Emerging Travel Group (RateHawk, Roundtrip) Expands Its Airline Offering With Travelport


De nouvelles fonctionnalités pour simplifier la gestion post-réservation - Depositphotos.com, Rawpixel

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Emerging Travel Group, the parent company of RateHawk, ZenHotels and Roundtrip, announces the strengthening of its partnership with Travelport.

The company is expanding the integration of Travelport’s aviation content, with the aim of simplifying reservation management and post-booking operations for travel professionals.

This development is expected to enable agents and travel managers to carry out certain air-ticket related tasks more easily, such as issuing, canceling, or voluntary refunds.

The announcement comes as the peak summer season approaches, a period when booking volumes and modification requests are especially high.

Emerging Travel Group began integrating Travelport’s offering in 2025.

Airline tickets from the platform were initially added to RateHawk, a multi-product booking platform for travel professionals, and to Roundtrip, its business travel solution.


Travelport bets on integrated workflows

Users of these two platforms can also access Travelport’s GDS rates and content, as well as the NDC content from certain airlines.

The announced extension is designed to further facilitate dossier management once a booking is made, directly from the environments used by professionals.

“Direct access to the various offers from airlines is essential for travel professionals, as it allows them to manage their clients’ itineraries and make changes without having to contact third-party providers“, explains Fredrik Bonnalt, head of the non-accommodation offering at Emerging Travel Group.

According to him, this integration also helps speed up the booking process and improve customer service.

For his part, Jason Toothman, Travelport’s Chief Commercial Officer, underlines the growing demand for integrated management of air content within a single workflow.

He highlights TripServices, Travelport’s platform dedicated to the creation and management of travel products, which should enable professionals to access, book and manage content more quickly.


Emerging Travel Group aims for IATA accreditation

The partnership also aligns with Travelport’s artificial intelligence strategy. The group recently announced a collaboration with Cognizant and Anthropic, some features of which will rely on TripServices to further integrate AI into travel professionals’ workflows.

In parallel with its collaboration with Travelport, Emerging Travel Group continues its development in the airline distribution market.

The group is particularly aiming to obtain IATA accreditation for several of its legal entities worldwide. The first accreditation has already been obtained in Germany.


Amelia Brille Published by Amelia Brille TourMaG.com Editor
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Rail Europe Strengthens UK Offering with the BritRail Pass


Rail Europe renforce son offre pour la Grande-Bretagne avec le BritRail Pass - Depositphotos.com @gjp1991

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Rail Europe a intégré le BritRail Pass à son écosystème mondial de distribution B2B, consolidant ainsi son offre stratégique pour la Grande-Bretagne destinée aux agences de voyages, plateformes OTA et tour-opérateurs à l’international.

The BritRail Pass, reserved for travelers residing outside the United Kingdom, offers flexible access to the National Rail network, including connections to major airports via the Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express and Stansted Express, as well as sleeper services such as the Caledonian Sleeper and the Night Riviera (berth reservations required).

For travel professionals, this product meets three priorities: operational simplicity, pricing flexibility, and the ability to build structured itineraries across Great Britain.

The portfolio includes national and regional passes, enabling advisers to design journeys focused on specific areas such as England, Scotland or the Southwest and South Wales, depending on the itinerary and the clients’ travel plans.


Des avantages supplémentaires pour le voyageur

The different passes available are :

BritRail Pass

BritRail England Pass

       

BritRail South West & South Wales Pass

BritRail Spirit of Scotland Pass (standard class only)

BritRail London Plus Pass


Most passes can be purchased in First or Second Class, with options for consecutive or flexible validity, as well as discounts for youths, seniors and children. Additional perks, such as 2-for-1 offers on certain attractions, are also available.


A strengthened B2B strategy driven by international demand

Rail Europe distributes a digital version of the pass, the M-Pass, via its B2B platforms, allowing agencies to manage both the booking and the activation days of travel thanks to a QR code. This mobile-first solution reduces operational complexity while preserving total flexibility for the final traveler.

