MIAMI – Carnival Corporation & plc announced its membership in the American Gaming Association (AGA), becoming the first cruise operator to join the nation’s leading trade group, which represents the U.S. casino industry.

With this historic membership, Carnival Corporation further deepens its longstanding commitment to upholding the highest standards of compliance, including anti-money laundering initiatives and responsible gaming practices.

“Joining the American Gaming Association is an important step in advancing our industry leadership and ensuring we remain at the forefront of responsible gaming and regulatory best practices,” said Marty Goldman, Senior Vice President of Global Gaming at Carnival Corporation. “This partnership opens new avenues for collaboration and knowledge-sharing that will directly benefit our guests, team members and the broader Carnival Corporation organization.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome Carnival Corporation to the American Gaming Association. As a global leader in leisure travel and entertainment, they not only bring a unique perspective to our membership but also deepen our network through longstanding partnerships with several existing AGA members,” said Maureen Beddis, Senior Vice President of Membership and Events at the American Gaming Association. “Their commitment to delivering world-class gaming experiences at sea complements our efforts to promote innovation, collaboration, and responsible gaming across the industry. We look forward to working together to strengthen our collective impact.”

As a core operator member, Carnival Corporation will have the opportunity to collaborate with land-based and online casino operators and gaming suppliers across the U.S. to gain valuable knowledge and insights to support the company’s business objectives. As AGA members, Carnival Corporation leaders and team members will also have access to a wide range of benefits, including:

• Industry-Exclusive Data and Resources: Members-only webinars and research on regulatory trends, responsible gaming and more, helping them stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry
• Professional Development: Exclusive programming such as educational webinars, legislative updates and best practices around compliance and responsible gaming
• Networking and Collaboration: Opportunities to engage with leaders from commercial and tribal casinos, sports betting and iGaming companies, and gaming suppliers, expanding the company’s industry connections and influence
• Advocacy and Policy Support: AGA’s advocacy tools and legislative intelligence to help follow and shape industry policy

As part of the AGA, Carnival Corporation earns a seat at the table for national conversations, learning from and contributing to developments in gaming regulation, responsible gaming initiatives and policy advocacy. This partnership allows corporate leaders and team members to stay at the forefront of industry trends, access cutting-edge data and participate in events and committees that shape the future of gaming.

The article Carnival Corporation joins the American Gaming Association as the first cruise line member first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS – BCD Travel, one of the world’s leading corporate travel management companies, and Oversee, a travel technology company specializing in AI-powered spend optimization and agent operations, announced the expansion of their partnership. This move will scale Oversee’s agentic AI technology across BCD’s operational environment, following a successful multi-customer pilot focused on automating email-based service requests.

This partnership positions BCD as a future-ready TMC: blending technology and talent to transform service delivery, increase operational resilience and deliver a consistently high-quality experience for travelers and travel agents.

“At BCD, we’re continuously evolving to meet the needs of today’s business travelers,” said Yannis Karmis, Senior Vice President of Product Planning & Development at BCD. “Our partnership with Oversee aligns with our strategic focus on digital transformation, allowing us to automate intelligently while maintaining the personal service travelers expect.”

“We’re proud to partner with BCD to bring agentic AI into real-world operations,” said Aviel Siman-Tov, CEO and co-founder of Oversee. “Our agentic AI solution has been purpose-built to support the unique workflows of TMCs. Together with BCD, we’re proving how AI can enhance – not replace – the human side of travel management.”

Aviel Siman-Tov, CEO and co-founder, Oversee

Oversee’s agentic AI technology supports travel agents by automating repetitive tasks – such as booking requests, exchanges and shell PNR creation – enabling agents to focus on more complex service and support requests. Through this solution, BCD has improved agent workflows and increased SLA adherence across pilot markets.

The goal is not just speed, but quality, ensuring travelers receive fast, accurate responses 24/7, globally – without losing human touch.

In today’s rapidly evolving travel environment, BCD is taking bold steps to scale smartly – without compromising traveler care. By investing in AI-powered solutions, BCD is redefining the role of travel agents and building a service model designed for long-term agility and efficiency.

This partnership reflects a shared vision between BCD and Oversee: to build foundational AI capabilities that streamline global operations, empower travel agents, and elevate traveler satisfaction. As BCD continues to scale its service offering, this agentic AI platform will serve as a core enabler – delivering automation that’s fast, accurate, and globally scalable.

The article BCD Travel and Oversee partner to implement agentic AI for scalable, traveler-centric service first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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MADRID – In 2024, the cruise industry reached a record 34.6 million passengers worldwide, 9.3% more than the previous year, and by 2025 this figure is expected to increase to 37.7 million. Furthermore, by 2030, the global cruise market is expected to generate revenues of 18.35 billion dollars with a compound annual growth rate of 12.9%, according to the ‘State of the Cruise Industry 2025’ report published by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

Faced with this solid expansion of the cruise sector, the International Tourism Trade Fair is responding to this global tourism trend and is offering the strategic opportunity of connecting with a dynamic market with great potential at the fifth edition of FITUR Cruises from 21 to 25 January at IFEMA MADRID.

Organised in collaboration with online magazine Cruceroadicto.com, the event will debut a redesigned space in Hall 4 of the Trade Fair Centre that will combine the exhibition area, the central auditorium and the Cruise Market business area, which in 2026 is gathering together the largest number of cruise lines and auxiliary industry companies.

FITUR Cruises’ dual strategy: B2B and B2C approach for a personalised offer

Over the course of the trade visitor days -Wednesday 21, Thursday 22 and Friday 23 January – FITUR Cruises 2026 will connect the key players that drive the sector’s solid performance and will offer an interesting programme of conferences. This will contribute to boosting cruise sales, reinforcing their public image as a holiday option and promoting awareness among sales agents and travellers.

Cruise Market will be the heart of FITUR Cruises 2026, acting as a meeting, work and business point between cruise lines, destinations, ports and tour operators, as well as between these actors with the trade visitor and the end traveller. For its part, Cruise Campus will continue with its innovative system of 25-minute talks and  mini-courses focused on areas such as marketing for travel agents, who account for approximately 50% of the industry’s turnover, communication and the travel experience from all angles and with a more practical approach.

At the weekend, when FITUR opens its doors to the general public, the Cruises area will reinforce the loyalty of cruise passengers and organise awareness-raising activities on this type of tourism, bringing travellers closer to the diversity of the offer, which includes family cruises with attractions and a wide range of on-board leisure activities to ultra-luxury cruises with helicopters and submarines; premium and upper premium cruises offering fine dining; expedition lines; river cruises, or cruises specialising in a specific geographical area.

In addition, visitors can also take part in the fifth edition of the Cruise Scavenger Hunt, a big treasure hunt among the FITUR stands, as well as the popular Café & Cruises meeting where passengers can share their on-board experiences.

 Cruceroadicto Awards, the only awards voted by the Spanish-speaking travel community

On Thursday 22 January, FITUR Cruises will be hosting the IV Cruceroadicto Awards ceremony, the only ones voted 100% by the Spanish-speaking travel community and certified by the AENOR mark for their commitment to transparency and impartiality. During the event, the best ship, cruise line and port of 2025 as well as the different sub-categories will be revealed.

The article FITUR Cruises 2026 reaffirms its commitment to the booming cruise holiday industry first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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