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HBX GROUP ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER 2026 TRADING UPDATE

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LONDON, July 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HBX Group International plc (HBX Group, the Company, the Group, HBX.SM) today issues a Q3 trading update for the three months ended 30 June 2026. 

Total Transaction Value (TTV) up +12% to €2.4bn, and Revenue of €177m, down -3% year-on-year at constant currency, reflecting resilient leisure travel demand, targeted commercial actions, and a gradual recovery in previously disrupted travel corridors.Continued execution against strategic priorities, with progress across accommodation growth, ecosystem expansion, AI, and the expansion of key partnerships.Disciplined capital allocation, with the €100m share buyback programme progressing as planned, the maiden interim dividend of 7.5 euro cents per share (€18m) paid in June, and the completion of the Bridgify acquisition.FY26 guidance ranges narrowed around the midpoints, supported by encouraging booking momentum and improving trends in previously disrupted travel corridors, reinforcing confidence in full-year delivery.Leadership transition announced with the planned retirement of Nicolas Huss as CEO and Board Director effective 30 September 2026, with Brendan Brennan, current CFO, appointed as interim CEO.

Nicolas Huss, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

“We continued to execute well during the third quarter, delivering resilient TTV growth in a challenging market environment.

Growth reflected our clear strategy and focus on execution, supported by strategic partnerships, ecosystem expansion and the increasing deployment of AI across the organisation. Our maiden dividend, paid in June, and ongoing share buyback programme underscore our commitment to disciplined capital allocation.

As expected, trading conditions during the quarter continued to be affected by the Middle East conflict. Encouragingly, leisure demand remained resilient, demand and booking trends improved as the quarter progressed and we saw early signs of recovery across several previously disrupted travel corridors. Our diversified footprint, strong partner relationships and agile commercial model enabled us to respond effectively, underpinning our confidence in delivering FY26 guidance.

Leading HBX Group has been a great privilege and I am planning my retirement confident in our future success. We remain focused on execution, growing market share, expanding our ecosystem and embedding AI across the business to support sustainable long-term growth, profitability and cash generation.”

Third quarter and nine-month 2026 Financial Performance Summary

Q3

2026

Q3

2025

Change

 

Change
constant
currency[1]

9M

 2026

9M

2025

Change

 

Change
constant
currency1

TTV[2] (€m)

2,418

2,176

+11 %

+12 %

6,188

5,546

+12 %

+15 %

Revenue (€m)

177

182

-3 %

-3 %

486

501

-3 %

-1 %

Group TTV increased to €2.4bn in the third quarter of the year, up +12% on the prior period at constant currency, reflecting strategic mix changes and targeted commercial actions to prioritise growth with increased exposure to the fastest-growing supply and distribution channels. Growth was supported by increased contribution from shorter lead-time bookings, Third Party Supply (TPS) and Online Travel Agents (OTAs).

The Middle East disruption represented an estimated -4ppt headwind to Group TTV growth during the quarter. Excluding this impact, TTV growth would have been approximately +16% and revenue growth approximately +1% at constant currency.

Revenue of €177m decreased -3% in constant currency. Take rate (revenue as a proportion of TTV) was 7.3%, 1.1ppt contraction year-on-year, reflecting deliberate mix changes to prioritise growth, commercial actions and strategic investments. The pace of year-on-year take rate decline improved compared with H1 and Q2, consistent with the Group’s expectation that take rate changes would progressively moderate.

Performance in the quarter was driven by continued TTV growth across most of the Group’s largest source markets, including the US, the UK and China, helped by targeted commercial actions with key distribution partners.

