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Global Searches for Premium Class Flights Double as Travellers Prioritise Comfort and Personalised Journeys

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Custom tour bookings surge 600% as demand grows for exclusive and tailored experiencesPlatinum Luxury Hotel bookings rise as travellers place greater value on wellness and privacy

SINGAPORE, Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Travel has become a top priority for many today, with 7 in 10 Millennials and Gen Zs saying that travel is a ‘non-negotiable’ expense, based on a 2026 AMEX Global Travel Trends Report. Not just that, people are increasingly splurging on trips, from live entertainment to personalised experiences. Research from the UK found that holidays, festivals, concerts and wellness top the 2026 wishlist as people swap big-ticket purchases for memorable experiences.

Trip.com’s latest data tells the same story: high-end travel is booming like never before. Global searches for first and business class flights on Trip.com jumped by 99% year-on-year (YoY) in the first half of 2026, while 5-star hotel searches grew by 57% YoY.

What this translates into is a growing demand for premium travel options that are highly customisable and once-in-a-lifetime moments that make a trip unforgettable.

Premium Travel Redefined: Personalised and Unforgettable Experiences

Holidays are no longer just about getting out of a country but a way to experience life differently. Travellers are increasingly looking for memorable experiences that are fully catered to their needs and preferences. Custom tours on Trip.com, where users are able to chat with a travel expert and book a tour fully tailored to their requests, have seen bookings surged by over 600% YoY globally. The largest demand is coming from Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Singapore, which is seeing some of the fastest growth in affluent travellers in the region[1].

Among Trip.com’s top two highest membership reward tiers, known as Black Diamond and Diamond+ members, custom tours are also one of the fastest-growing product lines, suggesting a shift in demand towards customised itineraries and bespoke experiences as travellers spend more on their trips[2]. Recognising this need, Trip.com offers Black Diamond members access to a dedicated 24/7 relations management team, allowing deeper personalisation and seamless service that caters to their preferences.

Beyond tailored experiences, live entertainment has emerged as a top reason for people to splurge on trips, as travellers seek unforgettable moments. 63% of Asia Pacific travellers have already crossed borders for concerts, and 66% are willing to go abroad for one, based on data from Trip.com Group. Identifying this demand, Trip.com Group has launched integrated offerings that combine concert tickets, accommodation, transportation and local attractions into one-stop packages, and this resulted in triple-digit growth in 2025. From front row seats to a sellout K-pop concert to the exclusive thrill of the F1 Paddock, live entertainment is fast becoming the motivating factor for travellers to book and spend more on their next trip.

Focus on Privacy and Wellness as Luxury Retreat Bookings Rise

For many high-end travellers, wellness and privacy are essential on any trip. Reports show that worldwide searches for “luxury” and “best spas” went up by 170%, reflecting an increased focus on wellness and relaxation as travellers seek premium experiences[3]. Luxury retreats, such as Aman Tokyo, known for its panoramic views and zen vibes, and Cheval Blanc Randheli Maldives, praised for its serene environment and private pools, are some of the top-ranked hotels featured on Trip.Best’s Top Luxury Hotels list, Trip.com’s collection of data-backed travel recommendations.

Meanwhile, global bookings for “Platinum Luxury Hotels” on Trip.com rose in the first half of this year, with interest concentrating on hotels in Mainland China and Southeast Asia, and reflecting a growing preference for high-quality stays in this region. For instance, bookings for Platinum Luxury Hotels in the Minamitsuru District in Japan, an area known for iconic Mount Fuji views and serene lakeside resorts, saw a three-digit YoY jump[4].

In particular, Mainland China has emerged as a popular destination for premium stays at comparatively lower prices. Novotel Shanghai Clover in Shanghai, one of the most popular 5-star properties in China booked by international travellers in the second half of this year, costs about USD 126 per night, making Mainland China a go-to destination for many holidaymakers seeking high-end experiences but at more affordable prices. Travellers from Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong have picked up on this trend, forming the largest overseas source markets for quality stays in China[5].

Premium Travellers are Going Further and for Longer

Most premium travellers are not constrained by seasonality nor budget, making them frequent travellers whether for work or for leisure. Black Diamond members make almost twenty times the number of bookings compared to the average member, suggesting that many high-end travellers are frequent travellers all year round[6].

