Michael Baker
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Travel industry writer, focused on airlines and with a long history covering the lodging industry. Any opinions expressed are my own. Pronouns are he/him/his.
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Articles by Michael Baker
PredictX's Orchestra, Swivul Win Honors at BTS America Innovation Faceoff
Data intelligence specialist PredictX earned top honors from judges at Business Travel Show America's Innovation Faceoff for its new multi-agent AI platform Orchestra, while ROI-focused booking platform startup Swivul was voted as People's Choice winner by event attendees. PredictX launched Orchestra in June, built on the agent workspace Cogent that it launched a year prior. CEO Keesup Choe in his presentation described it as a tool for travel managers to offload repetitive or non-strategic tasks.
Direct Travel Names Stone Chief Customer Success Officer
Management / October 16, 2026 / Direct Travel has named its SVP of client implementations Ann Marie Stone as chief customer success officer, a new role at the travel management company designed to help clients launch, manage and improve travel programs. Stone's new role is meant to bring closer coordination between Direct Travel's teams that design, implement and manage travel programs for clients, according to the TMC.
Extend Pilots AI Receipt-Matching
Spend and expense platform Extend is piloting with its bank partners an AI agent that can automate matching receipts to card transactions, the company announced. Extend's AI Receipt Agent searches and matches receipts both within Extend—a platform that works with bank partnersto enable virtual cards to be issued on existing card accounts—and from externally linked accounts, including Google Workspace and Outlook, according to the company.
Navan Adds Slack Capabilities, New Payment, Expense Features
Navan has added travel and expense management capabilities in Slack, additional currencies for local card issuing with Navan Payment and a new guest expense management offering, the company announced on Thursday. Within the Slack collaboration software, Navan users can now search, book and manage travel, finding options for a trip and getting a confirmed itinerary within the same Slack thread, according to Navan.
Expensify Integrates with Campfire ERP
Payment & Expense / October 15, 2026 / Expense management platform Expensify has established a two-way integration with AI-native ERP Campfire to help companies keep expenses, card spending and reimbursements in sync with ledgers, Expensify announced. With the integration, Campfire's chart of accounts syncs into Expensify as categories.
Amex GBT Adds AI Agents to Hotel Sourcing Consulting Services
Management / October 14, 2026 / American Express Global Business Travel has launched a new agentic AI capability in its hotel sourcing consulting services that the travel management company said can shorten sourcing cycles and support year-round program optimization. Amex GBT's Hotel Lobby uses AI agents to automate such tasks as cleansing data, calculating wish rates and validating requests for proposal, the TMC said.
Travel Incorporated Launches Platform Combining Booking, Travel and Risk Data
Georgia-based travel management company Travel Incorporated has launched a new travel intelligence platform that combines historical data, traveler tracking and predictive analytics into a single experience, the TMC announced. The TMC's TripInsights platform was designed to bring together data that typically has required travel program managers to pull together analysis across disparate booking, reporting and risk tools, the company said.
AI Travel Authorization Engine Intellivisa Raises $3M
Travel authorization clearance technology Intellivisa has raised $3 million in pre-seed funding to scale its platform, an AI engine that helps travelers work through visa, entry and compliance requirements, the company announced. Intellivisa integrates with the post-booking flow of airlines, travel management companies and online travel agencies to guide travelers through a step-by-step process of ensuring they have proper travel authorization, according to the company.
Clarasight Launches Capability to Drive Impactful Actions
Travel data platform Clarasight has launched a new capability to help travel program leaders determine and execute actions that will have the deepest impact on their programs, the company announced. The capability, Automated AI Insights, continuously monitors a program's performance against defined goals and suggests recommended actions based on data insights, according to Clarasight.
Tripism Consolidates Data in 'Intelligence' Offering
Travel engagement platform Tripism has launched a new "intelligence" layer that can both offer recommendations and guidance to travelers as well as program insights for travel managers, the company announced. The newly launched Tripism Intelligence is "a natural progression of what we've been doing," Tripism CEO Adam Kerr said.
Travelogix Launches New Farecast Platform
Corporate travel data specialist Travelogix has launched a new version of its airline incentive management platform for travel management companies and consortia, which the company said can provide a timelier view of an agency's commercial position. The company's Farecast 2.0 pulls booking and ticket data along with deal tracking, booking pace and forecasting modeling to help agencies monitor whether incentives have been or are on track to being received, the company said.
Travog Launches T&E Card on Mastercard Network
Travel and expense platform Travog has launched a travel and expense card in partnership with Mastercard for small and midsized travel programs, the company announced. The card connects Travog's booking, expense management, approval workflows and analytics with the global Mastercard network and Mastercard's payments capabilities, according to Travog. That enables employees to use the card for travel expenses within their company's spending, policy and approval parameters.
