The &quot;GMA&quot; Bucket List on a Budget headed to Mexico to find the best savings on stays, activities and more in Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

Travel the Yucatán Peninsula for less: Deals in Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum - Good Morning America

IndiGo, one of India’s biggest airlines, has just launched a new feature that allows female travelers to see where other women are seated when selecting their own seats for their flights.

Indian airline IndiGo gives female travelers option to choose seats next to other women | CNN

Get the latest news and guides for California, the U.S. and international locations including Wine Country, Tahoe, the Central Coast, Mexico, Hawaii and Europe.

Southwest angers loyal customers by raising certain boarding fees

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The wait is over! - it’s time to celebrate the champion startups of the world. Shout out to all of the participants in our ! You did a wonderful job showcasing your incredible startups and powering through another year. 2023 Startups of the Year is a community-driven voting platform brought to you by HackerNoon that recognizes and celebrates tech startups changing technology and the world for the better. The award started on May 8th, 2023, where the internet nominated and voted for 30k startups around the world. The voting period remained open until December 31, 2023, and now we are here with the winner announcement after a comprehensive evaluation by the HackerNoon team. Startups of the Year 2023 To see the top 3 startups in each respective city, visit and pick a city. hackernoon.com/startups You’ll get a little surprise 😉 Here are the Startups of the Year Regional Announcements: North America Europe Asia Africa South America Oceania Misc/Remote From all of us at HackerNoon, thank YOU for your excellent campaign perseverance 🥺 This year has been awesome! Startups of the Year 2023 is concluded with 623k+ total votes, up from 215k+ votes in the inaugural startup competition. We look forward to seeing you again in the next campaign (stay tuned 😉)! Without further ado, let us kick off the announcement by celebrating the cities with top votes per region for 2023 🎉 North America (11,697 votes): Winner: Bloomfilter Cleveland, Ohio (8,835 votes) - Winner: SerpApi Austin, Texas , California (5,564 votes) - Winner: Finch San Francisco (4,258 votes) - Winner: RELAYTO SoMa, California - (3339 votes) Winner: Windscribe Toronto, Canada, North America (3304 votes) - Winner: Vouched Seattle (2716 votes) - Winner: Seccuri Palo Alto, CA, North America (2671 votes) - Winner: Salsa Valley Miami, FL, North America (2,613 votes) - Winner: Majhi Group Manhattan, New York (2423 votes) - Winner: Flieber, Inc. New York City, NY, North America See the complete announcement for the . Startups of the Year, North America, here Europe (45,612 votes) - Winner: Algomo London, UK (2,344votes) - Winner: Data Lake Warsaw, Poland (1,955 votes) - Winner: Hoken Tech Bari, Italy (1716 votes) - Winner: Not8 Amsterdam, Netherlands (1657 votes) - Winner: KYVE Frankfurt Am Main, Germany (1566 votes) - Winner: BazaIT Kyiv, Ukraine (1496 votes) - Winner:  Unity Network Tallinn, Estonia (1,478 votes) - Winner: Volcaino Ghent, Belgium (1,288 votes) - Winner: Owl Me Dublin, Ireland (1198 votes) - Winner: Groover Paris, France See the complete announcement for the . Startups of the Year, Europe, here Oceania (3,350 votes) - Winner: Sharepass Melbourne (2,107 votes) - Winner: The Catfisher Project Perth, Australia (220 votes) - Winner: Gemini AI Solutions Auckland, New Zealand, Oceania (213 votes) - Winner: Nexustorage Wellington, New Zealand, Oceania (138 votes) - Winner: Coviu Sydney (124 votes) - Winner: Bopple Brisbane, Australia, Oceania (124 votes) - Winner: Regional CFO New South Wales, Australia, Oceania (106 votes) - Winner: Edit on the Spot Gold Coast, Australia, Oceania (93 votes) - Winner: Knowledge Satnav Canbera, Australia, Oceania , Australia, Oceania (48 votes) - Winner: Peptalk360 North Melbourne, Melbourne See the complete announcement for the . Startups of the Year, Oceania, here Asia (16,345 votes) - Winner: Serenity Shield Singapore (13,588 votes) - Winners: QUIXY Telangana, India (10,168 votes) - Winner: HealthySure Mumbai, India (3,865 votes) - Winner: InterviewBuddy Visakhapatnam, India (3,733 votes) - Winner: Omniflo Bengaluru, India (4589 votes) - Winner: MeNow Tel Aviv (3877 votes) - Winner: ForestVPN Dubai (2478 votes) - Winner: TechGraph Powai, Mumbai, India (1004 votes) - Winner: Reelo Ahmedabad, GJ, India (875 votes) - Winner: Debt Hunter Hong Kong, China See the complete announcement for the . Startups of the Year, Asia, here Africa (8,179 votes) - Winner: GO PLATFORM Algiers, Algeria (767 votes) - Winner: Tudu Accra, Ghana (415 votes) - Winner: Treford Lagos, Nigeria (265 votes) - Winner: Phalconwise Ogbomosho, Nigeria (157 votes) - Winner: AbuErdan Cairo (151 votes) - Winner: Eazipay Lekki (144 votes) - Winner: KaziConnect Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (101 votes) - Winner: faceATT Gauteng, South Africa (79 votes) - Winner: Dimagi Cape Town (71 votes) - Winner: Sabi Addis Ababa See the complete announcement for the . Startups of the Year, Africa, here South America (376 votes ) - Winner: UpGirl Santiago, Chile (217 votes) - Winner: Klever Sao Paulo, Brazil (191 votes) - Winner: Tributo Simple Buenos Aires, Argentina (127 votes) - Winner: Light-it Montevideo, Uruguay (87 votes) -Winner: Thousand Antioquia, Colombia (108 votes) - Winner: GetLavado Lima (101 votes) - Winner: Cogniflow Medellin (73 votes) - Winner: TPAGA Bogota (73 votes) - Winner: Reliv Quito (47 votes) - WInner: Quantex Cordoba See the complete announcement for the . Startups of the Year, South America, here Misc/Remote: Featured Startups (1500 votes) - Winner: CIC Chain Remote, Earth (1193 votes) - Winner: Reship Colony US Misc (146 Votes) - Winner: Partful UK, Misc (116 votes) - Winner: GoMining British Virgin Islands Misc (283 Votes) - Winner: tomorrowSpace Germany Misc (225 votes) - Winner: Dtravel Cayman Islands See the complete announcement for Misc/Remote startups . here Once again, HUGE CONGRATULATIONS and BIG PROPS to all of the top Startups of each region this year! The whole team at HackerNoon would like to thank you for your perseverance in the campaign, and we look forward to seeing you in the next campaign. About HackerNoon’s Startups Of The Year Startups of The Year is HackerNoon’s Flagship community-driven event celebrating startups that survived and thrived in 2023. 30,000 startups across 4200+ cities and six continents participated this year to be crowned the best startup in their city. Visit our page to learn more. FAQ Companies that blog more get 67% more leads - Jumpstart your company’s blogging journey by purchasing our . Business Blogging Package The 2023 Startups Of The Year is sponsored by: . . The winners get a free .Tech Domain, a HackerNoon NFT, and a Tech Company News Page. TECH Domains

Stand Up for the Champion Startups of the Year! 

বছরের চ্যাম্পিয়ন স্টার্টআপের জন্য দাঁড়ান!

Setzen Sie sich für die Champion-Startups des Jahres ein!

¡Defiende a las startups campeonas del año!

Défendez les startups championnes de l’année !

