No coupon required: discounts on dining in Miami

GONE are the days of paying for coupons. dinely, a restaurant discount application announced its official launch in Miami available for iOS and Android.

dinely features over 40 restaurants in the #Miami area giving offers up to 50% off the entire restaurant bill, including alcohol, just by booking through its platform at absolutely no cost.

The two best parts for the user besides it being free? You don’t even have to show a coupon. And the discounts cover your entire bill. That means drinks, meals, appetizers, and desserts are all included in your percentage off which ranges from 10-50%.


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Vienna at your fingertips

VISITORS to Vienna can now gain access to more than 60 of the city's most popular attractions, tours and museums directly via their smartphones with the newly launched mobile version of the popular #Vienna PASS sightseeing card (www.viennapass.com).

The mobile Vienna PASS places the best of the city at the visitor's fingertips and makes it possible to use the pass within seconds of purchase. An email booking confirmation contains a link to the free Vienna Guide app for iOS or Android devices, which acts as a platform to download the mobile pass. The Vienna PASS customer then simply scans the app's barcode straight from their smartphone to gain entry at a featured attraction.

The app also acts as a digital guidebook, containing full details on all Vienna PASS attractions as well as maps of the city and essential tourist information. Once downloaded, all of the app content including the mobile Vienna PASS is available without an internet connection.

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Must need apps for travellers

TRAVELLING for work or pleasure? There are certain apps you just need to have to make life that little bit more stress-free try these 7 must-have apps and they're all free!

Google Translate - if you travel overseas, you may find yourself in a situation where you do not understand the local language.

XE Currency - convert between any two currencies in the world.

WiFi Map - when traveling, it is not uncommon to need a WiFi connection, especially if you find yourself outside your cell coverage area. This is why you need WiFi Map, which will not only show you public hotspots nearby, it will also provide you the passwords for these hotspots.

Tripit - not only can you track what you are supposed to be doing and where you are supposed to be, but you do not even have to enter this information directly into the app. The app can import your itineraries from confirmation emails. Best of all, you do not even have to be online to use it.

Triposo lets you discover hotels, restaurants and things to do in more than 50,000 locations worldwide.

Sit or Squat - an app which will help you find a bathroom no matter where you are.

American Red Cross First Aid - an app, which will let you know what to do if an emergency happens. It even comes with videos to instruct you.

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Malaysia Airlines takes off with WhatsApp

MALAYSIA Airlines (MH) has launched their official presence on WhatsApp, enabling customers to receive their flight booking confirmation and flight status directly through the popular messaging app. Malaysia Airlines is the first airline in Malaysia and the fifth in the world to integrate with the WhatsApp Business solution. 

This follows the launch of three other digital solutions, MHguardian, MHfeedback and MHchat back in April 2018 and in line with their digitalization strategy. Malaysia Airlines will continue to look at products and services that enhance the customer experience by allowing our guests to receive important updates such as gate, check-in,boarding or schedule notifications via the messaging app. This new platform is offered in addition to the airline’s traditional methods of communication of email and SMS.
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Never get lost again

MAPS.ME for Android presents an innovative way for you to stay informed when you're on the move. Whether you're doing a cross-country tour by car, out cycling or just having a stroll around a city you're not familiar with, this simple app serves as an invaluable utility to help you get to where you're going. 

It comes with offline maps of thousands of cities across some 200 countries so that you don't need to keep spending money on mobile data when you're out and about. There's nothing missing either, thanks to the fact that the maps are always kept up to date. The latest edition also adds more rapid transit plans, so that you now have subway routes and more for well over 100 cities around the globe. Customize and bookmark your maps and access them offline.

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Up in the air . . .

FLYNAS, the national Saudi carrier and leading low-cost airline in the Middle East, announced that its mobile application reached a milestone of more than 2 million users since its launch.

flynas, the winner of the Middle East’s Leading Low-Cost Airline award in 2018, noted that Saudi Arabia has the largest proportion of “flynas” app users, as well as a significant number of users from different countries across the globe. Additionally, flynas points out that the application is most widely used by young people.

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Explore like never before

EXPLORE the Disney theme parks like never before with the Play Disney Parks mobile app, a transformative new digital entertainment offering that will make its official debut on June 30 at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California.

The Play Disney Parks app will bring to life unique interactive experiences that enable guests of all ages to access a wide range of activities including themed games, Disney trivia, digital achievements, music and so much more – whether they are playing on Main Street, U.S.A. or waiting in line at beloved attractions.

Play Disney Parks was designed for families and guests to enjoy together, with group play options that enable everyone to join in on the fun while staying fully engaged in the immersive environments of Disney parks. The app will be available for iOS and Android platforms and will be free to download.


The new Play Disney Parks app is the latest addition to the Disney Parks digital app portfolio. Play Disney Parks complements the popular My Disney Experience app at Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland App at Disneyland Resort, the convenient places for guests to plan their visit, access important information such as attraction wait times and park hours and utilize services like mobile food ordering.

