Top Travel Tech Weekly News

News / Distribution

TUI continues cost-saving program, looks to summer recovery

By Linda Fox | February 9, 2021

The tour operation giant confirmed its third financial package of €1.8 billion, which will help the business bridge liquidity to the summer months. Read More

News / Startups

Certares leads $42M Series C for cabin-rental platform Getaway

By Mitra Sorrells | February 8, 2021

Getaway says it had 150% year-over-year growth in 2020 and plans to rapidly expand. Read More

News / Technology

Airbnb creates tool for hosts to confirm guests’ COVID status

By Kevin May | February 5, 2021

The Health Safety Assertion tool allows hosts to request guests declare their status in relation to COVID-19 symptoms. Guests will also be asked to disclose if they have recently been exposed to... Read More

News / Distribution

Fully refundable vacation rentals get 4.2X more bookings, higher revenue

By Mitra Sorrells | February 5, 2021

Data from Your.rentals shows January bookings were 92% of pre-COVID levels for properties with fully refundable cancellation policies, but only 23% of the norm for those with partial or non-refundable... Read More

News / Technology

Accor begins digital key rollout, plans 500 hotels in 2021

February 4, 2021

The hotel giant is planning for the digital key solution to be in 50% of its properties within five years. Read More

Interview / Technology

In The Big Chair - Anand Krishnan of IBS Software

By Jill Menze | February 4, 2021

In 2018, Anand Krishnan was brought on as CEO of IBS Software, a leading SaaS solutions provider managing mission-critical operations for airlines, airports, hotels and cruise companies. Read More

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