The impulse of £ 1.5m of smartify to improve the participation of visitors in museums and galleries

Smartify, a visitors participation platform for museums and attractions, has assured £ 1.5 million in funds, directed by Metavallon VC with the participation of Pembroke Vct. Founded in 2015, Smartify aims to expand internationally and improve how museums connect with the public through its SAAS platform and application. The company offers personalized brand applications for museums and galleries, integrating augmented and virtual reality, artificial intelligence and electronic commerce characteristics to boost visitors participation and create new sources of income. It is currently associated with more than 700 institutions, including the Acropolis Museum and the London Tower, Smartify has seen a 68% increase in the use of applications, with two million active users that explore millions of cultural artifacts.

CEO Thanos Kokkinintis described financing as a strong support of Smartify’s mission to make arts and culture more accessible and attractive. Investors expressed their confidence in Smartify’s potential to become the cultural application for travelers worldwide. The investment will support the continuous growth and the objective of Smartify, which is to help more institutions to modernize their visiting participation strategies. (through PHocuswire)

Thailand becomes digital with immigration forms

Thailand will require that all foreign tourists complete the TM6 immigration form online instead of paper from May 1, 2025. This digital transition aims to optimize the entry process, improve tourists monitoring and improve the security perceptions. The TM6 based on paper was temporarily suspended on April 15, 2024 and will continue to be until April 30, 2025. The authorities have confirmed that the digital version will be mandatory for all foreign arrivals by air, earth and sea, with parts Interested key, including airlines and airlines and airlines and airlines Tour agencies, ready to discuss the implementation process at an upcoming government meeting.

Together with the TM6 transition, Thailand also introduced an electronic visa system (E-VISA) since January 1, 2025, applicable to tourists from non-visual countries. However, the Government has decided to delay the deployment of a 300 Baht tourism rate, potentially due to concerns about the TM6 system without problems and continuous problems with illicit networks using Thailand as a transit center. The authorities plan to ensure that the digital immigration process is executed efficiently before adding any additional prevention requirement.

Travel insurance payments in 2024

Travel insurance payments increased by 2024, driven by the increase in travel costs and an increase in claims. According to Squaremouth.com, pay claims increased by 18% compared to 2023, while average payment amounts increased 37% of $ 1,900 to $ 2,609. Tin LEG data, a travel insurance provider, revealed that emergency medical claims were the most common, representing 27% of all claims with an average payment of $ 1,654 and a higher claim of $ 61,976 . This marked a change, since the emergency medical benefits became the main claim category for the first time in more than a decade, exceeding travel cancellations.

Travel cancellation claims followed closely at 26%, with an average of $ 1,456 per claim, while travel delay (15%) averaged $ 370. Trip interruption (11%) saw the highest average payment in $ 2,631 and the lossed connection claims (10%) averaged $ 395. Cancellation claims for any breed represented 6%of total claims, averaging $ 2,092, while the loss of luggage and delay represented 4%, with smaller payments of $ 174 and $ 210, respectively. Less common claims included medical evacuation, an average of $ 17,086 and car rental damage to $ 1,209. The data highlights a growing dependence on travel insurance in the middle of higher costs and greater risks.

Boom Supersonic is up to his name, breaks the sound barrier

Boom Supersonic achieved an important milestone since his XB-1 prototype successfully broke the sound barrier during a trial flight on the California desert. This marks the first supersonic flight for a civil plane designed by the United States, reinforcing the Boom mission of reliving conventional supersonic trips. The XB-1, a scale model of one third of the planned overture plane, completed three supersonic races, with the CEO Blake Scholl declaring that it is a crucial moment for the company. Boom plans a final test flight with the XB-1 before removing it to concentrate completely on the overture, which is expected to begin production within 18 months in its Greensboro installation, NC.

Despite this success, the biggest challenge remains the development of the engine. While the XB-1 operates at the General Electric J85-15 engines of seniority, Boom is designing a new supersonic engine, Symphony, after not ensuring associations with the main motion manufacturers such as GE, Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney The company suggests that the overture fly at 1,300 mph, twice the speed of today’s commercial aircraft, but skeptics question the viability of developing a new engine independently. The aerospace consultant Richard Abouulafia said that without a solid motor plan, Boom’s efforts could be little more than an ambitious experiment. Scholl recognized obstacles ahead, but remains committed to demonstrating that critics are wrong and make commercial supersonic trips come true.

Travel technology needs to catch up with business trips

A new survey of the Center for the expenses management firm reveals that corporate reserve tools do not meet employee expectations, with 61% of business travelers who opt for consumer travel sites. Despite 88% of companies that have written travel policies, almost half of the employees do not realize them, which hinders compliance. The study, which survey more than 200 financial leaders from medium -sized US companies, found that 68% of employees do not know about existing corporate reserve technology or find it cumbersome. The report suggests that improving travel reservation and expenses management tools, together with better training, could increase adoption and compliance.

The study also highlights a growing trend of travel management companies that acquire or are associated with expense management specialists to offer more integrated solutions. Respondents classified the improvement of employee experience and the centralization of travel, expenses and corporate card management as main priorities. The CEO of the center, Naveen Singh, emphasized that a “card approach first” could encourage employees to use corporate tools while guaranteeing that companies retain control over spending. As medium market companies plan to invest significantly in business trips this year, close the gap between corporate travel tools and employee reserve behavior remains a key challenge.

Credit of the heading photo: courtesy of Boom Supersonic