And this is just the beginning. Play Disney Parks is planned to grow and evolve over time with new experiences and offerings at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, including at the eagerly anticipated Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, coming to Disneyland Resort in summer 2019 and Walt Disney World Resort in late fall 2019.

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App awards for Gatwick

GATWICK'S new passenger app has won Mobile Innovation of the Year at the National Technology awards and also picked up Mobile App of the Year at the Real IT awards.  The airport also won Cloud Project of the Year at the Real IT awards after becoming the world’s first major airport to introduce a cloud-based Flight Information System (FIDS).

Under the slogan App App and Away, Gatwick’s first passenger app launched at the start of the year and provides personalised, real-time flight updates, gate information and check-in and security queue times straight to your phone.

The new app means that holidaymakers and business travellers can enjoy a more seamless experience when travelling through Gatwick as it boasts a range of features including intuitive maps that guide passengers through the airport using 2,000 navigation beacons located throughout terminal buildings

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Discounted San Francisco

SHORT stay and weekend travelers can now experience the benefits of the original San Francisco CityPASS program—deeply discounted prepaid admission to premier visitor sights—with San Francisco C3 tickets, customizable mobile tickets that allow entry to three top attractions.

San Francisco C3 tickets allow users to select any three attractions from a curated list of eight options:

• California Academy of Sciences
• Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise Adventure
• Aquarium of the Bay
• Exploratorium
• San Francisco Museum of Modern Art 
• Bay City Bike & Parkwide Bike Rentals
• de Young Museum + Legion of Honor
• The Walt Disney Family Museum

Unlike the original San Francisco CityPASS ticket booklet—which is available for those enjoying a longer stay in the City, San Francisco C3 tickets aren't booklets at all. Available for purchase only through citypass.com, they are mobile tickets delivered directly to the purchaser's email. The email can be saved to a smartphone and easily scanned at each attraction. Designed to be flexible, the tickets do not require the buyer to pre-select the attractions that will be visited; travelers are free to choose as they go.


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Human connections

A Southern California startup company now provides an innovative solution for help getting around walkable city centers easily. The Prontopia App connects travelers with vetted on-demand locals who arrive by foot to provide expert assistance any time the need arises. 

The locals on the Prontopia app know the best way to get to city lodging and meeting points, or to a departure point on time when door-to-door by car is not an option. The app works like Uber, but without cars, with an emphasis on the importance of human connections in the city.

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Mobile ticketing with Google Pay

THE Las Vegas Monorail Company announced the launch of virtual transit ticketing with the new Google Pay app for Android phones. The #Monorail now offers riders the ability to quickly and easily purchase fares online and use their phone at the fare gates for immediate transit access to everything along the #LasVegas Strip. 

It is the first transit system in the world to fully integrate their ticketing system with Google Pay using MIFARE contactless technology. With just a few clicks, Monorail customers can now purchase and save tickets using their credit and debit cards or PayPal account linked to Google Pay with the security of Google encryption. Once customers arrive at the Monorail station, they simply tap their phone on the fare gate and ride.

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Designed by pilots for use by passengers

AN Australian-based company, today announced the launch of their new in-flight entertainment and flight-tracking app, Inflighto, in the Apple App Storeand the Google Play store. The Inflighto app is the first in-flight entertainment app designed by pilots for use by airline passengers while in-flight. 

It combines highly-accurate ADSB flight-tracking technology and premium content to give passengers an elevated perspective of the world from the air. The Inflighto app supersedes the traditional ‘moving-maps’ currently used by airlines. Inflighto Pty Ltd is an Australian-based technology company formed in 2017 by two Australian pilots, John Hopkins and Christopher Smyth.

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Top Hotel Trends to be Witnessed in 2018

THE top 3 trends to be witnessed in the upcoming year according to Weekly Hotels, a leading extended stay hotel search engine are:

1. Extended stay will be increased
2. Extended stay hotels will gain popularity
3. Booking through mobile devices will be more popular

According to a survey conducted by Hipmunk, "72% of increase in traveling by Millennials; 55% Millennials extended the business trip for additional leisure and recreation time. There are 38% Millennials who travel more than Gen X or elderly people. These survey statistics and the trends noticed on the portal Weekly Hotels, it is clear that this year will experience a spike in the number of extended stay travelers than past years."

Among all available lodging options, the extended stay hotels won the race in becoming the most favorite accommodation option for many. This is because of a wide array of amenities offered by the extended stay hotels at affordable and cheap weekly rates. The extended stay hotels provide much more comfort and fun than rental apartments or traditional hotels to these travelers on extended stays. That’s why there was more than a 325% increase in booking of extended stay hotels in the past year. This is a clear sign that the extended stay hotels are more popular among the travelers.

