global-startup-pitch-2026-winners
News / Startups
Meet the winners of the 2026 Global Startup Pitch
By PhocusWire June 17, 2026
The eight travel tech startups will travel to WiT Singapore this fall, where they will compete for audience-voted People's Choice honors and a chance to present at The Phocuswright Conference in November. Read More
Bonafide, Visiting Media team up to improve hotel AI visibility
News / Technology
Bonafide, Visiting Media team up to improve hotel AI visibility
By Cathy Walsh June 17, 2026
The companies said the partnership combines content management and AI optimization tools to help hotels improve how they are represented in generative AI platforms. Read More
News / Finance
Besty AI closes $3.75M seed round
By Cathy Walsh June 16, 2026
Besty AI is betting that automation can transform short-term rental operations, with plans to expand its platform and grow its enterprise customer base.... Read More
News / Online
Germany sets a travel spending record—sustaining it won’t be simple
By Phocuswright Research June 16, 2026
Phocuswright's Germany Travel Market Essentials 2026 examines the market's growth, structural vulnerabilities, future outlook and more.... Read More
News / Finance
Tripadvisor to sell TheFork to American Express for $700M
By Mitra Sorrells June 15, 2026
The deal would expand American Express' dining footprint in Europe while allowing Tripadvisor to focus more heavily on its experiences business.... Read More
Interview / Startups
Startup Stage: Loook wants to be the storytelling layer for in-destination discovery
By Cathy Walsh June 15, 2026
Loook is building a GPS-enabled storytelling platform that automatically delivers location-based stories to travelers as they move through destinations, helping tourism organizations extend engagement beyond traditional attractions.... Read More

In Phocus Podcast

Final episode of Season 6 - May 6, 2026

New season coming June 17! Listen to all episodes 

News / Startups
Top investors in travel tech 2026
PhocusWire has delved into who were the top investors in travel tech 2026 to uncover the startups... Read more
News / Technology
Early AI lessons, experiments at Expedia Group
Chief product officer Shilpa Ranganathan discussed Expedia Group’s AI innovation pace, early chatbot... Read more
News / Technology
Hotels face speed problem as video platforms reshape the booking journey
Hospitality leaders say legacy operating models are ill-equipped for an era of AI-powered discovery... Read more
News / Technology
Where hotel AI ambitions meet structural reality
Executives from Choice, Minor and Ascott discuss AI implementation strategies and share how they are... Read more
Opinion / Technology
OTA moats against AI disruption may be shallower than they appear
Christian Watts, founder and CEO of Magpie, argues that loyalty programs, unique inventory and... Read more
News / Technology
Expedia Group chairman Barry Diller says AI won't replace humans
Expedia Group is intent on pursuing AI opportunities, but the company’s chairman has expressed... Read more

From Our Partners

AI News in Travel
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Bonafide, Visiting Media team up to improve hotel AI visibility
The companies said the partnership combines content management and AI optimization tools to help... Read More
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Airlines can reduce fines, gate disruption and passenger friction by moving document verification... Read More
The new rules of travel discovery in the age of AI
During an interview at Phocuswright Europe, John Matson of Propellic and Carlo del Mistro of Stiplo... Read More
Besty AI closes $3.75M seed round
Besty AI is betting that automation can transform short-term rental operations, with plans to expand... Read More
Combining travel and tradition: Trip.Biz forging a new path for TMCsSponsored
Trip.Biz CEO Dr. Tao Song discusses how technology, AI and high-touch service are reshaping TMCs as... Read More
Germany sets a travel spending record—sustaining it won’t be simple
Phocuswright's Germany Travel Market Essentials 2026 examines the market's growth,... Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026

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