वर्ष के चैंपियन स्टार्टअप के लिए खड़े रहें!

今年のチャンピオンスタートアップのために立ち上がろう!

올해의 챔피언 스타트업을 위해 일어서세요!

Defenda as startups campeãs do ano!

Встаньте на защиту стартапов-чемпионов года!

Yılın Şampiyon Startup'ları için Ayağa Kalkın!

Hãy ủng hộ các công ty khởi nghiệp vô địch của năm!

为年度冠军初创企业挺身而出！

If you thought freedom of speech was worth preserving, next comes freedom of thought: perspective Thanks to AI and the Internet of Bodies (IoB) ecosystem, decoding the human brain is already well underway, according to a World Economic Forum (WEF) presentation. Five years after historian Yuval Noah Harari told the WEF that humans were hackable and that , Harari’s insights have been fully realized. organisms were algorithms Thursday’s WEF Annual Meeting 2023 session on “ ?” opened with a short video showing a dystopian scenario where employees’ brainwaves were not only decoded to determine their performance in the workplace, but also to determine whether they participated in illegal activity. Ready for Brain Transparency While the scenario in the video below is fictional, the technological framework is already in place. “We can pick up and decode faces that you’re seeing in your mind — simple shapes, numbers, your PIN number to your bank account” — Nita Farahany, World Economic Forum, 2023 https://twitter.com/TimHinchliffe/status/1616107080259100672?embedable=true “Artificial intelligence has enabled advances in decoding brain activity in ways we never before thought possible” — Nita Farahany, World Economic Forum, 2023 The above video illustrates just one of the many dystopian scenarios that can occur when the human brain is no longer autonomous. In her presentation at Davos on Thursday, Nita Farahany from Duke University explained that the technology to decode brainwaves already existed and was currently being rolled out in some use cases. “What you think, what you feel — it’s all just data — data that in large patterns can be decoded using artificial intelligence” — Nita Farahany, World Economic Forum, 2023 “Artificial intelligence has enabled advances in decoding brain activity in ways we never before thought possible,” said Farahany. “What you think, what you feel — it’s all just data — data that in large patterns can be decoded using artificial intelligence,” she added. And the devices to decode the human brain don’t have to be as invasive as a brain implant. The devices can be as non-invasive as a “Fitbit for your brain.” “We’re not talking about implanted devices of the future; I’m talking about wearable devices that are like Fitbits for your brain” — Nita Farahany, World Economic Forum, 2023 https://twitter.com/TimHinchliffe/status/1616114732536303619?embedable=true “We can pick up emotional states — like are you happy or sad or angry” — Nita Farahany, World Economic Forum, 2023 “We’re not talking about implanted devices of the future; I’m talking about wearable devices that are like Fitbits for your brain,” said Farahany. “These are headbands, hats that have sensors that can pick up your brainwave activity, ear buds, headphones, tiny tattoos that you can wear behind your ear — we can pick up emotional states — like are you happy or sad or angry. “We can pick up and decode faces that you’re seeing in your mind — simple shapes, numbers, your PIN number to your bank account.” “Surveillance of the human brain […] has a dystopian possibility of being used to exploit and bring to the surface our most secret self” — Nita Farahany, World Economic Forum, 2023 https://twitter.com/TimHinchliffe/status/1616157819207548951?embedable=true Farahany would go on to say that while decoding the human brain had its benefits, it could also be used for very nefarious purposes. “ can be powerful, helpful, useful, transform the workplace, and make our lives better,” she said, adding, “ . Surveillance of the human brain It also has a dystopian possibility of being used to exploit and bring to the surface our most secret self “ . It threatens fundamentally what our own self-identity is in some ways, and threatens to become a tool of oppression https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2023/sessions/ready-for-brain-transparency/?embedable=true “We are no longer mysterious souls; we are now hackable animals” — Yuval Harari, World Economic Forum, 2020 Farahany’s 2023 presentation falls right in-line with what Yuval Harari had been saying for years at Davos — that “ .” We are no longer mysterious souls; we are now hackable animals According to Harari, “To hack human beings you need a lot of biological knowledge, a lot of computing power, and especially a lot of data. “If you have enough data about me and enough computing power and biological knowledge, you can hack my body, my brain, my life. .” You can reach a point where you know me better than I know myself “Just imagine North Korea in 20 years where everybody has to wear a biometric bracelet, which constantly monitors your brain activity 24 hours a day. “You listen to a speech on the radio by the ‘Great Leader,’ and they know what you actually feel — you can clap your hands and smile, but if you’re angry, they know you’ll be in the gulag tomorrow morning.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOsKFOrW5h8&embedable=true “Just imagine North Korea in 20 years where everybody has to wear a biometric bracelet, which constantly monitors your blood pressure, your heart rate, your brain activity 24 hours a day,” said Harari in his “How to Survive the 21st Century” speech at the 2020 WEF meeting. “You listen to a speech on the radio by the ‘Great Leader,’ and they know what you actually feel — you can clap your hands and smile, but if you’re angry, they know you’ll be in the gulag tomorrow morning. “And if we allow the emergence of such total surveillance regimes, don’t think that the rich and powerful in places like Davos will be safe,” he added. “ iological knowledge multiplied by omputing power multiplied by ata equals the bility to ack umans” — Yuval Harari, World Economic Forum, 2020 B C D A H H https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3czZpAHS-tk&embedable=true The historian even came up with a “danger formula” for hacking human beings, which he believes “might be the defining equation of life in the 21st Century.” That equation is — which means iological knowledge multiplied by omputing power multiplied by ata equals the bility to ack umans. B x C x D = AHH B C D A H H “The power to hack human beings can of course be used for good purposes like provided much better healthcare,” said Harari in 2020, adding, “but if this power falls into the hands of a 21st Century Stalin, the result will be the worst totalitarian regime in human history, and we already have a number of applicants for the job of 21st Century Stalin.” The Internet of Bodies “might trigger breakthroughs in medical knowledge […] Or it might enable a surveillance state of unprecedented intrusion and consequence” — RAND Corporation, 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0bXUxRqy8g&embedable=true Aiding the process of collecting the massive amounts of data needed to hack human beings is the Internet of Bodies (IoB). The IoB is an ecosystem of wearable, attachable, implantable, or consumable devices that connect the human body to the internet, much like the Internet of Things (IoT), but for people. According to , the IoB “ […] .” a RAND Corporation report from 2020 might trigger breakthroughs in medical knowledge Or it might enable a surveillance state of unprecedented intrusion and consequence Additionally, “Increased IoB adoption might also increase global geopolitical risks, because .” surveillance states can use IoB data to enforce authoritarian regimes The IoB is emerging from the so-called fourth industrial revolution, which WEF founder Klaus Schwab says will lead to the fusion of our physical, biological, and digital identities — transhumanism. The WEF is fully behind widespread adoption of the IoB despite recognizing the enormous ethical concerns that come with having “an unprecedented number of sensors attached to, implanted within, or ingested into human bodies .” to monitor, analyze, and even modify human bodies and behavior “After the Internet of Things, which transformed the way we live, travel and work by connecting everyday objects to the Internet, ,” , Fellow at the WEF’s Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. it’s now time for the Internet of Bodies wrote Xiao Liu “ .” This means collecting our physical data via devices that can be implanted, swallowed or simply worn, generating huge amounts of health-related information “Surveillance of the human brain […] threatens fundamentally what our own self-identity is in some ways, and threatens to become a tool of oppression” — Nita Farahany, World Economic Forum, 2023 With the ability to decode brainwaves, humanity is on the cusp of what could be the worst totalitarian surveillance regime in human history. What would you do if you woke up one day and your thoughts were no longer yours alone? If you thought freedom of speech was worth preserving, just wait until they come for your thoughts, your feelings, your dreams. In this nightmare scenario, anything you think can and will be used against you by the pre-crime thought police. This article was originally published by Tim Hinchliffe on . The Sociable The lead image for this article was generated by HackerNoon's AI Image Generator via the prompt "human mind control device".

