Hotelbeds and the NYU School of Professional Studies Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality have launched a collaboration to explore and inspire the next generation of tech start-ups through the company’s TravelTech Lab initiative and the school’s Innovation Hub (HI Hub) Incubator Program.
The two organizations will work together over the next three years to develop disruptive ideas to propel the travel and hospitality ecosystems forward through new technologies aimed at improving customer experience.
The NYU SPS Tisch Center has an established start-up program, launched in 2021 to cater to the disparate needs of the industry and companies seeking to build the next generation of travel technology products. Hotelbeds entered the space earlier this year through the launch of its TravelTech Lab in partnership with Telefonica’s innovation arm, Wayra. The initiative aims to reshape the future of travel and support start-ups to explore innovative tech-based solutions to change the way travelers move, connect and explore.
The TravelTech Lab will complement the Hospitality Innovation Hub Incubator Program, which helps NYU-affiliated start-ups plan, launch and manage their businesses by providing support and mentorship to help the owners grow their businesses. The agreement will also open new avenues for collaboration between entrepreneurs in the U.S. and Europe.
“Hotelbeds is a progressive industry innovator whose values and commitment to evolve and reimagine the next generation of global travel technology align with our mission for the Tisch Center and our HI Hub initiative,” Nicolas Graf, chaired professor and associate dean of the NYU SPS Tisch Center, said in a statement. “With the support of organizations like Hotelbeds, our HI Hub and its Incubator Program will be well-positioned to be the launching pad for companies and technologies that will impact our industry for years to come.”
As part of the new platinum sponsorship agreement, Hotelbeds will host one of the Tisch Center Incubator’s future “Pitch Your Passion & Seal the Deal” competitions at the company’s headquarters in Palma de Mallorca or its TravelTech Lab in Madrid. The competition has been a highlight of recent semesters at the Tisch Center, in which NYU-affiliated hospitality start-ups have the opportunity to develop their businesses and compete for cash prizes.
“Innovation has always been part of our DNA and is a key focus on our goal to reduce friction across the travel ecosystem," Hotelbeds CEO Nicolas Huss said. "Bringing our two innovation hubs together is a powerful combination. We’re looking forward to seeing what initiatives the start-ups in the program develop and how we can work together to bring them to market.”