CONNECTED TRAVELLER

Since the end of November, Air France has been working with the French start-up Kolet to offer telephone connectivity in over 190 countries at preferential rates using an eSIM.

The International Air Transport Association IATA has published the results of its worldwide passenger survey for 2024. The survey shows that travellers continue to prefer convenience and speed, thanks in particular to technology - including biometrics...

ETAs (Electronic Travel Authorizations) are becoming the new standard for travel. Australia was the first to introduce this formality, followed by the United States, Canada, Singapore and soon the United Kingdom for Europeans. The EU is in the running, but is encountering difficulties.

The France Tourisme Tech programme, designed to nurture the future champions of travel tech, is launching its second edition with 10 start-ups selected, including two players in the business travel sector, Naboo and Fairjungle.

Tesla has unveiled two electric vehicle pilot projects, Cybercab and Robovan, designed to take autonomous mobility for individual and group travel to a new level.

Air France has teamed up with Starlink to introduce free, very high-speed Wi-Fi on all its aircraft. The airline is promising a major upgrade, if not a revolution, in connectivity.

Ready to welcome AI-based functions, initially in the United States, the iPhone 16 just unveiled by Apple offers improvements in terms of both photos and battery life.

InterContinental hotel guests now have free access to the Timeshifter app, offering them tailor-made recommendations to combat jet-lag.

Star Alliance has just adopted Timatic AutoCheck, IATA's new-generation travel documentation and verification system that simplifies the formalities involved in entering a country.

New distribution channels, immersive hotel tours, AI to generate innovative ideas or simplify the processing of requests: Radisson is increasingly banking on technology for its MICE offering.

The new AI version of ChatGPT, GPT-4o, offers a series of new innovations. These include the possibility of simultaneous translation from one language to another.

Japan is one of the few countries where VTC services are virtually unknown. But faced with a shortage of taxis in certain places, the government has decided to open the floodgates to competition more in line with what we see elsewhere in the world!

Start-up Nannybag has entered into a partnership with Safe Bag to make life easier for travellers at Lyon, Nice and Toulouse airports.

IHG will soon offer an intelligent travel planner in its app, based on AI and Google cloud technologies.

Research site Cybernews.com has analysed the applications of 14 airlines. With worrying results, according to the site.

Requesting a late check-out via WhatsApp, ordering a drink by text message: this service will be available to all Hilton Group hotels worldwide by the end of 2024.

The Skyted mask offers a technological solution for professional conversations in complete confidentiality in noisy environments or on public transport.

Samsung's new Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphone offers business travellers all the benefits of generative artificial intelligence.

The CES (Consumer Electronics Show) showcased the latest technological innovations, packed with artificial intelligence. The focus was on mobile equipment for business travellers.

Hyundai is taking its turn in the field of flying taxis. Supernal, its subsidiary specialising in advanced air mobility, has just unveiled an eVTOL project called S-A2.