FareHarbor’s Gift Card Initiative and Other Good Things This Week

Amid the toughest of times for our industry, there are lots of good things happening. Here are five that caught our eye.

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FareHarbor’s Gift Card Initiative and Other Good Things This Week

by | 23 April 2020

FareHarbor Launches Consumer Site to Promote Gift Card Purchases. The reservation system company, part of Booking Holdings, has launched I Will Travel Again, a consumer website to promote gift cards and help operators generate some revenue in the short term. Currently, the website offers about 4,000 gift cards from operators using FareHarbor around the world. Travel is a tough sell right now, but we certainly applaud the initiative.

While the tour operator world has put a lot into virtual tours, Urban Adventures General Manager Tony Carne has launched a not-for-profit initiative to help the families of local tour guides. A Letter from the World enables families to connect with other families around the world, not via Zoom, but through letters. That’s right, actual letters. Families share experiences, recipes, and games through letter-writing between children. We think we could all use a little more offline activity right now. You can read more here, and you should.  

Japan’s Fun Group, which specializes in local sightseeing tours and activities, has raised 1.26 billion yen ($11.6 million) in a Series B financing from JBC Holdings. Congrats to the Fun Group team. Great to see the confidence in our sector in otherwise very tough times. 

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Museum Hack went from $2.8 million per year to zero in 3 days. Well, this headline may not sound good, but the way Museum Hack CEO Tasia Duske lays out what the company has gone through, how they pivoted, and how they are focused on the future is a lesson for all of us. This short read is worth 10 times the amount of time it will take you to read it. 

For all the pain this current pause in tourism is causing, it is also an opportunity for us all to reconceive a new future for in-destination experiences. And this Arival Berlin speaker, Luca Perfetto, co-founder and CEO of Worlding Hospitality Solutions and Florencetown, has done just that. His thought-piece on a better future without overtourism is well worth your time. 

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WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ARIVAL | ACTIVATE EDINBURGH AND ARIVAL 360 | VALENCIA AND WHICH SHOULD I ATTEND?

Since 2019, Arival has hosted one major event in Europe each year. For 2024-2025, we’re thrilled to offer two exciting events: Arival 360 | Valencia and Arival | Activate Edinburgh. Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide which event to attend—or why you might want to come to both:

Arival 360 | Valencia (28-30 April 2025)
  • Scope: Flagship European Event with a global reach; up to 30% of attendees from outside Europe, including the U.S., Middle East, LATAM, and APAC.
  • Audience: Experience creators, tech and distribution companies, and industry professionals from around the world.
  • Arival Theater Content: Global topics including: over-tourism and sustainability, technology, distribution, European consumer and operator trends.
  • Breakout Sessions: In-depth workshops on operational best practices, product expansion, AI, channel management, marketing tech, a Spain-specific track and an Innovation Showcase highlighting the most tech-savvy companies in our industry.
  • Networking: Connect with leading OTAs and distribution companies, and build valuable partnerships.
  • Location: Valencia, a stunning coastal city offering rich cultural experiences.
  • Attendees: Approximately 800, providing extensive networking opportunities.
Arival | Activate Edinburgh (23-25 November 2024)
  • Scope: Regional focus on the UK, Ireland, and the Nordic regions.
  • Audience: Operators and industry professionals from the region.
  • Content: Gain insights on regional topics like technology, distribution strategies, and hear from top regional tourism leaders.
  • Breakout Sessions: Experience hands-on learning at Edinburgh’s top attractions and tours, with sessions on visitor experience, digital journeys and innovative tour development. In-depth sessions for companies at the beginning of their digital journey and more advanced sessions for people and companies looking to elevate their experience.
  • Networking: With a more intimate setting. you’ll have more time to build deeper connections and create more meaningful interactions with your current and future partners including distributors, tech companies, DMOs and more.
  • Location: Edinburgh, known for its stunning architecture and historic charm
  • Attendees: Approximately 400, fostering an intimate peer-to-peer learning and networking environment.
Key Differences:
  • Global vs. Regional Focus: Valencia is a global event with an international audience, while Edinburgh is a regional event focused on the UK, Ireland, and Nordic regions.
  • Event Size: Valencia hosts about 800 attendees, providing broad networking opportunities, whereas Edinburgh’s 400 attendees create a more intimate, focused environment.
  • Content and Sessions: Valencia features global themes and advanced topics, whereas Edinburgh provides region-specific insights and hands-on experiential learning.
  • Location Experience: Valencia providing a coastal escape and Edinburgh offering historic and iconic attractions.
  • Who Will Be There: The most valuable part of Arival Events is the connections you make and the partnerships you build to grow your business. At Arival | Activate Edinburgh, you’ll engage with key industry players in the UK, Ireland, and Nordic regions. If your business focus is on these areas, Edinburgh is where you need to be. For those targeting broader European or global markets, Arival 360 | Valencia offers the ideal platform to network with international leaders and innovators. 
Why attend both?

With limited opportunities for business development, learning, and networking in our industry, attending both events is a strategic move. By participating in both Edinburgh and Valencia, you maximize your exposure to diverse markets and influential contacts. 

However, if budget constraints or a specific regional focus dictate your decisions, choose the event that best aligns with your primary business goals. Join us in Edinburgh for regional insights or Valencia for global perspectives—or better yet, attend both to fully leverage the potential of Arival’s expansive network.

For service providers such as a restech or ticketing platform, distribution company, or other services including marketing, AI tools, etc., attending both gives you access to attendees from both markets to connect with your current customers and to meet new ones!

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