€m

TTV 
by destination

Q3

 2026

Q3

 2025

Change

Change
constant
currency1

9M

 2026

9M

 2025

Change

 

Change
constant
currency1

Europe

1,324

1,211

+9 %

+10 %

2,895

2,601

+11 %

+13 %

Americas

721

597

+21 %

+22 %

1,974

1,728

+14 %

+19 %

MEAPAC[3]

373

368

+1 %

+2 %

1,319

1,217

+8 %

+12 %

€m

Revenue
by destination

Q3

 2026

Q3

 2025

Change

 

Change
constant
currency1

9M

 2026

9M

 2025

Change

 

Change
constant
currency1

Europe

94

98

-4 %

-5 %

223

227

-2 %

-1 %

Spain

24

25

-4 %

-4 %

57

56

+2 %

+2 %

Rest of Europe

70

73

-4 %

-5 %

166

171

-3 %

-2 %

Americas

54

52

+4 %

+4 %

161

164

-2 %

+2 %

US

33

29

+14 %

+14 %

92

92

0 %

+5 %

Rest of Americas

21

23

-9 %

-9 %

69

72

-4 %

-1 %

MEAPAC3

29

32

-9 %

-6 %

102

110

-7 %

-4 %

The Group’s agile operating model, global platform, and diversified demand base supported a resilient performance in MEAPAC and strong growth elsewhere. In response to the conflict in the Middle East, HBX Group rapidly redirected commercial focus and resources towards the higher growth segments and travel corridors. Targeted pricing, sales and commercial initiatives supported volumes and partner engagement, and captured emerging growth opportunities.

In Europe, double-digit TTV growth was supported by resilient intra-regional and domestic travel demand. Southern Europe was a key driver of performance, with healthy demand from UK travellers to Mediterranean destinations.

In the Americas, trading remained strong, supported by broad-based demand across North and Latin America. Growth benefited from strong growth in the US and Canada, helped by World Cup related travel and strong relationships with distribution partners across the region.

In MEAPAC, trading was affected by the Middle East conflict. In Asia Pacific, travellers increasingly favoured intra-regional travel following disruption to certain long-haul routes earlier in the quarter, with booking trends improving as flight capacity recovered. In the Middle East, trading improved progressively during the quarter and signs of recovery emerged towards the end of the quarter during the ceasefire period.

Across regions, the Group continued to leverage its scale, global sourcing network and commercial capabilities to respond quickly to changing market conditions, supporting trading performance and partner engagement during a period of continued volatility.

Delivering commercial milestones in line with strategy

Commercial progress continued during the third quarter, with further execution against the Group’s strategic priorities across accommodation, ecosystem expansion and AI. These initiatives support long-term growth while enhancing commercial effectiveness, productivity and efficiency.

Growth in accommodation was supported by:

Strengthened strategic partnerships, including the expansion of our relationships with lastminute.com and Sabre, increasing access to demand across key European leisure markets.Continued execution of previously announced commercial agreements, supporting expansion in attractive growth markets, broadening distribution reach and reinforcing the Group’s diversified global partner network.

Ecosystem expansion is being delivered by:

Expanding the Group’s mobility offering through enhanced collaboration with Emerging Travel Group, extending an existing accommodation relationship into transfers and supporting a more connected traveller journey.New strategic partnerships across airline and OTA ecosystems, including Pelago (Singapore Airlines), Gulf Air, Tigerair Taiwan and De VakantieDiscounter, expanding distribution reach, strengthening monetisation opportunities and increasing multi-product adoption across the traveller journey.Completion of the Bridgify acquisition, adding AI-native technology capabilities and expanding the Group’s experiences offering with a broader portfolio of content.

Accelerated use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) was supported by:

Progress on MCP-enabled connectivity initiatives and commercial agreements, supporting the development of AI-powered capabilities across the Group’s travel ecosystem.Development of an AI-powered Connectivity Factory, designed to automate the end-to-end supplier integration process and accelerate onboarding times for new partners, supporting scalability and faster time-to-market.Development of specialised finance agents to automate invoice reconciliation, improve operational efficiency and accelerate payment cycles for partners.

During the quarter, HBX Group continued to execute its capital allocation strategy, returning approximately €38 million to shareholders through its maiden interim dividend of €18 million and approximately €20 million of share repurchases under its €100 million buyback programme. Year-to-date, total shareholder returns amount to approximately €50 million.

