Latest news with #travel
Al Bawaba
2 hours ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Emirates partners with Uber, with plans to make journeys more seamless, and reward travellers when they ride
Emirates and Uber have announced a strategic partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore ways to make journeys more seamless, effortless and rewarding for travellers. This includes enhancing the on-ground mobility experience for Emirates customers, while offering Skywards members loyalty benefits when using the Uber platform across select markets within the Emirates network.*The MoU was signed by Adnan Kazim, Emirates' Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer and Anabel Diaz Calderon, Vice President and Head of EMEA Mobility at this partnership, Emirates and Uber will work towards introducing several initiatives to offer travellers more seamless and effortless journeys. These include; Developing an integrated booking experience that combines Uber Rides Vouchers with flight bookings for easier airport transfers or in-city rides. Additionally, Emirates and Uber will explore offering Uber rides to and from the airport for select Emirates customers, supporting a complete door-to-destination partnership will explore strategic opportunities to closely collaborate on offering Skywards members in the UAE the opportunity to earn on rides or redeem their miles for Uber app credits or vouchers. Emirates Skywards will also explore ways for members in the UAE to benefit from earning Miles on Uber rides across select markets in the Emirates area of collaboration will include exploring opportunities around Last Mile delivery initiatives for Emirates Courier Express, leveraging Uber's advanced technology platform and vast network of global Delivery partners to enhance customer reach, speed and Kazim said: 'Emirates is excited to join forces with Uber as part of our commitment to delivering seamless travel experiences. In the months ahead, we'll closely work together to leverage our combined capabilities in travel and technology to expand planning options, create more connected end-to-end journeys across our network, and introduce exciting new benefits for our Skywards members. We look forward to a successful partnership and the valuable opportunities it will create for our customers.'Commenting on the partnership, Anabel Diaz Calderon, Vice President, Head of EMEA Mobility at Uber said: "We're thrilled to partner with Emirates, a global leader in aviation, to shape the future of travel. With tailored Uber airport rides offering seamless door-to-destination journeys and loyalty benefits for Uber and Emirates customers, this collaboration will redefine the travel experience for millions of passengers.'To maximise awareness around the rollout of initiatives under the partnership, Emirates and Uber will explore leveraging cross promotional marketing campaigns across the airline's network. *Commercial, technical implementation and reward structure integrations will be determined in the coming months. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba ( Signal PressWire is the world's largest independent Middle East PR distribution service.
Bloomberg
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Lower Gas Prices to Spur Record July Fourth Road Trips, AAA Says
A record number of US drivers are expected to hit the road for the July Fourth holiday period starting next weekend, helped by the cheapest gasoline in four years. About 61.6 million people will travel by car from June 28 to July 6, a 2.2% increase from last year, the American Automobile Association said. The group's travel outlook was compiled before the recent escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict, which has boosted oil prices and threatened to raise US fuel costs.
Skift
2 hours ago
- Business
- Skift
Record 72 Million Americans Set to Travel for Fourth of July
The prediction feels somewhat optimistic given recent trends. But travelers continue to benefit from lower gas prices and have mostly continued to spend despite economic uncertainty. Americans are shrugging off economic jitters for the Fourth of July holiday: AAA projects that 72.2 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home between June 28 and July 6. If the forecast is correct, travel for the holiday would eclipse previous records set in 2019, before the pandemic, and 2023, during the post-Covid travel surge. But the rosy prediction hinges on gas prices staying near four-year lows and Middle East tensions not spiraling into broader conflict. Drivers are currently paying about 40 cents less per gallon than last summer, AAA said, with gas prices at their lowest since 2021. That's providing crucial relief for the 61.6 million Americans expected to ddrive, representing 85% of all holiday travelers. Uncertainties Ahead The prediction feels somewhat optimistic given recent trends. One wild card is the Israel-Iran war, which risks increasing oil prices and is causing gasoline prices to spike. Recent hotel performance trends also suggest weakness. Overall, U.S. revenue per available room was down 1.8% for the week ending June 14, according to CoStar's STR. "The weekend results were not 'soft' to us but instead 'bad,' especially for limited-service chain scales, which averaged -3.3% year-over-year revenue per available room," said Truist analysts Patrick Scholes and Gregory Miller. Truist said the results reflected "the combination of volatility in consumer and business confidence, government segment cutbacks, and diminished inbound international travel. And to these headwinds, we now add student loan debt repayments—likely impacting limited-service hotels." Otherwise, a favorable calendar date might enable this year's holiday to break travel records. Because it falls on a Friday, more travelers may take the entire week off. AAA's Independence Day forecast includes two weekends instead of one to 'better reflect the flow of holiday travelers." Top Independence Day Destinations Here are the top five U.S. destinations for the Independence Day holiday period based on travel bookings made through AAA: Orlando, FL Seattle, WA New York, NY Anchorage, AK Fort Lauderdale, FL