Hacking Humanity: Can We Record and Decode Human Brainwaves?

হ্যাকিং মানবতা: আমরা কি মানব মস্তিষ্কের তরঙ্গ রেকর্ড এবং ডিকোড করতে পারি?

Hacking Humanity: Können wir menschliche Gehirnwellen aufzeichnen und entschlüsseln?

Hackear a la humanidad: ¿podemos registrar y decodificar las ondas cerebrales humanas?

Hacking Humanity : peut-on enregistrer et décoder les ondes cérébrales humaines ?

हैकिंग मानवता: क्या हम मानव मस्तिष्क तरंगों को रिकॉर्ड और डिकोड कर सकते हैं?

人類のハッキング: 人間の脳波を記録して解読できるか?

인류 해킹: 인간의 뇌파를 기록하고 해독할 수 있을까?

Hackeando a Humanidade: Podemos Gravar e Decodificar Ondas Cerebrais Humanas?

İnsanlığı Hacklemek: İnsan Beyin Dalgalarını Kaydedebilir ve Çözebilir miyiz?

Hacking Humanity: Chúng ta có thể ghi lại và giải mã sóng não của con người không?

黑客人类：我们可以记录和解码人类脑电波吗？

It’s now been over 50 years since the US dollar stopped being tied to the gold standard. But what, then, defines its value? Investopedia nicely: Currency “holds value simply because people have faith that other parties will accept it.” defines it In the world of cryptocurrency, this has clear repercussions. For crypto tokens to be truly useful, they must generate a supply and demand – making different parties want to accept it. Today’s crypto holders are waking up to this reality, seeing that options to use cryptocurrencies to make purchases remain relatively slim. Yet, research confirms that there’s a rather surprising frontrunner when it comes to the world’s most crypto-friendly sectors: . travel The industry players would lose a big opportunity by not jumping on the crypto bandwagon. After all, in the middle of 2021, there were already over worldwide, and the number keeps growing exponentially. It’s predicted that there could be a crypto users by the end of this year – a testament to the appeal of structures centered around security, transparency, and decentralization. 300 million crypto holders billion In travel, all these aspects come together to offer a more seamless experience. Obviously, the appetite for more use cases goes well beyond accepting Bitcoin: From implementing alt tokens to introducing additional blockchain solutions such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), there’s a whole new world to explore. For example, GetYourGuide, a Berlin-based tour and activity booking site , processed via BitPay, last June. While the move was meant to attract new audiences as part of the company’s expansion to the US market, it worked wonders to capture the attention of Dogecoin holders across the globe. started accepting Dogecoin “People want to put their crypto back into the system [and] travel is one of the biggest categories out there,” said the company’s CEO back then. “We take Dogecoin now into the real world; you can apply and actually get a real-world, kinetic experience.” But what really needs to happen for crypto and travel's marriage to be a happy one? Let’s take a look. Blockchain disruption brings endless possibilities Encrypted, shared, and distributed databases with unchangeable information… But how does this fit into travel? Well, imagine you’re going on a trip. You need to book your flights, your hotel, maybe a car, and the activities. But you might get scammed by a local tour provider, and also find yourself needing to extend the hotel stay by an extra day. Throughout that ordeal, you have to interact with numerous providers across platforms, all having different policies in place. And on the operator’s side, it doesn’t get any easier. With poor visibility of the inventory and unstandardized data, companies often fall into the vicious cycle of overbooking, cancellations, and subsequent expensive refunds. With blockchain, however, each confirmed booking can be added as a transaction block, meaning that all participants in the travel ecosystem can have a unified, accurate overview of everything that’s going on at any given time. The opportunity Travel is a traditionally fragmented industry, and savvy entrepreneurs are entering the space to disrupt tourism through blockchain. The technology allows them to make the entire experience – and virtually every single touchpoint of travel – more flexible, more enjoyable, and faster. We all know that travel hasn’t been the fastest to adopt tech. Even the biggest providers that were born out of innovative solutions are now married to their product and rarely branch out. But despite their conservative approach, they will not want to miss out on . This tendency will likely push them to partner with agile innovators rather than trying to do the heavy tech lifting by themselves. the new opportunities This is music to the ears of emerging blockchain startups in the space, who can introduce middleman-independent solutions into the travel process and strike partnerships with major players to gain trust and credibility. A great example is Dtravel, a decentralized home-sharing network (and an Airbnb competitor), which leverages smart contracts between hosts and guests. The most interesting part is that it’s built as a DAO – meaning it’s entirely driven by its community, rather than a corporate board. All registered hosts and any guest can purchase TRVL (the platform’s native token) to become voting members. At the end of 2021, the platform had within its network. over 250,000 homes The challenge New crypto startups in travel could have an exciting path ahead – but there’s a catch. In reality, many of them fail, running out of funds even before taking off. The excitement hardly compensates for poor business planning: Founders often overpromise and agree to the demands of their investors – who tend to be particularly hungry in the blockchain space. Crypto is fast-moving and enticing; if you’re getting involved, don’t lose your head. Moreover, many projects make the mistake of throwing way too much money at marketing to cultivate audience awareness rather than building a good product. In travel, many startups go for glamorous gamified solutions, but they often end up having a lot to say, without having a real product to back that up. The result? They will fail because they won’t bring in enough revenue. The right way to do it instead is by pinpointing the needs of travelers, investing in development, and working towards getting the product-market fit right. Then, when you spend on marketing, it’s to generate revenue to be more profitable and sustainable, not to inflate the bubble of false growth. When I was launching my crypto rewards travel platform, I saw that finding the balance with investors could be . Many times, they will try to push their opinion – but it’s likely they’re just looking to fill their pockets and don’t have any substantial interest in the project. So, hold your ground and educate them that there will be times when you build and times when you promote. quite tricky Attracting new demographics through crypto payments In January, Airbnb’s Twitter audience voted in a poll about what feature should be launched this year. And the people have spoken indeed: came on top. Data from a consulting company then confirmed this would actually be a great step, as there’s between Airbnb’s user base and the owners of Bitcoin. Paying for bookings in crypto an overlap The opportunity Fiat continues to show its limitations, and younger generations aren’t here for it. They crave a much smoother experience, therefore, enabling crypto payments is vital to welcoming new demographics and audience segments. There are little to no risks for travelers to pay in crypto. Yet, depending on the specific blockchain, some transactions might take a longer time to be verified before the payment is completed, while for others it might be instantaneous. Transparent payments, with all transactions recorded on the blockchain, have become so sought after that many travel companies . Cheapair and Alternative Airlines, both flight booking platforms, accept various cryptocurrencies to allow their customers to book flights from over 600 airlines. have rushed to adopt them The challenge The fluctuating prices of tokens could be considered a challenge if the tokens end up sitting on the company books and devalue. This is one of the main barriers stopping most companies from adopting crypto as a payment method. To drive mass adoption, players in the space need more price stability; companies that already accept crypto likely have a team that is able to plan and hedge the risk. As more crypto derivatives and tools are introduced to the market for hedging, we will see stronger tides for crypto payments. In the case of travelers, many already hold crypto as a form of investment, meaning that they have normalized the fluctuating value of their portfolios. However, not all crypto is suitable for payment. Make sure to educate yourself about the type of tokens out there before accepting them indiscriminately. This is what to watch out for: Low liquidity can make coins hard to sell, or the price can fluctuate so much it can be risky to put them on the books. Special functionalities that are baked into some tokens could be a hidden trap. For example, some tokens allow their founding team to stop and halt trading or transfers, potentially leaving you with useless currency. Undoxxed founders can make you susceptible to running into scams and rugpulls, as the team could take your funds and never be seen again – with no accountability whatsoever. Doxxed founders are always a better choice. On top of that, before accepting crypto, follow these three rules: 1. Understand how it works Getting involved with a token without knowing how it works could result in confusing situations with your customers, as well as a higher risk of scams. You want to get guidance with the technical stuff to protect your company from bad actors. Ideally, start with the top-volume coins that have been around for years. 2. Constantly review crypto regulations Every country has different crypto regulations – and not all see crypto payments as legal. So make sure to do your research. For example, if a country suddenly decided to ban or restrict crypto, you could face challenges for your company and even get banned from operating on its territory. 3. Hedge and lock the token value Considering the high volatility of crypto, it’s good to hedge to safeguard the value of your crypto assets. If you receive $100 worth of crypto for a one-night booking, in order to stay afloat, you can’t risk that $100 turns into $20 over a few days. This could kill your entire business operations. Tokenizing assets – including loyalty They say, “travel is the only thing that makes you richer,” and with crypto, this could be double the truth. Travel companies are rushing to crypto-powered loyalty programs, enabling travelers to turn their purchases into an investment that can even appreciate in value over time. Startups have been too, whether to categorize travelers within tiers or to tokenize hotel booking, identity, and experiences. exploring NFTs The opportunity Repeated purchases may be a delicate subject in travel, but they don’t have to be a mere pipe dream with crypto. With loyalty and cashback programs, built on underlying blockchain structures that don’t allow the companies to temper the value, empower travelers to choose the best way to invest, trade, sell, and cash out their tokens – no matter where. By leveraging affiliate networks, such as when a hotel chain partners with an airline, travel players could build up self-reinforcing ecosystems that drive value over long periods of time. These dynamics work wonders for brand loyalty: Choice Hotels, for example, allows people to exchange crypto for its loyalty points – making travelers invest in their business while offering diverse benefits in exchange. Just think about it… If you can like unique access to boutique hotels, exclusive community meetups, or access to the best local guides and experts – not to mention community voting rights – doesn’t it change the game? get experiences The challenge While this goes for accepting crypto too, implementing more sophisticated blockchain-based structures will mean handling complex processes. Travel companies may be intrigued by innovations such as NFT bookings, but without a functional tech infrastructure in place, the implementation could only exacerbate existing problems. Be it legal and regulatory standards, tech challenges, or asset and security risks, each individual area will require a certain level of expertise that can be hard to pick up as an individual. If travel companies want to get blockchain right, they might need to leverage a network of experts along the way. Don't underestimate the power of correct and safe implementation. For example, a hacking incident – if not detected on time – can have possible implications for future transactions. Unfortunately, it takes organizations , on average, to respond to a cyberattack. The loss of a blockchain key (and all the customer’s loyalty points with it) will not only wipe out an entire account but can also pose a threat to all the data and transactions that had preceded the hacking. Invest in educating your employees, customers, as well as the industry at large on the norms of using blockchain-based applications. more than two working days To say that blockchain disruption is knocking on the travel industry’s door would be an understatement. In 2021, almost travelers said they were planning to pay for their next trip in cryptocurrency. So, it’s time for companies in the space to get to work and adopt blockchain solutions in the safest and most effective way possible. one in four

