Principal Data Analyst

PhocusWire's travel tech news briefs: Nuitée, navan, Expedia Group and more... Here's our roundup of the people, product and partner news from the global travel industry this week. This roundup was created with the assistance of ChatGPT. Loveholidays names VP of land. Loveholidays has named Sarah Helppi VP of land, a new role created as the online travel agency (OTA) splits its product organization into land and air functions. Land will include accommodations and ancillaries. Helppi will lead the company's Land marketplace and commercial supply teams. She joins from Trainline, where she was general manager for the U.K. and foreign travel, and previously held leadership roles at eBay and Expedia. EDreams scales Prime in South Africa. EDreams Odigeo has moved its Prime subscription service in South Africa into full-scale expansion after more than a year of operating in the market. The company said South African subscribers have a Net Promoter Score of 62, and that the country's domestic travel demand, digital maturity and smartphone penetration make it a strong fit for the model. The move is part of the brand's broader plan to grow Prime to more than 13 million subscribers by 2030. Key Data appoints president. Key Data has appointed Dustin Downing as president to support its growth and product expansion. He brings nearly 20 years of experience in data-driven technology, including roles at Sabre, LTK and OrderMyGear. At Sabre, he worked on core travel products, led product development and has scaled technology teams in other companies. Downing will focus on improving products and AI capabilities, refining go-to-market strategy and strengthening operations. His appointment comes as demand rises for real-time data in the short-term rental sector, where companies increasingly rely on data and AI to guide decisions. Lumo, BizTrip AI. Lumo and BizTrip AI have partnered to combine predictive disruption technology with agent-based AI for corporate travel. The integration brings Lumo's flight disruption predictions into BizTrip AI's platform, enabling real-time, automated travel decisions. The system allows companies to adjust itineraries, reduce risk, and manage costs proactively rather than reacting to issues. It also coordinates factors like policy, budget and traveler preferences. The goal is to improve efficiency and traveler experience while reducing disruption-related costs through automation and predictive insights. Smartvel's accessibility tool. Smartvel has launched TravelAble, a platform that helps passengers with reduced mobility navigate air travel by providing personalized, step-by-step guidance. It consolidates fragmented airline and airport accessibility information into one system, tailored to individual needs such as mobility equipment and travel context. The platform explains procedures across the journey and simplifies technical service codes into plain language. It addresses common issues like unclear information and uncertainty around equipment handling. TravelAble can be integrated into digital platforms, offering benefits for both travelers and operators, and is expected to expand to support a broader range of accessibility needs. Nuitée, Globe Thrivers. Nuitée and Globe Thrivers have announced a partnership to add hotel search and booking to Globe Thrivers' creator-led travel platform. Globe Thrivers will use Nuitée's hotel API infrastructure and content to expand its global lodging inventory while keeping booking within a social, community-driven experience. The deal is meant to better connect travel inspiration, planning and booking, while also giving creators a way to earn commission when their hotel recommendations lead to trips. Track, Expedia Group. Track, formerly TravelNet Solutions, has expanded its support for hotel properties on Expedia Group through a completed integration with the company's Reservation Delivery, Reservation Retrieval, Availability and Rates and Product APIs. The integration gives Track hotel partners a more automated and scalable connection to Expedia Group, including real-time reservation data, automated rate and availability updates and more flexible management of rooms, rates and amenities. Dida, Tsinghua x-lab. Dida has signed a five-year partnership with Tsinghua x-lab to develop travel technology and support talent development. The agreement deepens existing collaboration, linking academic research with industry needs to speed up practical, scalable solutions. The partnership will focus on R&D, project incubation and training future professionals. It builds on prior initiatives including a 2025 hackathon. Dida also announced a global travel tech competition to expand innovation internationally. The collaboration aims to better connect academia and industry in travel technology. Traveloris AI booking engine. Traveloris said its artificial intelligence (AI) trip planning and booking engine has gone live on Tasmania.com and Cairns Discovery Tours, marking a new deployment for the Australian travel technology company. Traveloris said the product combines personalized itinerary planning with single-transaction checkout, allowing travel businesses to add AI-driven trip planning and booking to their own websites. The company said the platform is built for real-world travel logistics, including routing, opening hours, availability and bookability, while also offering inventory connectivity, analytics and website integration. Navan launches audit engine. Navan has launched an audit engine for its business travel and expense platform with more than 45 configurable checks, including anti-corruption and bribery screening. The company said the tool uses AI and transaction data to flag risks such as sanctioned individuals, politically exposed persons, excessive tipping, fraudulent receipts and policy violations in real time. The audit engine is now available to customers globally, while its anti-corruption and bribery check is in beta ahead of a broader rollout. TProfile, Nomupay. TProfile has partnered with Nomupay to integrate payment processing directly into travel booking workflows. The integration enables travel agencies, tour operators and cruise companies to offer multiple payment options, including cards, digital wallets, pay-by-bank and local methods, within a single system. The companies said the approach is designed to reduce friction in the booking process and support conversion. Nomupay's acquiring network also expands TProfile's ability to support cross-border transactions through one integration. HI USA, Cloudbeds. Hostelling International USA (HI USA)has selected Cloudbeds to modernize operations across its hostel network. The cloud-based platform will unify property management, distribution, revenue and guest experience systems, replacing legacy workflows and supporting more standardized operations. HI USA said the move is part of a broader digital transformation aimed at improving efficiency and operational visibility. The system is also intended to give property teams greater autonomy while streamlining day-to-day processes. NextTrip partners with QSTAK on tokenized rewards. NextTrip has partnered with QSTAK to develop a tokenized rewards layer for its travel platform, linking content engagement with booking activity. The system will allow users to earn digital tokens through actions such as watching content and completing bookings, with rewards redeemable for future travel. The companies said the approach is intended to deepen engagement and create new monetization opportunities beyond traditional advertising. QSTAK's infrastructure also introduces a model for leveraging digital assets and supporting non-dilutive capital strategies tied to platform activity. Repayd appoints Erik Crouch to support expansion. Repayd has appointed Erik Crouch as it expands its global payments business in the travel sector. Crouch, who previously worked at PaymentCloud, will focus on growing Repayd's merchant base and partner channels, including ISOs and agents. The company said the hire reflects rising demand for payment infrastructure tailored to travel, particularly for cross-border and high-value transactions. Repayd provides multi-currency merchant accounts designed to address sector-specific challenges such as long booking cycles and deferred delivery, as travel companies seek to scale internationally.

