News

mindsay-chatbot-funding
News / Startups
Mindsay adds $10M in Series A funding to expand chatbot service
By Linda Fox | May 29, 2019
Paris-based chatbot startup also took on a brand name after starting out as Destygo.... Read More
Is a consolidated world good for travelers?
News / Online
Is a consolidated world good for travelers?
By Jill Menze | May 29, 2019
At Voyager HQ's Travel Disruption Summit, leading players in the tours and activities space debated if consolidation in travel is good for consumers.... Read More
Ctrip Trip Moments content sharing
News / Online
Ctrip’s Instagram-like platform attracts more than 1M daily users
By Mitra Sorrells | May 29, 2019
Ctrip's new "Trip Moments" content sharing platform is attracting more than one million users every day, and 70% of them are under 30 years old.... Read More
Airbnb signs Shiji distribution deal to bolster China hotel strategy
News / Distribution
Airbnb signs Shiji distribution deal to bolster China hotel strategy
By Kevin May | May 28, 2019
Airbnb has another distribution partner to help bolster its hotel inventory. But this time it is aimed squarely at boosting its presence in China.... Read More
ectaa-iata-antitrust-complaint
News / Distribution
Agent organization accuses IATA of abusing dominant distribution role
May 28, 2019
European agents and operators' body ECTAA has filed an antitrust complaint with the European competition authority.... Read More
VIDEO: Google on leveraging machine learning in travel search
News / Online
VIDEO: Google on leveraging machine learning in travel search
By Kevin May | May 28, 2019
Google is at the heart of the search experience and sits on enormous amounts of data that, it says, helps create a better search experience for travelers.... Read More
Latin America, part 4: Challenges and opportunities in travel distribution
News / Distribution
Latin America, part 4: Challenges and opportunities in travel distribution
By Mitra Sorrells | May 28, 2019
For the final piece in our series on Latin America, we take a look at the current state and future outlook for distribution in hospitality and air.... Read More
sounding off fast fail
Interview / Technology
Sounding Off: Failure should be a cautious part of the equation
By PhocusWire | May 24, 2019
Companies should try to push their development envelopes, just don't expect instant results and be prepared for failures to have a wider impact on the company.... Read More
ctrip-high-income-travelers
News / Online
Ctrip sees huge potential in customized travel for growing affluent segment
By Linda Fox | May 24, 2019
Research from Ctrip and COTRI reveals the potential in the growing high-net income traveler segment.... Read More
VIDEO: When OYO Rooms bought @Leisure - anatomy of a deal
News / Online
VIDEO: When OYO Rooms bought @Leisure - anatomy of a deal
By Kevin May | May 24, 2019
@Leisure's CEO Tobias Wann, who will become CEO for vacation homes at OYO Global, agreed to speak to PhocusWire during the recent Phocuswright Europe event in Amsterdam.... Read More
Tencent leads $250M round into Mafengwo
News / Online
Tencent leads $250M round into Mafengwo
By Jill Menze | May 24, 2019
Chinese travel platform Mafengwo has raised a $250 million funding round led by Tencent Holdings Ltd, with General Atlantic, Qiming Venture Partners and Yuantai Evergreen Investment Partners also participating.... Read More
VIDEO: How a cruise line embarks on digital transformation
News / Technology
VIDEO: How a cruise line embarks on digital transformation
By Kevin May | May 23, 2019
Complicated products, expensive and considered purchases by consumers - just some of the elements in the cruise sector that are hard to shift to a digital-led future.... Read More
Ctrip Q1 earnings
News / Distribution
Ctrip sales jump 21% in Q1 to more than $1B
By Mitra Sorrells | May 23, 2019
The online travel agency giant's results are fueled by strong performance in both accommodation and transportation ticketing and growing international business.... Read More
Business travelers increasingly seek digital channels
News / Technology
Business travelers increasingly seek digital channels
By Linda Fox | May 22, 2019
Research from CWT shows how business travelers are increasingly look to self-service channels such as web and mobile bookings and other travel-related tasks.... Read More
VIDEO: Expedia on being an empire and the future of platforms
News / Online
VIDEO: Expedia on being an empire and the future of platforms
By Kevin May | May 22, 2019
The Expedia Group is a sprawling empire of a business, with online travel agencies, corporate travel agencies and investments in metasearch.... Read More