Editors Pick

Top Travel Tech Weekly News

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
On the path to purchase, younger travelers book sooner, brand loyalty shrinks long-term
News / Online
On the path to purchase, younger travelers book sooner, brand loyalty shrinks long-term
By Steven Lerner | October 21, 2019
Package trip businesses might want to reexamine marketing strategies for reaching different audiences. Read More
Southeast Asia, part 3: Homegrown travel brands know consumers best but struggle to educate market
News / Distribution
Southeast Asia, part 3: Homegrown travel brands know consumers best but struggle to educate market
By Jill Menze | October 21, 2019
For the third piece in our series on Southeast Asia, we look at the distribution landscape in the area and how both B2C and B2B local players are competing for their slice of the pie. Read More
Sounding Off: Reviews should be about quality, not quantity
Interview / Online
Sounding Off: Reviews should be about quality, not quantity
By PhocusWire | October 18, 2019
The narrative around reviews has completely changed. It's no longer about volume but relevancy - something that is much harder to do. Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2019 preview - Hospitality in a perfect storm
News / Distribution
The Phocuswright Conference 2019 preview - Hospitality in a perfect storm
By PhocusWire | October 18, 2019
Anyone - hotels, private accommodation, system providers - who thought the hospitality sector was immune from fundamental change should think again. Read More
Sabre buys airline retail platform Radixx for $110M
News / Distribution
Sabre buys airline retail platform Radixx for $110M
By Kevin May | October 16, 2019
The deal is being positioned as a mechanism to get more low-cost carriers into the Sabre fold, with Radixx's core platforms being a passenger service system and internet booking engine Read More
Accor and Expedia believe there's a path to save the hotel-OTA relationship
News / Online
Accor and Expedia believe there's a path to save the hotel-OTA relationship
By Marissa Trew - WebInTravel | October 16, 2019
The hotel-online travel agency relationship has always been a tricky one. The two are co-dependent and must care for each other, but not too much. Read More
tripadvisor lindsay nelson webintravel
News / Online
TripAdvisor ponders the platform’s future direction, monetization and competing with Google
By Mitra Sorrells | October 16, 2019
TripAdvisor's president of core experience took the stage at WebInTravel's conference in Singapore to discuss the brand's ideas for the years ahead. Read More
booking-integrates-flights
News / Distribution
Booking.com pilots integrated flight booking service with Etraveli
By Linda Fox | October 15, 2019
Booking.com has partnered with Etraveli to pilot an integrated flight booking service. Read More
travel-fraud-forter
News / Distribution
Airline fraud on the rise, finger pointed at loyalty programs and data breaches
By Linda Fox | October 15, 2019
Online fraud attacks on airlines are increasing with loyalty schemes often the target, according to a report from Forter. Read More
State of travel startups: Almost $20B raised in funding over ten years
News / Startups
State of travel startups: Almost $20B raised in funding over ten years
By Kevin May | October 15, 2019
Phocuswright's annual State of Startups Report, which has tracked the digital travel startup landscape since 2009, found a 55% increase year-over-year ($5.7 billion) in the amount of money going into... Read More
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