Educational Tourism Market Set to Witness Significant Growth by 2031 | EF Education First Ltd., ACIS Educational Tours – Travel Industry Today – EIN Presswire
Anne Cate is a woman-owned, Ohio-based small business that specializes in handmade accessories designed with different city skylines on them. Each kit has a hair tie, ChapStick, two floss picks, a sewing kit, bandages, emery board, two safety pins, two earring backs, a makeup wipe, two bobby pins, two mints, a deodorant wipe, a Shout wipe, a tampon, hand sanitizer, and Tylenol.Promising review: “I love the high quality of this mini wallet emergency kit. Great size to slip in a purse or tote and decorated with a great skyline of Pittsburgh. Emergency items inside are absolutely invaluable if you need them.” —Nancy M. Get it from Anne Cate for $25 (available in 46 skylines).
Anne Cate is a woman-owned, Ohio-based small business that specializes in handmade accessories designed with different city skylines on them. Each kit has a hair tie, ChapStick, two floss picks, a sewing kit, bandages, emery board, two safety pins, two earring backs, a makeup wipe, two bobby pins, two mints, a deodorant wipe, a Shout wipe, a tampon, hand sanitizer, and Tylenol.Promising review: “I love the high quality of this mini wallet emergency kit. Great size to slip in a purse or tote and decorated with a great skyline of Pittsburgh. Emergency items inside are absolutely invaluable if you need them.” —Nancy M. Get it from Anne Cate for $25 (available in 46 skylines).
A delegation of 11 high-level executives from Emirates Airlines has arrived in Uganda to explore the country’s tourism sites and boost business opportunities. The delegation is led by Emirates Country Director, Mohammed Taher. A memorandum of understanding signed between Uganda and the United Arab Emirates in May last year aims to enhance business relations between the two nations.
The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities has urged all Ugandans to play a role in marketing the country as a tourist destination. This comes as Uganda prepares to showcase its tourism potential at the leading travel show in Asia, set to be held in Mumbai at the end of this month. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is confident that through economic and commercial diplomacy undertaken by missions abroad, tourists and investors will be attracted.
The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities has urged all Ugandans to play a role in marketing the country as a tourist destination. This comes as Uganda prepares to showcase its tourism potential at the leading travel show in Asia, set to be held in Mumbai at the end of this month. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is confident that through economic and commercial diplomacy undertaken by missions abroad, tourists and investors will be attracted.
Financial Bookkeeping in Texas – Driving Business Growth and Innovation – Business News Today – EIN Presswire
The business travel industry’s evolution demands more efficient, dynamic, and customer-focused travel distribution systems. Advanced distribution capabilities, often referred to as New Distribution Capability (NDC), present a transformative opportunity for stakeholders—from travel management companies (TMCs) to hoteliers—to address persistent challenges and unlock new potential. These innovations are reshaping the travel distribution landscape, enabling greater efficiency, personalization, and flexibility across the ecosystem.
The Demand for Seamless Travel Distribution
Corporate travelers today expect a frictionless booking experience, characterized by extensive inventory access, dynamic pricing options, and tailored customizations. Whether it’s loyalty-based promotions, specific room attributes, or diverse payment options, corporate buyers and travelers alike demand a comprehensive and intuitive platform.
For travel management companies, addressing these expectations is critical. Leakage—bookings made outside preferred channels—remains a significant issue, with some programs reporting rates as high as 50%. Common causes include insufficient inventory, poor booking experiences, and limited payment options. Reducing these friction points is essential for TMCs to enhance traveler trust and compliance with corporate policies.
The Role of Advanced Distribution Capabilities
Modern distribution capabilities redefine how inventory is accessed and utilized throughout the business travel ecosystem. Through direct connections to hotel central reservation systems (CRS) and enhanced content aggregation platforms, TMCs can now provide a streamlined shopping experience that overcomes traditional limitations.
1. Expanded Inventory Access
Advanced systems allow TMCs to display comprehensive inventory, from standard corporate rates to promotional and loyalty-based rates, all within a single platform. This ensures travelers can access the full range of options without resorting to external consumer platforms, reinforcing trust in preferred booking channels.
2. Enhanced Personalization
Travelers increasingly expect tailored booking options, such as preferred room types, add-ons like breakfast, and loyalty-based benefits. Attribute-based shopping empowers hoteliers to offer these personalized experiences at the booking stage, boosting satisfaction and revenue.
3. Seamless Payment Solutions
Payment remains a pain point in business travel. New distribution systems incorporate virtual payment options and global strategies, simplifying transactions and minimizing administrative burdens for travelers and TMCs alike.
4. Centralized Multi-Sourcing
By aggregating content from GDS, OTAs, and direct hotel connections, advanced systems provide corporate buyers with a single source of truth for rates and availability. This not only streamlines reporting and compliance but also reduces booking fragmentation.
Opportunities for Hoteliers
For hoteliers, these advancements create pathways to optimize revenue and enhance competitiveness.