With a growing international demand for Great Britain and a strong interest in destinations beyond London, Rail Europe believes that the BritRail Pass represents an important lever to develop international distribution and encourage rail itineraries across the entire British territory.

According to Björn Bender, CEO of Rail Europe, “The BritRail Pass strengthens our role as experts in European rail passes.

It complements our existing portfolio and enables our global business partners to build more flexible and higher-value itineraries in Great Britain, particularly in long-haul markets where regional exploration is becoming increasingly important.
”


Amelia Brille Publié par Amelia Brille Rédactrice TourMaG.com
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Corsica Ferries Strengthens Summer 2026 Offering and Accelerates Digital Transformation


Corsica Ferries renforce ses liaisons en Méditerranée - Depositphotos.com, KovalenkovPetr

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As spring-summer 2026 approaches, Corsica Ferries announces a strengthening of its links in the Mediterranean, while betting on digital innovation to improve the customer experience.

“We continually adapt our offering to meet our customers’ expectations: more flexibility, varied destinations, and a strong focus on both the onboard experience and digital services“, says Fabien Agostini, Chief Operations Officer of the company.

Faithful to its historical markets, the shipping line consolidates its routes to the main Mediterranean destinations.

Since April, sailings to Mallorca and Menorca have resumed from Toulon and Sète. Two weekly rotations are scheduled from Toulon, complemented by a weekly crossing from Sète.


A Stronger Presence on Key Destinations

Faced with sustained demand, Sardinia is seeing its offering expanded. From Toulon, the frequency rises to two crossings per week.

In addition, a new connection was inaugurated on April 18 between Sète and Porto Torres, with one crossing per week (excluding August).

A central destination for the company, Corsica remains accessible year-round from Toulon, Nice, Sète, Savona and Livorno.

The increase in rotations aims to guarantee greater flexibility for travelers. A new weekly link between Sète and Ajaccio was also launched on April 18 (excluding August).


A Customer Experience Oriented Toward “Contactless”

In keeping with its modernization strategy, Corsica Ferries is rolling out several digital features through its mobile application.

Among the main developments, dematerialized cabin access allows passengers to use their smartphone as a key, without stopping at the reception.

The app also centralizes boarding passes, makes it easier to modify sailings, and provides direct access to the Corsica Club loyalty program, accompanied by real-time notifications.

Another novelty is the option to pay for bookings in multiple installments (2, 3, or 4 installments) for online purchases.

The company is also launching a thematic mini-cruise from May 7 to May 10, 2026, combining cultural discovery and sporting activities. Departing from Bastia, passengers will head to Civitavecchia, the gateway to Rome, before reaching Portoferraio on the island of Elba.

The program includes free time to explore the Italian capital, as well as on-board activities, notably in partnership with Fitness Park. The trip also offers possible participation in the Marathon of Elba Island for the most energetic travelers.


Amelia Brille Published by Amelia Brille TourMaG.com Journalist
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BlaBlaCar Integrates Trenitalia, Expands Rail Offering in France


BlaBlaCar intègre Trenitalia sur sa plateforme pour élargir son offre de trains en France - Photo : Blablacar

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BlaBlaCar continues to expand its multimodal offering in France.

The platform announced, on May 6, 2026, the integration of Trenitalia trains into its app and website, enabling users to compare and book journeys by train, bus, or carpool from a single interface.

This announcement follows BlaBlaCar’s ongoing opening to rail travel, which began with the SNCF in France, then with the Spanish operators Renfe and Iryo. The addition of Trenitalia thus completes a service that aims to be increasingly European.

Present in France since 2021, Trenitalia operates high-speed connections on the Paris-Lyon, Paris-Marseille, and Paris-Milan routes. The operator claims nearly 5 million travelers carried and a satisfaction rate of 97%.

