Tourism stories

Google adds restaurant bookings to AI Mode in Search for New Zealand users, linking diners to live table availability from OpenTable and Wowapps.

SiteMinder extends hotel distribution into AI chat tools, aiming to keep 53,000 hotels bookable as travellers increasingly start searches there.

Minor Hotels teams up with Google, Salesforce, OneTrust and Deloitte on an AI-led data platform to sharpen guest service across 640 properties.

Agoda opens Bangkok technology hub to unite nearly 4,000 staff in a seven-floor office at One Bangkok, boosting regional operations and collaboration.

Cloudbeds report shows independent hotels face softer rates, rising OTA reliance and stark regional splits, with Asia Pacific hit hardest.

Lime launches shared e-scooters in Wellington ahead of next month's LimeBike debut, promising affordable, low-carbon urban travel.

Ubigi teams with Tripsora to fold travel eSIM data into AI trip planning, promising savings of up to 75% and fewer roaming bill shocks.

New Zealand SMEs lifted staff hours but eased wage growth in January, leaning on existing rosters as they cautiously test post-holiday demand.

TerraPay and Sabre have struck a multi-year deal to power instant cross-border bank payouts for travel agencies, airlines and hotels.

Vodafone teams with Netcompany on a global travel eSIM, promising instant, data-only connectivity in 200-plus destinations worldwide.

The falling New Zealand dollar is pushing up holiday costs in Europe and the US, while travel to Asia becomes more affordable for Kiwi travellers.

As liquidation rises 31.9%, NZ small businesses face a tough holiday battle for staff, cashflow and compliance to keep operations thriving beyond survival mode.

South Island leads NZ's labour rebound with 5.4% job growth and 5.1% wage rise, as casual roles surge 10.2% and trades sector booms.

Discover Waitomo in New Zealand's King Country has enhanced connectivity and safety with Spark's Starlink satellite internet, replacing unreliable VDSL access.

The expansion of North America's largest oil and gas pipeline is set to boost New Zealand's amphibious aircraft exports by USD $70 million over the next decade.

New Zealand stands on the brink of becoming a global tech leader, but it must cultivate more sustainable start-ups rather than focusing solely on unicorns.

Babeltext's multilingual chat platform revolutionises business communication, translating messages across 135 languages into English for seamless customer engagement.

A Cloudflare study reveals 41% of cybersecurity leaders in Asia Pacific faced data breaches last year, amid growing fears over AI's role in such incidents.

Computex 2024 concluded successfully, drawing 85,179 ICT professionals globally and featuring innovations like AI-integrated PCs, smart mobility, and metaverse tech.

Ant Group boosts its cross-border payment limit fivefold to $5,000 per transaction to simplify international visits in line with China's updated policies.