Premium travellers are not just frequent travellers, they are also choosing longer-distance destinations and extending their stays. International travellers flying first or business class are expected to spend at least 14 days overseas each trip, close to 40% more than the average traveller. This stretches to as long as 20 days when it comes to European premium travellers, based on Trip.com data.

In addition, more than 4 in 10 of first and business class flights booked globally in the second half of this year are long-haul flights, indicating a strong preference for long-distance destinations when it comes to high-end travellers. Japan is a destination that premium travellers frequent, with four out of the top 10 most-booked 5-star hotels globally located there, while the Tokyo to Sapporo flight route is also the top-selling first class flight route[7]. Similarly, booking patterns among Black Diamond and Diamond+ members reflect a preference for long-haul destinations, and in particular, Western countries such as Australia, the UK, and the US. Japan stands out as a high-frequency repeat destination as well[8].

Millennials and Gen X Lead Demand for High-End Experiences

Premium travellers today comprise largely of the Millennials and Gen X, signalling a higher-placed value on elevated, comfortable and bespoke travel experiences among these age groups. Close to 1 in 2 international travellers who booked 5-star hotels in the second half of this year are aged 35-49 years old, who also form the largest majority of first and business class flight bookings, based on Trip.com data[9]. A similar trend is observed across various regions, and also among the higher tiers of Trip members, suggesting that Millennials and Gen X worldwide are eager to spend on quality experiences when they travel.

In recent years, demand for senior travel has also grown. With spending power three times that of younger travellers, many affluent and active seniors are increasingly looking to explore and spend on quality travel. Gross hotel bookings for Old Friends Club, an initiative launched by Trip.com Group to cater exclusive products for users aged 50 and above, increased by over 100% YoY in the first quarter of this year, reflecting rising demand for more personalised and experience-oriented travel offerings among seniors.

AI features on Trip.com, such as Trip.Planner, also allow users to cater their itineraries and recommendations based on their preferences and travel group types across age, lifestyles and comfort level.

Luxury travellers today are not merely seeking opulence, but a one-of-a-kind experience that goes beyond everyday moments. From impactful experiences like attending a live concert to quiet exclusivity, the premium travel experience is one that is seamless, end-to-end and ultra-personalised.

About Trip.com Group

Trip.com Group is a global travel service provider comprising Trip.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner, and Qunar. Across its platforms, Trip.com Group helps travellers around the world make informed and cost-effective bookings for travel products and services and enables partners to connect their offerings with users through the aggregation of travel-related content and resources, and an advanced transaction platform consisting of apps, websites and 24/7 customer service centres. Founded in 1999 and listed on NASDAQ in 2003 and HKEX in 2021, Trip.com Group is on the mission “to pursue the perfect trip for a better world”. Find out more about Trip.com Group here: group.trip.com.

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[1] Based on Trip.com data from 1 January to 30 June 2026

[2] Based on Trip.com Group data since September 2025

[3] Based on data from Trip.com Group’s “Why Travel?” Report

[4] Based on Trip.com data from 1 January to 30 June 2026

[5] Based on Trip.com data from 1 July to 31 December 2026

[6] Based on Trip.com Group data since September 2025

[7] Based on Trip.com data from 1 July to 31 December 2026

[8] Based on Trip.com Group data since September 2025

[9] Based on Trip.com data from 1 July to 31 December 2026

 

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Xpect Solutions Acquires Amivero, Expanding Technical Capabilities and Customer Depth across National Security

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Combination advances Xpect’s strategy to build a differentiated mid-market federal technology platform spanning AI, fraud operations, enterprise IT, cybersecurity, data and digital modernization

FAIRFAX, Va., Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Xpect Solutions (“Xpect”), a provider of enterprise IT, cybersecurity, digital modernization, and data and AI solutions to national security agencies, and a NewSpring Holdings platform company, today announced its acquisition of Amivero, a mission-driven technology solutions provider specializing in artificial intelligence, automation, fraud and intelligence operations, digital identity, data and analytics, and agile software development for Homeland Security agencies. At the center of the combination is a shared mission: protecting critical infrastructure, enabling secure information sharing and operationalizing AI for federal partners, while preserving the agility, customer intimacy and mission focus that define both organizations.

