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Qingyong Chen

GM of CTG Travel Purchasing Business Unit

“China Tourism Group Travel with DidaTravel profound long-term cooperative relations, this is a company from first day believes that technology means to promote the progress of tourism industry, as China's tourism practitioner for many years, I would be glad to see such a vibrant new tourism practitioner, in the future we will continue to maintain close cooperation, continuous innovation.”

Yongsheng Liu

Vice President of CYTS Aoyou.com

“CYTS Aoyou.com are very honored to have had friendly cooperation with DidaTravel for nearly ten years. Both parties have explored mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation ways in domestic and foreign hotel business. We are looking forward to further cooperation with DidaTravel in the future.”

GM of Homsom.com, Travel Management Business

“We have established a good cooperative relationship with DidaTravel for more than 8 years with mutual trust and mutual growth. Their service responsiveness and responsible attitude are role models for the industry, and choosing DidaTravel as a partner is one of the factors driving the success of our business.”

GM of FASCO, Travel Management Business

“DidaTravel is one of our proud partners, because their reliable service and large global resource inventory provide us with great efficiency and confidence to stay focused on serving our clients well.”

Vice President of Fenbeitong, Leading enterprise cost control platform

“As a technology company serving enterprise customers, we are more fully aware of the advanced of DidaTravel's systems and the technical strength of their team, so we are excited about this strong cross-boundary partnership and look forward to working together to lead the standard for the next generation of enterprise services.”

Mr.Joon Aun Ooi

President, Asia Pacific from Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

“We are excited to expand our strategic partnership with DidaTravel, this enhanced alliance is a key milestone in our corporate journey as it enables our properties across Asia Pacific to expand their global distribution capabilities and help drive bookings by joining DIDA’s versatile travel wholesale platform.”

Huiwan Chua

Head of Agency Sales, Asia Pacific (APAC) at Travelport

“We are very pleased to reach this multi-year agreement with DidaTravel. This marks an exciting beginning of a partnership to deliver more values to travelers all over the world. We look forward to working closely and sharing insights with DidaTravel. We are dedicated to increase value for our partners and ensure that travelers have access to a range content of that is as comprehensive and competitive as possible.”

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DidaTravel acts as an agent in respect of all bookings made on our website or by telephone. For all bookings, your contract will be with the applicable Service Provider of your chosen Travel Service (who may be the principal or the agent of the principal) and DidaTravel acts only as an agent on their behalf, except where we state to the contrary in the terms and conditions.

DidaTravel is a trading name of DidaTravel UK and is registered in England and Wales with registered number 13483641 and registered office at 36 OLD JEWRY, LONDON, EC2R 8DD and a trading name of DidaTravel International Limited with registered number 67879802-000-06-21-A and is registered in UNIT 1751, LEVEL 17, SILVERCORD TOWER 2, 30 CANTON ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI, KOWLOON, HONG KONG and a trading name of DidaTravel Technology Singapore Pte.Ltd. with registered number 202226247G and is registered in 1 SCOTTS ROAD #24-05 SHAW CENTRE SINGAPORE (228208) © 2024 didatravels.com

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DidaTravel launches B2B booking platform

Posted by Claudia De Brito on 10 August 2022

Clients can combine flights with accommodation to boost their ancillary revenue

Tech-driven integrated travel service provider DidaTravel has launched a B2B flight booking multi-GDS portal with access to new distribution capability (NDC) content.

DidaTravel’s 23,000 B2B buyers around the world can now access flights from more than 500 airlines and flights to more than 20,000 destinations around the world. Buyers include travel agents, tour operators, OTAs and TMCs.

The platform allows clients to benefit from dynamic packaging technology that includes in-path and post-booking cross-selling tools. In addition, there is an option to query flight prices manually.

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To lead this new capability, Jason Guan, who joined DidaTravel last year, has been appointed as Flight Business Unit general manager. He will lead a team comprising specialists with expertise in system analysis and design, system architecture and modelling, development and coding, testing and implementation.

Commenting on the news, DidaTravel founder and CEO Rikin Wu said: “Following years of partners asking for flight products, during Covid-19 we put aside the time and resources to prepare for this properly and I'm excited that we are now ready to launch. 

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“Given our network of 23,000 B2B travel sellers globally and our unique dynamic packaging capabilities, I feel confident that we will be able to grow and scale our flight business under the leadership of Jason.”

Guan added: “I am so pleased to join DidaTravel. We have put together a team of top-notch professionals to provide our 23,000 B2B travel-selling clients with the best booking technology and customer support available. We have an ambitious expansion plan that adds value to all tourism stakeholders.”

For more information, visit  www.didatravel.com

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DidaTravel adds flight bookings

China-based DidaTravel has launched a B2B flight booking multi-GDS portal, including access to full-service carriers, low-cost carriers and NDC content.

The tech-driven accommodation bedbank, which was founded in 2012 in Shenzhen and now has over 300 staff in eight offices globally, said it has added flights due to demand from its clients.

It provides accommodation to 23,000 B2B buyers around the world, including OTAs, TMCs and MICE sellers and arrangers. 

Clients will now have the added option of combining flights with accommodation to boost their ancillary revenue thanks to dynamic packaging technology that also includes in-path and post-booking cross-selling tools.

Packaging of flights with accommodation is already available through the company’s new flight booking engine or as an XML / API integration, with dynamic packaging to be integrated at the end of 2022.

In addition, currently there is an option for clients to query flight prices manually.

To lead this new initiative, Jason Guan ­­– who joined DidaTravel last year – has now been appointed as Flight Business Unit General Manager, reporting directly to Rikin Wu, DidaTravel Founder and CEO.

Wu said: “Following years of partners asking for flight products, during Covid we put aside the time and resources to prepare for this properly and I´m excited that we are now ready to launch.

“Given our network of 23,000 B2B travel sellers globally and our unique dynamic packaging capabilities I feel confident that we will be able to grow and scale our flight business under the leadership of Jason.”

Guan said the company has an ambitious expansion plan that adds value to all tourism stakeholders.” In 2019 DidaTravel sold hotel bookings in the China and APAC region worth over $700 million.

