News

oyo-business-travel
News / Distribution
OYO sees big growth in business travelers, eyes further expansion
By Linda Fox | January 10, 2019
OYO Hotels and Homes continues to build up its business travel segment with the recent addition of a booking service for corporates booking their own trips.... Read More
delta-ceo-CES-2019
News / Technology
CES 2019: Delta boss talks data, AI and internal culture
By Linda Fox | January 10, 2019
Delta CEO Ed Bastian talks about internal culture, AI and other data initiatives during CES 2019.... Read More
Ctrip investment Yunji hotel robots
News / Technology
Ctrip invests in hotel robot manufacturer
By Mitra Sorrells | January 10, 2019
Ctrip has invested in Yunji Technology, a Beijing-based company that makes robots for a variety of industries including hotels. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.  ... Read More
IATA Pay looks to reduce payment costs for airlines, completes first test
News / Technology
IATA Pay looks to reduce payment costs for airlines, completes first test
By Linda Fox | January 9, 2019
IATA Pay, a partnership between Ipagoo and IATA, completes its first test with airlines in a live environment.... Read More
A new record? Two million room nights booked online in a single day... in one country
News / Online
A new record? Two million room nights booked online in a single day... in one country
By Kevin May | January 9, 2019
Meituan-Dianping is claiming a record of sorts this week. The company, which sells good and services Amazon-style in China alongside hotels and other travel products, says it offloaded more than two million room nights on December 31.... Read More
SiteMinder partners with RoomIt to connect hotels directly to TMC clients
News / Distribution
SiteMinder partners with RoomIt to connect hotels directly to TMC clients
By Jill Menze | January 9, 2019
Through a new partnership with RoomIt, the hotel distribution arm of Carlson Wagonlit Travel, SiteMinder is giving its hotel customers direct access to a travel management company’s clients for the first time.... Read More
Google Assistant hotel booking flight check-in
News / Technology
Google adds hotel booking, flight check-in to Google Assistant
By Mitra Sorrells | January 9, 2019
Travelers can now book a hotel room through a conversation with Google Assistant on Android and iOS devices... Read More
Marriott and Expedia's battle over commissions could trigger industry-wide overhaul
News / Distribution
Marriott and Expedia's battle over commissions could trigger industry-wide overhaul
By Linda Fox | January 8, 2019
Expedia and Marriott are said to be near agreement on fee negotiations, other large hotel players are likely to follow suit.... Read More
VIDEO: Lyft on trying to build loyalty and being a collaborator
News / Online
VIDEO: Lyft on trying to build loyalty and being a collaborator
January 8, 2019
Lyft and Uber are intertwined in almost every way, whether they like it or not - product, financial ambition and service being just three elements of note.... Read More
facial recognition survey
News / Technology
Facial-recognition technology gains support to expedite airport security
By Mitra Sorrells | January 8, 2019
It appears Americans are becoming more comfortable with facial-recognition technology, particularly if it is used to expedite travel or improve public safety.  ... Read More
Marriott says 383 million, not original 500 million figure, guest records hit in hack
News / Technology
Marriott says 383 million, not original 500 million figure, guest records hit in hack
By Linda Fox | January 7, 2019
Marriott adjusts the numbers around those affected by the data attack.... Read More
BTU Hotel blockchain booking platform
News / Startups
New hotel booking platform offers cryptocurrency rebates for travelers
By Mitra Sorrells | January 7, 2019
A new blockchain-based hotel booking platform launching today at CES promises to take no commission on bookings and give back about 5% of each transaction to travelers that use the site.  ... Read More
Inside cruise, part 1: Keys to the sector’s smooth sailing in the future
News / Technology
Inside cruise, part 1: Keys to the sector’s smooth sailing in the future
By Mitra Sorrells | January 7, 2019
In many ways, cruise is the outlier of the travel industry. While more travelers are turning to digital sources to book their travel – Phocuswright’s U.S. Online Travel Overview 2018 predicts online penetration will increase from 50% in 2018 to 53% in 2022 – in cruise, distribution is predominantly managed offline. ... Read More
QOTW: Something about not being in Kansas anymore
News / Online
QOTW: Something about not being in Kansas anymore
By Kevin May | January 4, 2019
Quote from Vivek Bhogaraju of Expedia Group, in an article on PhocusWire this week.... Read More
Research Spotlight: Essential trends in digital travel advertising
News / Online
Research Spotlight: Essential trends in digital travel advertising
By Jill Menze | January 4, 2019
Thanks to technology, travelers now research, shop and book travel across a variety of devices, and are thus led into the funnel through various advertising channels.... Read More