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Agoda Reveals the Most Popular Search Filters for 2026: Asian Travelers Favour Choice, Culinary Convenience and Comfort

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SINGAPORE, May 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda has unveiled its ranking of what Asian travelers prioritize most when searching for accommodation in 2026. Looking at the most-used search filters on its website this year, Agoda reports that Asian travelers consistently prioritizing accommodation type, included breakfasts and strong review scores when seeking holiday stays.  

At 19% of all filter activity, choice of accommodation type ranked first for Asian traveler searches in 2026, emphasizing the importance of selecting the right stay over all other factors. Travelers from Southeast Asian markets are even more decisive: Indonesia leads with 45% of all searches from the market filtering for accommodation type. Malaysia and Vietnam each register 31%, all well above the regional average and highlighting a strong preference from Southeast Asian travelers for hotel, resort and apartment options.

Across the region, review scores of 8 and above, which made up 9% of all search filter activity, also rank among the top three search filters for Asian travelers in 2026. The trend points to travelers increasingly seeking trusted, high-quality stays that are verified by other guests. India leads this preference with 13%, well above the regional average, signaling strong demand for highly-rated properties amongst other travelers.

Dining and creature comforts drive Asian travel choices

Dining is a key focus for Asian travelers. The filter for breakfast included stays is the region’s second-most searched at 12%, reflecting a widespread desire for convenience and value at the start of the day. Japanese travelers are especially food-minded, with 21% searching for both breakfast and dinner included stays. A particularly strong culinary focus is also seen with Taiwanese travelers, with 14% searching for breakfast and dinner included stays, as well as for afternoon tea as part of their accommodation options – underscoring that food offerings across the day can be a key differentiator for properties in select markets.

Asian travelers also seek specific creature comforts when choosing stays. Bathtubs appear in the top 10 filters for Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand and India, signaling a preference for room amenities that help guests relax and unwind. Air conditioning also features in Southeast Asian traveler searches, with travelers from Vietnam and Indonesia most likely to include in-room air-conditioning among their top filters.

Asian travelers want flexibility before, during and after the stay

Flexibility across booking, payment and stay options are clear priorities for Asian travelers in 2026. Free cancellation and pay-at-hotel options featured among the top 10 search filters, highlighting the interest in refundable and on-site payment choices that reduce booking friction.

Other search options that offer flexibility, choice and convenience also feature amongst to top 10 search for Asian travelers, including location, bed type and car parking facilities. These indicate that travelers are increasingly keen on accommodation that can cater to their diverse preferences, whether this be traveling as a group, driving to their destination, or wanting to be close to public transport and other attractions.

Andrew Smith, Senior Vice President, Supply, at Agoda, said: “In 2026, travelers across Asia are looking for the stay that feels right, whether this be through convenience, choice or comfort. Picking the type of accommodation comes first, but tasty meals, trusted reviews and flexible payment options matter just as much. Agoda’s easy-to-use search filters and wide range of accommodation choices, amenities, locations and more enable our customers to find the perfect stay based on individual needs and wants.”

With over 6 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities, Agoda enables travelers to plan and combine every part of their journey in one place. Running from 7 May to 21 May, Agoda’s 21st Birthday Sale will offer up to 60% off on hotel bookings, with a special flash sale of up to 70% on 19 May and exclusive deals on flights and activities. Agoda VIP members will receive early access to deals from 3 May to 6 May. Discover more on Agoda’s mobile app or at Agoda.com

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SOURCE Agoda

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Altimetrik Launches Industrial AI Service Line with Three New Solutions for Autonomous Manufacturing

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Smart Machines, Smart Plants, and Smart Operations help manufacturers move from isolated AI pilots to production-scale industrial intelligence

BENGALURU, India, July 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Altimetrik, an AI-native engineering company, has introduced an industrial AI service line with three solutions designed to help manufacturers and other enterprises integrate AI directly into machines, factory floors, and supply chain operations. 

The three solutions — Smart Machines, Smart Plants, and Smart Operations can operate independently or as part of an integrated system. They enable organizations in the semiconductor, automotive, aerospace, defense, industrial machinery OEM, and pharmaceutical industries, among others, to start with a single machine or use case and expand toward plantwide and enterprise-wide autonomous operations. 

“The measure of industrial AI is simple: how much waste does it remove from the line. Less downtime, less scrap, less capital tied up in inventory,” said Raj Sundaresan, CEO of Altimetrik. “This service line takes the engineering discipline of ALTi AIOS™ to the factory floor, and our work with LMW shows what that looks like: AI embedded in the machines themselves, improving accuracy and uptime.”

The industrial AI service line leads with business outcomes and is delivered through three integrated motions: executive advisory, pilot to platform, and strategic transformation. The Smart Machines, Smart Plants, and Smart Operations solutions are designed for OEMs looking to embed AI into their core products, manufacturers optimizing production across machines and lines, and service providers improving performance and reliability for the assets they operate.