The acquisition represents an intentional step in Xpect’s strategy to build a solutions-oriented federal technology company serving national security missions across four key technical disciplines: enterprise IT, cybersecurity, digital modernization, and data and AI. Amivero accelerates that strategy by adding complementary capabilities and customer relationships. Its expertise in AI and automation, fraud operations, digital identity and software development complements Xpect’s strengths in network modernization, zero trust, cyber operations, physical security, cloud, DevSecOps and mission-focused data solutions. Together, the organizations will accelerate R&D and investment in repeatable, productized solutions that help federal partners modernize and scale mission-critical systems and move AI from experimentation to operational capability.

The organizations also share a strong cultural foundation and commitment to investing in their people. Amivero’s emphasis on transparency, purpose and human-centered, data-driven delivery closely aligns with Xpect’s focus on mission impact, ownership and accountability. Through its Integrated Talent Management (ITM) program, Xpect invests in career development, leadership, mentorship and internal mobility, complementing Amivero’s own commitment to helping employees learn, grow and advance.

“Xpect’s strategy has always been about building the capabilities our customers need to solve their most important mission challenges,” said Yusuf Abdul-Salaam, CEO of Xpect Solutions. “Amivero’s technical strengths and customer relationships complement ours, but what makes this combination especially compelling is our shared commitment to mission, people and culture. Together, with over 450 team members, we have greater technical depth and scale to take on larger more complex mission challenges and accelerate the development of innovative solutions. Just as importantly, we’re doing it while preserving the agility, accountability and customer intimacy that define both organizations.”

“I feel a deep responsibility to the people who have built Amivero and to the customers who trust us with missions that matter,” said Olivia Trivisani Bowker, Founder and CEO of Amivero. “That responsibility guided every part of this decision. In Xpect, we found a partner that respects what we have built, shares our commitment to people and mission, and brings complementary strengths that will help us do even more. Many of Amivero’s leaders, including me, will continue serving in leadership roles across the combined company, helping shape its future and carry forward the culture, mission understanding and customer commitment that our employees and customers value. Together, we can create new opportunities for our employees and bring greater depth, scale and innovation to our customers while continuing to serve them with the care and accountability they deserve from our team.”

Together, Xpect and Amivero are creating a new kind of federal technology partner, combining the scale and technical depth to take on increasingly complex mission challenges with the agility, customer intimacy and accountability of a mission-focused organization.

Piper Sandler & Co. served as financial advisor to Amivero in connection with the transaction. RSM, Aprio, Blank Rome, Baker Tilly, Morrison Foerster and Alera Group served as advisors to Xpect in connection with the transaction.

About Xpect Solutions

Xpect Solutions delivers integrated technical solutions that empower Federal Law Enforcement and National Security agencies to modernize legacy systems and enhance mission performance. Core capabilities span Enterprise IT, Digital Transformation, Cybersecurity, and Data, Analysis, and secure AI solutions—an integrated mix that helps agencies achieve efficiencies of scale and solve complex problems. With deep mission understanding and full-cycle expertise, Xpect designs, engineers, and deploys secure, reliable solutions that protect critical information, ensure compliance with federal standards, and enable technology-driven success. Learn More >> https://www.xpectsolutions.com/

About Amivero

Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Amivero delivers innovative technology solutions for national security missions. Through capabilities spanning artificial intelligence, data science and analytics, digital identity, agile software engineering and platform services, and fraud and intelligence operations, Amivero helps federal agencies optimize data, automate workflows, mitigate fraud and deploy technology that strengthens national security and public trust.

Amivero’s human-centered, data-driven approach combines technology with a deep understanding of users and mission environments to create intuitive, secure and scalable solutions.

For more information, visit amivero.com.

About NewSpring Holdings

NewSpring Holdings, NewSpring’s majority investment strategy focused on sector-specific platform builds, brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and resources to take profitable, growing companies to the next level through acquisitions and proven organic methodologies. Founded in 1999, NewSpring partners with the innovators, makers, and operators of high-performing companies in dynamic industries to catalyze new growth and seize compelling opportunities. The Firm manages over $3.5 billion across five distinct strategies covering the spectrum from growth equity and control buyouts to mezzanine debt. Partnering with management teams to help develop their businesses into market leaders, NewSpring identifies opportunities and builds relationships using its network of industry leaders and influencers across a wide array of operational areas and industries. Visit NewSpring at www.newspringcapital.com.

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GitKraken Names Jim Shaw CEO as Software Teams Move From AI Adoption to Multi-Agent Orchestration

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Shaw joins GitKraken as the company builds momentum for the next challenge in AI-powered development: helping developers direct multiple agents and helping engineering leaders understand the value AI is delivering

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — GitKraken today announced that Jim Shaw will become Chief Executive Officer. Shaw succeeds Matt Johnston, who has led the company for the past five years through dramatic growth and scale.

