Top Travel Tech Weekly News

Opinion / Distribution

The hotel industry's real TikTok GO problem has nothing to do with TikTok

By Boštjan Koželj | June 16, 2026

Boštjan Koželj argues that hotels risk missing the next wave of AI-driven distribution because many still lack the machine-readable infrastructure needed to compete in emerging channels. Read More

News / Startups

Top investors in travel tech 2026

By Linda Fox | June 15, 2026

PhocusWire has delved into who were the top investors in travel tech 2026 to uncover the startups getting funding and the sectors investors are passing on. Read More

News / Technology

Early AI lessons, experiments at Expedia Group

By Morgan Hines | June 11, 2026

Chief product officer Shilpa Ranganathan discussed Expedia Group’s AI innovation pace, early chatbot missteps and the organizational hurdles of scaling the technology. Read More

News / Technology

Hotels face speed problem as video platforms reshape the booking journey

By Matthew Parsons | June 10, 2026

Hospitality leaders say legacy operating models are ill-equipped for an era of AI-powered discovery and social commerce. Read More

News / Technology

Where hotel AI ambitions meet structural reality

By Morgan Hines | June 9, 2026

Executives from Choice, Minor and Ascott discuss AI implementation strategies and share how they are navigating existing tech stacks. Read More

Opinion / Technology

OTA moats against AI disruption may be shallower than they appear

By Christian Watts - Magpie | June 8, 2026

Christian Watts, founder and CEO of Magpie, argues that loyalty programs, unique inventory and bundling will offer less protection as travel discovery moves to AI platforms. Read More

News / Technology

Expedia Group chairman Barry Diller says AI won't replace humans

By Morgan Hines | June 5, 2026

Expedia Group is intent on pursuing AI opportunities, but the company’s chairman has expressed apprehension over the technology. Read More

News / Technology

Architecture, pace, culture: Navigating travel's AI transition

By Morgan Hines | June 4, 2026

Executives from Hilton, Air Canada, Marriott and Evolve share what they have learned revamping legacy technology. Read More

News / Finance

OTA marketing spend creeps up despite talk of AI-driven efficiency

By Linda Fox | June 3, 2026

Airbnb, Booking Holdings and Expedia Group upped sales and marketing investment in Q1 2026, with some sharing AI impact and others steering clear. Read More

News / Technology

Are hotel CEOs overestimating their AI edge?

By Matthew Parsons | June 2, 2026

Hotel brands are touting AI as a competitive advantage, but long-term differentiation may hinge on data, execution speed and control over distribution. Read More

Opinion / Technology

The Plaid moment hospitality can't afford to miss

By Ira Vouk - AI Hospitality Alliance | June 1, 2026

Ira Vouk, founder of AI Hospitality Alliance, argues that OpenAI’s Plaid integration offers a blueprint for AI-era direct hotel distribution and urges hospitality to move quickly to build shared... Read More

News / Technology

Hotels should think beyond their walls for a greater share of the guest's wallet

By Linda Fox | May 29, 2026

Hotel industry executives discussed the potential for properties to make more revenue by getting more involved in a guest's whole trip. Read More

News / Technology

Travel marketers prepare for the rise of AI agents

By Morgan Hines | May 28, 2026

Executives from Expedia Group, OpenAI and The Trade Desk say travel marketers must adapt as AI agents become a bigger part of trip discovery and booking. Read More

Opinion / Technology

Why hoteliers should not vibe code their own software

By Jordan Hollander - HotelTechReport | May 27, 2026

HotelTechReport.com co-founder Jordan Hollander argues that while AI coding tools can support hotel operations, building proprietary core systems is a distraction from revenue-driving... Read More