Leadership transition

HBX Group has published a separate announcement today with the news that Nicolas Huss plans to retire as CEO and step down from the Board with effect from 30 September 2026. Nicolas will remain in post until then to support an orderly handover, and the Board has appointed Brendan Brennan, current CFO, as interim CEO from 1 October 2026. Brendan brings strategic leadership experience and has a deep knowledge of the business, ensuring continuity of leadership as the Company remains focused on executing its existing strategy. The Board has initiated a comprehensive search for a permanent successor, considering both internal and external candidates, and expects to announce an appointment by the Company’s next Annual General Meeting in February 2027. 

Outlook

The Group’s performance in the third quarter was slightly better than the assumptions underpinning its previous outlook. With only two months remaining until year end, FY26 guidance has been narrowed around the midpoint. It reflects an estimated -3ppt full-year impact from the Middle East conflict, an improvement compared to the Group’s previous estimate of -4ppt. Bookings momentum is encouraging and reinforces confidence in the outlook. The Group’s medium-term expectations remain unchanged.

Company Guidance
(constant currency)

                         FY26

Mid-term[4]

TTV 

+13% to +15% (prior +11% to +15%)

Low double digit %

Revenue

-2% to flat (prior -4% to +1%)

High single digit %

Adj. EBITDA

-5% to -2% (unchanged)

EBITDA margin in 60s %

Op. FCF conversion

90% to 100% (unchanged)

c.100%

A webcast for the investment community will be held at 09:00 UK time in which we will deliver an overview of the Q3 2026 performance, followed by a Q&A session. To register for the webcast, please use the following link: HBX Group Q3 Trading Update

Contact details:
Investors: igreen@hbxgroup.com / M. +44 7826 910691 
Media: hbx@brunswickgroup.com 

About HBX Group

HBX Group is a leading global B2B travel technology marketplace that owns and operates Hotelbeds, Bedsonline, The Luxurist, Roiback, Civitfun and PerfectStay. We offer a network of interconnected travel technology products and services to partners including online marketplaces, tour operators, travel advisors, airlines, loyalty programmes, destinations, and travel suppliers.

Our vision is to simplify the complex and fragmented travel industry through a combination of cloud-based technology solutions, curated data, and a broad portfolio of products designed to maximise revenue. HBX Group is present in more than 170 countries and employs more than 3,500 people worldwide. We are committed to making travel a force for good, creating a positive social and environmental impact.

HBX Group International PLC (HBX.SM) is listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange, (ISIN: GB00BNXJB679).

[1] Constant currency changes exclude the impact of foreign exchange rate fluctuations by translating current year results at the exchange rates used in the prior year.
Consolidated unaudited Revenue for the 3-month period from 1 April 2026 to 30 June 2026 and 9-month period 1 October 2025 to 30 June 2026.
[2] Total Transaction Value.
[3] Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.
[4] Medium-term refers to the future annual periods beyond the current year on a 2-3 year view.

 

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SOURCE HBX Group

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JOTO PR Disruptors Names Norman Arjonilla COO to Scale Anti-PR Delivery and Performance

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With more than two decades of experience building high-performance teams, quality-control systems, and measurable execution models, Arjonilla will lead operational discipline across JOTO PR’s growing Anti-PR delivery infrastructure.

TAMPA, Fla., July 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — JOTO PR Disruptors, an agency specializing in Anti-PR and disruption-driven communications, announced that Norman Arjonilla has been appointed Chief Operating Officer, reinforcing the agency’s continued investment in scaling its delivery model through consistent client execution. Arjonilla, who previously served as JOTO PR’s Anti-PR Chief of Delivery & Excellence, brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across quality control, team development, and performance management. As Chief Operating Officer, he will oversee the standards, policies, metrics, and workflows supporting JOTO PR’s client service, media relations, and delivery divisions.

“Norman Arjonilla displays the exact kind of operational leadership required for an agency built on accountability, speed, and measurable outcomes,” said Karla Jo Helms, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Evangelist of JOTO PR Disruptors. “JOTO’s Anti-PR model depends on precision. Strong strategy and media instincts must be supported by teams and processes that perform consistently. Norman understands how to build that foundation, empower people within it, and scale what works.”