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DidaTravel’s B2B clients can access flights on new portal

Along with this new development, the tech-driven integrated travel service provider’s dynamic packaging technology, to be integrated end 2022, also allows its travel-buying customers the added option of combining flights with accommodation to boost ancillary revenue

Brought to you by DidaTravel

Diversifying into selling flights, DidaTravel, has launched its B2B flight booking multi-GDS portal, which includes access to full-service carriers, low-cost carriers, and new distribution capability content.

The tech-driven integrated travel service provider’s 23,000 B2B buyers around the world can now access flights from 500-plus airlines to fly to more than 20,000 destinations globally.

With dynamic packaging technology that comprises in-path and post-booking cross-selling tools, clients will have the added option of combining flights with accommodation to boost ancillary revenues too.

Packaging of flights with accommodation is currently available through the company’s new flight booking engine or as an XML/API integration, with dynamic packaging to be integrated at the end of 2022.

DidaTravel’s clients also have the option to check on flight prices manually.

To lead this latest development, Jason Guan, flight business unit general manager, heads a new team of specialists with expertise in areas of system analysis and design, system architecture and modelling, development and coding, as well as testing and implementation.

Guan who joined the company last year, reports directly to Rikin Wu, DidaTravel founder and CEO.

Guan said: “We have put together a team of top-notch professionals to provide our 23,000-strong B2B travel-buying clients with the best booking technology and customer support available. We have an ambitious expansion plan that adds value to all tourism stakeholders.”

According to Wu, DidaTravel’s partners have requested for flight products for years and the company decided to utilise the pandemic downtime to allocate resources to build this new portal for flight bookings.

He is confident that DidaTravel’s unique dynamic packaging capabilities and Guan’s leadership will enable its flight business to grow and scale.

Founded in 2012, DidaTravel is headquartered in Shenzhen, China and has over 300 staff in eight offices globally.

The company works with travel-buying clients around the world, including travel agencies, tour operators, wholesalers, OTAs, TMCs and airlines.

Additionally, it boasts a portfolio of over 51,500 competitively sourced direct hotel contracts, as well as 700,000 hotel products provided by about 600 global suppliers, covering more than 200 countries and regions.

Pre-pandemic, DidaTravel sold hotel bookings in China and the Asia Pacific region worth over USD700 million in 2019.

To find out how to tap into DidaTravel’s extensive network of travel agencies, tour operators, wholesalers, OTAs, TMCs, airlines and hotels, visit  www.didatravel.com .

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CONNECTING THE WORLD

How travel distribution provider, DidaTravel, expanded their product offering by choosing Travelport+

The customer:

A global travel tech and content distribution provider

Access to flight content through a modern retailing partner

The solution:

Travelport+, for its content choice, easy integration, and simple approach to modern travel retailing  

MEET DIDATRAVEL

DidaTravel is a big company with its eyes on the prize. Headquartered in Shenzhen, China, the B2B travel wholesaler’s dedicated staff of 400 work with over 30,000 agents globally. It services clients through a one-stop platform that offers information on 700,000+ hotels, tours, and tourism activities.

As hotel experts, DidaTravel knows how to find every traveler the right room. Whether you’re looking for a 5-star luxury retreat, or a happening downtown boutique property, it’s got what you need. But modern retailing is all about meeting new customer needs, and that means staying proactive. DidaTravel’s Chief Strategy Officer, Eric Zhuang, told us about the company’s decision to partner with Travelport in order to move into the area of flight content distribution.

DARING VISION

When you’re already an expert in one area, many businesses would simply stick to what they know best. But not DidaTravel. It had the foresight to expand into flights, at a time when the world was scaling down on travel. In fact, China’s borders were still completely closed to travelers. Sounds bold, right?

Well, offering travelers the complete trip is the epitome of modern agency retailing. Customers today want travel offers that are easy to understand, with all the choice they need for their trips. And with thousands of agencies already buying hotel content, DidaTravel had a great chance go one step further, and help its customers become better retailers by offering air content.

SETTING THEIR AIM

Once DidaTravel had its sights set on flights, there was no stopping it. An already established name in the hotel space, the travel service provider had a high standard of service to live up to when it came to this new division of flights. With 8.6 million international travelers annually using its services, DidaTravel’s expansion had to be seamless, easy, and fast.

And, although at the time demand for flights was low in 2020, the agency focused on the bigger long-term picture. As the number one B2B travel wholesaler in China, the company attracted investment from e-commerce giants Alibaba in 2021. So, even in the face of lockdowns caused by the pandemic, standing still was never an option.

But, it needed a modern travel retailing partner to make their next move happen. Enter Travelport+. With a next-generation travel retailing platform by their side, Eric and his team could make their ambition of offering flights to travelers when travel returned, into a reality.

Connecting with clients is a priority for us, and we’ve been able to do that with Travelport.

Eric Zhuang, Chief Strategy Officer, DidaTravel

MAKING IT HAPPEN

Through Travelport+, DidaTravel were able to access airline content and get set up with flights for its thousands of agents hungry to fulfil customer needs. Meaning DidaTravel could now offer content for 500 airlines at 20,000 destinations, unlocking a whole new realm of potential without massive technological investment.

And while breadth of air content was one important factor for Eric’s team, globalization was another. So being able to connect with clients, no matter the location, was a big deciding factor in their choice of platform. In the course of growing their overseas supply chain when it came to airline content, Travelport’s network helped DidaTravel immensely. It introduced local aggregators that provided the team with a more competitive product.

SEAMLESS INTEGRATION, INSTANT RESULTS

Travelport+ saved DidaTravel time on development, as the platform was easy to use, so the team was able to get to market quickly and easily, with no learning costs. Since it began using Travelport’s API, it can now quickly access the suppliers and resources it needs, reducing the cost of connecting with clients.

The refund and flight change function has given us great operational support.

And the cherry on top? The business got a modern platform that could help make manual processes automatic, giving time back to their team before the boom of post-pandemic travel came along. And Travelport+ delivered. Eric says refunds and flight changes really helped. The automated interaction capabilities has also cut down processing time formerly spent by the team.

FLYING HIGH INTO THE FUTURE

Modern retailing means having the right content, at the right time, for the right customer. Timing is everything, and especially in the case of DidaTravel. It took a risk, when others wouldn’t dare, and looked outside the box, expanding into flights before their country’s borders had reopened to the world.

