News

InPhocus, episode 20 - Looking to Russia for a different perspective
News / Online
InPhocus, episode 20 - Looking to Russia for a different perspective
By PhocusWire | August 7, 2020
Russia is never far away from the headlines - whether it's politics, science or culture. The country's travel sector is no less interesting, too - so add a global pandemic into the mix of 2020 and some interesting results emerge.... Read More
Booking Holdings feels "full impact" of coronavirus as gross bookings plunge 91% in Q2 2020
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Booking Holdings feels "full impact" of coronavirus as gross bookings plunge 91% in Q2 2020
By Jill Menze | August 6, 2020
CEO Glenn Fogel believes it will be years and not quarters before the travel market returns to pre-COVID dollars.... Read More
tripadvisor-q2-2020
News / Online
Tripadvisor revenue down 86% in Q2 to $59M, still better than expected, says CEO
By Mitra Sorrells | August 6, 2020
Tripadvisor says it is seeing steady improvement in users and revenue since lows in April.... Read More
Uber continues buying spree as delivery business supports COVID-slammed mobility unit
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Uber continues buying spree as delivery business supports COVID-slammed mobility unit
By Linda Fox | August 6, 2020
Uber saw a 35% decline to $10 billion in gross bookings while mobility gross bookings were down 73% for the quarter.... Read More
WEBINAR REPLAY! The digital customer journey is broken. Let’s fix it.
News / Technology
WEBINAR REPLAY! The digital customer journey is broken. Let’s fix it.
By PhocusWire | August 6, 2020
There has never been a more urgent time for travel sellers to reimagine their digital customer journeys. And the way they achieve that is as Complete Retailers.... Read More
hilton-q2-2020
News / Online
Hilton lost $432M in Q2 2020 but says occupancy now recovering in most markets
By Mitra Sorrells | August 6, 2020
Hilton's occupancy levels were up about 20 percentage points in the United States and 15 percentage points in Asia between April and June.  ... Read More
travel-to-nowhare-cruise-air
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Will “trips to nowhere” become a short-term solution for travel-hungry consumers?
By Mitra Sorrells | August 6, 2020
Several airlines in Asia and cruise lines in Europe are offering trips that start and end from the same point, with no stops in between.... Read More
Accor sees super-short booking window emerge, €200M cost-savings put into place
News / Distribution
Accor sees super-short booking window emerge, €200M cost-savings put into place
By Linda Fox | August 5, 2020
Outlining plans for a further €200 million in recurring savings, Accor's CEO described the current situation as “global, sudden, violent and unprecedented.”... Read More
Breezeway raises $8M to expand property operations platform
News / Technology
Breezeway raises $8M to expand property operations platform
By Jill Menze | August 5, 2020
Breezeway will use the funds to help property managers deliver a higher standard of service as they navigate COVID-19.... Read More
flight-centre-acquires-whereto
News / Technology
Flight Centre buys business travel management platform WhereTo
By Mitra Sorrells | August 5, 2020
WhereTo uses artificial intelligence to recommend trip options that are within the company’s travel policy, meet the traveler's preferences and minimize costs.... Read More
expedia-group-distribution-expansion
News / Distribution
Expedia expands wholesale rate management program to all medium- and large-size lodging partners
By Mitra Sorrells | August 5, 2020
Participating lodging partners can load B2B rates directly into Expedia Group, which will flow through to third-party providers.... Read More
Touchless tech: Airports and airlines take steady steps to restore confidence in flying
News / Technology
Touchless tech: Airports and airlines take steady steps to restore confidence in flying
By Linda Fox | August 4, 2020
Continuing our series on the new normal in the travel experience, PhocusWire looks at touchless tech initiatives in aviation.... Read More
Booking.com cuts workforce by a quarter as pandemic bites
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Booking.com cuts workforce by a quarter as pandemic bites
By Kevin May | August 4, 2020
Almost 4,500 employees working for Booking.com are being laid off. Details about who and where will be figured out in the coming weeks.... Read More
CWT admits data security incident but stays quiet on alleged ransom payment
News / Technology
CWT admits data security incident but stays quiet on alleged ransom payment
By Linda Fox | August 4, 2020
The company acknowledges it had been prey to a cyber incident but will not provide further details, including whether it had reportedly paid off the ransomware hackers.... Read More
corporate-travel-ceos-letter
News / Online
Business travel CEOs urge U.S. government to take action on COVID testing, tracing and data sharing
By Mitra Sorrells | August 4, 2020
The CEOs of TripActions, TravelBank and Upside Business Travel have written to Congress to ask for nationwide funding of efforts to test and trace COVID-19 infections.  ... Read More