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    traveltech lab

    Traveltech Lab is the innovation lab of HBX Group

    Our mission is to re-imagine the World of Travel, and that gives us a lot of room to play. We spend most of our time innovating in product development, finding new ways to use technology to help our customers succeed, and helping our business partners exceed their goals.

    What do we do?

    Explore

    We explore the intersection of emerging technology and travel to build innovative products and consumer experiences, whilst engine ering solutions that advance HBX Group’s innovation agenda and better the lives of our customers.

    Innovate

    We co-innovate with start-ups partners to deliver high-impact, customer-centric experiences, creating breakthrough products, platforms and services.

    Design

    In a collaborative environment, it’s all about exploring new horizons, designing solutions, and testing, to help future-proof our business and drive digital transformation.

    Our Partners

    Check out the partners collaborating with us

    Life at the Hub

    Check out the latest activities in our innovation labs:

    Looking for challenge

    Looking for challenge

    TravelTechLab launches a new open innovation challenge with the aim of finding the best start-ups

    that using emerging virtual technologies (VR, AR, gamification, artificial intelligence and beyond) may help B2B travel players to remove friction,

    enhance efficiency in their operations, create more compelling experiences, and reshape distribution within the Travel Tech Industry.

    Note: more information available in the T&C

    Programme stages

    As a leader in the TravelTech space, we are committed to creating a sustainable future for our planet, transforming tourism into a force for good.

    Selection

    We are looking for start-ups that can respond to the challenges proposed by the Lab, the first of which is to achieve a frictionless experience for travellers.

    Join the Lab

    We will select four start-ups that will join the TravelTech Lab, HBX Group’s innovation hub, and enjoy access to its benefits and network of experts.

    Pilot

    From the projects that join the Lab, we will select one per challenge that will be able to test its technology in a real environment with HBX Group.

    Benefits for Start-ups

    TravelTech Lab will allow you to dive deep into the travel ecosystem. You’ll have access to a wide range of customers, you’ll be able to analyse their needs and test your product while being on top of the latest TravelTech trends.

    Office Space

    Access to office space in an entrepreneurial environment in Madrid or Palma de Mallorca.

    Funded Pilot – 40K

    One of the selected companies will develop a pilot with HBX Group to validate their solution.

    Expertise

    Access to HBX Group’s experts in TravelTech.

    Business Opportunities

    Relation with HBX Group’s business units to validate the solution and the business model.

    Comms & Events Presence

    Presence in social media, press releases and ecosystem events.

    Network

    HBX Group’s extensive network with more than 300K hotels and partners.