And opened, they did. On the day the Chinese government announced travelers would no longer have to quarantine on arrival in the country, outbound flight bookings from mainland China increased by 247%. This data on the reopening of travel in China goes to show that this business were right to pursue such a bold move.

So, what’s next for DidaTravel? Eric says he and his team are excited for what else Travelport+ can bring to their company. The content, connections, and capabilities Travelport gave Eric and his team means that DidaTravel have great trust in accomplishing their goals in the future.

“Travelport is an important partner to our business”, Eric added. “We entered the flight business and it wasn’t an easy start. But the relationships that we have with the global team and APAC teams from Travelport has made our life much easier.”

Travelport will definitely be a long-term partner.

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Dida travel API

Dida is a leading B2B travel wholesaler in China, pioneering travel distribution throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Dida’s core mission is to be a global travel technology leader, offering its clients the fastest and most adaptable access to a wide range of top-tier travel products including hotels,transfers, car rentals, flights, tickets, and tours. They are able to accomplish this mission with the help of their state-of-the-art open platforms.

Agility ingrained in Dida’s ethos, Dida’s global workforce has developed a reputation for technical prowess and unwavering commitment to customer service. Dida’s values are perfectly aligned with its vision: to empower one million travel partners worldwide.

News Updates

DidaTravel Outperforms Chinese Hotel Market Recovery

DidaTravel – a technology-driven global travel distribution company – continues to outperform the Chinese outbound recovery, recording a remarkable 40% increase in hotel sales, year-to-date compared with pre-pandemic, 2019 sales (+292% growth comparing the same period, 2022).

Also, from a destination perspective, DidaTravel’s hotel sales in China, year-to-date, have experienced remarkable +124% growth Vs. same period in 2019.

Didatravel Appoints Ala Andriuta To Strengthen Partnerships With Destination Marketing Organisations Globally

DidaTravel announced they had appointed Ala Andriuta as Head of Destination Marketing. This newly created role aims to strengthen close partnerships with National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) and Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) around the world, enabling them to leverage DidaTravel’s extensive distribution network to achieve their growth objectives.

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Intuitive expands into Asia: DidaTravel partners with iVectorOne to strengthen hotel connectivity

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Dida Travel is integrated with OTRAMS. OTRAMS offers out-of-box integration with Dida Travel. If you want access to Dida Travel’s API, sign up for OTRAMS and connect with Dida Travel’s team to get started.

OTRAMS is a leading travel technology provider with the best travel management software. With our powerful travel management software, you can achieve your business goals.

Benefits of Travel Management Software

• Automating reservation management tasks, such as adding and updating information, adding prices, and creating reports, is made possible by travel reservation systems.
• It is possible to save time and reduce errors with such a system. This allows the business owner and staff to focus on other tasks.
• Online travel reservations provide customers with 24/7 access to travel options. Reservations can be made online without calling or visiting, and they can view available dates, rates, and amenities. The result will be a benefit for customers.
• A travel reservation system streamlines the booking and payment process for customers.
• Creating, marketing, and selling online travel packages is easy. You can offer your customers dynamic or semi-dynamic travel packages.
• Travel agents can access all the information they need through online booking systems. The information includes information about the organization, the customers, the income, the disclaimers, the forms, the billings, the inventory, the staff, and the partners.
• The system allows you to run your business in an organized way through logging in.

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1、Getting Started

2、Content API

3、Booking API

• Lowest price search
• Cache rate search
• Realtime rate search
• 3.2、Price Confirm
• 3.3、Booking Confirm
• 3.4、Booking Search

3.5、Booking Cancel

• 3.6、Timeout configuration

4、Information Hub

• 6、Change Log

# Price Search

1 . Price Search: This function allows users to search for prices by check-in and check-out dates. It supports both cached rates and real-time rates. 2 . Default Settings: By default, the Lowest Price Search and Cache Rate Search will return prices based on two persons. 3 . Cache Building: If you use the Lowest Price Search or Cache Rate Search to build your cache for the next 30 days, you should invoke the API 30 times as the cache is on a daily basis. 4 . Multiple Hotel Queries: For queries involving multiple hotels, it is recommended to use the Cache Rate Search . 5 . PriceSearch Step: At this step, DidaAPI only returns the price for one room. If you search for more than one room (for example, 3 rooms), and need to calculate the total price for the order, use the price for one room multiplied by the number of rooms. At the PriceConfirm step, the total price for all rooms is returned. For a detailed explanation, please contact your dedicated API manager. 6 . Multiple Rooms: Dida API supports single requests with multiple rooms of the same room type (same RatePlanID). However, it does not support single requests with multiple rooms of different room types. 7. Different Occupancies: For two rooms with different numbers of occupants, it is recommended to conduct two separate price searches. If you intend to make a single booking for two rooms with different occupancies, input the maximum total number of adults and children across the different room combinations. Please refer to the examples provided in the table below for specific guidance.

8 . Regarding meal plans, Dida provides two fields to obtain information about the meal types. The first is BreakfastType, which in the Response only indicates the inclusion or exclusion of breakfast without specifying the number of meal servings. For clients developing the Dida API, this field is not recommended. The second is MealType, which not only represents the specific meal plan in the Response but is also accompanied by MealAmount to denote the number of meal servings included. If you utilize MealType, it is imperative to also parse the MealAmount field to avoid any interpretation errors or future disputes regarding the number of meal servings.Furthermore, in theory, the quantity of MealAmount is always less than or equal to the number of guests staying. For instance, if two guests are staying and MealAmount is 0, it means that breakfast is not included. A MealAmount of 1 indicates that only one breakfast serving is included, which is a scenario where some hotels may include one complimentary breakfast for two guests, and any additional servings would need to be purchased separately upon arrival. A MealAmount of 2 signifies that both guests have breakfast included in their stay. 9 . Regarding the IncludedFeeList and ExcludedFeeList: In theory, the taxes and fees displayed within the IncludedFeeList node are included in the TotalPrice node, such as Tax and Fee, which need to be paid by the guest along with the TotalPrice. The taxes and fees displayed in the ExcludedFeeList node are not included in the TotalPrice node, such as Resort Fee, City Fee, etc., which are generally paid directly to the hotel by the guest upon arrival. The information in IncludedFee and ExcludedFee generally comes from the Dida supplier or the hotel, and not every hotel will include these two nodes. For hotels that have IncludedFee or ExcludedFee, if you need to see information about these two nodes in the Response, additional configuration needs to be done on the Dida side in order to view them. If needed, please contact your dedicated API account manager.