Brits spot 5-star Greece holiday from £379pp in loveholidays Spring sale. Lifestyle & Fashion Writer, NationalWorld Published 26th Mar 2026, 11:03 GMT This article contains affiliate links. Lion Vehicle Systems may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect its editorial judgement. The loveholidays Spring sale has started - and this seven night holiday to a five star hotel in Greece is one of the best packages included. Spring has officially sprung, and so have the holiday savings. Online travel agent loveholidays has launched its Spring sale, offering holidaymakers up to £550 off selected holidays. From now until midnight on April 12, sun-seekers can secure a bargain break to the cliff-lined coves of the Algarve, the sun-drenched shores of Spain and beyond. And if you're keen to jet off on holiday sooner rather than later, you're in luck as many of the deals available are for April holidays. That means you could be laying on a sun lounger or swimming in the hotel pool in a matter of days. This is based on two adults sharing one room, flights from London Gatwick, and for a trip in April 2026. At just £54 per person per night, this is a deal not to be missed. Plus, an affordable price doesn't have to mean settling for less. The Mitsis Rodos Maris is a five star hotel situated on the picturesque coast of Kiotari, Rhodes. It's close to the local beach, and offers agreat range of facilities and comfortable accommodation. The hotel has three outdoor swimming pools, surrounded by a spacious sun terrace and lined with sun loungers and parasols. There's a separate pool for children too, and even two water slides. For adults looking for a more calming holiday experience, there's an indoor pool, gym and spa centre offering reflexology, sauna, beauty treatments and massage. Editor's picks These are the hottest deals and trending buys Lion Vehicle Systems has spotted this week Apple subscription deal: The latest iPhone, MacBook or iPad from £0 upfront with flexible monthly payments | Raylo Business deals Simba mattress bundle: Premium mattress plus up to £836 in free sleep extras including duvet, pillows and slippers | Simba mattress deals Club Med deals: Limited time discounts from 15% on superior rooms and from 20% on deluxe rooms, suites, and villas. Club Med deals There's plenty to keep everyone occupied at all times time. During the day, diving lessons, beach football and video games are on offer, and there's a kids club. In the evening, there's an entertainment programme in the hotel with live music sketches and musicals, and a mini disco for the little ones. When it comes to food, there are options too. The hotel's buffet-style restaurant offers a selection of Greek and international cuisines for breakfast, lunch and dinner. While the à la carte restaurants serve a variety of Greek and international dishes, including Asian, Tex-Mex and Italian. As well as the restaurants, there's a bar to grab a drink of your choice. In short, it's a wonderful choice for couples and families looking for a relaxing and fun beach holiday. To book your seven night holiday at Mitsis Rodos Maris visit the loveholidays website now. With £19pp deposits, flexible pay-monthly plans, and an enhanced Best Price Promise, holidaymakers can lock in a better deal for less this Spring with loveholidays. Prices will vary depending on dates and departure airports, so check carefully before booking. Plus, all loveholidays packages are ATOL protected, ensuring complete peace of mind from the moment of booking to arriving home. To browse all of the deals included in the online travel agent's sale, visit www.loveholidays.com. *The prices listed are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change. Prices will also vary according to dates picked, the departure airport, the length of holiday and the number of people in your party. Other fees may apply. Terms and conditions apply and are listed on the loveholidays website. Matching foundation and concealer shades can be one of the trickiest parts of any make-up routine | - but e.l.f. Cosmetics say their newly launched Soft Glam collection could make things much simpler. The Soft Glam Base Covered Duo bundles the Soft Glam Satin Foundation with the Soft Glam Satin Concealer, both available in 36 shades | covering cool, neutral and warm undertones across fair to rich skin tones. The idea is simple - choose the same shade for both products and create a coordinated base without the usual guesswork. Both formulas promise lightweight, satin-finish coverage that is buildable, crease-resistant and transfer-resistant | - designed for everyday wear whether you prefer a natural glow or a more polished look. Even better for shoppers, the duo is currently £10 with code FLAWLESS | - saving £4 compared with buying the products separately. Apple's latest launches have just landed, and there's a smarter way for businesses to access them | From the new M5-powered MacBooks to the iPhone 17e and upgraded iPad Air, Raylo Business is offering a flexible way to stay up to date without the upfront cost. With simple monthly payments, upgrade options and a circular approach to tech, it's designed for teams that want the latest devices without the usual barriers.