Editors Pick

Top Travel Tech Weekly News

southeast asia trends air fragmentation
News / Online
Southeast Asia a “melting pot of trends” in online travel
By Mitra Sorrells | October 30, 2019
Travel companies are expanding their offerings and forging partnerships to stay ahead in the fast-changing market of Southeast Asia. Read More
Booking.com app integrates ride-hailing services via Grab
News / Distribution
Booking.com app integrates ride-hailing services via Grab
By Marissa Trew - WiT | October 29, 2019
Booking.com and Grab are extending their partnership with the addition of Grab's ride-hailing service into the OTA's mobile app. Read More
vacasa series c 319 million
News / Online
Vacasa now a unicorn, lands largest vacation rental Series C at $319M
By Mitra Sorrells | October 29, 2019
Vacasa's latest investment is the largest such Series C round to date in the vacation rental management industry. Read More
Richard Branson celebrates the first Virgin Galactic trade on the New York Stock Exchange
News / Technology
One small step for space tourism - Virgin Galactic merges with Social Capital Hedosophia, goes public
By Steven Lerner | October 29, 2019
With the merger between Virgin Galactic and Social Capital Hedosophia, anyone can now invest in a human spaceflight company. Read More
airbnb-tiqets-investment-2
News / Online
Airbnb leads $60M investment in attraction bookings brand Tiqets
By Kevin May | October 29, 2019
Created in 2014, CEO and co-founder Luuc Elzinga has led the company through a number of investments, including a $23 million Series B almost 12 months ago to the day. Read More
Duffel online distribution platform
News / Distribution
Duffel raises additional $30M to launch new distribution platform
By Steven Lerner | October 28, 2019
Index Ventures led the round, with previous investors Benchmark and Blossom participating, resulting in a total of $56 million raised by the U.K.-based company. Read More
sounding off disruption
Interview / Technology
Sounding Off: In travel, better doesn't always equal disruptive
By PhocusWire | October 25, 2019
"Better" is different to what has come before. It builds on previous developments or goes in a different direction, but has it really turned things on their head, is it groundbreaking? Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2019 preview - Activities become just part of the bigger jigsaw
News / Online
The Phocuswright Conference 2019 preview - Activities become just part of the bigger jigsaw
By PhocusWire | October 25, 2019
Tours and activities operates from a position of acceptability from the wider industry - it is part of the mainstream and no longer the outlier. Read More
Booking Holdings invests in corporate travel tech provider Serko
News / Technology
Booking Holdings invests in corporate travel tech provider Serko
By Steven Lerner | October 25, 2019
Booking Holdings is investing NZ$17.5 million ($16.4 million) in New Zealand-based travel and expense technology company Serko. Read More
tripadvisor sponsored placements direct booking
News / Online
TripAdvisor helps hoteliers boost direct bookings through new Sponsored Placements feature
By Jill Menze | October 23, 2019
TripAdvisor is introducing a direct-booking feature to its Sponsored Placements product for accommodation providers designed to help them boost revenue. Read More
Q&A: Agoda CMO on how it tackles Southeast Asia
News / Online
Q&A: Agoda CMO on how it tackles Southeast Asia
By Jill Menze | October 23, 2019
Agoda chief marketing officer Ittai Chorev discusses how the platform tries to deliver on what customers want, how new features like Mix and Save have played out, its partnership with Grab and more. Read More
touring bird adds google
News / Online
Google to shut Touring Bird app, tours and activities added to core travel portfolio
By Jill Menze | October 22, 2019
Touring Bird has flown the coop from Google’s Area 120 internal incubator to the search giant’s core travel group, the company has announced. Read More
Booking.com pledges semi-neutral role in private accommodation distribution
News / Distribution
Booking.com pledges semi-neutral role in private accommodation distribution
By Kevin May | October 22, 2019
The online travel agency plans to create a service called "Partner Up" - a mechanism to allow private owners to connect with property management companies so that they can receive help with their... Read More
Bhanu Chopra_Harmeet Singh_RateGain_CEO
News / Technology
RateGain names Harmeet Singh as CEO, plots multiple acquisitions in platform ramp-up
By Kevin May | October 21, 2019
The arrival is being heralded as a significant appointment for the travel technology provider as it seeks to grow its presence in the U.S. and continue on its recent acquisition run. Read More
Agoda CEO on moving beyond accommodation and forging unorthodox partnerships
News / Online
Agoda CEO on moving beyond accommodation and forging unorthodox partnerships
By Corinne Wan - WebInTravel | October 21, 2019
The OTA says it is focusing on finding the “best inventory” for its customers, operating with the “best tech” and fending off the intense competition in Asia armed with the “best weapons." Read More
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