Editors Pick

Top Travel Tech Weekly News

OTA marketing spend creeps up despite talk of AI-driven efficiency
News / Finance
OTA marketing spend creeps up despite talk of AI-driven efficiency
By Linda Fox | June 3, 2026
Airbnb, Booking Holdings and Expedia Group upped sales and marketing investment in Q1 2026, with some sharing AI impact and others steering clear. Read More
Are hotel CEOs overestimating their AI edge?
News / Technology
Are hotel CEOs overestimating their AI edge?
By Matthew Parsons | June 2, 2026
Hotel brands are touting AI as a competitive advantage, but long-term differentiation may hinge on data, execution speed and control over distribution.   Read More
The Plaid moment hospitality can't afford to miss
Opinion / Technology
The Plaid moment hospitality can't afford to miss
By Ira Vouk - AI Hospitality Alliance | June 1, 2026
Ira Vouk, founder of AI Hospitality Alliance, argues that OpenAI’s Plaid integration offers a blueprint for AI-era direct hotel distribution and urges hospitality to move quickly to build shared... Read More
Hotels should think beyond their walls for a greater share of the guest's wallet
News / Technology
Hotels should think beyond their walls for a greater share of the guest's wallet
By Linda Fox | May 29, 2026
Hotel industry executives discussed the potential for properties to make more revenue by getting more involved in a guest's whole trip. Read More
Travel marketers prepare for the rise of AI agents
News / Technology
Travel marketers prepare for the rise of AI agents
By Morgan Hines | May 28, 2026
Executives from Expedia Group, OpenAI and The Trade Desk say travel marketers must adapt as AI agents become a bigger part of trip discovery and booking. Read More
Why hoteliers should not vibe code their own software
Opinion / Technology
Why hoteliers should not vibe code their own software
By Jordan Hollander - HotelTechReport | May 27, 2026
HotelTechReport.com co-founder Jordan Hollander argues that while AI coding tools can support hotel operations, building proprietary core systems is a distraction from revenue-driving... Read More
Spain’s Digital ID rollout goes live as hotels remain cautiously optimistic
News / Technology
Spain’s Digital ID rollout goes live as hotels remain cautiously optimistic
By Marisa Garcia | May 26, 2026
Spain’s Digital ID rollout is reshaping hotel check-in and guest registration as operators navigate fragmented systems and slow adoption.  Read More
3 key takeaways from Google I/O 2026
News / Technology
3 key takeaways from Google I/O 2026
By Matthew Parsons | May 21, 2026
New agentic AI features unveiled at Google I/O 2026 could reshape how travelers search, shop and book trips, increasing pressure on travel brands to become machine-readable and agent-accessible. Read More
Airbnb's updates build towards wider personalization and community ambitions
News / Online
Airbnb's updates build towards wider personalization and community ambitions
By Linda Fox | May 20, 2026
Airbnb's AI-driven app updates and additions to Services and Experiences point to its wider strategy. Read More
Expedia Group expands Meta partnership amid push to connect social, booking
News / Technology
Expedia Group expands Meta partnership amid push to connect social, booking
By Morgan Hines | May 19, 2026
 The expanded collaboration follows the recent news that Expedia is a partner with TikTok for its new in-app booking, a sign of the OTA's focus on growing its B2B distribution strategy. Read More
I almost deleted the email—the travel industry can't afford to
News / Technology
I almost deleted the email—the travel industry can't afford to
By Timothy O'Neil-Dunne - T2 Impact | May 19, 2026
Timothy O'Neil-Dunne, principal of tech consultancy T2Impact, explains what suppliers, OTAs and intermediaries need to know about OpenAI's April privacy update. Read More
European Commission proposes rail ticketing overhaul with new passenger protections
News / Distribution
European Commission proposes rail ticketing overhaul with new passenger protections
By Mark Frary | May 18, 2026
The proposed Passenger Package would open online rail ticketing services to other operators, strengthen protections for multi-operator journeys and establish new rules for ticketing agreements. Read More
Gharage Ventures on why it's a good time to launch a fund
Interview / Startups
Gharage Ventures on why it's a good time to launch a fund
By Linda Fox | May 15, 2026
Gharage Ventures founding partner Lennard Niemann and general partner Darren Soh discuss their thesis-driven approach and ideal investment. Read More
Reframing travel plumbing: NDC, MCP as tech stack allies
News / Technology
Reframing travel plumbing: NDC, MCP as tech stack allies
By Morgan Hines | May 14, 2026
MCP has the potential to bolster NDC’s impact, enhancing access to content and streamlining integration, according to industry stakeholders. Read More
Airline retailing realities in 2026
News / Technology
Airline retailing realities in 2026
By Linda Fox | May 13, 2026
Interaction between systems and seamless integration with passenger service systems are top challenges for airlines trying to become better retailers. Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026