PhocusWire’s Weekly Travel Tech News Briefs: Hometogo, the Trip Boutique, Oojo and More
Oojo, an online travel agency of Trevolution Group that focuses on agency sales of airline tickets and travel services, has launched in Germany. Oojo’s launch in Germany is further strengthened by its partnership with Kayak. Along with its network of brands, including Swoodoo, Momondo and Checkfelix, Kayak will direct traffic to Oojo’s website, providing German travelers with direct access to a wide variety of booking options. “A German travel customer is independent, digitally skilled and holds exceptionally high standards for service quality and reliability,” said Gulce Karsli Rozenfeld, CEO of Oojo. “The element of trust in choosing a travel provider plays a huge importance and given this, with over 20 years of experience within our Group and attentive customer service, we believe Oojo is a good fit for the market.”
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Trevolution Group Revolutionizes Travel with Game-Changing eSIM Feature in Exclusive Dreampass Plus Loyalty Program
Trevolution Group enhances travel convenience with Dreampass Plus, offering exclusive perks, cashback, and free eSIMs for seamless global connectivity in 140+ countries. To meet the rising demand for hassle-free and convenient travel options, Trevolution Group—a global leader in the travel industry and parent company of major brands like ASAP Tickets, Skylux Travel, Oojo, and Triplicity—has introduced an innovative eSIM feature as part of its Dreampass Plus loyalty program. This newly launched program, available to paid members, provides exclusive travel perks, rewards, and tailored benefits for customers booking flights and additional services through the Group’s travel brands. In the future, Trevolution Group plans to expand its offerings by making eSIM available as an independent travel feature.
Currently, new Dreampass Plus members who activate their membership tier can enjoy a complimentary eSIM, which functions similarly to a traditional SIM card. The eSIM provides 3GB of internet access, valid for 30 days, across more than 140 destinations worldwide, with the option to top up data as needed. Easily activated via QR code, this feature enhances convenience and flexibility for travelers, ensuring seamless connectivity while abroad. Integrated through the external provider POND IoT, the eSIM guarantees reliable global coverage without additional charges or roaming fees.
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Nigeria Emerges Leading Region for Attracting Independent Travel Managers
Trevolution Group, the global market leader operating ASAP Tickets, Skylux Travel, Oojo, Triplicity, and other major travel brands, has reported Nigeria as the new leading market for attracting Independent Travel Managers on its digital platform Dreamport. The new-generation travel management tool was introduced in April of 2023 in the first launch markets, while Nigeria was among the next test locations where Dreamport was unveiled earlier in 2024. Today, it has expanded massively and is now available to aspiring individuals worldwide. During the first six months, over 30,000 freelancers from across Nigeria have already applied to use Dreamport as a source of everyday income ranking the country among the top-performing regions globally. “Our leadership team, including myself, started as travel agents, which is why we believe in the transformative force of giving back to make a positive impact across the world. “I’m particularly excited to see Nigeria as one of the high-performing markets with highly motivated freelancers who are hungry for learning and ready to take on new opportunities to become all-in-one travel professionals, as there is immense potential across this dynamic region.
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I’m a Shopping Expert: Look For These 4 Types of Travel Deals on Black Friday
Traveling during the holidays? Travel deals on flights, hotels, cruises and more are back during the biggest shopping days of the year. To save money with the best travel deals, Melissa Cid, consumer savings expert with MySavings.com, recommended looking the Tuesday after Cyber Monday. “‘Travel Tuesday’ has gained a lot of interest over the last few years for those seeking discounts on airfare, hotel and vacation packages for future travel in 2025,” she said. For those looking to take advantage of sales to book travel plans, here are expert-recommended tips and travel deals to consider on Black Friday 2024.
Black Friday is one of the most popular times of the year for travelers to purchase airline tickets and travel packages for less, according to Mercedes Zach, a travel agent at ASAP Tickets. “This period is expected to bring more sales than any other day of the year,” Zach said. “It is indeed a great opportunity to save on travel and make your bucket-list dreams come true without breaking the bank.”
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Trevolution Group Names Davit Karapetyan as CPO to Drive Product Strategy
Davit Karapetyan appointed as Chief Product Officer of Trevolution Group, aiming to enhance product offerings and broaden market reach through innovative travel solutions.
Trevolution Group, a global travel leader operating brands like ASAP Tickets, Skylux Travel, Dreamport, Dreampass, Oojo, Vagamo, Triplicity, International Travel Network and others, announced the appointment of Davit Karapetyan as Chief Product Officer (CPO). Davit will lead the product management team and will solidify the Group’s position as a leader in the travel sector by focusing on broadening market reach and integrating new content providers.
“Davit understands the core of our travel business, he speaks the language of the product teams, and he is deeply committed to our customers, delivering exceptional products and outstanding service tailored to their needs; it is a combination that is as rare as it is valuable,” Alex Weinstein, the founder of Dyninno Group and Trevolution Group commented. “Trevolution is about bold decisions and thinking outside of the box, and Davit’s experience, covering various stages of actual product development, gives him an unprecedented edge when it comes to delivering ideas that are both innovative and practical.”