FCM Launches Browser Extension to Redirect Off-Channel Bookings
FCM Travel has launched a new browser extension for its Sam digital travel assistant, which the travel management company says will help redirect travelers making bookings on external sites back into the managed program. Sam for browser works with both the Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers, and it can notice when travelers are booking flights on third-party sites such as Google Flights, Expedia and Skyscanner, according to FCM.
Kayak for Business, Mesh Payments Partner for Combined Offering
Payment & Expense / October 13, 2026 / Kayak for Business and Mesh Payments have partnered for a combined booking, payment and expense offering, the companies announced. With the partnership, travelers can search and book on Kayak for Business with payment running on the Mesh platform, both through Mesh virtual cards and a company's own corporate card program, the companies said.
Direct Travel Ending TripStax Third-Party Sales
Direct Travel is phasing out travel management technology TripStax's third-party customers as it brings the TripStax team, expertise and technology more closely into its own organization, the travel management company confirmed to BTN. As of now, TripStax no longer is pursuing any third-party customers, and it will not renew contracts with current third-party customers, Direct Travel chief business officer John Coffman said.
BCD Building Flexibility Strategy Around Tripsource
In the evolving travel management company landscape, BCD Travel is positioning itself as the "pick-and-choose" option among global TMCs, and the company is leaning heavily into its Tripsource platform as the focal point for that offering. This summer, BCD launched the "next generation" of its Tripsource platform, linking content, data and BCD's third-party technology partners into a single source.
Travel Incorporated Adds Travel Alerts Engine
Georgia-based travel management company Travel Incorporated has added a new intelligence engine within its traveler-tracking platform to identify and communicate with at-risk travelers. PTA Travel Alerts, in Travel Incorporated's People Track Assist platform, combines global event intelligence and traveler itineraries to identify which travelers are at risk when such events as natural disasters, public health events or security incidents occur.
Talma Acquires Canadian TMC Plus Travel Group
Talma Travel Solutions is continuing its acquisition streak in landing Greater Toronto-based Plus Travel Group, the travel management company's first move into the Canadian market. Talma said the acquisition, the terms of which were not disclosed, gives it local expertise in Canada while making its global reach and resources available to Plus Travel Group clients. Plus Travel Group CEO Jeffrey Verman remains at the helm of the Canadian TMC.
Midoco Integrates ConnexPay Payment Capabilities
Payment & Expense / October 08, 2026 / Mid- and back-office technology supplier Midoco has partnered with payment platform ConnexPay to provide travel management companies and other travel sellers access to ConnexPay's capabilities. With an API integration, travel sellers using Midoco technology can use ConnexPay both to accept customer payments and issue virtual cards to pay suppliers within the Midoco workflow, the companies said.
Amex GBT promotes Drew Crawley to CEO
American Express Global Business Travel president Drew Crawley has succeeded Paul Abbott as CEO in what the company announced on Tuesday as a "planned leadership transition." One week ago, AI-focused investment firm Long Lake Management completed its acquisition of Amex GBT (No. 3 on Travel Weekly's Power List), taking the travel management company private with plans to deploy Long Lake's Nexus AI platform across Amex GBT.
InteleTravel Acquires 40Hammocks, to Launch Event Sourcing Offering
Host agency and travel distribution group InteleTravel has acquired group travel automation technology 40Hammocks, with plans to relaunch the technology as a sourcing and management solution for the smaller-group market. Hawaii-based 40Hammocks launched in 2024 and targets largely destination weddings and group events, enabling organizers to set up pre-negotiated rates for blocks of 10 or more rooms with customized booking links, room block tracking and guest perks.
FCM Launches Proactive Analytics Capability
FCM Travel has launched a new data analytics capability that monitors data and alerts travel managers of cost and compliance risks, the travel management company announced. FCM's Proactive Analytics monitors such data types as hotel spending per city, airline route performance and traveler spend concentration and can deliver insights to clients and account managers quarterly, monthly or weekly.
Crawley Takes Amex GBT CEO Reins, Abbott Moves to Long Lake Role
American Express Global Business Travel president Drew Crawley has succeeded Paul Abbott as CEO in what the company announced on Tuesday as a "planned leadership transition." One week ago, AI-focused investment firm Long Lake Management completed its acquisition of Amex GBT, taking the travel management company private with plans to deploy Long Lake's Nexus AI platform across Amex GBT.
Volaris Adds HTS Disruption Protection Ancillary
Transportation / October 06, 2026 / Mexican low-cost carrier Volaris has added a new ancillary giving enhanced rebooking and refund options during trip disruptions via Hopper Technology Solutions, the companies announced.
HTS CEO Smith Departs
Management / October 05, 2026 / Dakota Smith, Hopper co-founder and CEO of its HTS B-to-B division, has left the company, Smith announced on LinkedIn. Smith has been with Hopper for 13 years and "played a crucial role" in the launch of HTS, which provides travel technology for banks, airlines and other travel companies, Hopper said in a statement. The company said CEO and co-founder Fred Lalonde is continuing to oversee both Hopper and HTS.
