Interviews

Startup Stage: Aloja wants to help tour and activity operators boost earnings
Interview / Startups
Startup Stage: Aloja wants to help tour and activity operators boost earnings
By Abby Crotty | August 19, 2025
Aloja was founded by CEO Daniel Pino and chief technology officer Daniel Cabra, the team behind TourOpp, which was acquired by RocketRez in 2022.... Read More
CEO Spotlight: Mike Putman of Custom Travel Solutions
Interview / Online
CEO Spotlight: Mike Putman of Custom Travel Solutions
By Linda Fox | August 11, 2025
Mike Putman discusses how he built up CTS, having previously created an international travel club with 800,000 members and seeing an opportunity to replicate its success.... Read More
CEO Spotlight: Peter O’Donovan of CarTrawler
Interview / Online
CEO Spotlight: Peter O’Donovan of CarTrawler
By Morgan Hines | August 4, 2025
Peter O'Donovan, CEO of CarTrawler, opened up about the connected trip, artificial intelligence, challenges he faces and more in a CEO Spotlight interview.... Read More
The evolution of CRM in hotels
News / Technology
The evolution of CRM in hotels
By Linda Fox | August 1, 2025
Executives from Penta Hotels and Smart Host discussed customer relationship management and the challenges of merging legacy data with new data in the PhocusWire studio.... Read More
Startup Stage: Hotelwise wants to help Canadian travelers find the right hotel
Interview / Startups
Startup Stage: Hotelwise wants to help Canadian travelers find the right hotel
By Abby Crotty | July 29, 2025
Hotelwise was founded earlier this year by Andres Collart who previously founded Trip Ninja.... Read More
Why are travel companies hesistant to sell ancillaries?
News / Online
Why are travel companies hesistant to sell ancillaries?
By Morgan Hines | July 24, 2025
While the ancillary market is lucrative, travel companies still face roadblocks when trying to incorporate extras into their sales model.... Read More
Startup Stage: Pink Notebook offers visual-first, social travel planning
Interview / Startups
Startup Stage: Pink Notebook offers visual-first, social travel planning
By Morgan Hines | July 16, 2025
Pink Notebook aims to create a curated discovery process supported by private collaboration, incorporating machine learning and real-time availability.... Read More
How social media and AI can work together for travel discovery
News / Technology
How social media and AI can work together for travel discovery
By Morgan Hines | July 11, 2025
At Phocuswright Europe, Judith Eyck of HolidayPirates and Adrian Villabruna of Videreo discussed how social media and AI may work together during the travel planning process.... Read More
Travel's 'plumbers' on the evolving definition of connectivity success
News / Technology
Travel's 'plumbers' on the evolving definition of connectivity success
By Morgan Hines | July 10, 2025
 As technology advances, providers' definition of connectivity success has shifted.... Read More
Startup Stage: Kismet wants to bring hotels to conversational search
Interview / Startups
Startup Stage: Kismet wants to bring hotels to conversational search
By Abby Crotty | July 9, 2025
Kismet, founded just last year, wants to help hotels leverage AI to boost sales.... Read More
CEO Spotlight: Uli Pillau of Apaleo
Interview / Online
CEO Spotlight: Uli Pillau of Apaleo
By Abby Crotty | July 9, 2025
Uli Pillau, CEO and founder of Apaleo, shares his thoughts on the latest AI initiatives, the hospitality industry tech stack and more.... Read More
SEO has left the party: How travel marketing could change
News / Technology
SEO has left the party: How travel marketing could change
By Morgan Hines | July 3, 2025
Digital travel marketing has changed immensely in recent years, but more shifts are on the horizon as technology, namely AI, continues to evolve.... Read More
Startup Stage: StaySaavy wants to ensure guests don't overpay for hotel stays
Interview / Startups
Startup Stage: StaySaavy wants to ensure guests don't overpay for hotel stays
By Abby Crotty | July 2, 2025
Powered by artificial intelligence, StaySaavy monitors hotel prices in real time and rebooks travelers' accommodations if the price drops.... Read More
Specialist travel brands on being agile and building trust amid volatility
News / Online
Specialist travel brands on being agile and building trust amid volatility
By Linda Fox | July 1, 2025
At Phocuswright Europe 2025, executives from CheckYeti and WingBuddy discussed what it's like to be a niche player in turbulent times.... Read More
How a ferry company thinks about AI trip planning
News / Technology
How a ferry company thinks about AI trip planning
By Morgan Hines | June 26, 2025
Stena Line Travel and Retail Group CEO Jari Virtanen opens up about the company AI trip planning solution that was born on the back of modular technology.  ... Read More