Revenue Optimization Through Attribute-Based Selling
Dynamic pricing for room attributes and bundled services enables hotels to drive incremental revenue. Whether offering specific room types or loyalty-based promotions, these features create a more engaging booking experience while boosting profitability.
Reduced Distribution Costs
By connecting directly to intermediaries like DerbySoft, hotels can reduce reliance on costly third-party distribution channels, maintain control over inventory, and strategically manage rate strategies.
Loyalty Integration
Modern distribution tools allow hotels to engage travelers earlier in the booking process, extending loyalty benefits at the point of sale. This strengthens customer relationships and enhances loyalty program enrollment.
Challenges and Lessons from Other Industries
While the potential of advanced distribution capabilities is significant, the path to full adoption requires navigating industry-specific hurdles.
Fragmented Hotel Technology
The fragmented nature of the hotel industry’s technology stack poses challenges. Many property management systems (PMS) and CRSs lack the capabilities to support modern distribution requirements, leading to inconsistencies in the booking experience.
The Need for Standardization
Unlike the airline industry, where NDC has progressed through standardization, the hotel sector remains highly fragmented. Achieving consensus on implementation strategies and definitions will require industry-wide collaboration.
Insights from Airlines
The airline industry’s adoption of NDC highlights the importance of simplicity and partnership. Hotels can leverage these insights to prioritize streamlined technology solutions and partnerships that deliver clear benefits for all stakeholders.
Collaboration as the Path Forward
The future of business travel distribution lies in partnership. Stakeholders across the ecosystem—TMCs, hoteliers, and technology providers—must work together to prioritize traveler-centric experiences, optimize operations, and reduce costs.
Key Priorities for Success:
Traveler-Centric Design: Deliver seamless booking experiences with dynamic pricing, personalization, and transparency.
Technology Investments: Embrace platforms that support multi-sourcing, attribute-based selling, and robust data reporting.
Collaborative Frameworks: Develop partnerships that align operational goals with traveler needs and streamline content delivery.
Sustainability and Duty of Care: Integrate sustainability initiatives and ensure compliance with corporate safety standards and tracking needs.
Advanced distribution capabilities offer the business travel industry a unique opportunity to address long-standing inefficiencies and deliver unparalleled value. By adopting these innovations, stakeholders can redefine the traveler experience, optimize revenue, and navigate the challenges of an ever-evolving market.
DerbySoft is proud to support this evolution by providing cutting-edge solutions that empower travel brands to thrive. Together, we can shape the future of travel distribution and unlock its full potential.
About DerbySoft
DerbySoft is the Travel Commerce Accelerator, with a mission to converge the diverse elements of travel, creating a unified and efficient ecosystem of connectivity services, high-performing AI-driven marketing services, and an end-to-end content platform. Our world-class services are designed to deliver seamless, frictionless commerce, accelerating the pace at which properties can connect, grow, and optimize profit. DerbySoft consistently pushes the boundaries of innovation to unlock new opportunities and accelerate travel commerce. Our team of travel industry experts is passionate about uniting people and technology and committed to enhancing every aspect of travel, making it more accessible, efficient, and enjoyable for all. Our approach is centered on making travel better – not just for today, but for years to come. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, USA, DerbySoft’s cutting-edge technology is trusted by the world’s leading online travel distribution partners and hotel companies in 197 countries. To learn more, visit DerbySoft.com.
With six offices around the globe and over 300 employees in over 11 countries, DerbySoft continues to grow and develop the next generation of online hotel distribution infrastructure. DerbySoft.com.
Accor, a world-leading hospitality group, has launched its newly enhanced Travel Pros Leisure Groups Online platform, designed to streamline the booking process for leisure B2B clients. With access to more than 2,000 hotels across multiple Accor brands, locations and categories in more than 75 countries, the platform now offers a wide range of new features that make booking the ideal property for group stays easier and more efficient than ever.
A unique offering in the market, the new Leisure Groups Online platform provides an unparalleled selection of hotel brands and room types. Travel Professionals can choose from a broad array of options, ensuring they find the perfect match for their group’s needs.
The Leisure Groups Online platform supports both instant bookings and RFP processes, with over 1,300 hotels available for instant booking and an additional 700+ hotels accessible for RFP with confirmation from the hotel within 24 hours. For instant group bookings, the platform utilizes the latest API technology to facilitate real-time hotel availability according to each room type.
2024 was a landmark year for global travel, and Group Leisure Travel will continue to be a top priority for Accor in 2025, particularly in Europe, US and the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific region, driven by rising demand from countries like China, India, and Japan. Group Leisure Travel remains a dynamic segment with growth potential, and leveraging new technology to enhance the booking process is vital for inspiring and facilitating travel. With the relaunch of the Leisure Groups Online platform, Accor reaffirms its global leadership in travel, collaborating with Group Operators to strengthen the sector and maintain strong leisure travel momentum. Sophie Hulgard, Chief Sales Officer at Accor
A Diverse Portfolio of Brands
The Leisure Groups Online platform includes a selection of over 30 distinguished Accor hotel brands, catering to every segment from luxury to economy, including travelers’ favourites:
Luxury: Sofitel Legend, Fairmont, Sofitel, MGallery
Premium: Pullman, Swissôtel, Mövenpick, Grand Mercure, The Sebel
Midscale: Novotel, Mercure, TRIBE, Adagio
Economy: ibis, ibis Styles, Adagio Access, greet, ibis budget
Lifestyle (by Ennismore): 25hours, Mama Shelter
New and Improved Features for a Seamless Booking Experience
The revamped platform introduces several enhancements aimed at simplifying the booking journey and meeting the unique needs of TGOs. Key new features include:
Fast and Efficient Booking Process: The platform’s upgraded functionality offers a faster booking process, minimizing wait times and ensuring a smooth user experience.