    LATEST NEWS

    March 2024

    TravelTech Lab

    Firstview, Hotelverse, Didit (Gamium) and Unblock are the lucky start-ups to join the TravelTech Lab by HBX Group, in collaboration with Wayra. The second innovation challenge looked for start-ups specialising in virtual reality, the metaverse and AI to help change the way travellers move, connect, and explore.   Madrid, 7 March, 2024 - HBX Group, a leading B2B ecosystem in the TravelTech space, and Wayra, Telefónica's Corporate Venture Capital, today announced the winners of the second TravelTech Lab by HBX Group challenge after analysing 120 companies from 25 countries including Spain, France, UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Korea.   Only 6 start-ups were given the opportunity to present their project to a professional jury composed of experts from both companies at the pitching hub during 4FYN, part of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The goal of the challenge was to find start-ups that specialise in virtual reality, the metaverse and AI to help B2B travel companies improve efficiency in their operations. After hearing the proposals, four winners have been announced to join the TravelTech Lab, for their solutions that create more engaging experiences and reshape distribution within the TravelTech industry.   The winning start-ups are: Didit (Gamium): an intuitive app that combines NFC, blockchain and artificial intelligence technologies to ensure secure identity verifications and smart digital payments. Firstview: provides hotels with virtual reality and immersive digital content with 3D virtual tours, 360° aerial view, virtual sales platform, and reporting. Hotelverse: offers travellers the opportunity to fly over the hotel, explore its facilities, hyper-personalise a specific room and book it. Unblock: an application that serves as a point of contact with the citizen and offers comprehensive access to city services in an easy and attractive way.   These startups will receive advice and guidance from industry experts, and they will also join Wayra's innovative ecosystem and work directly with HBX Group teams to develop joint business opportunities. In addition, HBX Group may offer a grant of up to €40,000 to pilot and bring their proposal to life.   All four of the selected start-ups will be able to work with other like-minded entrepreneurs in Wayra's 7 spaces in Europe and Latin America, as well as in HBX Group's hubs in Mallorca and Madrid.   "Our alliance with HBX Group is an exciting adventure, we want to create innovative solutions through the most disruptive technologies that redefine the hotel and tourism sector. What better way to do it than by relying on the entrepreneurial ecosystem that we have been supporting for more than 15 years? Wayra would like to congratulate all the winners, as together we will seek to create a real impact on their business, and successfully face the new challenges of the market", explains Andrés Saborido, COO of Wayra.   José María Pestaña, Chief Innovation & Public Affairs Officer at HBX Group, stated: "Innovation is the cornerstone of our TravelTech Lab at HBX Group, and the collaboration with Wayra is key in connecting with start-ups that offer a differential value proposition. We are very pleased with the outcome of the second challenge and would like to congratulate all the selected start-ups. We firmly believe that the winning proposals can contribute to improving the efficiency of our partners. We are confident that together we can continue to facilitate the real transformation of the TravelTech space and improve the traveller experience.”     About HBX Group HBX Group is a leading B2B ecosystem player in the TravelTech space, connecting and empowering businesses in the ever-evolving world of travel. We drive growth for our clients & partners while removing friction from the end-to-end travel experience. Our cloud-based technology platforms offer fast and reliable access to a unique portfolio of travel products & services, while rich data and intelligence seamlessly connect supply and demand worldwide. We have over 3,000 experts worldwide, including specialists on the ground who provide insights and support to boost trading even further, especially in the most hard-to-reach segments. This unique blend of technology, data, and passionate people, serves as a catalyst for all businesses aiming to unlock their full potential in the travel arena. More information available at www.hbxgroup.com     About Wayra Wayra is Telefónica's Corporate Venture Capital and its Open Innovation platform. Wayra invests in startups with the capacity to attract innovation to Telefónica and provides innovation services to third parties, to help them take their Open Innovation initiatives to the next level.  With a global presence, it has seven hubs in Europe (Spain -Madrid and Barcelona-, United Kingdom and Germany) and Latin America (Brazil, Argentina and Colombia), and teams operating in nine countries. Through its funds, it is also present in Silicon Valley and Israel.  Since its creation more than 15 years ago, Wayra has invested €233M in +1,100 startups and currently has +530 startups in its portfolio, of which +190 work with Telefónica. We also have a network of more than 140 partners and customers, and two innovation platforms (Alaian and Open Future) open to third parties.    HBX Group Follow us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hbxgroup Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hbxgroup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hbx_group   HBX Group Media Contact PR & Media Relations  media@hotelbeds.com   Wayra Spain Communications Tel: +34 646 601 952 email: agustina.peydro@telefonica.com https://twitter.com/WayraES
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    November 2023

    Innovation

    ​​​​​Palma, Spain, 13 November, 2023 —The TravelTech Lab by HBX Group has joined Mastercard’s Tourism Innovation Hub (the Hub), while Mastercard has joined HBX Group’s TravelTech Lab, to collaborate on accelerating innovation in the travel and tourism sector.   Check it at https://www.economiademallorca.com/articulo/innovacion/empresas-mallorquinas-retan-200-estudiantes-encontrar-soluciones-economia-circular/20230421133937081486.html
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    November 2023

    Innovation

    Madrid, October 24, 2023.– HBX Group, the leading B2B TravelTech ecosystem player, Wayra, Telefónica’s leading open innovation programme, and the NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS) Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality have joined forces to launch the second TravelTech Lab by HBX Group innovation challenge to redesign the future of travel.   Check it at https://discover.hotelbeds.com/news-room/press-release/hbx-group-wayra-and-nyu-sps-look-virtual-reality-and-metaverse
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