Whimstay announces Expedia Group partnership
US: Last-minute vacation rental booking site Whimstay has announced a partnership with Expedia Group in a bid to offer more choice and better rates to spontaneous travellers.
Snaptrip Group acquires The Hotel Guru
UK: Snaptrip Group, a collection of accommodation marketplaces [including LateRooms, Snaptrip and Dog Friendly Cottages], has acquired international hotel website The Hotel Guru for a seven-figure sum.
Key Data announces data partnership with SPLM
France: Short-term rental data provider Key Data has agreed to become the exclusive data partner of the Syndicat des Professionnels de la Location Meublée [SPLM], in order to bring unmatched insights and data to France’s short-term rental market.
reAlpha completes $1.14m AiChat acquisition
US / Singapore: AI-powered real estate technology and investment company, reAlpha, has acquired 85 per cent of the outstanding equity of Singapore-based, AI-powered conversational customer experience solutions provider AiChat.
NatWest to introduce ‘Airbnb-friendly’ mortgage terms
UK: UK-based commercial bank NatWest is introducing ‘Airbnb-friendly’ mortgage terms to support borrowers who are struggling to pay loans and bring increased flexibility for customers who are looking to rent out their homes on a short-term basis.
Sumitomo Mitsui Card to create travel loyalty portal with Hopper
Japan / Canada: Sumitomo Mitsui Card [SMCC], the leading credit card issuer in Japan and part of SMBC Group, has joined forces with Hopper Technology Solutions [HTS] to create a travel loyalty portal for SMCC customers.
Boom launches “first 24-hour AI sales agent for STRs”
US: Boom, an artificial intelligence [AI] platform for the short-term rental sector, has launched what it claims to be “the world’s first AI sales agent” as it continues to transform operational efficiency in short-term rentals.