# Lowest price search

This API only returns the lowest price for each hotel at a specified destination. It is recommended to use this function for hotel price caching.

• To get the lowest hotel price by a specified destination filter, you might need to perform city mapping on your end. However, this is generally not recommended due to the complexity of city mapping compared to hotel mapping. Instead, you can use the function "Get Hotel Lowest Price by Specified Hotel ID List" after you've completed hotel mapping. To do this, get the Dida hotel ID list by your city code and then input them in the "HotelIDList" filter. This method allows you to bypass city mapping and eliminates the need to download Dida's City/Destination info.
• Get hotel Lowest price by specified hotel id list.

# Cache rate search

• This API is recommended for searching prices across multiple hotels. It retrieves cached rates for efficiency. However, please note that it should not be used for more than 50 hotels at a time due to performance considerations.
• This API allows you to retrieve the cached rate for a specific, single hotel.

# Realtime rate search

• Multiple Hotels: This API allows you to retrieve the most current rates for multiple hotels. It is particularly useful when you need the most up-to-date pricing information. If you need to get real-time rates for multiple hotels, you should contact Dida. They can provide further assistance and guidance to ensure you get the most accurate and current rates.
• Single Hotel: This API is specifically designed for retrieving the most up-to-date rates for a single hotel. It's recommended to use this function when you're searching for rates for individual hotels as it provides the most current and accurate pricing information.

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DidaTravel charts Southeast Asia’s top destinations

SHENZEN, China, 27 May 2022: Thailand’s destinations dominate DidaTravel’s bookings chart for the first four months of 2022 confirming the country leads recovery in booking volume in Southeast Asia channelled through the global hotel wholesaler.

At the country level, Thailand leads the Southeast Asia market growth, with bookings up 324% from 1 January to 30 April compared with the same four-month period in 2021. The total booking volume for Thailand from 1 January to 30 April 2022 was 1.7 times of Malaysia, 2.2 times of Indonesia, 3.3 times of Singapore, 3.4 times of the Philippines, and 11.4 times of Vietnam. The company said the exact booking order amounts were confidential.

DidaTravel said the vast lead in total booking volume for the four months confirmed Thailand as its top destination in the region for its B2B travel buying clients based worldwide.

In its booking performance chart identifying the top 20 destinations, Bangkok topped the list, but other destinations in Thailand returned positive booking trends too. Pattaya on Thailand’s eastern seaboard clocked fourth place, followed by sixth-placed Phuket, Krabi (11), Chiang Mai (12), Hua Hin (15), and Samui (18).

Overall, data from DidaTravel shows that Southeast Asia’s hotel bookings have increased by 460% YoY, even surpassing the pre-pandemic levels of 2019 by 15%.

At the same time, the top destinations (cities as opposed to countries) booked by DidaTravel’s B2B buyers, such as travel agents, tour operators, OTAs, TMCs and MICE, are as follows:

As the demand for Southeast Asia hotel products rises, DidaTravel has added more rooms to its inventory. In the past three years, DidaTravel’s hotel numbers in Southeast Asia have maintained double-digit growth to reach 44% — taking the total number of hotels available in the region to 28,000, of which 3,712 hotels are directly contracted. 

In part, this growth has been driven by DidaTravel’s recently announced plan to increase the number of directly contracted hotels globally by the end of 2022 to reach 74,000.

DidaTravel Founder & CEO Rikin Wu said: “DidaTravel has had a rich local knowledge and strong contracting presence in Southeast Asia for a long time – so it is very exciting to see growth in Southeast Asia as demand rebounds. I am optimistic about the travel industry in 2022 because we see more and more countries are easing travel restrictions across the region to bring back the much needed long-haul travellers who stay longer and spend more.

“We’ve been working hand-in-hand with our Southeast Asian hotelier partners to attract and welcome domestic and international travellers to their hotels. I’m proud to confirm that we now have 28,000 hotels in the region, 3,712 directly contracted.” 1 All figures quoted refer to bookings made via DidaTravel from 1 January to 30 April 2019, 2021, and 2022.

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The hassle-free way to experience this interesting city is with a tailor-made Moscow vacation package. Stay in the neighborhood of Tverskoy, which is good for shopping, dining and culture or choose someplace else — our package deals are all about you. You'll want to go sightseeing during your trip to Moscow. Carve out some time for leading attractions such as Red Square , St. Basils Cathedral and Bolshoi Theatre . Whatever your travel plans or the size of your budget, organizing your ultimate tailored Moscow vacation is easy with Expedia.

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Moscow City Centre

Theaters, museums, and historic sites highlight some notable features of Moscow City Centre. Make a stop by Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or Kremlin Arsenal while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Okhotny Ryad Station or Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Station to get around town.

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Moskovskiy and surrounding area, you can visit Vnukovo Airport Public Museum of Battle and Labor Glory and State Memorial Museum of Bulat Okudzhava.

Central Administrative Okrug

If you're spending time in Central Administrative Okrug, check out sights like Moscow Manege or Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and hop on the metro to see more the city at Okhotny Ryad Station or Teatral'naya Station.

Molzhaninovsky District

When in Molzhaninovsky District, you can plan a visit to Church of the Nativity in Cherkizovo and Ezhi Monument, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

South-Western Administrative Okrug

While you're in South-Western Administrative Okrug, take in top sights like Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Uzkoye or Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin, and hop on the metro to see more the city at Konkovo Station or Yasenevo Station.

Moscow Essential Information

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Frequently asked questions, discover the most popular places to visit in moscow.

You can learn about the history of Moscow with a trip to Red Square. Experience the area's fascinating museums and acclaimed theater scene.

Moscow Kremlin

Visit the most iconic square in Russia, which is bordered by many of the city’s most famous landmarks.

Bolshoi Theatre

A centerpiece of the Russian arts scene, this theater’s magnificent auditorium and top-tier productions will impress even the most jaded theatergoer.