A Career Built on Control, Metrics, and People

Arjonilla’s leadership philosophy centers on clear expectations, open communication and clear guidelines. He has spent his career helping organizations identify weaknesses, improve team execution, and establish repeatable practices that support long-term growth.

Before joining JOTO PR, Arjonilla held quality-control leadership roles at Blackstone Medical Services, where he helped scale national sales teams from approximately 40 to more than 70 representatives. He supported record year-over-year growth through structured training, daily accountability, and performance oversight. He also built and trained acquisition teams at Andrews Land Holdings, implementing workflows and negotiation strategies designed to improve consistency and profitability.

Scaling the Anti-PR Delivery Model

In his new role, Arjonilla will focus on strengthening the operational backbone behind JOTO PR’s client campaigns, streamlining cross-department production flow, reinforcing quality-control standards, expanding employee training, and improving visibility into agency performance. His work will center on building the operational structure needed to support JOTO PR’s continued growth.

“Agencies often grow by adding more people, more tools, and more activity,” Arjonilla said. “But growth only becomes sustainable when the operation underneath it is measured and understood. My focus is to make sure JOTO’s delivery engine is built to scale without losing precision, morale, or performance.”

The appointment comes as JOTO PR continues to establish Anti-PR as an alternative to traditional public relations models. The agency’s approach is built around identifying market disruption, shaping problem-led narratives, and creating media strategies that connect client expertise to timely solutions-led conversations across business, healthcare, technology, consumer markets, and public policy.

Building a Stronger Agency Infrastructure

Arjonilla’s background in talent development, supervisory leadership, and performance management will help strengthen JOTO PR’s internal training systems, client-readiness standards, and culture of continuous improvement. His multilingual fluency in English, Spanish, and Italian adds another layer to his ability to lead across teams, cultures, and communication styles.

For Arjonilla, the COO role is about creating conditions for people to perform with clarity and confidence.

“Good operations do not make people feel controlled. They give people the structure to win,” Arjonilla said. “When expectations are clear, metrics are understood, and everyone knows what successful delivery looks like, the whole team becomes more capable. That is what I want to help build at JOTO PR.”

About JOTO PR Disruptors™
JOTO PR Disruptors™ is the Anti-PR® agency behind some of the fastest-growing tech and innovation brands in the U.S. By applying crisis management techniques and modern media algorithms, JOTO PR creates third-party credibility campaigns that produce measurable results and build undeniable market influence. Learn more at www.jotopr.com. 

Media Contact:
Karla Jo Helms
JOTO PR™
727-777-4629
jotopr.com

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SOURCE JOTO PR

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Eolian Announces 1+ GWh Flint Grid BESS: PJM’s Largest Battery Energy Storage Project Now Under Construction to Support America’s Fastest-Growing Data Center and Industrial Corridor near Columbus, Ohio

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Flint Grid, a 200 MW / 5.3-hour (1.06 GWh) battery energy storage project, demonstrates how Eolian’s long-term investment strategy anticipated growing electricity demand and will unlock the grid using flexible resources in the core of one of the nation’s most critical locations for AI datacenter development.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Eolian announced that Flint Grid, a 200MW, 5+hour duration grid-scale battery energy storage system in Jersey Township, Licking County, Ohio, has started construction (“Flint Grid Project”). Located adjacent to New Albany datacenter and industrial load, the Flint Grid Project is the first large-scale battery energy storage system to qualify for the PJM capacity market and the largest battery storage system to clear the 2027/28 Residual Capacity Auction, representing more than 50 percent of all new battery storage capacity in that capacity year.

Eolian’s Flint Grid, a 1.06 GWh BESS, will unlock the grid and balance costs in critical location for datacenter growth.

The Flint Grid Project is also the first grid-scale battery energy storage system permitted by the Ohio Power Siting Board and the largest battery energy storage system built to date in Ohio and the PJM footprint, establishing an important precedent for future energy storage development across the state.