Travel & the Crypto Revolution: The Opportunities and Challenges

In 2013, A Time Traveler Warned Us About Our Bitcoin Future. How Right Was He?

2013 সালে, একজন টাইম ট্রাভেলার আমাদের বিটকয়েন ভবিষ্যত সম্পর্কে সতর্ক করেছিল। তিনি কতটা সঠিক ছিলেন?

2013 warnte uns ein Zeitreisender vor unserer Bitcoin-Zukunft. Wie recht hatte er damit?

En 2013, un viajero en el tiempo nos advirtió sobre nuestro futuro Bitcoin. ¿Cuánta razón tenía?

En 2013, un voyageur temporel nous a mis en garde sur notre avenir Bitcoin. Dans quelle mesure avait-il raison ?

2013 में, एक समय यात्री ने हमें बिटकॉइन के भविष्य के बारे में चेतावनी दी थी। वह कितना सही था?

2013 年、タイムトラベラーがビットコインの将来について警告しました。彼の警告はどれほど正しかったのでしょうか?

2013년에 한 시간 여행자가 비트코인의 미래에 대해 경고했습니다. 그는 얼마나 옳았습니까?

Em 2013, um viajante do tempo nos alertou sobre nosso futuro Bitcoin. Quão certo ele estava?

В 2013 году путешественник во времени предупредил нас о будущем биткойнов. Насколько он был прав?

2013 Yılında Bir Zaman Gezgini Bizi Bitcoin Geleceğimiz Konusunda Uyardı. Ne Kadar Haklıydı?

Vào năm 2013, một người du hành thời gian đã cảnh báo chúng tôi về tương lai Bitcoin của chúng tôi. Anh ấy đã đúng như thế nào?

