives like cashback and rewards programs, enhancing customer loyalty.
Flexible payment terms: Start-ups often offer flexible payment terms to their users, including travel agents. These flexible arrangements allow agents to pay for bookings in installments rather than requiring upfront payments. This approach can significantly alleviate cash flow challenges for smaller agencies.
Streamlined invoicing and customer management: Travel tech start-ups simplify payments further by providing solutions for invoicing and customer management. These tools save valuable time and resources for small businesses, enabling them to focus on what they do best – serving their customers.
Community building: Being associated with travel tech start-ups provides travel agents with the opportunity to become part of a larger community. This community fosters resource-sharing, tips, and strategies among agents, helping them grow their businesses collectively.
Travel start-ups have ushered in a new era of possibilities for small and medium-sized travel agencies. They offer these agencies access to cost-effective, fast, and secure payment solutions, leveling the playing field against larger OTAs. As the travel industry continues to evolve, these start-ups will play an increasingly vital role in shaping its future, ensuring that travellers and businesses alike enjoy the benefits of innovation, convenience, and efficiency.
The author is co-founder & CEO, TravClan
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETTravelWorld.com does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETTravelWorld.com shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person/organisation directly or indirectly.
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