Ground Transportation

PhocusWire's in-depth coverage of the ground transportation sector, featuring news, analysis, interviews, research and more on car rental, ride-hailing, taxis and rail. 

Could high-end RV parks be the next hot category for lodging?
News / Online
Could high-end RV parks be the next hot category for lodging?
By Derek Catron | August 10, 2023
A Texas developer is investing $700 million – with more money in the pipeline – to create a new brand of amenity-rich RV parks suitable for year-round use. Read More
AI Insights: Generative AI for multimodal travel
News / Technology
AI Insights: Generative AI for multimodal travel
By PhocusWire | August 3, 2023
Omio’s chief technology officer Tomas Vocetka answers our questions about how the company is working with generative artificial intelligence technology. Read More
Uber sees first-ever quarterly profits while eyeing travel tours markets
News / Online
Uber sees first-ever quarterly profits while eyeing travel tours markets
By Derek Catron | August 1, 2023
Q2 earnings of $9.2 billion boosted the drive to profitability, and CEO Dara Khosrowshahi spoke about the value of machine learning and opportunities in the U.K. travel tour operating market.   Read More
Partnership creates tree-planting rail travel booking tool
News / Online
Partnership creates tree-planting rail travel booking tool
By Derek Catron | July 27, 2023
Ecosia, a search engine that dedicates its profits to green initiatives, is partnering with travel technology platform Omio to create a train travel booking product that will fund tree-planting and... Read More
How Chinese OTAs turned around 3 years of COVID isolation
News / Online
How Chinese OTAs turned around 3 years of COVID isolation
By Gary Bowerman - Phocuswright | July 24, 2023
Phocuswright analyst Gary Bowerman explores the strategies Chinese OTAs have taken to remain competitive over the last few years.   Read More
STARTUP STAGE: BookingData helps airlines tap into ancillary revenue
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: BookingData helps airlines tap into ancillary revenue
By Linda Fox | July 24, 2023
Airlines can capitalize on the travel patterns and profiles of passengers by using BookingData to offer travelers tailored offers directly from ancillary partners. Read More
Name-your-price rideshare company InDrive launches in U.S.
News / Online
Name-your-price rideshare company InDrive launches in U.S.
By Mitra Sorrells | July 20, 2023
InDrive operates in 48 countries and uses a bid-based business model: riders input pickup and drop-off locations and propose a fee and then drivers can either accept or counter-offer.   Read More
Want green travel? Add competition to high-speed rail lines
News / Online
Want green travel? Add competition to high-speed rail lines
By Derek Catron | July 20, 2023
A report from SilverRail shows a surge in rail use on high-speed routes where there is increased competition to hold down costs.   Read More
Travel investors on trip planning and using B2C as a sandbox
News / Startups
Travel investors on trip planning and using B2C as a sandbox
By Linda Fox | July 12, 2023
Rod Cuthbert, travel industry veteran best known for founding Viator, joins Bobby Demri, founder and managing director of Roch Ventures, to talk travel investment trends in the PhocusWire Studio at... Read More
Startup for reselling non-refundable tickets raises $3M
News / Startups
Startup for reselling non-refundable tickets raises $3M
By Derek Catron | July 12, 2023
Fairlyne, a PhocusWire Hot 25 Travel Startup for 2023, offers the technology to allow travel companies to add resales to their distribution.   Read More
Breeze - Launch pitch at Phocuswright Europe 2023
Interview / Startups
Breeze - Launch pitch at Phocuswright Europe 2023
By PhocusWire | July 6, 2023
Breeze is a single app that travelers can use to manage flights, accommodations, ground transportation, experiences, global roaming, loyalty cards, trip photos and more. Read More
Booking.com adds conversational trip planning with ChatGPT
News / Technology
Booking.com adds conversational trip planning with ChatGPT
By Mitra Sorrells | June 27, 2023
For now the chat platform is integrated only with Booking.com’s accommodation booking experience, but the company plans to add flights, ground transportation and other trip components in the future. Read More
STARTUP STAGE: Squake provides sustainability solutions for travel companies
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: Squake provides sustainability solutions for travel companies
By Mitra Sorrells | June 26, 2023
Squake’s API calculates carbon emissions related to any type of travel, such as an air or rail trip or a hotel stay, and then automates carbon reduction or compensation in the booking flow. Read More
Transport experts discuss multimodal dream, super apps, short-haul flights ban
News / Online
Transport experts discuss multimodal dream, super apps, short-haul flights ban
By Derek Catron | June 23, 2023
The panel discussion at Phocuswright Europe also spoke about air taxis and the challenges of connecting travelers on the “last mile” of their journey.   Read More
Travel startups on choosing investors, funding experiences
News / Startups
Travel startups on choosing investors, funding experiences
By Linda Fox & Mitra Sorrells | June 22, 2023
Following our recent piece on top investors in travel tech, PhocusWire collected insights from startups on what they look for in investors. Read More
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