Category Technology, Tourism, Organisations & Operators

JCB is pleased to announce that JCB Contactless is now available for use on Metro de Madrid, enabling cardmembers to access the metro network with a simple tap of their card or mobile device.

From June 2026, passengers can enter metro stations by tapping their contactless-enabled JCB Cards or mobile wallets directly at fare gates. While card payments have already been available at metro station ticket machines, this new functionality allows users to bypass ticket purchases and access the network more efficiently, helping to reduce waiting times, particularly during peak hours, by tapping directly at fare gates.

Ghana has launched a new national e-visa platform while simultaneously waiving visa fees for travellers holding African passports, a move that positions the West African nation among the continent’s most progressive advocates of travel liberalisation. The initiative introduces online visa processing, significantly reduces administrative friction and, perhaps most importantly, sends a clear signal that Ghana sees connectivity as an economic growth strategy rather than a border control exercise.

The sun & beach segment—one of the most established pillars of global tourism—is undergoing a structural transformation, driven by artificial intelligence, integrated business models and the evolving role of travel advisors.

Insights from the latest season of the Travel Trends Podcast, featuring senior leaders from TUI Group, Club Med and destination leadership from St. Maarten, reveal a clear convergence: sun & beach travel is no longer a standalone product category, but a connected ecosystem.

Travel Compositor,  a leading provider of booking engine solutions for online leisure travel sellers and part of Travelsoft, the global Travel SaaS group powering travel distribution and packaging technologies worldwide, today announced a strategic evolution of its leadership structure. This step marks a new phase of growth, international consolidation, and long-term business continuity within the broader group strategy.

As part of this transition process, the company has communicated that its founder and current CEO, Manuel Aragonés, will conclude a journey of more than 12 years leading the company in October 2026, when he will step down from his executive duties in line with his planned retirement.

TripWorks, the first AI‑ and BI‑powered booking and operations platform built specifically for tour and activity operators, today announced that it has been named Travel Tour Platform of the Year in the 2026 TravelTech Breakthrough Awards.  The annual program recognizes the most innovative companies, products and services shaping the future of travel technology, with thousands of nominations submitted from around the world.

Wego, the number one travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has announced a strategic collaboration with the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) to enhance how travellers across the region discover, explore, and plan trips to Türkiye.

Wego, the number one travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has announced a strategic collaboration with the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) to enhance how travellers across the region discover, explore, and plan trips to Türkiye.

Mews, the operating system for hospitality, has been selected by Zion White Bison Resort, an award-winning luxury glamping and recreational vehicle destination near Utah’s Zion National Park, to unify operations, deliver a seamless guest experience and support continued growth.

In just five years, Zion White Bison has become one of the leading glamping resorts in the United States, offering luxury teepees, covered wagons and cliff dwellings alongside more than 150 full-hookup RV sites. However, managing two distinct accommodation types meant operating two separate property management systems, creating operational complexity and a fragmented guest experience.

KAYAK, a leading travel search engine, today unveiled a new brand platform and tagline, “Got That Right,” alongside a new campaign designed to tap into the most stressful moment of travel planning: the decision-making.

The Flower Parade, a highlight of the Flower Festival – an event promoted by the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Environment and Culture of Madeira – will, from this year onwards, be held on two Sundays, on 3 and 17 May. This decision, aligned with the objective of enhancing the visitor experience set out in the UPGRADE Programme, aims to enhance the prestige of the parade and its participants, while also providing better viewing conditions for the public.