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Booking travel online? Here's how you can avoid scams

Morgan Macfarlane arrived at her hotel in Orizaba, Mexico, last May, ready to quickly drop her bags off and go get dinner. But when she tried to check in, an employee told her they weren’t fully operational yet and didn’t have an advanced booking system.

She had booked the room and prepaid about $40 through Airbnb and pulled up the confirmation on the platform’s app on her phone. 

“And he was like, ‘That isn’t our listing,’” the 27-year-old digital advertising associate and travel content creator said.

While the address was the same, the listing she booked turned out to be fake, she said. Airbnb refunded Macfarlane’s money, and she paid in cash to stay the night at the hotel. An Airbnb spokesperson said the host had since been banned.

"False listings of course have no place on our platform," the spokesperson said in an email. "The host never received any money through Airbnb since we handle the payments for reservations and hosts do not receive initial payouts until 24 hours after a successful check-in."

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Macfarlane is not alone.

A recent survey of more than 7,000 adults in seven countries – including over 1,000 in the U.S. – from online protection company McAfee found that 35% of American respondents had been the victim of a scam while booking travel online, or know someone who has. The survey results released earlier this month also showed that 40% of those who had money stolen lost over $1,000 prior to their trip as a result.

Is Airbnb safe?: Check for these four red flags to avoid scams as a guest on your next stay

'It's like your local bestie': This startup helps make solo travel as a woman feel safer

Among U.S. adults surveyed, 13% also said they had given credit card information to a fake website that was then used for fraudulent payments. Here’s how travelers can avoid falling prey to travel booking scams online.

How can travelers avoid scams online?

Steve Grobman, McAfee’s senior vice president and chief technology officer, said travelers should be on their guard while browsing. “The scammers know that there are people that are bargain hunting,” he said.

◾If travelers are looking at listings through a third party, they need to read reviews for the specific property, in the case of a vacation rental, for instance. Macfarlane said the listing she booked didn’t have any reviews but had photos that looked legitimate.

◾If travelers are not browsing on a well-known travel site, such as Airbnb or Vrbo, they should pay close attention to the payment methods accepted. Grobman warned never to pay by wire transfer, cryptocurrency or gift cards, which they often will not be able to get back.

“The scammers will actually sometimes use the fact that something is a good deal as rationale for why they're insisting on those forms of payments,” he said. “They'll say, you know, ‘How can we offer such a good deal? It's because we don't have the overhead of traditional credit cards.’”

◾If a deal looks too good to be true, Grobman added, it probably is. 

He said that fraudulent sites look “almost identical” to legitimate ones, making it very difficult to tell them apart. Those running the fake site may even add forged ratings, and vary them so they look more real.

“They'll do things like that to add credibility, because people have gotten in the habit of looking for things like ratings or looking for certain telltale signs that we all see on legitimate sites,” Grobman said.

He suggested trying to validate that the site exists, such as checking to see whether it has been referenced in legitimate media outlets.

Fake booking sites may also use some of the same techniques as above-board businesses, like buying keywords on Google and tracking users who may be looking for those sites. “That's why if you visit one of these sites and decide not to make a transaction, you could still get a targeted ad popping up in your browser and social media a couple of hours later, that would be for the same location that you might have been researching,” Grobman said.

◾Using a VPN, or virtual private network , that hides your IP address and physical location can help prevent that kind of tracking, he noted.

Booking travel with a VPN: Can using one save you money on hotels, car rentals? I tested it out

Can you use ChatGPT as a travel agent?: Here's what I learned about AI vacation planning

What can you do if you get scammed online?

If a traveler paid by credit card, they can call the credit card company and dispute the charge, which a scammer will have a much harder time justifying than a real business. For those who have booked through a reputable broker but run into an issue with the person who listed the property or other service, Grobman said those platforms can typically mediate.

Travelers who may have been the target of a scam can also report it to the Federal Trade Commission and their state attorney general, according to the FTC’s website .

“If you can stick to sites that have a high reputation and have safeguards in place, that's always preferable,” Grobman said.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

This property isn’t taking reservations on our site right now. But don’t worry, you can find tons of other nearby properties right here .

Novotel Moscow Centre

Novoslobodskaya Street 23, Tverskoy, 127055 Moscow, Russia – Excellent location – show map

Novotel Moscow Centre Reserve now

Lock in a great price for Novotel Moscow Centre – rated 8.4 by recent guests!

Enter dates to get started.

Cleanliness

Value for money

Excellent location!

• Pet friendly
• Free parking
• Air conditioning
• 24-hour front desk
• Key card access
• Daily housekeeping
• Non-smoking rooms

A 15-minute drive from Moscow’s Red Square and the Kremlin, the Novotel Moscow Center welcomes guests with a modern glass exterior. It offers free high-speed internet and a restaurant serving international cuisine. Comfortably furnished rooms with warm lighting and high-quality wooden furnishings all include a TV and mini-bar. Some offer a safety deposit box, iron and hot drink facilities. Guests are offered free bottle of mineral water every day. A buffet breakfast is served every morning in the Moscow Center’s bright dining hall, featuring wide windows and fresh plants. Guests enjoy use of the Novotel’s fitness center free of charge and a selection of drinks at the lobby bar. Services include luggage storage and packed lunches for day trips. Mendeleyevskaya Metro Station is just opposite the hotel and Novoslobodskaya Metro Station is a 5-minute walk away. Sheremetyevo International Airport is a 35-minute ride with Aeroexpress Train from Belorussky Train Station, which is a 10-minute metro ride from the hotel.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 9.3 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

• Family rooms
• Fitness center
• Room service
• Very Good Breakfast

Property highlights

Top Location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.4)

Want a great night's sleep? This hotel was highly-rated for its very comfy beds.

FREE parking!

Loyal Customers

끖 There are more repeat guests here than most other properties.

Availability

Select dates to see this property's availability and prices

Property practices

Categories:, see what guests loved the most:.

Hotel area info

Restaurants 1 restaurant on site.

