Use of e-ticketing for tourists sees revenue rocket for Thai national parks

Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has seen its revenue soar following the introduction of an e-ticketing system. According to a report from the National News Bureau of Thailand, Rakchanok Paenoi, chief of Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi-Phi National Park, said that revenue from entry fees from the sale of e-tickets has …

Manchester introduces tourist tax to develop events and more

Manchester has imposed a tourist tax for guests staying in order to develop and run large events, conferences, festivals and marketing campaigns.  The city is the first in the UK to impose the £1 tourist tax, which will be added per night, per room for those staying in hotels, and is part of a new …

TEG acquires majority stake in Fan+

Live entertainment, ticketing and data company TEG has acquired a majority stake in Australian startup, Fan+.  Fan+ is a platform that offers personalised experiences with sports teams and live entertainment events within Australia. Geoff Jones, chief executive of TEG, said: “AT TEG, we believe nothing beats the live experience and to be able to personalise …

Stage Front VIP becomes One Championship’s official VIP experience partner  

Martial arts organisation One Championship has welcomed Stage Front VIP as its official VIP experience partner.  The multi-year partnership means that Stage Front VIP will provide VIP experiences for One Championship globally, and act as the organisation’s VIP experience partner in North America. One of Stage Front VIP’s first tasks is to provide experiences for …

Attraction World Group set to launch GBTix brand

Attraction World Group (AWG), a platform where customers can pre-book experiences and attractions, has revealed its new GBTix brand. The new direct-sell operation will aim to continue the success of its US counterpart, direct-to-consumer brand FloridaTix. As reported by TTG Media, AWG said: “We are using our expertise to replicate this within the UK space.” …

Pollen lays off over 150 employees

Music, travel and experiences company Pollen has reportedly made a number of redundancies, despite raising $150m (£119m/€140m) in a Series C funding round in April. According to Music Business Worldwide, Pollen has laid off over 150 members of staff in the UK and the US. The article cited posts on LinkedIn, including one from Christine …

World Snooker Tour launches online accommodation and experiences booking platform

The World Snooker Tour has partnered with Tourism Exchange Great Britain (TXGB) and has launched an online booking platform. The new system will enable snooker fans to purchase accommodation and experiences across World Snooker’s UK-based events. Fans were able to use the platform for the first time for the start of the Betfred World Championship, …

Uber adds Explore function for live events and experiences 

Transport company Uber has added a new function that will allow its customers to browse and book experiences, including live events. Uber Explore will also allow users to book dinner reservations and other activities. Customers will see locations recommended for them based on the categories they have chosen in the Explore tab, which will include …

AnyRoad closes $47m funding round

Experience Relationship Management (ERM) company AnyRoad has announced the closing of a $47m (£35m/€41m) Series B funding round.  AnyRoad was founded in 2013 and works with a number of brands and franchises including the NBA’s Golden State Warriors (pictured), to aid the offering of experiences, and draw insights from data to connect with fans and …

MotoGP introduces new premier hospitality platform

MotoGP has introduced a new premier hospitality platform that will provide exclusive packages and experiences, in partnership with QuintEvents.  Dorna Sports, which is the commercial rights holder for the sport, announced the launch of MotoGP Premier, alongside sports and events ticketing and packages company, QuintEvents.  The five-year deal will run between 2022-2026 and witness the …