2013 年，一位时间旅行者警告了我们比特币的未来。他说得对吗？

Welcome back to our 'Behind the Startup' series where we dive into the journeys of innovative companies reshaping industries. Today, we're revisiting Travala.com through a conversation with Juan Otero, who last joined us in May 2020. At that time, Juan forecasted a recovery in the travel sector which largely rang true. As we catch up with him today, we'll learn how Travala.com has navigated the evolving landscape of the travel industry, especially in light of the ongoing shifts towards digital and decentralized technologies. Join us as Juan shares insights on the company's growth, the integration of web3 technologies, and how these strategies are positioning Travala.com for future challenges and opportunities in the travel sector. Ishan Pandey: Welcome back, Juan; it's a pleasure to have you in our 'Behind the Startup' series. Last time we spoke in May 2020, you correctly predicted about a recovery starting in Q3, particularly for domestic travel post Covid-19, with a full recovery including international travel by Q4. As we continue our 'Behind the Startup' series, could you update us on how Travala.com has evolved since then, especially considering the ongoing shifts in the travel industry? Juan Otero: Thanks Ishan, great to be speaking with you again. So much has happened at Travala.com in the last four years as the travel industry rebounded and the web3 industry continued to swell. In that time, we’ve significantly expanded our offering through partnerships with some of the biggest names in travel, including Expedia and KAYAK. Our accommodation selection multiplied to over 2.2 million properties, and we introduced flights with 600+ airlines as well as 410,000+ activities, with a total of over 3 million travel products now available on Travala.com. Our team has also more than doubled in size to accommodate our growth, with hires across all departments from the management team to security, developers, marketing, and customer support. All of these developments have culminated in tremendous growth in customers, bookings, and revenue, with our gross revenue growing from less than $1 million in Q1 2020 to over $22 million in Q1 2024. Ishan Pandey: During our last discussion, you highlighted some pivotal adjustments made at Travala.com in response to the pandemic. Looking at the current times, how has your business model or strategy changed to align with the new dynamics of the travel industry? Juan Otero: From the rise of domestic travel to the influx of digital nomads across the globe, the pandemic has prompted the emergence of many new trends that look likely to continue well into the future. Where we once might’ve promoted a weekend away, we’re now encouraging longer, more immersive experiences through marketing, exclusive mobile-only deals on stays, and by offering an average of 16% savings on hotels after booking a flight. One of the often overlooked developments in recent years has been the rapid emergence of metasearch engines. With shifting behaviours in how savvy travellers search for, compare, and book travel, we recognised the importance of these metasearch engines—which have quickly gained market share when it comes to the discovery phase of travel—and became the first crypto-friendly online travel agency to be listed on leading metasearch engines KAYAK and Google Hotels, alongside incumbents in the travel industry. Ishan Pandey: Cryptocurrencies have seen substantial growth in value and popularity since we last talked. How is Travala.com planning to capitalise on this trend? Are there new strategies or technologies you're implementing? Juan Otero: We’ve honed our web3 strategy by partnering with projects to promote cross-community growth and leverage the power of highly engaged web3 audiences. As a result, we now have over 100 cryptocurrency payment options and frequently conduct campaigns with partners to promote the ability to travel with crypto on Travala.com. From leading web3 events like TOKEN2049 and Paris Blockchain Week to traditional brands interested in expanding their audience—such as Marriott International and the Catalan Tourist Board—we’re leveraging our position as the bridge between the world of traditional travel and the web3 space to continue underscoring our reputation as the leading crypto-native travel booking service. We’ve also introduced Bitcoin rewards for Platinum and Diamond members of the AVA Smart Program, the travel rewards program available on Travala.com in partnership with the AVA Foundation. These two membership groups can receive up to 10% back in Bitcoin on bookings made via Travala.com, which can be put towards future bookings or transferred out of the platform. Ishan Pandey: With rising competition and shifting consumer behaviors, how does Travala.com intend to differentiate itself in the travel industry? Juan Otero: As consumer behaviours continue evolving and products become increasingly tailored to the millennial and Gen Z audience that now make up the majority of the travel market, the key advantage that we have over more established players in the travel industry is our agility as a team, coupled with our innovation-first approach. We predict that crypto payments will become more commonplace as the web3 industry continues to mature, to the point where it will no longer be a point of differentiation. Other web3 elements (and how successfully they can be incorporated into the travel experience) will therefore be the main area of differentiation for Travala.com. From areas like web3-oriented loyalty programs to digital collectibles, we’re continuously exploring new ways that enhance the experience and make it more rewarding, pushing the boundaries of what travel is in today’s age. Ishan Pandey: Previously, you mentioned the impact of Bitcoin halving on your operations. Can you expand on how recent cryptocurrency events have influenced Travala.com's market dynamics and user behavior? Juan Otero: The positive market action driven by the Bitcoin halving saw the cryptocurrency reach an all-time high in mid-March earlier this year and resulted in our bookings soaring, leading to the strongest quarter in Travala.com’s history. As approximately 75% of our bookings are purchased with crypto, we experience a strong correlation between a crypto bull market and high booking volume on our platform, given the additional value available for travellers to derive from their crypto assets in dollar-value terms.
With the fourth Bitcoin halving now behind us, we expect the crypto market to continue performing well in the next 12–18 months, based on historic trends following previous Bitcoin halving events. Ishan Pandey: Finally, considering all the challenges and opportunities that have emerged, what is your long-term vision for Travala.com in this new era of travel and technology? Juan Otero: We see Travala.com as becoming a hub for crypto travellers to create genuine connections with the world, themselves, and each other. Web3 is a community movement, and our community is constantly brimming with discussions about travel tips, destinations to explore, the broader web3 space, and suggestions for Travala.com. We want Travala.com to be more than just a platform where travellers go to book their travel; in the long term, we envision Travala.com solidifying its position as the world's leading web3 travel ecosystem, where knowledge, creativity, and of course the act of travel itself is rewarded. Don’t forget to like and share the story! Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR. Welcome back to our 'Behind the Startup' series where we dive into the journeys of innovative companies reshaping industries. Today, we're revisiting Travala.com through a conversation with Juan Otero, who last joined us in May 2020. At that time, Juan forecasted a recovery in the travel sector which largely rang true. As we catch up with him today, we'll learn how Travala.com has navigated the evolving landscape of the travel industry, especially in light of the ongoing shifts towards digital and decentralized technologies. Join us as Juan shares insights on the company's growth, the integration of web3 technologies, and how these strategies are positioning Travala.com for future challenges and opportunities in the travel sector. Ishan Pandey: Welcome back, Juan; it's a pleasure to have you in our 'Behind the Startup' series. Last time we spoke in May 2020, you correctly predicted about a recovery starting in Q3, particularly for domestic travel post Covid-19, with a full recovery including international travel by Q4. As we continue our 'Behind the Startup' series, could you update us on how Travala.com has evolved since then, especially considering the ongoing shifts in the travel industry? Ishan Pandey: Welcome back, Juan; it's a pleasure to have you in our 'Behind the Startup' series. Last time we spoke in May 2020, you correctly predicted about a recovery starting in Q3, particularly for domestic travel post Covid-19, with a full recovery including international travel by Q4. As we continue our 'Behind the Startup' series, could you update us on how Travala.com has evolved since then, especially considering the ongoing shifts in the travel industry? Ishan Pandey: Welcome back, Juan; it's a pleasure to have you in our 'Behind the Startup' series. Last time we spoke in May 2020, you correctly predicted about a recovery starting in Q3, particularly for domestic travel post Covid-19, with a full recovery including international travel by Q4. As we continue our 'Behind the Startup' series, could you update us on how Travala.com has evolved since then, especially considering the ongoing shifts in the travel industry? Travala.com Juan Otero: Thanks Ishan, great to be speaking with you again. So much has happened at Travala.com in the last four years as the travel industry rebounded and the web3 industry continued to swell. In that time, we’ve significantly expanded our offering through partnerships with some of the biggest names in travel, including Expedia and KAYAK. Juan Otero: Travala.com Our accommodation selection multiplied to over 2.2 million properties, and we introduced flights with 600+ airlines as well as 410,000+ activities, with a total of over 3 million travel products now available on Travala.com . Travala.com Our team has also more than doubled in size to accommodate our growth, with hires across all departments from the management team to security, developers, marketing, and customer support. All of these developments have culminated in tremendous growth in customers, bookings, and revenue, with our gross revenue growing from less than $1 million in Q1 2020 to over $22 million in Q1 2024. Ishan Pandey: During our last discussion, you highlighted some pivotal adjustments made at Travala.com in response to the pandemic. Looking at the current times, how has your business model or strategy changed to align with the new dynamics of the travel industry? Ishan Pandey: During our last discussion, you highlighted some pivotal adjustments made at Travala.com in response to the pandemic. Looking at the current times, how has your business model or strategy changed to align with the new dynamics of the travel industry? Ishan Pandey: During our last discussion, you highlighted some pivotal adjustments made at Travala.com in response to the pandemic. Looking at the current times, how has your business model or strategy changed to align with the new dynamics of the travel industry? Travala.com Juan Otero: From the rise of domestic travel to the influx of digital nomads across the globe, the pandemic has prompted the emergence of many new trends that look likely to continue well into the future. Where we once might’ve promoted a weekend away, we’re now encouraging longer, more immersive experiences through marketing, exclusive mobile-only deals on stays, and by offering an average of 16% savings on hotels after booking a flight. Juan Otero: One of the often overlooked developments in recent years has been the rapid emergence of metasearch engines. With shifting behaviours in how savvy travellers search for, compare, and book travel, we recognised the importance of these metasearch engines—which have quickly gained market share when it comes to the discovery phase of travel—and became the first crypto-friendly online travel agency to be listed on leading metasearch engines KAYAK and Google Hotels, alongside incumbents in the travel industry. Ishan Pandey: Cryptocurrencies have seen substantial growth in value and popularity since we last talked. How is Travala.com planning to capitalise on this trend? Are there new strategies or technologies you're implementing? Ishan Pandey: Cryptocurrencies have seen substantial growth in value and popularity since we last talked. How is Travala.com planning to capitalise on this trend? Are there new strategies or technologies you're implementing? Ishan Pandey: Cryptocurrencies have seen substantial growth in value and popularity since we last talked. How is Travala.com planning to capitalise on this trend? Are there new strategies or technologies you're implementing? Travala.com Juan Otero: We’ve honed our web3 strategy by partnering with projects to promote cross-community growth and leverage the power of highly engaged web3 audiences. Juan Otero: As a result, we now have over 100 cryptocurrency payment options and frequently conduct campaigns with partners to promote the ability to travel with crypto on Travala.com . From leading web3 events like TOKEN2049 and Paris Blockchain Week to traditional brands interested in expanding their audience—such as Marriott International and the Catalan Tourist Board—we’re leveraging our position as the bridge between the world of traditional travel and the web3 space to continue underscoring our reputation as the leading crypto-native travel booking service. Travala.com We’ve also introduced Bitcoin rewards for Platinum and Diamond members of the AVA Smart Program, the travel rewards program available on Travala.com in partnership with the AVA Foundation. These two membership groups can receive up to 10% back in Bitcoin on bookings made via Travala.com , which can be put towards future bookings or transferred out of the platform. Travala.com Travala.com Ishan Pandey: With rising competition and shifting consumer behaviors, how does Travala.com intend to differentiate itself in the travel industry? Ishan Pandey: With rising competition and shifting consumer behaviors, how does Travala.com intend to differentiate itself in the travel industry? Ishan Pandey: With rising competition and shifting consumer behaviors, how does Travala.com intend to differentiate itself in the travel industry? Travala.com Juan Otero: As consumer behaviours continue evolving and products become increasingly tailored to the millennial and Gen Z audience that now make up the majority of the travel market, the key advantage that we have over more established players in the travel industry is our agility as a team, coupled with our innovation-first approach. Juan Otero: We predict that crypto payments will become more commonplace as the web3 industry continues to mature, to the point where it will no longer be a point of differentiation. Other web3 elements (and how successfully they can be incorporated into the travel experience) will therefore be the main area of differentiation for Travala.com . From areas like web3-oriented loyalty programs to digital collectibles, we’re continuously exploring new ways that enhance the experience and make it more rewarding, pushing the boundaries of what travel is in today’s age. Travala.com Ishan Pandey: Previously, you mentioned the impact of Bitcoin halving on your operations. Can you expand on how recent cryptocurrency events have influenced Travala.com's market dynamics and user behavior? Ishan Pandey: Previously, you mentioned the impact of Bitcoin halving on your operations. Can you expand on how recent cryptocurrency events have influenced Travala.com's market dynamics and user behavior? Ishan Pandey: Previously, you mentioned the impact of Bitcoin halving on your operations. Can you expand on how recent cryptocurrency events have influenced Travala.com 's market dynamics and user behavior? Travala.com Juan Otero: The positive market action driven by the Bitcoin halving saw the cryptocurrency reach an all-time high in mid-March earlier this year and resulted in our bookings soaring, leading to the strongest quarter in Travala.com ’s history. Juan Otero: Travala.com As approximately 75% of our bookings are purchased with crypto, we experience a strong correlation between a crypto bull market and high booking volume on our platform, given the additional value available for travellers to derive from their crypto assets in dollar-value terms.
With the fourth Bitcoin halving now behind us, we expect the crypto market to continue performing well in the next 12–18 months, based on historic trends following previous Bitcoin halving events. Ishan Pandey: Finally, considering all the challenges and opportunities that have emerged, what is your long-term vision for Travala.com in this new era of travel and technology? Ishan Pandey: Finally, considering all the challenges and opportunities that have emerged, what is your long-term vision for Travala.com in this new era of travel and technology? Ishan Pandey: Finally, considering all the challenges and opportunities that have emerged, what is your long-term vision for Travala.com in this new era of travel and technology? Travala.com Juan Otero: We see Travala.com as becoming a hub for crypto travellers to create genuine connections with the world, themselves, and each other. Web3 is a community movement, and our community is constantly brimming with discussions about travel tips, destinations to explore, the broader web3 space, and suggestions for Travala.com . Juan Otero: Travala.com Travala.com We want Travala.com to be more than just a platform where travellers go to book their travel; in the long term, we envision Travala.com solidifying its position as the world's leading web3 travel ecosystem, where knowledge, creativity, and of course the act of travel itself is rewarded. Travala.com Travala.com Don’t forget to like and share the story! Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR. Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program . HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR. Vested Interest Disclosure: business blogging program business blogging program