Amex Debuts Expense Mgmt. Capabilities with New Card Offering
American Express has launched a new corporate card product that includes expense management software and an expense app as the payments brand continues to seek to solidify its spot with midmarket clients. The American Express Corporate Cashback Cards program includes new expense management software through which companies can set spending and approval policies for different employees and departments.
Long Lake completes Amex GBT acquisition
Long Lake Management has completed its $6.3 billion acquisition of American Express Global Business Travel, taking the travel management company private and paving the way for "heavy" investment in AI deployment across Amex GBT, the companies announced. The acquisition, first announced in May and approved by Amex GBT shareholders on Aug. 3, brought shareholders $9.50 per share, more than a 65% premium over its volume-weighted average price in the 30 days following the merger agreement.
Traxo to Provide Itinerary Data for Otonoma's Network
Management / September 30, 2026 / Traxo has formed a long-term technology and mutual referral partnership with technology platform Otonoma, the companies announced. With the partnership, Traxo—which captures off-channel corporate bookings from more than 1,000 agency and supplier points of sale—is streaming the data from those bookings into Otonoma's network.
Aven Hospitality Adds HTS Cancellation Offering
Lodging / September 30, 2026 / Hospitality technology provider Aven Hospitality has integrated Hopper Technology Solutions' Cancel for Any Reason payment solution into its booking engine, the companies announced. With the integration, hoteliers using Aven's Booking Engine can provide CFAR as an option after room selection, with which guests can cancel their stay before checkout and receive up to 100 percent of room costs paid as a refund.
Long Lake Completes Amex GBT Acquisition
/ September 29, 2026 / Long Lake Management has completed its $6.3 billion acquisition of American Express Global Business Travel, taking the travel management company private and paving the way for "heavy" investment in AI deployment across Amex GBT, the companies announced. The acquisition, first announced in May and approved by Amex GBT shareholders on Aug.
Expensify Integrates with AI-Native ERP DualEntry
Payment & Expense / September 28, 2026 / Expensify has launched a direct integration with midmarket ERP DualEntry, the companies announced. The integration allows businesses with DualEntry, an AI-native ERP that consolidates a full finance operation into a single platform, to connect with Expensify for a two-way sync, where the chart of accounts in DualEntry syncs with Expensify as categories. Spending on company cards is posted as a direct expense to the proper accounts, the companies said.
SkyLink Upgrades AI Servicing Capabilities with Amadeus
AI corporate travel assistant SkyLink has undergone a "pretty substantial upgrade" as its acquisition by Amadeus earlier this year has given it additional resources to scale globally, co-founder and CEO Atyab Bhatti told BTN. Founded in 2021, SkyLink is a large language model-based tool that can facilitate bookings based on traveler preferences and policies, integrated with their existing chat channels such as Microsoft Teams and Slack.
Trip.Biz Adds AI Agents Aimed at Boosting Program Adoption
Technology / September 17, 2026 / Trip.Biz has launched a set of four connected AI agents to assist with trip planning, booking, approval and reporting, the travel management company announced. The four agents are part of Trip.Biz's newly launched AI offering Agent One, which the company—the Singapore-based full-service TMC powered by online travel agency Trip.com—said is focusing in particular on improving adoption.
Amex GBT Names Esquibel as Chief Technology Officer
Management / September 17, 2026 / American Express Global Business Travel has appointed Michael Esquibel as chief technology officer, leading the travel management company's technology and AI strategies, the company announced. Esquibel has been with Amex GBT for eight years, most recently as SVP of technology and platform engineering.
Groupe Voyages VP Automates Mining, Medical Repatriation Workflows with Amgine
Technology / September 16, 2026 / Quebec-based travel agency Groupe Voyages VP has tapped corporate travel AI platform Amgine to automate workflows in mining workforce travel and medical repatriation services, the companies announced. The agency first is using Amgine to streamline workflows on its group and events desk, keeping agents in the booking process. That will help the agency meet clients' growing expectations around speed and visibility, the agency said.
Frontier Adds HTS' Cancel for Any Reason Offering
Frontier Airlines is the latest carrier to add the Cancel for Any Reason option via technology supplier HTS, Hopper's B-to-B division, the companies announced. With the option, travelers booking through Frontier's website and mobile app can purchase Cancel for Any Reason as an add-on, letting them cancel up to 24 hours before departure and receive up to a full refund, depending on how much coverage they selected.
Thrust Carbon Adds Pre-Trip Briefings to EngageAI Tool
Management / September 16, 2026 / Thrust Carbon has added a new pre-trip briefing capability to its behavioral change tool, EngageAI, which it launched earlier this year. With the capability, EngageAI can reach out to a traveler a day or two before their departure to provide guidance on policy, such as per diems and expense rules that apply specifically to the trip.