Its network serves several major stations, including Lyon Part-Dieu, Avignon TGV or Marseille Saint-Charles, as well as destinations in Italy such as Turin and Milan.

With this integration, BlaBlaCar members can now purchase Trenitalia tickets directly, on par with the other transport options already available on the platform.


A Centralized User Experience

One of the key aims of this collaboration is to streamline the purchasing journey. Users can compare the various options — train, bus, or carpool — without leaving the BlaBlaCar environment, and complete their booking without being redirected to third-party sites.

This centralized approach also extends to new conversational usages. The Trenitalia offering is accessible via the BlaBlaCar app integrated with ChatGPT, enabling travel searches in natural language.

For Erwin Coffy, BlaBlaCar’s commercial director, this development marks “a decisive step” in the group’s strategy, with the ambition to become a reference platform for long-distance journeys, by focusing on transparency of offers and price comparisons.

On his side, Marco Caposciutti, president of Trenitalia France, emphasizes that this partnership aims to increase the visibility of rail travel and to reach new customers, especially those seeking simple and centralized solutions.


The Train, a Growth Driver for BlaBlaCar

Beyond expanding the offering, rail travel appears as a growth lever for BlaBlaCar. According to the company, one in four bookings is made by a new user, while 70% of train customers were already using its carpool or bus services.


Amelia Brille Published by Amelia Brille TourMaG.com Editor
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Caribbean: CATLANTE Adapts Its Offering to a More Hesitant Winter Market


© Catlante Catamarans

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In the Caribbean, the real booking window often opens at the start of summer. It’s the moment when customers begin to seriously consider their winter holidays, still having choices for flight availability, cabins, and the best rates.

This year, however, many are hesitating more. The geopolitical context slows down some decisions, plans are postponed, even as we need more than ever to disconnect and look forward to joyful projections for the future.

In this context, CATLANTE provides very concrete answers to the main booking barriers: an all-inclusive onboard formula that helps manage the budget from the start, human-sized cruises on catamarans with only 12 passengers, and several offers designed to simplify the departure, including for solo travelers or families.

Clear, readable, and easy-to-sell arguments to help agencies trigger bookings now, during a key period for winter sales.


Voyageurs solo : CATLANTE réduit fortement le supplément single

Excellent news for solo travelers: the single fare is significantly reduced, with only 25 % surcharge instead of 75 % on certain periods. A rare proposition in the cruise world, where solo travelers often have to pay nearly the price of two people.

This offer applies to cruises departing from Martinique, Guadeloupe and Saint-Martin, between November 7, 2026 and December 17, 2026, then from March 4 to April 1, 2027.

The idea: travel alone at a very reasonable rate and fully enjoy the very distinctive atmosphere of CATLANTE cruises.

On board, solo travelers often find exactly what they’re looking for: genuine sociability, without crowding, in a relaxed and natural setting. Shared meals, swims in deserted coves, sunset cocktails or island-hopping quickly create simple and spontaneous bonds.

Another important advantage: unlike large impersonal cruises, CATLANTE catamarans accommodate only about 12 passengers. A human scale that completely changes the experience.


© Catlante Catamarans


CATLANTE facilite aussi les vacances en famille et entre amis

CATLANTE also makes departures for families or groups of friends easier thanks to a particularly attractive offer on triple cabins: the third passenger is free on certain Grenadines cruises, in triple occupancy, aboard the Catlante 600 catamarans of the Confort range.

This offer applies to departures on Thursdays and Fridays, from November 13, 2026 to April 15, 2027.

For a family with a teenager, three friends, or even a parent traveling with two children, the savings become quite meaningful. And above all, it allows access to a vacation package that is particularly complete: accommodation, generous all inclusive, water activities, dream stops, and turquoise sea.

Because it’s also one of the great strengths of CATLANTE cruises: once aboard, everything becomes incredibly simple.