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AI Coding Agents Come with Legal Risk
AI coding agents are poised to take over a large chunk of software development in coming years, but the change will come with intellectual property legal risk, some lawyers say.
AI-powered coding agents will be a step forward from the AI-based coding assistants, or copilots, used now by many programmers to write snippets of code. But as coding agents potentially write more software and take work away from junior developers, organizations will need to monitor the output of their robot coders, according to tech-savvy lawyers. Media outlets and entertainers have already filed several AI copyright cases in US courts, with plaintiffs accusing AI vendors of using their material to train AI models or copying their material in outputs, notes Jeffrey Gluck, a lawyer at IP-focused law firm Panitch Schwarze. The same thing could happen with software code, even though companies don’t typically share their source code, he says. “Does the output infringe something that someone else has done?” he posits. “The more likely the AI was trained using an author’s work as training data, the more likely it is that the output is going to look like that data.”
To read what Ilia Badeev, Head of Data Science at Trevolution Group, says, click here
IndiGo’s First Plane With Business Class Is Ready – India Report
Budget carrier IndiGo’s first aircraft with the business class configuration has been unveiled. The plane will fly on the Delhi-Mumbai route starting November 14. The new aircraft sports the words “IndiGo means Business” on its body. The company has named its business class program “IndiGoStretch.” This is the first time that IndiGo will have non-economy seats in its planes. In a statement, CEO Pieter Elbers said, “India’s economy is soaring and with the evolving aspirations of the Indian society, it is time for us to redefine accordingly.” Even as IndiGo is moving away from its no-frills approach, the business class offering is meant to be faithful to the IndiGo brand, Elbers previously told Skift’s Peden Doma Bhutia. “We now have a whole generation coming up that has never flown business class. Similarly, years ago there was a whole generation in India, that’d never taken a plane, who then became our first-time fliers,” Elbers had said. This becomes clearer through IndiGo’s pricing for the product. The cost for a business class ticket on IndiGo on November 16 is INR 18,018 ($214.15). On the other hand, Air India’s business class ticket for Delhi-Mumbai flight on the same day is priced at INR 26,967 ($320.50).
Read what Alex Weinstein, founder of Dyninno Group and Trevolution Group, has said here
6 Unforseen Expenses and How to Budget for Them
Remember how perfectly you prepared your budget? You listed everything that goes into a typical month, added in those costs that arise periodically, subtracted the total from your income and calculated the amount you can set cash away for the future. And then, bam. An expense from out of the blue upends all your hard work. There goes savings, here comes debt.
According to a 2024 PYMNTS report, 56% of U.S. consumers had to deal with at least one surprise expenditure in the last 12 months, with an average cost of $5,500. Although it’s not possible to anticipate every potential expense, it’s always worth considering those that fall outside the norm. Here are six common yet often unforeseen costs – and how to create a budget elastic enough to manage them without excess stress.
To read what Alonso Marley, a travel expert at Skylux Travel, said, click here
‘I’m a Travel Expert – Here Is the Cheapest Place in Greece to Go on Holiday’
A travel expert has helped Brits in their quest to find cheaper holiday destinations by sharing one island in one beautiful European country which is a firm favourite among tourists. Holidays, even those designated as budget holidays, are getting more expensive, with costs expected to continue to rise in the coming years. Airlines know that people booking close to the date of departure are usually business travellers who will have little choice but to pay higher prices. Plus, while carriers recover from the worldwide grounding caused by the pandemic, industry leaders have warned that there are several factors likely to push ticket prices even higher. Worldwide inflation is also fuelling the spike, according to The Independent. It is no wonder, therefore, why so many Brits are trawling the internet for the best holiday deals. One of the favourite destinations for UK nationals is Greece, and it is not difficult to see why, with their welcoming locals, beautiful beaches, varied landscapes and delicious cuisine.
To read what Mercedes Zach, a travel expert at ASAP Tickets, told Express.co.uk, click here
6 US Cities Where You Can Still Enjoy a Luxury Vacation for Cheap
With the high cost of traveling these days, it can be challenging to find an affordable yet luxurious getaway. However, there are still hidden gem destinations across the United States where you can indulge in five-star amenities and save hundreds of dollars on your next vacation.
With insider tips from top travel experts, it’s clear you can find luxury for less by picking the right affordable U.S. destinations for your next vacation. Here are six U.S. cities were you can still enjoy a high-class vacation for cheap. According to Alonso Marly, travel expert at Skylux Travel, Destin is one such destination that offers Caribbean-like beaches and exclusive beach rentals for as low as $100 a night. “Destin also has a white sandy coastline with crystal clear waters that make it perfect for a beach getaway with breathtaking views and fewer tourist crowds,” Marly said. “Many say that Destin gives out Caribbean vibes without having to take a flight to any of the exotic islands outside the U.S.” With its abundance of activities like golfing, ziplining and dolphin tours, Destin provides a luxurious vacation comparable to spots like Malibu or Miami for a fraction of the price.
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