That starts with Smart Machines, which transforms equipment into self-aware, adaptive systems through edge-native intelligence. By combining machine connectivity, digital twins, closed-loop optimization, and predictive maintenance, Smart Machines identifies and corrects issues before they disrupt production, reducing downtime and improving equipment performance.

Smart Plants extends those capabilities to the factory floor as a copilot. Through plantwide data integration, OEE and throughput intelligence, and quality prediction systems, Smart Plants enables perception-decision-action autonomy across production lines. The result is zero-touch operations that improve yield and compress cycle times as labor and quality costs decline.

Smart Operations carries AI throughout the broader manufacturing value chain. By applying service and supply chain analytics, Smart Operations strengthens operational resilience and reduces working capital requirements while opening new revenue streams.

“Customers seek AI services firms who tie machine intelligence to plant-wide and enterprise-wide outcomes,” said R “Ray” Wang, the Founder, Chairman and Principal Analyst of Silicon Valley based Constellation Research Inc. “This is the type of pragmatic approach manufacturers need to get past pilots and deliver real results, rather than treating AI as a standalone capability.”

Industrial AI goes beyond analytics, reporting, and automation tools. It perceives, decides, and acts in the physical world, processing machine telemetry and sensor data in real time to make decisions at the edge in milliseconds. Lakshmi Machine Works (LMW) Limited, one of India’s leading engineering conglomerates and a global player in textile machinery and machine tools, recently engaged Altimetrik to embed AI and ML capabilities across its textile and machine tool business.

“In our ongoing engagement with Altimetrik, we remain fully assured of their proven AI-powered automation capabilities to drive tangible value across our global operations through improved machine accuracy and uptime,” said Sanjay Jayavarthanavelu, Chairman and Managing Director at LMW Limited. “This we believe will reduce shop-floor skill dependency thereby accelerating our service responsiveness. We look forward to deepening this partnership as we continue to embed such intelligence across our product portfolio.”

Altimetrik’s industrial AI solutions build on existing physical and operational technology infrastructure rather than requiring manufacturers to replace hardware, sensors, or edge devices. Every engagement operates under the company’s human-at-the-helm philosophy, ensuring operators retain oversight and control as AI assumes greater responsibility within production environments.

Learn more about how Altimetrik helps manufacturers and enterprises scale AI from pilot to production.

About Altimetrik

Altimetrik is an AI-native engineering company helping some of the most revered and iconic enterprises modernize systems, data, and processes at the heart of their business, so they can move faster, operate more efficiently, and innovate continuously. Through ALTi AIOS™, its AI-native operating system, Altimetrik combines the latest AI capabilities with deep engineering expertise to help clients solve complex challenges, accelerate modernization, and deliver measurable outcomes at scale.

Altimetrik’s clients get access to the latest AI innovations while maintaining the flexibility to choose the right technologies for their business, through trusted relationships with OpenAI, Google Gemini, Anthropic, Databricks, and major hyperscalers.

A member of the World Economic Forum’s Centre for AI Excellence, the Forum’s global hub for shaping responsible AI, Altimetrik is also recognized in the 2025 Constellation Research ShortList™ for Global AI Services and named a Major Contender in multiple Everest Group PEAK Matrix® assessments, including Software Product Engineering Services (2026), Enterprise Quality Engineering Services (2025), and Digital Engineering Services for BFSI and Life Sciences. Learn more at altimetrik.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/altimetrik-launches-industrial-ai-service-line-with-three-new-solutions-for-autonomous-manufacturing-302836093.html

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Hexagon Composites ASA: Hexagon Agility signs exclusive long-term agreement with Iveco Bus

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OSLO, Norway, July 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hexagon Agility, a business of Hexagon Composites and the world’s leading provider of compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel systems, has signed an exclusive long-term agreement with IVECO BUS, a global leader in commercial vehicles, for the delivery of CNG fuel systems for transit buses globally.

The three-year agreement covers the exclusive supply of Hexagon Agility’s fuel systems and Type 4 carbon fiber cylinders across IVECO’s CNG bus range. 

For 2026, annual revenues from deliveries to IVECO BUS, including deliveries under this agreement, are estimated to be EUR 20 million (approx. NOK 200 million).

IVECO is the European leader in natural gas commercial vehicles, with a leading position in sustainable public transport and a worldwide presence across Latin America, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.

“Our two-decade long collaboration with IVECO, rooted in Europe and expanding globally, continues to enable CNG and biomethane fueled buses to reduce emissions and operator costs for transit fleets,” said Eric Bippus, Chief Commercial Officer, Hexagon Agility.

“Building on more than 10,000 buses delivered together, this new and extended agreement reinforces our role in supporting the continued improvement of global public transport systems.”

About the market

Buses remain the backbone of public transport worldwide, accounting for approximately 48% of public transport journeys, according to the International Association of Public Transport (UITP).

Across global markets, decarbonization pathways are increasingly application- and region-specific, with fleets and authorities adopting electric, CNG, hybrid, or combination solutions, depending on the energy available to them, and their fleets performance needs.