Shaw joins GitKraken as the software industry moves into the next phase of AI adoption. Developers are no longer experimenting with a single AI assistant or copilot. Their work now spans across many agents, models and repositories, often in parallel. The challenge has shifted from generating code faster to managing all of that work without losing context, quality or control.

GitKraken has spent the past year expanding from the Git GUI company millions of developers know into the Code Flow company, focused on the work that happens between an idea and production.

That strategy has taken shape in the past six months in the form of two new products. GitKraken Insights is the AI-first software engineering intelligence platform built for engineering leaders to prove and improve the value AI is delivering to their teams and their business. Kepler, GitKraken’s agentic development environment, gives developers one visual workspace to run and monitor multiple coding agents in parallel across repositories, regardless of which agent or model they choose.

These solutions reflect a simple belief: developers should be free to use the AI tools that work best for them, while organizations should be able to see clearly whether those tools are making software delivery better.
That point of view is also what makes Shaw a natural fit for GitKraken.

Shaw spent 15 years at Acquia in roles spanning international expansion, customers, product and technology, ultimately leading its product and technology organization. Earlier in his career, he worked on a Lean manufacturing transformation at Rover Group, later owned by BMW, where he saw product flow and quality problems play out on the production lines building Range Rover and Mini. He has carried that systems view from physical products into software.

“AI has already changed how software gets written. The question now is what we do with all that new capacity,” said Shaw. “Developers need the freedom to choose which agents and models that work best for them without creating more complexity around the work. Engineering leaders need to know whether their AI investments are actually improving what gets delivered. GitKraken is in a unique position to solve both sides of that problem.”

Shaw has written about the risk of mistaking more code for more value. His view is that engineering organizations need to look beyond output and understand what AI is doing to quality, reliability, predictability and the value ultimately delivered to customers.

That thinking closely matches the direction GitKraken has already taken.

“Jim understands where software development is going because he has spent his career thinking about systems, products and how work moves through them,” said Fred Sturgis, Managing Director of Resurgens. “GitKraken has built an extraordinary relationship with developers with nearly 10 millions monthly active users. Jim is the right leader to build on that foundation as developers take on a new role directing multiple agents, in addition to writing code themselves.”

GitKraken has now served more than 50 million developers across its portfolio of tools. As those tools evolve, one thing will not: GitKraken’s commitment to the people who build software.

About GitKraken
GitKraken is the Code Flow company. As AI transforms how software is created, GitKraken helps developers, teams, and organizations manage the flow of work between ideas and production. Trusted by millions of developers worldwide, GitKraken builds tools that improve coordination between developers, AI agents, repositories, and delivery systems—helping organizations turn software velocity into meaningful outcomes.

Contact:
Kate Adams
***@gitkraken.com

Photo(s):
https://www.prlog.org/13168321

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Cox Automotive Partners with Nova Credit to Embed Cash Flow Intelligence into Dealertrack

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Preferred partner integration advances cash flow intelligence into auto lending, starting with native embed of Income Navigator into Dealertrack, giving auto lenders near real-time cash flow intelligence to speed up time to funding, reduce manual workflows, reduce fraud risk, and responsibly boost approvals.

ATLANTA and NEW YORK, Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cox Automotive and Nova Credit, a leading credit infrastructure and analytics company, today announced a partnership to advance cash flow intelligence in auto lending, starting with the native integration of Nova Credit’s Income Navigator™ into Dealertrack, the auto industry’s leading credit application and digital contracting network. The integration enables auto lenders to return more personalized offers and automate income verification at the point of sale.

The current state of the U.S. auto market is highly competitive. New-vehicle sales are on pace to finish 2026 near 15.7 million, down from the first half of last year (Cox Automotive Mid-Year Review, June 2026), leaving lenders and dealers competing harder than ever for a shrinking pool of qualified buyers. 

Cox Automotive has named Nova Credit its preferred partner for embedded cash flow intelligence. Cash flow intelligence is the practice of turning bank transaction data into continuous, timely insight about a consumer’s financial health, and applying that insight across the entire credit lifecycle.

Nova Credit’s Income Navigator leverages bank, payroll, and document data to verify income and clear income stipulations directly within Dealertrack, replacing manual pay-stub collection, and resulting in reduced manual reviews and faster time to decision.

