Ctrip considers going private and delisting from Nasdaq
China: Chinese travel services provider Ctrip, also known as Trip.com Group Ltd, is considering the possibility of going private and delisting itself from the Nasdaq stock market due to rising tensions with the United States and the impact of the coronavirus on its business. According to Reuters, Ctrip’s management have contacted a number of financial […]
Apple threatens to drop Airbnb from App Store over commission dispute
US: Apple has reportedly threatened to drop Airbnb and live on-demand workout platform ClassPass from its App Store if they do not comply with the company’s demands to receive 30 per cent of any sales generated by their virtual experiences and classes which are now being offered due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. The New […]
Proptech Loft to close US$68m investment
Brazil: São Paulo-based proptech startup Loft is seeking to close a US$68 million [360 million Brazilian reales] round as part of a real estate investment fund to buy up more properties in the city and Rio de Janeiro. The company told local daily newspaper Estadão that it had raised 300 million reales [approximately US$58.1 million] of its […]
Stasher welcomes Ted Stimpson in advisory role
UK: Luggage storage network Stasher, which describes itself as the “Airbnb” of luggage storage, has welcomed on board Ted Stimpson as an advisory board member, as the startup begins preparations for the return of true international travel. As CEO of three different organisations in the last 15 years, Stimpson has accrued a wealth of knowledge […]
‘No-app’ mobile check-in solution launches
UK: FORTYEIGHT.AI, a technology company, has joined forces with Twilio, a communications platform, to launch a ‘no-app’ mobile check in solution for Britain’s hospitality industry. Venues across the UK can now request visitors to check-in at a pub or restaurant by sending a six-digit code by SMS. The venue will receive an instant check-in confirmation […]