According to the collected user pattern, 8 out of 10 bookings are made using a mobile device, i.e., Smartphone. It means people are using Smartphone and tablet more to book a room or an apartment for their next trip. Furthermore, the ratio of advanced booking than on-the-spot booking has been increased terrifically in the past few years. People like to book themselves and the required facilities well in advance. They are not only booking the rooms, but also book breakfast and other required amenities during their stay. This creates a clear necessity of having a mobile friendly portal for hoteliers.

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Airside Andy lands in London City Airport

AIRSIDE Andy has teamed with London City Airport to launch the very first Airside Andy dedicated children’s play area. Located in the Western Pier of the airport, this area opened last month and is designed for families travelling with young children.

Designed for children aged 3 – 8. Airside Andy is free to play, with in-app purchases and memberships available to enhance the in-game experience. It is a massively multiplayer online game (MMO), built exclusively for tablet and mobile and available through iTunes and Google Play, where kids can explore the busy world of the airport, and learn to manage short term and long term goals.

The star feature of this space is the Airside Andy play-tech pod. This is designed to look like a mini baggage carousel, complete with two tablets which are attached to suitcases. Each of these tablets are loaded with 21 games, including the Airside Andy game itself.

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Picture credit: Pintrest airside andy

Appy to fly from Gatwick

GATWICK'S new app – one of several passenger-facing digital innovations coming on stream soon - offers passengers personalised flight alerts, real-time queue updates for check-in and security, intuitive navigation using beacon technology and shopping, restaurant and airport offers.

The new app means that holidaymakers and business travellers can enjoy a more seamless experience when travelling through Gatwick as it boasts a range of features including:

• Personalised flight information – real-time updates onflight status and gate information straight to your mobile.
• Real-time queue updates – for check-in and security to plan your time at the airport.
• Intuitive maps - guiding passengers through the airport using 2,000 navigation beacons located throughout terminal buildings.
• Shopping and eating offers – specific to your terminal and instantly redeemable from your phone.

Personalised flight information pushed to your phone includes boarding status and gate access, which means passengers can enjoy their time at the airport without having to hunt for flight information screens.

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Skybus services now listed in Travelport’s airport express app

SKYBUS, operator of Australasia’s premier airport transfer service, has announced its arrival on leading travel commerce platform, Travelport, joining the likes of the highly popular Heathrow Express among others. 

The addition of SkyBus means travel agents using Travelport’s award-winning Airport Express App will be notified of the operator’s options; and can instantly book electronic tickets for SkyBus’ airport express services when they plan Melbourne travel itineraries for their customers.

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Up in the air . . .

QATAR Airways has further enhanced its mobile app with a new look and feel, making it now even easier for customers to use. The award-winning airline has added a suite of innovative features to its mobile app, making it as simple and user-friendly as possible, allowing passengers to have all the important information they need at their fingertips through their mobile devices.

Qatar Airways is now offering up to 10 per cent off ticket purchases through mobile devices. Download the app and book using the promo code QRMOBAPP before 29 October 2017. 

qatarairways.com/mobileoffer

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Have a Play in London

A hill of Mr Beans, made famous by comedian Rowan Atkinson and dressed in trademark tweed jacket while each clutching the iconic ‘Teddy’ bear, travelled on the Underground, went for a ride on the Coca Cola London Eye and took selfies with passers-by in Trafalgar Square.

The Beans were out on the streets to celebrate the launch of a brand new mobile game called #PlayLondon with Mr Bean, which helps visitors discover the city’s tourist highlights and forms part of a new drive to attract more UK and international visitors to the capital.

VisitLondon.com, Endemol Shine Group and Pointvoucher have worked together to develop the free to play mobile game which sees an animated #MrBean visit #London attractions. By spending time playing the game, players will be able to pick up vouchers which they can then cash in for discounts when they holiday in London, and also find great offers on locations around the city.

Download “Play London with Mr Bean” for free! For more information visit www.play.london

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Where to go . . .

BOUTIQ, “Where to go from who you know,” officially celebrates its launch on the Google Play Store today. The new App personalizes food and travel recommendations by placing your entrusted friends and network at their core. The Sydney-grown App received a Hero Feature selection in Apple’s Social Networking Category (USA) and Travel Categories (Australia and New Zealand) this summer.

Boutiq is the memory bank for your favourite places all over the world. Whether it’s a floating pizza and cocktail bar in the Mamanuca Islands, or cliff jumping into sparkling turquoise waters in Calanque de Port-Miou, Boutiq digitally scrapbooks your dining, accommodation, and activity moments worth remembering. By attaching your personal tips and photos, discoveries become recommendations for your inner circle to find, save and experience wherever they are.

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Aussie travellers underutilise mobile technologies

NEW research from Amadeus has found that despite Australia’s high smartphone penetration, Australian travellers are less likely to use their mobile phone when they travel, compared to their Asia Pacific counterparts. 

The research ‘Journey of Me Insights: What Asia Pacific Travellers Want,’ also found Australians prefer peer to peer recommendations, rather than a travel agent or social media, but are willing to trade personal data to receive relevant offers and personalised experiences from travel providers.

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