CNG and biomethane (its drop-in renewable form) are proven, scalable solutions for public transport, delivering immediate emissions reductions and lower operating costs. In Europe, CNG and biomethane buses represented 7% of city bus registrations in 2025, rising to more than 20% in France, Greece, and Italy (T&E).

Timing
The fuel systems will be produced at Hexagon Agility’s facility in Kassel, Germany. First deliveries under this agreement will start in Q3 2026.

For more information
Emily Cherry, Communications Manager, Hexagon Composites
Telephone: +47 480 90 239 | emily.cherry@hexagongroup.com

Eirik Løhre, CFO, Hexagon Composites
Telephone: +1 704 777 5171 (US eastern time zone) | eirik.lohre@hexagongroup.com 

About Hexagon Agility
Hexagon Agility, a business of Hexagon Composites, is a leading global provider of clean fuel solutions for commercial vehicles and bulk gas transportation. Its product offerings include (renewable) natural gas bulk distribution systems of compressed gases, lightweight Type 4 composite natural gas cylinders, and (renewable) natural gas fuel systems. These products transport clean gaseous fuels and enable vehicles to reduce emissions while lowering operating costs. Learn more at hexagonagility.com and follow @HexagonAgility on LinkedIn.

About Hexagon Composites ASA
Hexagon delivers safe and innovative solutions for a cleaner energy future. Our solutions enable storage, transportation and conversion to clean energy in a wide range of mobility and industrial applications. Learn more at hexagongroup.com and follow @HexagonASA on LinkedIn.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hexagon-composites-asa-hexagon-agility-signs-exclusive-long-term-agreement-with-iveco-bus-302836106.html

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RewardPay Launches New Payments Platform and Subscription Plans to Help SMEs Earn More, Spend Less

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SYDNEY, July 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — RewardPay, Australia’s leading business payments and loyalty platform, today announced the launch of its next-generation customer portal and a new suite of subscription plans, giving Australian small and medium businesses more ways to earn rewards on everyday business spend — supplier payments, ATO obligations, rent, utilities, insurance and contractor invoices — while reducing payment costs. The launch builds on a decade-long push by RewardPay to converge business payments and loyalty into a single platform.

The launch addresses a divide that has persisted for years: card issuers often reduce or eliminate reward points on high-value but low-margin payment categories like tax, rent and utilities, while loyalty programs have remained largely disconnected from how businesses actually pay their bills. RewardPay is closing that gap, giving customers more control over how they earn and moving away from the fixed, single-program reward structures that have long been standard in business payments. The launch reflects RewardPay’s mission to delight its customers at every touchpoint, from how they pay to how they’re rewarded for it.

The new platform is the company’s most significant upgrade to date, rebuilt from the ground up on customer feedback to simplify payment workflows and improve transaction visibility.

The standout feature: through the new portal, customers can select multiple loyalty partners to earn from simultaneously, then stack points across them on a single transaction — for example, earning points from more than one partner program on the same payment, rather than being limited to a single program per transaction. Whether paying the ATO, suppliers, rent, utilities or contractors, a single $10,000 payment could now generate points across two or more partner programs at once, compared to a single earn rate under the previous platform. This ability to select and combine earn sources — rather than defaulting to a single program — reflects RewardPay’s focus on choice: businesses can choose the loyalty partners, transaction pricing and plan structure that best suits how they operate.

RewardPay CEO Mark Dawes said the new platform reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to helping Australian businesses unlock more value from their operational spend.

“Our customers expect technology that’s simple, fast and intuitive. As RewardPay has grown, it became clear it was time to reimagine the customer experience and build a platform that raises the standard for business payments and rewards,” Dawes said.

Alongside the portal, RewardPay has introduced new subscription plans tailored to SMEs, giving businesses the choice to select transaction pricing and rewards earning structures that best match their size, spend and priorities — rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

The subscription model is fast becoming the norm across Australian banking and fintech, with major banks and challenger brands increasingly moving toward tiered, paid plans that bundle deposit accounts, rewards and other benefits. RewardPay’s move mirrors that broader shift — bringing the same principles of tiered, subscription-based value to business payments and loyalty, a category that has been slower to make the change.

“Our new subscription offering has been designed to put more choice back into the hands of business owners,” Dawes said. “Customers can now choose the transaction costs and rewards earning rate that suits them, while accelerating the value they get from every payment. That combination of choice, lower costs and greater earning potential creates a compelling proposition for Australian businesses.”

The launch strengthens RewardPay’s position as a pioneer of Australia’s business payments and loyalty sector, continuing its mission to delight Australian businesses by turning everyday payments into meaningful rewards and better cashflow outcomes.

ABOUT REWARDPAY
RewardPay Pty Ltd is a leading business-to-business payments and loyalty company. RewardPay enables businesses to pay suppliers, the ATO, rent, utilities and other expenses while earning valuable rewards points. By combining payments technology, loyalty programs and cashflow solutions, RewardPay helps Australian businesses unlock greater value from everyday spend.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/rewardpay-launches-new-payments-platform-and-subscription-plans-to-help-smes-earn-more-spend-less-302836108.html

SOURCE RewardPay

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