Triple Room Availability: Enhanced room selection with visible pricing options for single, double, twin and now triple rooms, ensuring suitable accommodation for groups of all sizes.
Transparent Pricing: Pricing is now visible throughout the entire booking process, allowing TGOs to make informed decisions based on budget and requirements.
TripAdvisor Reviews Integration: Users can now view TripAdvisor reviews directly within the platform, providing valuable insights into each hotel’s offerings and guest experiences.
Interactive Map: A new, intuitive map interface that allows users to easily locate hotels and explore nearby attractions and services.
Streamlined Booking for Multiple Needs
This dedicated landing page on the all.com website caters to multiple booking needs across different segments:
Travel Professionals
Group Bookings: Designed for groups needing 8 or more rooms, the platform facilitates easy booking and customization according to group requirements.
Individual Stays: For up to 7 rooms, allowing up to 3 rooms per booking, suitable for smaller travel groups or individual stays.
Personal Stays: Special STAR rates for travel agents, accommodating up to 2 rooms per booking.
For more information visit: https://travelpros.accor.com/.
Business Travelers
A dedicated platform for business and corporate travelers, offering the groups various solutions for enterprises, is accessible at Accor Business Travel.
Meetings & Events Professionals
The Meetings & Events portal is tailored for M&E bookings, accommodating venues and/or 8+ rooms, accessible at Accor Meetings & Events.
About Accor, a world-leading hospitality group
Accor is a world leading hospitality group offering experiences across more than 110 countries, with over 5,600 properties, 10,000 food & beverage venues, wellness facilities or flexible workspaces. The Group has one of the industry’s most diverse hospitality ecosystems, encompassing more than 45 hotel brands from luxury to economy, as well as Lifestyle with Ennismore. Accor is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity, and inclusivity. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France and publicly listed on Euronext Paris (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information, please visit group.accor.com or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.
Melanie MahietteAccor
The foundations making charitable donations to support scientific and health research mostly give to institutions in their home states.
That’s what I found in a study I conducted with two fellow data scientists, Albert Laszlo Barabasi and Alexander J. Gates. In analyzing foundation grants that supported scientific research from 2010-2019, we determined that nearly 40% of those grants and 60% of the total number of dollars given backed scientific and health research initiatives based in the donor’s or the foundation’s own state.
We also found that these donors and foundations tend to support the same institutions year after year. Roughly 70% of the scientific and health research grants that foundations made one year were provided again the next year. What’s more, there’s a 90% chance that foundations that have supported an institution for seven years straight will support the same institution again the following year.
We analyzed Internal Revenue Service data drawn from 990 forms – paperwork that foundations are required by law to file annually.
We identified 69,675 nonprofits that either performed scientific research or supported that kind of research. Those nonprofits received nearly 1 million unique grants from foundations over the previous decade. Those donations totaled more than US$30 billion in 2019 alone.
Here are three examples.
While on average only 2% of foundation funding for science and health research went to support work in the state of Washington, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, located in Seattle, gave over 20% of its research funds to projects in that state from 2010 to 2019.
The Lilly Endowment gave 62% of all of its research funding to institutions located in Indiana, where it’s based.
The Dennis Washington Foundation, which is located in Missoula, Montana, funded health and science research exclusively at universities in Montana – providing more than $20 million for those endeavors.
The headquarters of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is located in downtown Seattle.
Ron Buskirk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Why it matters
While the highly local nature of private funding for this research surprised us, it is relatively common in philanthropy.
At the same time, the local focus of many private funders is at odds with how most health researchers and scientists view and perform their work, which typically involves national or even global teams of experts.
The $30 billion in annual funding from foundations is also significant simply because of its scale. This sum may equal as much as half of what the U.S. government distributes annually to support scientific and health research.
The National Institutes of Health, a U.S. government agency responsible for medical research, has a roughly $47 billion annual budget.
And the National Science Foundation, another federal agency that supports scientific research, has an approximately $10 billion annual budget.
The federal government funds science and health research through other agencies, too, including the Department of Defense, but the precise total of that support is hard to determine.
What still isn’t known
The available data makes it possible to identify only the foundation that provides a grant and its recipient. Details regarding the goals or purpose of this funding are scarce. That makes it hard to assess the impact foundations have for scientific and health research.
The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a funder of The Conversation Africa. The Lilly Endowment is a funder of The Conversation U.S.