Key benefits of Income Navigator in auto finance include:

Faster funding that wins deals: Automated income verification clears stipulations at the point of sale, so deals move to funding faster instead of stalling on manual document collection.Fraud prevention at the source: Direct bank and payroll-sourced data replace easily altered PDF pay stubsAutomated manual work: Underwriting teams no longer comb through pay stubs to calculate net-to-gross income; Nova Credit automates the calculation and returns a single output.

“Bringing Nova Credit’s Cash Flow Intelligence into Dealertrack gives lenders and dealers a near-time, automated way to verify income and reduce fraud inside the workflows they already use,” said Andy Mayers, Lender Solutions Strategist at Cox Automotive. “This partnership offering is part of our broader strategy to drive efficiency and reduce risk for dealers and lenders. We see this Nova Credit integration as an important piece of the puzzle of moving to a fully automated origination process.”

“Buying a car is one of the most important credit decisions in a consumer’s life, and getting that right quickly requires a complete picture of their financial health,” said Chris Hansen, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Nova Credit. “With Cash Flow Intelligence embedded in Dealertrack, we’re helping lenders and dealers verify income in near real time and get to funding faster.”

Income Navigator is available for adoption in Dealertrack, with Westlake Financial among the first lenders to adopt.

“Our edge has always been better data, better technology, and more flexible risk models,” said Chris Urban, Executive Vice President of Risk and Underwriting at Westlake Financial. “We grow by approving good borrowers that others miss and understanding the true risk level across all aspects of an application. Income Navigator gives us another tool to help us verify the ability to pay and streamline our verification and funding process without slowing down the dealer or compromising our standards.”

Income Navigator supports the processing of millions of applications annually and is used by leading lenders and property managers to support income verification and reductions in manual review. Nova Credit operates as a Consumer Reporting Agency with nearly a decade of FCRA-compliance expertise, bringing proven policies, procedures, and adverse action support to every deployment.

Income Navigator is the first application to come out of the partnership. Building on it, Cox Automotive and Nova Credit are discussing extending cash flow intelligence further across the credit lifecycle, including a planned integration with Nova Credit’s cash flow underwriting solution, Cash Atlas®, which can help lenders price to each buyer’s true ability to pay and responsibly approve more near-prime, subprime, and thin-file applicants at the same level of risk. Nova Credit’s Cash Atlas® addresses decisioning. It analyzes bank transaction data to deliver FCRA-compliant cash flow attributes, including residual income, cash volatility, and account stability, giving lenders a near real-time view of each buyer’s financial health so they can price to each buyer’s true ability to pay rather than to the credit band. 

For more information, please visit www.novacredit.com and apply to attend the Cash Flow Intelligence Summit on September 10.

About Nova Credit
Nova Credit is the industry’s leading cash flow intelligence platform, enabling businesses to unlock the power of cash flow data in how they operate. The company leverages its industry-leading data infrastructure, intelligence layer, and FCRA-compliance to boost underwriting approvals, fight fraud, drive responsible growth, and more. Nova Credit supports over 7,000 businesses including organizations such as Westlake, HSBC, SoFi, Appfolio, and Yardi, with a growing suite of products. Learn more at www.novacredit.com.

About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive is the world’s largest automotive services and technology provider. Fueled by the largest breadth of first- and third-party data fed by 2.3 billion online interactions a year, Cox Automotive tailors leading solutions for car shoppers, auto manufacturers, dealers, lenders and fleets. The company has 29,000+ employees on four continents and a portfolio of industry-leading brands that include Autotrader®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, vAuto®, Dealertrack®, NextGear Capital™, CentralDispatch® and Cox Fleet®. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately owned, Atlanta-based company with $23 billion in annual revenue. Visit coxautoinc.com or connect via @CoxAutomotive on X, CoxAutoInc on Facebook or Cox-Automotive-Inc on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements and Relationship Disclosure
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the planned software integration between Dealertrack and Nova Credit, including anticipated launch timelines, product features, and operational benefits. These statements are based on current management expectations and are subject to risks, technical complexities, and market uncertainties that could cause actual results or deployment schedules to differ materially. 

Cox Automotive holds an indirect financial interest in Nova Credit through its investment fund, Socium Ventures. This announcement is intended solely for informational purposes and does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any security or investment product. All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners.

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