• Cuisine International
• Ambience Traditional

Amenities of Novotel Moscow Centre Great facilities! Review score, 8.2

• Outdoor furniture
• Coffee house on site
• Kids' meals
• Breakfast in the room
• Street parking
• Invoice provided
• Private check-in/out
• ATM on site
• Baggage storage
• Currency exchange
• Indoor play area
• Ironing service Additional charge
• Dry cleaning Additional charge
• Laundry Additional charge
• Fax/Photocopying
• Business center
• Meeting/Banquet facilities
• Fire extinguishers
• CCTV outside property
• CCTV in common areas
• Smoke alarms
• 24-hour security
• Shared lounge/TV area
• Designated smoking area
• Smoke-free property
• Soundproof rooms
• Facilities for disabled guests
• Massage Additional charge

House rules

From 3:00 PM

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card at check-in

Until 12:00 PM

Cancellation/ prepayment

Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodations type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check what conditions apply to your preferred room.

Children & Beds

Child policies

Children of all ages are welcome.

Children 16 and above will be charged as adults at this property.

To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

Crib and extra bed policies

Prices for cribs and extra beds aren't included in the total price. They'll have to be paid for separately during your stay.

The number of extra beds and cribs allowed depends on the option you choose. Check your selected option for more info.

All cribs and extra beds are subject to availability.

No age restriction

There's no age requirement for check-in

Pets are allowed. Charges may apply.

When booking more than 7 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

Accepted payment methods

Cash Novotel Moscow Centre accepts these cards and reserves the right to temporarily hold an amount prior to arrival.

Billing/invoices

Official invoices (for tax/billing purposes) are available at this property for business travelers.

The fine print Must-know information for guests at this property

Please note that visa support for foreigners is provided for free. In case of cancelation, 3000 RUB will be charged.

Please note that according to the hotel's policy the guest who made the booking must be the holder of the credit card provided during the booking and at check-in. An alternative credit card has to be provided otherwise, and cash payment is also available. In case of providing another credit card, the amount of prepayment will be refunded to the credit card used for the booking.

Russian citizens are required to show a national passport upon check-in.

Please note that when booking 9 rooms and more, different prepayment policies may apply. Please contact the property for more details.

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), additional safety and sanitation measures are in effect at this property.

Spa and gym facilities at this property are unavailable due to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

FAQs about Novotel Moscow Centre

How far is novotel moscow centre from the center of moscow.

Novotel Moscow Centre is 2.1 miles from the center of Moscow. All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.

Does Novotel Moscow Centre have a restaurant on site?

What are the check-in and check-out times at novotel moscow centre.

Check-in at Novotel Moscow Centre is from 3:00 PM, and check-out is until 12:00 PM.

What is there to do at Novotel Moscow Centre?

What type of room can i book at novotel moscow centre, how much does it cost to stay at novotel moscow centre.

The prices at Novotel Moscow Centre may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates, hotel's policy etc.). To see prices, enter your dates.

Personalized recommendations

We provide personalized recommendations based on your activity on our platform. If you prefer, you can opt out of this option. Opting-out only affects your current device. Adjust this setting to your preference on other devices as well.

Verified reviews from real guests.

We have more than 70 million property reviews, all from real, verified guests .

How does it work?

It starts with a booking.

The only way to leave a review is to first make a booking. That's how we know our reviews come from real guests who have stayed at the property.

Followed by a trip

When guests stay at the property, they check out how quiet the room is, how friendly the staff is, and more.

And finally, a review

After their trip, guests tell us about their stay. We check for naughty words and verify the authenticity of all guest reviews before adding them to our site.

If you booked through us and want to leave a review, please sign in first.

Check-in date

Check-out date

Expedia, Kayak, HomeToGo: The AI Travel Race For Booking Platforms

Justin Dawes , Skift

May 30th, 2024 at 12:23 PM EDT

None of the AI tools are as sharp as users may expect — but the companies that have begun experimenting likely are farther ahead than those that have not started at all. 

Justin Dawes

Many of the travel booking platforms that experimented with generative AI tools early are now releasing second or third versions of that tech. 

That’s been the case for Expedia, Kayak, and HomeToGo, all of which have announced upgrades or new AI tools in recent months.

Based on the tests that Skift has been able to do so far, none of the tools are as sharp as users would like — but those companies likely are farther ahead than those that have not started at all. 

Some of the projects highlighted below will be part of the discussion next week at the Skift Data + AI Summit in New York City. Kayak chief scientist Matthias Keller and Expedia chief architect Rajesh Naidu are slated to speak, among others.

Expedia 

Expedia earlier this month said that it would be adding multiple AI tools for various parts of a trip, including inspiration, planning, booking, customer service, and more. 

The main tool is Romie, an AI-powered travel agent and assistant. Users can access the chatbot individually or in groups on Whatsapp, text message, or the Expedia app.

A quick test in WhatsApp shows that Romie can answer questions about destinations and provide options with links for flights, hotels, and activities. Clicking on a link opens that product in the Expedia app. 

(Expect a full test soon detailing how these multiple features work.)

Romie is able to proactively suggest alternatives if there is an unexpected event that could cause a travel disruption, like poor weather or a flight delay, according to the app.

The Expedia app is also getting an itinerary builder and a tool for users to compare destinations. The online customer help center has been updated with AI to resolve problems more quickly, the company said, and guests can now view AI-generated review summaries for at the top of each individual hotel’s review page.

HomeToGo 

HomeToGo , the Germany-based metasearch engine and booking site for vacation rentals, last week shared its vision for an AI assistant that helps users with search, booking, and post-booking support. 

Completion of a “Super AI Sunny” chatbot is the goal, but the company is building it in steps.  

HomeToGo is testing one of those building blocks in a new customer service chatbot called AI Sunny, which repurposed the previous traditional chatbot. The company said that so far, AI Sunny has reduced the transfer of customers to human agents by about 40%. 

AI Sunny is in addition to an AI-powered search tool, called AI Mode, which Skift tested after it was released last year.  

HomeToGo plans to eventually merge the AI Sunny and AI Mode products to create the foundation of Super AI Sunny for three uses:

• Enabling guests to search for a rental using everyday language. For example: “A two-bedroom villa with a pool that’s close to great hiking trails in Italy.”
• Answering questions about specific rentals on topics like cancellation policies and parking options
• Providing tips based on the rental location, such as packing lists, local restaurant recommendations, and weather forecasts.

