Editors Pick

Top Travel Tech Weekly News

Blockchain cross border payments
News / Technology
Decoding blockchain, part 4: Cross-border payments
By Mitra Sorrells | February 26, 2018
Most of the headlines about blockchain have been about the implications of this emerging technology on the financial sector – the potential for it to change banking, share trading, insurance, payments... Read More
Interview: Airbnb CEO says it's now "100%" battling online travel agencies
News / Online
Interview: Airbnb CEO says it's now "100%" battling online travel agencies
By Jill Menze | February 23, 2018
Airbnb views itself going all-in with a plan to compete with the giants of the accommodation world - online travel agencies. Read More
QOTW: Something about binding travel together
News / Technology
QOTW: Something about binding travel together
By PhocusWire | February 23, 2018
Quote from Niklas Andreen, senior vice president and managing director of hospitality and digital at Travelport. Read More
Advantage report TMCs and technology
News / Technology
Travel management cos must embrace high-tech while maintaining high-touch services
By Mitra Sorrells | February 22, 2018
The role of travel management companies is evolving, driven by the rise of new technology and the changing demands of business travelers.   Read More
TUI Group blockchain development 2
News / Technology
Q&A: Trust, truth and transparency at the heart of TUI Group’s blockchain work
By Mitra Sorrells | February 21, 2018
TUI Group was one of the first travel brands to make headlines for its adoption of blockchain.   Read More
Decoding blockchain, part 3: Flight data management
News / Technology
Decoding blockchain, part 3: Flight data management
By Mitra Sorrells | February 19, 2018
Data sharing is a complicated - and sometimes disjointed - process in the air transport industry. The creation and storage of information for each flight is handled by multiple entities, at minimum the... Read More
Top reasons why startups end up in the deadpool
News / Startups
Top reasons why startups end up in the deadpool
By Kevin May | February 16, 2018
The travel industry is littered with the remains of startups that came and went quicker than you can say "great, but please tell us how you're going to make money". Read More
TripAdvisor 2018 strategy hotels attractions mobile
News / Online
TripAdvisor bets on TV advertising, improved UX to restore profit in hotel segment
By Mitra Sorrells | February 15, 2018
TripAdvisor will expand its television advertising spending to $100 to $130 million for its hotel segment during 2018, with new creative and new markets, while simultaneously reducing online marketing... Read More
OTA Insight on Google and Airbnb
News / Distribution
Google, Airbnb and the evolving distribution landscape
By Mitra Sorrells | February 15, 2018
Airbnb and Google made notable announcements in the first week of February – the former opening its platform to hotel distribution and the latter rolling out updates to expand and simplify travel... Read More
sawydays necessary evil
News / Online
Why small property owners see OTAs as a "necessary evil"
By Jill Menze | February 15, 2018
The codependent nature of small property owners and their booking partners has its upsides, but primarily, it’s viewed by the underdogs as a “necessary evil.” Read More
Duetto raises massive $80 million to push hotel tech platform
News / Technology
Duetto raises massive $80 million to push hotel tech platform
By Kevin May | February 14, 2018
Duetto can boast $143.2 million in funding rounds to date after landing a huge Series D investment of $80 million this week. Read More
Q&A: How blockchain is helping Webjet improve efficiency, cut costs for hotel bookings
News / Technology
Q&A: How blockchain is helping Webjet improve efficiency, cut costs for hotel bookings
By Mitra Sorrells | February 14, 2018
When Microsoft announced in November 2016 that it was working with Australia-based online travel agency Webjet to build a blockchain proof-of-concept solution, the term “blockchain” was still relatively... Read More
Travel buyers show modest support for NDC (but many still have no idea)
News / Distribution
Travel buyers show modest support for NDC (but many still have no idea)
By Kevin May | February 14, 2018
A year ago, just 11% of travel buyers in a survey said they believe IATA's New Distribution Capability is "a good thing" for the industry. Read More
Battling external forces: How a startup competes in the tours market
News / Online
Battling external forces: How a startup competes in the tours market
By Jill Menze | February 14, 2018
The travel industry has yet to see a clear frontrunner emerge in the tours and attractions space. Be it for lack of the right idea or the right distribution model - or, most likely, both - no major or... Read More
Hotels admit steep reliance on online travel agencies
News / Distribution
Hotels admit steep reliance on online travel agencies
By Kevin May | February 13, 2018
Hotels have a high dependency on online travel agencies to distribute their inventory, with almost every other channel deemed to be low on same scale. Read More
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