No need to repack every two days, to catch ferries, to search for hotels, or to juggle logistics between several islands. The catamaran becomes a true floating guesthouse, moving from stop to stop while travelers fully enjoy their vacation.


Proposez une belle odyssée antillaise avec CATLANTE

À partir de 1 500 € par personne absolument tout inclus, CATLANTE propose sans doute l’un des formats les plus séduisants de l’hiver dans les Caraïbes : a seven-day one-way cruise between Guadeloupe and Martinique (or the reverse), sailing island to island.

The concept makes it very easy to build a long Caribbean voyage of nearly two weeks, with no fatigue or complicated logistics. A few days in Guadeloupe before boarding, a week of sailing along the islands with CATLANTE, then a few days in Martinique before the return flight (or vice versa).


© Catlante Catamarans


A true Antillean odyssey!

Marie-Galante and its long golden beaches, the archipelago of Les Saintes and its mythical bay, Dominica and its spectacular nature, the tranquil coves of Martinique: each stop changes completely the ambiance, landscapes, and pace.

And above all, everything unfolds with great simplicity. No permanent hotel changes, no long road hours, few transfers. The boat advances while passengers simply enjoy the journey.

Two to three stops per day, swimming that is only accessible by boat, villages reached by tender, sometimes dolphins that accompany the catamaran… All of it in the CATLANTE atmosphere: only about a dozen passengers aboard, a professional crew and a convivial vibe, far from the standards of large cruises.

A particularly appealing formula for travelers who already know the Grenadines and want to discover another facet of the Caribbean, even more varied, always immersive and incredibly easy to live.

CATLANTE advisors are available to answer all your questions 7 days a week at 01 55 20 90 90.

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Travel Tech Factory: Six Specialized Factories, New SEO & GEO Offering, and a Sovereign Travel AI


Six Factories, a Single Logic

© Travel Tech Factory

Top of Travel


Travel Tech Factory has structured ten years of expertise into six specialized Factories: Advisory, Connect, Web, Content, Intelligence, and Business Travel. Each Factory acts as an independent entry point: a crisis-hit NDC-powered tour operator activates Travel Connect Factory; a stagnating OTA engages Travel Web Factory. We enter through the urgent need, assess, and scale if it holds. Travel Advisory Factory shapes the trajectories of transformation. Travel Connect Factory stabilizes GDS and NDC integrations without a mandated overhaul. Business Travel Factory leads compliance and the duty of care.


TA’I: the sovereign AI that handles bookings

With TA’I, its sovereign travel AI, Travel Tech Factory addresses the limits of generic LLMs (price hallucinations, ignorance of IATA rules). TA’I is trained on travel-specific data under native business governance. A major difference: connected to GDS, Orchestra, and distribution platforms, TA’I can carry out the reservation. It marks the transition from an AI assistant to an operational AI agent — governed, traceable, validated. Adoption is measurable. Productivity gains are verifiable.


Travel Content Factory: SEO and GEO content

The new Travel Content Factory offering industrializes the production of travel content that is 100% original, optimized for traditional SEO and for GEO — search engine optimization via generative AI. The base catalog is not the same as the web catalog: Travel Content Factory delivers dozens of descriptions in record time, with human validation, for tour operators, agencies, hoteliers, airlines, and DMCs. In a sector where Google deploys its own travel AI tools, this dual optimization becomes strategic.


Industry expertise, ROI as the guiding principle

A decade in travel creates reflexes that generalists do not possess. Knowing IATA rules, understanding where flows break, anticipating exceptions — this is the industry expertise that Travel Tech Factory’s clients buy. And behind each Factory, a single motto: ROI. Measured before, during, and after. Not magicians — practical, effective professionals with ten years of real-world travel projects, at airlines, travel agencies, hoteliers, and tour operators.


Learn More About Travel Tech Factory


Travel Tech Factory : Six Factories spécialisées, une nouvelle offre SEO et GEO et une IA Travel souveraine
Website: https://traveltechfactory.com

Email: [email protected]

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