HomeToGo also said last week that it’s using Google Cloud’s Vertex AI to build various products as part of a goal toward a reimagined marketplace fully powered by AI. Vertex AI gives software developers access to several third-party generative AI models in addition to Google’s, allowing the developers to select which model is best suited for each individual project. 

Google’s Gemini model powers HomeToGo Smart AI Reviews, a tool in testing that summarizes a property’s guest reviews and highlights key features.  

Kayak 

Travel metasearch engine Kayak earlier this year released the first version of a reimagined travel planning and booking process, a tool called Ask Kayak .

The user starts with a prompt in everyday language about a specific destination. The tool then opens a full webpage with options for flights, lodging, and car rentals, along with AI-generated information about the destination.  

As the Skift test from March showed, the tech still needs some work  — but CEO Steve Hafner is hopeful that AI will lead to a better future for online travel booking companies. 

Kayak was one of the first travel companies to announce a plugin on ChatGPT Plus. It allows ChatGPT to provide information and links about specific flights based on information from Kayak.

Along with Ask Kayak, the company released a tool meant to read flight fare information from a screenshot and then search for a better price. 

Kayak is owned by Booking Holdings.

Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch

Tags: artificial intelligence , booking holdings , expedia , generative ai , hometogo , kayak , online travel newsletter , the prompt , very online

Photo credit: HomeToGo shared its long-term vision for an AI-integrated marketplace. HomeToGo

How to Book Italy's Orient Express La Dolce Vita Train

F or more than a century, the Orient Express has captured travelers' imaginations as a grand European hotel on rails, shuttling high society from Paris to Istanbul since 1883. The luxury train became the stuff of legend (as the "spies' express" ) and pop culture, be it in Bram Stoker's Dracula or Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express , while setting the standard for elevated transcontinental travel.

Sadly, the luxury of slow travel couldn't compete with high-speed rail and budget flights, reports The Guardian , prompting the final run of the original Orient Express line in 2009.

That is, until more recently. In the past several years, the legendary locomotive experience has witnessed a rebirth thanks to luxury hospitality brands that are breathing new life into the iconic rail journeys-including the forthcoming La Dolce Vita Orient Express in Italy, a joint venture of French hotel firm Accor and real-estate investment company Arsenale, together with Italy's Trenitalia Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane and Treni Turistici Italiani .

Starting in spring 2025, La Dolce Vita Orient Express will bring passengers to regions throughout Italy on itineraries that run between two and three days. There are nine itineraries to choose from (depending on the time of the year):

• Venice and Portofino
• Venice and Siena
• The Italian Trans-Siberian: Matera and Palena
• Rome to Montalcino
• Rome to Monferrato
• Southern Italy: Maratea and Palermo
• Palermo to Rome
• Sicily and the Mediterranean

Travelers can choose between 12 deluxe cabins and 18 suites, with prices starting at $3,800 per person for a deluxe cabin and at $5,100 per person for a suite.

As for the concept for the new La Dolce Vita Orient Express train, "The train pays tribute to the years of La Dolce Vita, a fantastic period of history, [and] to the artistic and cultural fervor of Italy in the 1960s," according to a press release. Dimorestudio dreamed up the midcentury-inspired design aboard the train's renovated carriages-think pops of terra-cotta paint, tongue-and-groove ceilings, and brass accents galore. Dining aboard La Dolce Vita trains will be a sophisticated affair as well: Travelers will enjoy exclusive recipes created by master Italian chefs who use local ingredients, while sipping award-winning Italian wine. There will, of course, also be a lounge and bar, as well as entertainment, "all boldly celebrating the art, design, and creativity of the 1960s and 1970s," the release stated.

Upon departure from Italy's Rome Ostiense station, La Dolce Vita passengers will have access to their own lounge and a "relaxing pre-boarding experience."

The trains will cross about 10,000 miles of railway lines, 4,400 of which are not electrified and are historic routes traversing less-frequented parts of the countryside. Passengers will get their share of landscape gazing (alpine mountains and sandy southern beaches) and of metropolitan centers like Venice and Rome. "We are thrilled to officially open the doors to a new era of travel with La Dolce Vita Orient Express. This endeavor embodies the essence of exquisite exploration, where sophistication meets adventure," Orient Express CEO Gilda Perez-Alvarado said in a press statement.

Not to be confused with the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express , which is currently owned by Belmond, part of LVMH, and runs from London to Venice, La Dolce Vita Orient Express is the latest incarnation of the original train line.

How to book La Dolce Vita Orient Express

Starting on April 2, 2024, travelers in the United States and Canada can call (833) 661-3080 to book their journey with La Dolce Vita Orient Express. And as of April 24, 2024, bookings will be available online on the La Dolce Vita website .

This story was originally published in December 2021; it was updated on March 19, 2024, to include current information.

Millennials and Gen Zers want human connection, so they're choosing travel tours with strangers to cure their loneliness

• Intrepid Travel said young people are seeking immersive, non-traditional vacation experiences. 
• Millennials share more travel similarities with Gen Z travelers than previous generations.
• Young travelers are prioritizing interest-based travel over destination-based travel.

Young people are seeking more human connection in the post-lockdown era, so they're embracing small-group travel.

Modern technology and social media apps have created a hyper-connected world, but many millennials and Gen Zers say the focus on screens has caused an epidemic of loneliness .

While New apps and local community groups are trying to address this "social distance" problem, some young people are choosing to book their vacations with strangers to find more face-to-face camaraderie.

Intrepid Travel, which organizes small-group experiences in over 100 countries, including Morocco and Sri Lanka, says it's seen a growing interest from young people in these kinds of group tours.

"They're prioritizing travel over buying houses, mortgages, and other expenses," Matt Berna, Intrepid Travel's president of the Americas, told Business Insider.

Group travel can be hit-or-miss with people. They can conjure an image of 40-plus tourists being led off a bus to an overcrowded attraction by their shouting tour guide.

But Berna said Intrepid Travel's focus on small group experiences is the opposite. The average Intrepid Travel group has 10 people.

"It allows us to travel like locals," Berna said. "We eat in small local restaurants. We stay in family-owned hotels. We typically avoid mass market tourism, hotels, or experiences."