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Shanghai to launch all-in-one app for international travelers
SHANGHAI, June 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from Shanghai is preparing to roll out Easy Go — a new digital platform designed to enhance the travel experience for international visitors. Powered by Alipay, this English-language platform offers dedicated sections for services, benefits, guides, travel tips, and more. Services Easily accessible from the homepage, this section includes 30 mini programs grouped into four categories: food, transport, sightseeing, and shopping. Whether it's placing a food delivery order, browsing dining recommendations, checking transit schedules, hailing a taxi, unlocking a shared bike, booking tickets, storing luggage or locating tax-refund counters, each tool is neatly grouped by function for intuitive access. And with the pioneering "Tap for Tax Refund" feature tied into Shanghai's citywide refund map, visitors enjoy an even smoother tax refund experience. Benefits In collaboration with local businesses, this section offers exclusive discount packages under the theme of "Shanghai Coupon Pack". Travelers can claim deals and coupons covering cultural experiences, tourist attractions, commercial venues, sports events and exhibitions. Guides Supported by the International Services Shanghai website, this section provides lifestyle updates, special recommendations and highlights of the latest happenings in the city. Travel tips This section features short videos produced by official media outlets and popular international influencers, spotlighting the best of Shanghai and China. Visitors can explore top-rated food spots, must-see attractions and shopping destinations through engaging, curated content. While English is the default language, Easy Go also supports real-time translation in several other languages, making it accessible to a broader range of international users. Easy Go is expected to play a key role in supporting the upcoming 2025 Shanghai Summer International Consumption Season, which will kick off in early July and run until mid-October. Related Story: Shanghai to launch Easy Go to enhance travel experience for intl visitors View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Airports hate these sneaky hacks that can save travelers money this summer, experts say
Airports can seem over the top with their food and beverage prices — but according to travel experts at eShores, sometimes splurging will save you money in the long run. The experts claimed that travelers are wasting their money on 'unnecessary' add-ons for flights, such as early boarding and seat selection, when they should be allocating their money elsewhere. Instead of shelling out money on these frivolous options, the specialists advise spending on extras that will enhance the overall travel experience. Here are the expert-backed add-ons that are worth the splurge and the ones that should be avoided. The experts told the Daily Mail that lounge passes are worth the extra money. The eShore team claimed that the pricey cost of airport lounge access might end up being less money travelers would eventually spend on meals and drinks at the terminal. An airport meal can range from around $20 to $50, while access to a lounge can cost approximately $40 to $60 per person and includes so much more. Another pricey add-on worth looking into is fast-track security, which allows passengers to get their belongings checked in a separate private lane with a reduced wait time. Investing in a program like TSA Pre-Check or CLEAR, or sometimes even third-party services, will help passengers get to their lounge or gate faster. Day trip excursions are also worth the money, according to experts. Rather than paying for separate flights and accommodations while traveling, globetrotters can save a buck by booking an organized day trip. An excursion can offer benefits such as visiting multiple destinations at a cheaper price, which can also include meals and transport. While some perks are worth the money — many others aren't, such as early boarding. The eShore experts claim that paying extra for early boarding is 'rarely' an advantage, especially if a traveler already has an assigned seat. 'Early boarding doesn't guarantee faster departure times; you'll still disembark in the same order,' the experts told the outlet. 'Unless you have mobility needs or are travelling with very young children, it's money better spent on your actual holiday.' Some budget airlines charge passengers to choose their seats on a plane. But the experts claim this isn't worth the money — especially for short flights. 'For short-haul flights under two hours, for many people, being separated isn't the end of the world (and might even mean a bit of quiet time),' they explained. 'Unless you're flying with young children or sitting with your travel companion is a must, this is an easy cost to skip.' Unless you're going on a longer trip, paying for checked luggage might be a waste of money. The experts advise travelers going on a weekend getaway or trips that are just a few days long to skip checking a bag and instead utilize carry-ons. 'With smart packing techniques (think compression cubes and versatile outfits), everything you need for a long weekend or week-long city break can easily fit in hand luggage.'