Eolian is actively collaborating with grid operators, regulators, and industry stakeholders on research and policy initiatives to advance battery energy storage integration into wholesale electricity markets, including technical frameworks for optimal bidding protocols, new market products for energy storage participation, ELCC accreditation methodology, revenue optimization across multiple wholesale market segments, and a recognition that strategically-located battery storage projects can actually increase transmission capacity in constrained locations with increasing load demands.

“There’s growing consternation about how the US can rapidly scale infrastructure to support America’s growing electricity demand, but not nearly enough conversation about how to use existing technology to unlock the wasted capacity that already exists on the grid” said Aaron Zubaty, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Eolian. “Flint Grid demonstrates how companies like Eolian have been investing in solutions to unlock the grid and reduce price pressures on consumers using proven and scalable technology. This project requires hundreds of millions of dollars to construct, and we committed the necessary capital and resources years before today’s demand forecasts became headline news. As policymakers consider changes to competitive electricity markets, it’s critical that they avoid undermining the long-term investments already underway that will make better use of existing transmission infrastructure and that create a bridge to further long-term supply expansion.”

Battery energy storage complements traditional grid infrastructure by providing flexible capacity that responds in milliseconds to stabilize and back up the grid during high-risk events, while optimizing how to match power supply and demand through all hours of the day, every day of the year.

Flint Grid is expected to enter commercial operation in advance of the 2027–2028 PJM capacity year.

About Eolian
Eolian operates a growing portfolio of battery energy storage projects and develops and invests in clean energy and co-located large load projects across the US. For over 20 years, Eolian’s founding management has worked together to build the assets at the core of the company, creating unique and proprietary structures that have directly funded the development of nearly 30 GW of operating or under-construction energy storage, solar, and wind generating capacity across the country. Eolian is owned by its employees and funds that are managed by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a BlackRock company and leading global infrastructure investor. For more information, follow Eolian on LinkedInYoutube or visit www.eolianenergy.com.

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SOURCE Eolian Energy

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Quantifind Selected by FCC to Strengthen U.S. Communications Infrastructure Security

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WASHINGTON, July 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has selected Quantifind to support safeguarding U.S. communications infrastructure. The partnership addresses growing risks tied to foreign ownership, control, or influence within the sector.

Under the agreement, the FCC will employ Quantifind’s Graphyte platform, an AI-powered research tool that helps analysts rapidly assess ownership structures, hidden relationships, sanctions exposure, and other risk indicators across fragmented public and commercial data sources. The platform supports beneficial ownership analysis, automated reporting, and integration with FCC workflows through both individual search and batch-screening capabilities, which will accelerate FCC investigations into entities, equipment, and services that may threaten U.S. national security.

The FCC’s published justification stated that after evaluating 17 potential solutions, Quantifind was identified as the most comprehensive and cost-effective option, uniquely meeting the FCC’s technical requirements for integrated supply chain risk analysis, API integration, and automated risk scoring.

“Networks are increasingly complex and opaque, which makes the work of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau more challenging than ever,” said Ari Tuchman, Quantifind CEO and co-founder. “We built Quantifind to rapidly and accurately uncover connections hidden in vast, messy data, and we are proud to put our software to work on the national security mission of this Bureau.”

About the FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau

The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau is responsible for supporting national security reviews, maintaining the FCC Covered List, and responding to requests from interagency partners including the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and Team Telecom. These missions involve analyzing vast amounts of data from disparate sources to pinpoint entities, equipment, and services that may pose an unacceptable risk to national security.

About Quantifind

Quantifind is the leader in AI-driven risk intelligence, trusted by seven of the 10 largest U.S. banks and multiple federal agencies to uncover hidden risks in complex data. Its Graphyte™ platform uses machine learning, natural language processing, and proprietary Name Science™ to detect indicators of illicit finance, foreign influence, and supply-chain exposure across billions of records. Quantifind was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

For more information, visit www.quantifind.com

Media Contact:

Carla O
Director, Public Sector Marketing
carlao@quantifind.com

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