News

hotelmize series b
News / Technology
Hotelmize raises Series B funding from Alibaba, establishes APAC headquarters in Hong Kong
By Steven Lerner | April 2, 2020
 Hotelmize is aiming to gain a foothold in Asia Pacific and to expand operations in the region following a new capital raise.... Read More
Airbnb gets serious on long-term stays, denies hosts are finding new platforms
News / Online
Airbnb gets serious on long-term stays, denies hosts are finding new platforms
By Kevin May | April 1, 2020
The company claims there has been a 20% increase in long-stay bookings in the last two weeks compared to the same period in 2019.... Read More
sparkloft social media coronavirus
News / Online
Denial, unease, panic - how social media sentiments have shifted during coronavirus
By Jill Menze | April 1, 2020
As the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak unfolds, Sparkloft Media finds social media users are increasingly expressing concern over the crisis.... Read More
Air Doctor funding
News / Technology
Health startup Air Doctor gets $7.8M to make medical care accessible for travelers
By Steven Lerner | April 1, 2020
With health becoming a major concern in the travel industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a marketplace that connects travelers with local doctors has landed its largest capital raise to date.... Read More
coronavirus destroys startup funding
News / Startups
Funding for travel startups was plentiful - then came coronavirus
By Steven Lerner | April 1, 2020
Entrepreneur Souzana Theodoridou explains how a funding deal for travel experience platform Grekaddict fell apart due to the coronavirus pandemic.... Read More
marriott-data-breach-january-2020
News / Technology
Marriott is victim of another massive data breach
By Mitra Sorrells | March 31, 2020
Marriott says 5.2 million guests have been impacted by a data breach it discovered in late February.... Read More
funding Huilianyi
News / Technology
Business travel platform Huilianyi raises $42M, aims for global expansion
By Steven Lerner | March 31, 2020
Shanghai-based business travel platform Huilianyi has landed RMB 300 million (about $42 million) in funding.... Read More
Via 200M investment
News / Technology
Despite difficult times, ride-share company Via lands $200M investment
By Steven Lerner | March 31, 2020
 Real-time ride-sharing company Via is now valued at a $2.25 billion thanks to a new $200 million Series E investment.  ... Read More
Airbnb apologizes to hosts, dedicates $250M to coronavirus-related cancelations
News / Online
Airbnb apologizes to hosts, dedicates $250M to coronavirus-related cancelations
By Jill Menze | March 30, 2020
In a letter sent to hosts, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky says he's “sorry” for mangling communication about refund policies.... Read More
sojern-trends-coronavirus
News / Online
Search data reveals some positive trends but industry should remain cautious
By Linda Fox | March 30, 2020
Sojern looks at search trends to analyze whether there are any signs of recovery for the travel industry.... Read More
startups hibernation mode
News / Startups
Should travel startups go into “hibernation mode” during the coronavirus?
By Steven Lerner | March 30, 2020
Venture capitalists weigh in on how travel startups could survive the economic fallout from COVID-19.... Read More
airbnb china coronavirus
News / Online
Airbnb hosts in China are “confident” about market recovery
By Jill Menze | March 27, 2020
According to data from Airbnb, 99% of hosts in China feel positively or neutral about engaging in the short-term rental market following the COVID-19 outbreak, while 1% say they will “definitely not” participate once the crisis subsides.... Read More
webinar-fastly-march-2020-new-3
News / Technology
WEBINAR REPLAY! How to build highly optimized web architectures in the travel industry
By PhocusWire | March 27, 2020
In this webinar, Fastly customers Loveholidays and Holiday Extras will discuss how moving away from complexity empowered their developers to build better web experiences.... Read More
agents-EU-airlines
News / Distribution
Travel intermediaries look to regulators for help with airline refunds
By Linda Fox | March 27, 2020
ECTAA, a body representing European agents and operators, is urging the European Commission to take action on airlines not refunding tickets.... Read More
InPhocus, episode 3 - Living with the virus, thinking about a reset for tourism
News / Technology
InPhocus, episode 3 - Living with the virus, thinking about a reset for tourism
By PhocusWire | March 27, 2020
Destination specialist Doug Lansky to gives his account of contracting coronavirus and shares his perspective on the current climate for destinations and what could (or should) happen next.... Read More