How Travala.com Skyrocketed to $22 Million in Revenue: Lessons for the Travel Industry

কিভাবে Travala.com স্কাইরোকেট $22 মিলিয়ন আয়ে পৌঁছেছে: ভ্রমণ শিল্পের জন্য পাঠ

Wie Travala.com seinen Umsatz auf 22 Millionen Dollar steigerte: Lehren für die Reisebranche

Cómo Travala.com se disparó hasta alcanzar los 22 millones de dólares en ingresos: lecciones para la industria de viajes

Comment Travala.com a grimpé à 22 millions de dollars de revenus : leçons pour l'industrie du voyage

कैसे Travala.com का राजस्व 22 मिलियन डॉलर तक पहुंचा: यात्रा उद्योग के लिए सबक

Travala.com が収益 2,200 万ドルに急上昇した方法: 旅行業界への教訓

Travala.com이 2,200만 달러의 매출로 급상승한 방법: 여행 산업을 위한 교훈

Como Travala.com disparou para US$ 22 milhões em receita: lições para a indústria de viagens

Как выручка Travala.com взлетела до $22 миллионов: уроки для туристической индустрии

Travala.com'un Geliri Nasıl 22 Milyon Dolara Yükseldi: Seyahat Sektörü İçin Dersler

Làm thế nào Travala.com tăng vọt doanh thu lên 22 triệu USD: Bài học cho ngành du lịch

