Hotel Switch a breeze for agents 

Trip Affiliates Network has taken the wraps off Hotel Switch, a connectivity tool to provide access to a broad network of hotel affiliates.

TA Network says Hotel Switch enhances travel agents’ ability “to offer a wide range of accommodation, manage bookings efficiently and improve overall customer service standards”.

Features including access to static and dynamic room rates, instant booking and confirmation, and complimentary virtual card payment support.

Hotel Switch, which aggregates more than 200,000 hotels linked to the Trip Affiliates Network, features real-time updates on allotments and/or blackouts.

TA Network said agents get immediate confirmations “and by automating the booking process, improves agents’ productivity”.

Thailand boxes clever with new visa

Thailand is introducing Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) for remote workers, digital nomads, and freelancers as well as participants of Muay Thai boxing courses, Thai cooking classes, sport training, medical treatments, seminars, and music festivals.

Spouses and dependent children of DTV holders will also be eligible.

Foreigners who wish to apply for this visa must have a proof of funds or a guarantee of not less than 500,000 Baht (US$13,800) for the duration of stay. The visa fee is 10,000 Baht.

DTV holders, together with spouses and dependent children, will be entitled to a five-year stay with multiple entries for cumulative stays not exceeding 180 days, which can be extended for another 180 days

Qatar takes off with Starlink

Qatar Airways will introduce free high-speed wi-fi through Space X’s Starlink, joining Hawaiian Airlines, AirBaltic, and Air New Zealand in offering this service.

The first of the airline’s 777s will feature Starlink by late 2024, with the entire fleet equipped within two years.

Further, Qatar Airways will unveil its latest business class offering, the ‘Qsuite Next Gen’, at the upcoming Farnborough International Air show

In a statement, Qatar Airways said the Qsuite Next Gen will offer “advancements in comfort, collaborative and social design elements and passenger dining experiences”.

Travelex doubles up at Changi

Travelex is to double its bureaux, terminal and staff footprint at Singapore Changi Airport having won the tender for a new five-year contract at the 12-times World’s Best Airport winner.

Travelex has provided retail travel money services at Changi since June 2016, operating 10 bureaux across Terminals 2 and 3. The new contract, will see Travelex establish a further 10 bureaux across the airport, including in Terminals 1 and 4.

The expanded bureaux footprint will also see staff levels more than double, from 65 to 135.

Ladies who travel alone

Travel intelligence provider Mabrian and The Data Appeal Company-Almawave Group have analysed female solo traveller demand worldwide to identify key factors that outline the profile of this segment.

Their research shows 14% of women travel without the company of family, friends or a partner.

According to Mabrian’s data, women who travel alone come mainly from Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States and Italy. The top 10 of female solo travellers’ source markets is completed by Spanish, Australian, Brazilian, Polish and Japanese women.

Data Appeal’s insight shows more than 30% of German and British travellers who booked flights to travel this summer are solo female travellers.