It also allows people to form new bonds in a tight-knit setting, which young travelers crave, after the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Camaraderie in a group is so special because you make great friendships and share laughs and stories," Berna said.

Related stories

Berna said these unique experiences are popular with 18 to 29-year-olds — Intrepid Travel's core audience. Experiences are designed with young travelers in mind, offering more free time to explore on their own and more active outings.

Berna said Intrepid Travel began receiving requests from people in their 30s looking for adventures off the beaten path. Millennials traditionally valued experience-driven opportunities , and that desire hasn't waned with time.

"It became clear that millennials are aging, but the style they want to travel is immersive," Berna said. "If anything, they resonated more with Gen Z than the generations above them."

American Express Travel's 2023 Global Travel Trends Report found nearly 80% of millennials and Gen Zers respondents said they want to "partake in a day in the life of locals in the destination they are visiting," pointing toward activities like visiting local cultural sites and "hole-in-the-wall" attractions.

Airbnb, owned by millennial billionaire Brian Chesky , reported in 2020 that it also found that "immersive encounters" were becoming more popular with this generation, with interest up 102% year-to-year.

Older generations, Berna said, book vacations based on destination. Older travelers tend to plan vacations around conventional tourist spots — think the Eiffel Tower in Paris — because it's popular.

However, younger travelers don't have the same sense of FOMO — or "the fear of missing out" — that their parents do. Instead, they book vacations by interest.

At Intrepid Travel, that includes cycling enthusiasts traveling to Vietnam to peddle through the local sites. Experiences based on camping, festivals, and food are also options travelers can explore.

"They want to be a trendsetter going to the next cool place," Berna said. "It will be something new you can share with your friends, so you get the bragging rights. It's a bit more adventurous instead of following the crowd."

After conducting consumer research among its more than 300,000 travelers, Intrepid Travel formally expanded the young trip age range to 35 in February.

"Intrepid identified an opportunity to better cater for an expanded age range after experiencing a rise in inquiries from travelers in their early 30s wanting to join Intrepid's young adult trips," a press release said. "The company conducted extensive consumer research which showed that most travelers aged 18 to 35 prefer to travel with those of a similar age."

As for where travelers are going, Berna said South America has emerged as a top contender, with Peru gaining traction. The country closed its tourist attractions amid political unrest from late 2022 to early 2023, but they reopened in February 2023, according to Travel Weekly .

Another top spot is South Korea, which Berna said is typically more affordable than Japan. Intrepid Travel said they saw 172% increase globally in bookings to South Korea from 2022 to 2023.

"People want to go away and have these stories. They've settled back post-pandemic into feeling life, wanting to travel again, and seeking connection," Berna said. "Not just with other travelers in groups but with destinations."

Watch: Marriott International's Tina Edmundson tells Insider that the travel mindset has changed since the pandemic

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How to conquer the new Las Vegas

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Plan your ultimate trip to always-evolving Las Vegas. Try new immersive experiences and the best places to eat on and off the Strip — including desserts approved by Cake Boss Buddy Valastro. Check out the coolest indie shops and escape the neon lights with fun day trips. Bonus: For relaxing and recovering, find some of the best spas in the country. Here’s how to get the most out of your next Vegas adventure.

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Former Priceline execs debut Plannin, a booking platform that uses travel influencers to help plan trips

Andrew Loewen and Randy Schartner, co-founders of Hotelsbycity.com and former Priceline executives, just announced their latest project: Plannin , a global travel booking platform that empowers creators to monetize their hotel recommendations and share travel-focused content.

As the creator economy continues to ramp up in value, estimated to generate $250 billion in revenue , Plannin wants to put a twist on travel booking by using influencers as an alternative to travel agents. 

With Plannin, creators can tell their audience about their latest trip and which hotels they liked and post photos of their travels. To earn income, they share an affiliate link across social platforms for their followers to sign up on Plannin. Meanwhile, travelers can access thousands of creator recommendations and can directly book hotels through the platform.

“One recommendation from the right person is worth more than 1,000 anonymous reviews. It’s about helping people experience travel through creators they trust,” Loewen told TechCrunch. He was previously the chief operating officer at Priceline Partner Network.

What’s most notable about the platform is that it gives creators a 5% lifetime commission, meaning if a follower clicks on their link and continues to book through Plannin, the creator will earn commission on that account for as long as the account exists. 

“We offer a lifetime commission model so creators can earn from their audience even if they don’t book that day. The reason we did that is because travel is not an impulse buy. … Many of our bookings happen [15 to 60] days after the original account is created,” Loewen said.

Placing creators at the forefront is a strategic move for Plannin, ensuring a steady flow of content and traffic to the platform. The company also thinks that travelers will benefit from authentic recommendations from influencers they know and trust who share the same interests and tastes.

However, some people may doubt that honest recommendations can come from influencers driven by financial gain. Schartner, who previously was the president of the Priceline Partner Network, doesn’t think it’ll be a problem, though. “You would assume that they would give an honest review because it’s to their audience. … Most people wouldn’t lie or mislead on their personal socials because they have a deeper connection with their audience,” he said.

Plannin has already onboarded more than 600 influencers and has about 5,000 posts and 1,500 recommendations on the platform. The company approves creators with more than 10,000 followers, but it may also consider micro-influencers who specialize in travel-focused content. 

Plannin also has a search capability featuring over 2 million hotels worldwide. The platform is partnered with Booking Holdings, which owns Priceline, Agoda, Booking.com and OpenTable.

Plannin hopes to become a one-stop booking platform for the entire trip experience. For instance, this summer, it’ll allow creators to recommend restaurants, tours, attractions and other activities. The company will soon partner with GetYourGuide and OpenTable to help travelers book restaurant table reservations and activities in one place. 

Additionally, the platform is launching “Trip Boards” later this month. Creators will be able to curate a full itinerary with all the experiences, hotels and restaurants from a destination in one place. For example, an influencer can make a trip board based on their recent trip to Italy, showing dozens of places from their favorite cities.

Plannin is still in beta, but an official launch is in the works. 

The company secured $2.5 million in funding last year, led by Golden Ventures, N49P and former Booking Holdings CEO Jeffery Boyd. The company is looking to raise more venture capital this summer.

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