Travala.com 如何实现收入 2200 万美元：旅游业的教训

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the business travel industry has shown remarkable resilience, experiencing reasonable growth. In 2022, the global business travel market generated a substantial $901.51 billion in revenue and is projected to reach an impressive $2,518.61 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 10.82%. Regional features fuel this growth. Here are the most promising trends to watch in the Middle East and India: bleisure, a growing focus on sustainability, and the adoption of innovative technologies Demand for Face-to-Face Meetings Drives Growth A recent report predicts business travel spending will surge to $1.8 trillion by 2027, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. This resurgence signifies a fundamental shift: Companies are rediscovering the irreplaceable value of in-person interaction for building trust, fostering creativity, and closing deals. This trend is stimulated by rapid expansion into emerging Asian and African markets, where building strong relationships is crucial. For instance, India's business travel spending is set to reach $38 billion this year, with a projected full recovery to pre-2019 levels by 2025. Another driver is economic growth in the MENA countries. This region's airlines are strategically increasing connectivity and opening new routes. Notably, KSA's new airline, Riyadh Air, represents a significant investment in connecting the area with UAE and India, thanks to the country's booming construction sector. Tumodo's internal data shows a surge in business travel, with a significant increase in corporate travel during Q4 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. October and November saw record activity, further solidifying the return of face-to-face interactions as a cornerstone of business success. Bleisure Travel is Booming Bleisure travel, the trend of combining business and leisure activities, is rising globally after the COVID-19 pandemic, with India being one of the leading four destinations. The growth is primarily driven by a younger workforce (under 35) seeking enriching experiences. Looking deeper, IT companies are leading the pack, with 25% of employees extending business trips, followed by finance and manufacturing. Similarly, Tumodo’s internal study showed that over 30% of business travelers attending the Qatar Web Summit extended their stay for sightseeing. Similar trends were observed in Dubai and Riyadh, with nearly half of conference attendees opting for a leisure extension. Consequently, weekend-ending business trips are prime opportunities for bleisure travel that boost employee satisfaction at a minimal cost for employers, offering a win-win situation. Sustainability Focus The sustainability movement is gaining momentum, and we can expect businesses to increasingly prioritize eco-friendly travel options like carbon-offsetting flights through airline programs, eco-friendly hotels known for their energy-saving measures, and local sourcing initiatives. Integrating green transportation options will also be a game-changer for the industry. For example, travel technology platforms can use data to recommend flights with lower emissions and highlight eco-friendly alternatives like high-speed rail or electric vehicles. This will empower travelers to make conscious choices and incentivize airlines to invest in sustainable solutions. While Tumodo’s data predict a potential rise in airline prices (3-7%) in the MENA and Indian regions due to sustainability and fuel price issues, these costs might even out in the long run as airlines adopt more fuel-efficient technologies. Ultimately, prioritizing sustainable travel benefits both businesses, by reducing their environmental footprint, and travelers, who can enjoy a guilt-free travel experience. Rise of Tech in Business Travel The business travel landscape is undergoing a digital revolution, with technology transforming every aspect of corporate trips, from booking flights and hotels to streamlining expenses and enhancing the travel experience. Data science and AI-powered platforms like Tumodo enable businesses to optimize travel budgets by 35% on average. Venue-sourcing platforms streamline location scouting for meetings and events, saving time and resources, while virtual and augmented reality foster innovation in training and site visits, reducing travel costs and increasing accessibility. This tech boom is fueled by large-scale infrastructure projects in the Middle East, such as smart cities and advanced transportation networks. It will create new opportunities for Indian companies in construction, engineering, and related sectors, driving a surge in business travel for project participation. The future of business travel in the MENA and Indian regions is bright.  Travel companies that adapt their offerings to cater to the evolving needs of business travelers, such as bleisure packages and sustainable travel options, will be well-positioned to thrive in this dynamic market. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the business travel industry has shown remarkable resilience, experiencing reasonable growth. In 2022, the global business travel market generated a substantial $901.51 billion in revenue and is projected to reach an impressive $2,518.61 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 10.82%. Regional features fuel this growth. Here are the most promising trends to watch in the Middle East and India: bleisure, a growing focus on sustainability, and the adoption of innovative technologies generated generated Demand for Face-to-Face Meetings Drives Growth Demand for Face-to-Face Meetings Drives Growth A recent report predicts business travel spending will surge to $1.8 trillion by 2027, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. This resurgence signifies a fundamental shift: Companies are rediscovering the irreplaceable value of in-person interaction for building trust, fostering creativity, and closing deals. predicts predicts This trend is stimulated by rapid expansion into emerging Asian and African markets, where building strong relationships is crucial. For instance, India's business travel spending is set to reach $38 billion this year, with a projected full recovery to pre-2019 levels by 2025. Another driver is economic growth in the MENA countries. This region's airlines are strategically increasing connectivity and opening new routes. Notably, KSA's new airline, Riyadh Air, represents a significant investment in connecting the area with UAE and India, thanks to the country's booming construction sector. reach reach Tumodo's internal data shows a surge in business travel, with a significant increase in corporate travel during Q4 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. October and November saw record activity, further solidifying the return of face-to-face interactions as a cornerstone of business success. Bleisure Travel is Booming Bleisure Travel is Booming Bleisure travel, the trend of combining business and leisure activities, is rising globally after the COVID-19 pandemic, with India being one of the leading four destinations. The growth is primarily driven by a younger workforce (under 35) seeking enriching experiences. Looking deeper, IT companies are leading the pack, with 25% of employees extending business trips, followed by finance and manufacturing. being being Similarly, Tumodo’s internal study showed that over 30% of business travelers attending the Qatar Web Summit extended their stay for sightseeing. Similar trends were observed in Dubai and Riyadh, with nearly half of conference attendees opting for a leisure extension. Consequently, weekend-ending business trips are prime opportunities for bleisure travel that boost employee satisfaction at a minimal cost for employers, offering a win-win situation. boost boost Sustainability Focus Sustainability Focus The sustainability movement is gaining momentum, and we can expect businesses to increasingly prioritize eco-friendly travel options like carbon-offsetting flights through airline programs, eco-friendly hotels known for their energy-saving measures, and local sourcing initiatives. options options Integrating green transportation options will also be a game-changer for the industry. For example, travel technology platforms can use data to recommend flights with lower emissions and highlight eco-friendly alternatives like high-speed rail or electric vehicles. This will empower travelers to make conscious choices and incentivize airlines to invest in sustainable solutions. While Tumodo’s data predict a potential rise in airline prices (3-7%) in the MENA and Indian regions due to sustainability and fuel price issues, these costs might even out in the long run as airlines adopt more fuel-efficient technologies. Ultimately, prioritizing sustainable travel benefits both businesses, by reducing their environmental footprint, and travelers, who can enjoy a guilt-free travel experience. Rise of Tech in Business Travel Rise of Tech in Business Travel The business travel landscape is undergoing a digital revolution, with technology transforming every aspect of corporate trips, from booking flights and hotels to streamlining expenses and enhancing the travel experience. Data science and AI-powered platforms like Tumodo enable businesses to optimize travel budgets by 35% on average. Venue-sourcing platforms streamline location scouting for meetings and events, saving time and resources, while virtual and augmented reality foster innovation in training and site visits, reducing travel costs and increasing accessibility. This tech boom is fueled by large-scale infrastructure projects in the Middle East, such as smart cities and advanced transportation networks. It will create new opportunities for Indian companies in construction, engineering, and related sectors, driving a surge in business travel for project participation. The future of business travel in the MENA and Indian regions is bright.  Travel companies that adapt their offerings to cater to the evolving needs of business travelers, such as bleisure packages and sustainable travel options, will be well-positioned to thrive in this dynamic market.

