Top Travel Tech Weekly News

News / Online

Global air passenger traffic shows historic decline in 2020, future bookings down 70%

By Mitra Sorrells | February 4, 2021

IATA’s baseline forecast for 2021 predicts an improvement of 50.4% over 2020 demand. Read More

News / Technology

The challenges of digital health passports in getting corporate travelers back on the road

By Linda Fox | February 3, 2021

In a Q&A with PhocusWire, Brandon Balcom, director of innovation, business development, for CWT, discusses barriers to digital health passports. Read More

News / Distribution

Business travel expected to make full recovery by 2025

By Kevin May | February 2, 2021

According to GBTA, global business travel spending slumped by over a half to $694 billion during a coronavirus-hit 2020. Read More

News / Distribution

Hotel direct channels gained share of bookings in 2020

By Mitra Sorrells | February 2, 2021

A new report from SiteMinder details the top booking revenue sources in markets around the world. Read More

News / Online

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky: "It's going to be a year of focus"

By Jill Menze | February 1, 2021

Speaking during Bloomberg's The Year Ahead event, Brian Chesky discussed Airbnb's priorities, market volatility and the future of travel. Read More

Interview / Online

Sounding Off: The real key to getting bookings? Inspiring traveler confidence

By PhocusWire | January 29, 2021

The travel industry isn’t good at negative messaging, with one or two exceptions, but some say now is a good time to find some positives by exploiting a little of the negative. Read More

News / Online

Prince Harry-backed Travalyst coalition urges industry collaboration to “rebuild more responsibly”

By Mitra Sorrells | January 29, 2021

Former Skyscanner CEO Bryan Dove is now chairing the coalition, working alongside Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, who launched it in 2019 with Booking.com, Skyscanner, Trip.com Group, Tripadvisor and... Read More

News / Online

Tripadvisor creates virtual destination tour via Amazon Alexa

By Kevin May | January 29, 2021

The idea is that Alexa prompts users to choose their own tour, allowing them to visit over several minutes such attractions as nature spots, landmarks, cultural locations and restaurants. Read More

News / Online

How travel app usage paints another picture of travel's fate in 2020

By Linda Fox | January 28, 2021

Travel apps went quiet as the pandemic hit but there were some notable exceptions such as Airbnb and Vrbo. Read More

News / Technology

StayNTouch appoints industry veteran Tom Underwood as CEO

By Kevin May | January 28, 2021

StayNTouch had originally been sold to Chinese digital giant Shiji Information Technology in September 2018 for an undisclosed fee - but president Trump nixed the deal last year. Read More

News / Online

As short-term rental demand slumps, destination markets prove bright spot

By Jill Menze | January 28, 2021

While overall, short-term rental demand dropped by 15.3% in December 2020, demand trends vary considerably by location type. Read More

News / Online

How travel marketers adjust to the ups and downs of COVID-19

By Mitra Sorrells | January 27, 2021

As coronavirus rates and lockdown measures shift, travel advertising strategies have centered on careful messaging through digital platforms. Read More