Perk Expands Spend Management Platform to U.S.
Payment & Expense / September 15, 2026 / Perk has launched its spend management platform in the U.S., following what the company called a successful launch of the platform in Europe. With the European launch, Perk, formerly TravelPerk, said about 40 percent of its new deals in the region now are for a combined offering of Perk Travel and Perk Spend, and the company expects the U.S. launch to follow the same path.
Lufthansa City Center Debuts Atriis-Based SME Booking Tool
Lufthansa City Center has launched a new booking tool, built on Atriis Technologies capabilities, for its partner agencies' small and midsized clients, the agency franchise organization announced. The platform, LCC Nexus, provides a single interface for travelers to book flights, hotels, rail and airport shuttles, combining content from multiple reservations systems, including direct New Distribution Content connections.
Expensify Integrates with Anthropic's Claude for Small Business
Payment & Expense / September 15, 2026 / Expensify has integrated with Anthropic to make its expense management tools available as a Claude for Small Business plugin, the company announced. With the integration, expense managers can analyze Expensify card, expense and receipt data within Claude with natural-language prompts. For example, they can ask which expenses from the previous month are missing receipts or what was spent in a certain category over a certain period broken down by vendor.
Gant Launches AI Assistant in Self-Service Platform
Technology / September 11, 2026 / Gant Travel Management has added an AI assistant to its recently launched self-service platform, the travel management company announced. The self-service platform, now called Gant360, launched last month as a single point for travelers to access trip information, profiles, invoices, disruption information and trip support.
Grasp Promotes Quattlebaum, Hires Emburse's Duenholter
Management / September 11, 2026 / Grasp Technologies has promoted Tina Quattlebaum to chief customer officer and hired former Emburse executive Nick Duenholter as VP of commercial growth and partnerships, the data management provider announced. Quattlebaum, formerly Pfizer's director of global travel and card operations, has been with Grasp since August 2024, most recently serving as VP of customer success.
Traxo Integrates Data Flow to Everbridge
Management / September 10, 2026 / Traxo has launched a product integration with safety and risk management provider Everbridge, providing off-channel booking data into the Everbridge platform, the companies announced. With the integration, data from Traxo—which can detect and normalize data from booking confirmations from more than 1,000 points of sale—automatically streams into Everbridge, so users can see what travelers are affected when emergency events arise.
Omio Business Expands Availability Globally
Global / September 09, 2026 / Multimodal travel booking platform Omio has expanded globally the availability of its Omio Business platform, the company announced. Omio Business, which was designed for small businesses and individual travelers such as freelancers, launched earlier this year in the U.K. and is now available globally. The company said it has seen "promising demand" especially in Italy, Spain and the United States.
Clarasight Adds Supplier Intelligence Tool
Technology / September 09, 2026 / AI data platform Clarasight has launched a new intelligence tool aimed at helping travel buyers improve negotiations and performance with suppliers. The Supplier Intelligence capability pulls together a company's travel, card and expense data to give a full spending picture and show buyers where they have leverage, where supplier performance can be improved and what they are paying across comparable trips, according to Clarasight.
Navan to Add Engine's Capabilities for Hotel Flexibility, Group Travel
Navan is tapping travel and spend management platform Engine's technology structure to add new capabilities, including around hotel booking flexibility and group and project travel, the companies announced. With the strategic partnership, Navan said it is bringing Engine's content, infrastructure and payment capabilities into its platform to add that flexibility.
Amadeus Partners with Anthropic for Tool Integration, Developer Access
Amadeus is collaborating with AI company Anthropic to both bring its own tools into AI workflows as well as give developers easier access to its content and capabilities, the travel technology company announced. For travel professionals, the collaboration includes work to make select Amadeus applications available through a plugin to the Claude Cowork desktop agent.
Advito Launches Service to Guide AI Adoption
BCD Travel's Advito consulting division has launched a new consulting service to help clients plan and adopt AI tools and capabilities at their company. Advito's AI Gateway service—stemming from its employee engagement practice, Engage—guides companies through the full deployment of AI.
Emburse Expands Spend Platform to Australia
Payment & Expense / September 02, 2026 / Emburse later this month will launch in Australia its spend management platform, Emburse Spend, the platform's first market outside of the U.S., the company announced. The platform, which connects with clients' existing cards and accounting workflows to provide a layer of visibility and control, currently is used by thousands of U.S. customers, and Emburse will begin making it available to Australian customers on Sept.
CTM Releases Financials, to Resume ASX Trading
Corporate Travel Management on Thursday will resume trading on the Australia Securities Exchange for the first time more than a year as the Australia-based travel management company has published the remaining financial results required for its relisting.
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