Editors Pick

Top Travel Tech Weekly News

The role of DMOs in helping their partners effectively use AI
News / Technology
The role of DMOs in helping their partners effectively use AI
By Morgan Hines | August 16, 2024
As travelers begin to use AI search engines and agents for trip planning, should DMOs play a role in helping their suppliers understand how to use the technology to drive revenue?   Read More
Short-term rentals feeling pinch of overtourism backlash
News / Online
Short-term rentals feeling pinch of overtourism backlash
By D.J. Catron | August 15, 2024
While strict new regulations in New York, Barcelona and others pose threats, the STR industry sees hope in more balanced approaches in Valencia and the European Union.   Read More
Keeping the "Human in the Loop" in travel
Opinion / Online
Keeping the "Human in the Loop" in travel
By Klaus Kohlmayr - IDeaS | August 14, 2024
Chief evangelist and development officer at IDeaS, Klaus Kohlmayr, shares his thoughts on AI and its impact on humans. Read More
Priorities, challenges and next steps for Lufthansa Innovation Hub
News / Technology
Priorities, challenges and next steps for Lufthansa Innovation Hub
By Linda Fox | August 13, 2024
Travel startups including Squake, Navit, Swifty and Uptrip have come out of the Lufthansa Innovation Hub. Now, at 10 years old, the corporate venture unit is looking at how it scales further, does more... Read More
Q&A: Travelport's Greg Webb talks future of NDC, IT outage, more
News / Online
Q&A: Travelport's Greg Webb talks future of NDC, IT outage, more
By Morgan Hines | August 12, 2024
At the Global Business Travel Association conference in Atlanta late last month, Greg Webb sat down with PhocusWire for a wide-ranging interview on the travel industry, Travelport and more. Read More
Expedia sees rise in Q2 earnings – but warns of “softening travel demand”
News / Online
Expedia sees rise in Q2 earnings – but warns of “softening travel demand”
By D.J. Catron | August 8, 2024
New CEO Ariane Gorin oversaw 6% increases year over year in gross bookings and revenue in Q2, but a slow July has the company expecting those numbers to fall between 3-5% for Q3. Read More
Will Airbnb’s eventual relaunch of Experiences be successful?
News / Online
Will Airbnb’s eventual relaunch of Experiences be successful?
By Morgan Hines | August 8, 2024
Industry experts’ opinions vary as to whether Airbnb can pull off a successful relaunch of its Experiences vertical. Read More
Seeking “deeper engagement,” Tripadvisor launches in-app hotel bookings
News / Online
Seeking “deeper engagement,” Tripadvisor launches in-app hotel bookings
By D.J. Catron | August 6, 2024
A partnership with Hopper’s HTS will power in-app booking for Tripadvisor, which also announced that revenues for the second quarter rose by 1% year over year.   Read More
How Google’s monopoly ruling impacts travel search and bookings
News / Online
How Google’s monopoly ruling impacts travel search and bookings
By D.J. Catron | August 5, 2024
Travel companies have been complaining for years about Google’s digital search and advertising dominance. The biggest online travel agencies spent a combined $16.8 billion on sales and marketing last... Read More
Is there untapped potential in hospitality subscriptions?
News / Online
Is there untapped potential in hospitality subscriptions?
By Morgan Hines | August 5, 2024
Travelers’ increased interaction with a brand could lead to high customer lifetime value - that’s where a hospitality subscription could provide real value as a stepping stone, experts say. Read More
Booking Holdings touts alternative accommodation growth, success on social media
News / Online
Booking Holdings touts alternative accommodation growth, success on social media
By Mitra Sorrells | August 1, 2024
Booking Holdings said its alternative accommodation business is growing faster than its overall business and now has 7.8 million listings globally, up about 11% year over year. Read More
How fintech companies are progressing in the travel space
News / Online
How fintech companies are progressing in the travel space
By Linda Fox | August 1, 2024
Whether they believe they can remove friction and/or offer something better than existing travel companies, payment specialists and financial institutions are looking to increase their stake in the... Read More
Spanish regulators fine Booking.com €413M
News / Online
Spanish regulators fine Booking.com €413M
By Mitra Sorrells and Derek Catron | July 30, 2024
Spanish authorities said Booking.com has violated competition laws by having an "unfair imbalance" in its relationship with hotels in the country and it has prevented other OTAs from "entering the... Read More
SparkToro's Rand Fishkin on Google, zero-click content and why loyalty is the key to travel marketing
News / Online
SparkToro's Rand Fishkin on Google, zero-click content and why loyalty is the key to travel marketing
By Mitra Sorrells | July 30, 2024
Spurred by SparkToro's recent analysis of search behavior on Google in both the United States and Europe, PhocusWire talked to Fishkin about digital marketing trends and his advice for the travel... Read More
Travel investors on the next innovation wave
News / Startups
Travel investors on the next innovation wave
By Linda Fox | July 29, 2024
Travel investors from Lakestar, Roch Ventures and Eight Roads discuss the latest trends in travel startup funding at Phocuswright Europe 2024. Read More
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