Besty AI closes $3.75M seed round
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
germany market research 062026
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
News / Technology
Mayumi Nakamura Birt on reinvention, resilience and the art of the imperfect
By Yeoh Siew Hoon - WiT June 15, 2026
Veltra’s chief transformation officer explains how AI is challenging Japan’s culture of perfection—and why women may be uniquely suited to thrive in the AI era.... Read More
News / Technology
PhocusWire's travel tech news briefs: Travelport, Daytrip, Lighthouse and more...
By PhocusWire June 12, 2026
Keep up with all the latest people, partner and product news from around the global travel industry.... 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
More stories 
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 hotel industry's real TikTok GO problem has nothing to do with TikTok
Boštjan Koželj argues that hotels risk missing the next wave of AI-driven distribution because many... Read More
AI won't take your job. It will take away the grind.Sponsored
Hoteliers didn't hire their commercial teams to build reports. They hired them to make the call.... Read More
Startup Stage: Loook wants to be the storytelling layer for in-destination discovery
Loook is building a GPS-enabled storytelling platform that automatically delivers location-based... Read More
Mayumi Nakamura Birt on reinvention, resilience and the art of the imperfect
Veltra’s chief transformation officer explains how AI is challenging Japan’s culture of perfection—and... Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026

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