Business Travel Trends to Watch in 2024

USA v. eBay Court Filing, retrieved on January 11, 2024, is part of . You can jump to any part in this filing . This is part 9 of 12. HackerNoon’s Legal PDF Series here COUNTS ONE AND TWO -Stalking Through Interstate Travel (18 U.S.C. § 2261A(l)(B)) The United States Attorney further charges: 54. The United States Attorney re-alleges and incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 53 of this Information. 55. From on or about August 15, 2019 through on or about August 23, 2019, in the District of Massachusetts and elsewhere, the defendant, eBay Inc., did travel in interstate commerce with the intent to harass, intimidate, and place under surveillance with intent to harass and intimidate another person, and in the course of, and as a result of, such n-avel engaged in conduct that caused, attempted to cause, and would be reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress to the persons described below: All in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2261A(l)(B). Continue Reading . Here About HackerNoon Legal PDF Series: We bring you the most important technical and insightful public domain court case filings. This court case retrieved on January 11, 2024, from is part of the public domain. The court-created documents are works of the federal government, and under copyright law, are automatically placed in the public domain and may be shared without legal restriction. ecommercebytes.com

eBay Faces Charges for "Stalking Through Interstate Travel"

In the hot and bustling city of Lagos, where cars honk filled the air and merged with hurried footsteps, lived Adebola, an unassuming tech enthusiast. Adebola spends a considerable chunk of his days with the hum of his laptop, exploring the digital world, fueled by the relentless curiosity for today's technology's mysteries. Today was no different from any other day, but something interesting happened. Adebola, sitting comfortably in his worn-out armchair, was on his smartphone and came across articles that talked about Bitcoin mining. While on his phone, he clicked on a pop-up that promised to unravel the secrets of  Bitcoin mining. Little did he know that this pop-up wasn't a mere tutorial but rather a portal that defied the boundaries of time and space. And Zapped! A sudden surge of energy came from his phone, pulling him into this captivating journey across time we are about to take. Each Bitcoin mining era Adebola will explore will talk briefs on the various innovations and milestones that have shaped the evolution of Bitcoin mining. The Genesis Block (2009-2011) Adebola landed on January 3, 2009, The day that changed everything. He sees a couple of people working on their CPUs, and what he assumes is the mining process taking place. Their CPU-powered computers hummed and vibrated in the background. However, Adebola couldn’t see their faces as the soft glow of the computer screens illuminated them. He can hear them talk about how they first mined Bitcoin's genesis block (block number 0) using regular computer processors and how this rewarded them with 50 bitcoins. This was done by Satoshi Nakamoto (almost certainly a pseudonym). Also, interestingly embedded in this genesis BTC block was the text: . This text, however, refers to the . The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on the brink of the second bailout for banks Bitcoin Whitepaper published on January 3, 2009 Question:  Why was Nakamoto able to mine with just a simple computer? They were literally the only ones in the Bitcoin network. So, a simple CPU device could handle the computational power needed. Intrigued by this, Adebola tried to ask one of the women in the room a question. But all of a sudden, before he  could, he was zapped into another room. He looked at his watch, and the time was 12:35 AM. He sees a young Laszlo Hanyecz, a Floridian programmer, on his laptop navigating a forum. He was trying to buy on May 18, 2010. 2 pizzas for 10,000 BTC The pizzas were worth around $25, and Bitcoin was worth less than 8 cents back then. For context, This was the first transaction with Bitcoin; the day will later be known as Bitcoin Pizza Day. This also led to the appreciation of Bitcoin to 8 cents later in July and 10 cents later in October. Right before Adebola could say Damn! He got zapped into…. The GPU Revolution (2011-2013) Adebola wakes up in Orlando, Florida. He looks up and sees "BitPay" boldly written on the banner. He sees some young men in shorts and shirts getting into a room. I guess there is a meeting happening. He follows them. Discussion about their new milestone of 10,000 merchants is taking place and what this means for BitPay. They also discuss how much funds are left from the $2 million raised in May via the Founders Fund. One of the men in the room, deeply engrossed in the discussion, is taking notes. He's jotting down something about Nakamoto's mysterious disappearance and how he is rumored to have mined about 1 million bitcoins before handing the project to developer Gavin Andresen. Another interesting thing they were talking about is the Bitcoin halving. When Bitcoin was first mined in 2009, a block would earn 50 BTC. Later, that was halved to 25 BTC (In 2012), 12.5 BTC (2016), and 6.25 BTC (2020). Why? That is because Bitcoin has a capped supply of 21 million coins. So halving happens every 4 years or after every 210,000 blocks mined. The next one should take place in 2024. The whole idea behind the Bitcoin halving is to control the supply of new Bitcoin and manage any inflation. He tried to pick up the note and well got zapped again. Adebola finds himself in someone's basement. He isn’t quite sure who, however he can see a young lady walking down the stairs. She switched on the light, and he was amazed at the sight. It is a technological renaissance. Computers with GPUs and parallel processing capabilities are lined up. This must be the GPUs era; GPUs were the preferred mining hardware at some point. He had just read about this before he started his time journey. In this era, mining pools flourished, allowing miners to share success and create communities like Mining City. He hears another voice coming down the stairs, seemingly asking about exploring the new field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) tech and how they are much faster than GPUs, but he trips. As soon as the coffee was about to spill on Adebola, his reflexes kicked in. He used his hand to shield his face to prevent the scalding liquid from pouring on him, but luckily, he got zapped. why GPUs? GPUs were better optimized and great for parallel computing simple mathematical operations (like mining). This is much better than CPUs. Also, remember that new coins like XRP are popping up in this era, and new miners are now competing among themselves on the Bitcoin network. Question: The ASIC Age (2013-Present) As Adebola carefully withdrew his hands, he was gripped by the realization that he was in a different place. From the writing on the wall, he seems to be in China. The Television in the room is luckily on CNN. The headline reads, " "  From the news, this new technology outperforms GPUs and CPUs, revolutionizes the mining landscape, and increases the Bitcoin network's hash rate. They were built just for mining, and their chip technology has dramatically decreased in size—from 130 nm in 2013 to 7 nm in 2020. China-based computer hardware manufacturer Canaan Creative released the first set of application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for bitcoin mining. He sees some documents on the table and tries to pick them up and get zapped again. This time, Adebola sees himself in an office in 2021. The name on the desk reads “Mark Zalan,” and some documents are named “GoMining.” In an attempt to pick up these documents, Adebola gets zapped, and this time, he is… Back to Reality (Present) He is back in his room. Awakened by the loud noise of the passing cars and heavy traffic outside the window. Damn! The light also went off, plunging his room into an inky blackness. It had finally dawned on him that he was back from his trip. Still curious, he picks up his laptop and searches for . He learns about how they are making Bitcoin mining more accessible to all through . Thus, he can join the mining industry without buying and maintaining any hardware; he can mine using GoMining’s Bitcoin-mining equipment at their data center. GoMining NFTs and the Liquid Bitcoin Hashrate (LBH) protocol Question: But How? By exploring their NFT mining model. You buy some NFTs (a unique token that gives one the right to own a digital asset- pictures, videos, game characters, or music- with the digital space) using . the GoMining token (GMT) Having satisfied his curiosity with a thorough web search, Adebola navigates to the Play Store and taps the download button to download the GoMining application. While he waits, he remembers the . He scrolled through, thought about his trip, and laughed as he read the comments. People were arguing about how the 10,000 BTC was small for the 2 pizzas Laszlo wanted. If only they knew how much 10,000 BTC would be worth right now, Adebola thought. Right before he closed the page, he spotted and read the last comment: " " Pizza forum discussion from Laszlo's era It is so remarkable how far this economy has progressed in such a short time; this breaks every record that I can think of. He looks back at his phone, opens the app, and starts onboarding as he anticipates the new mysteries he is about to begin within GoMining’s universe. Learn more: You can join the and learn more about . You can buy their using this . community GoMining’s project from their website GMT token Binance: Where & How to Buy Gomining (GMT) Guide

The Time-Traveler's Journey to Bitcoin Mining: A Tale Across Mining Eras

DTRAVEL

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DTRAVEL

dtravel.com

11-50 employees

Since 2017

COMPANY RANKING

DTRAVEL

EVERGREEN INDEX #867

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