Offline Travel Agency

PhocusWire's in-depth coverage of offline travel agencies, featuring news, analysis, interviews, research and more on the brands and their strategies, executives and positions in the market.

5 things to know about the U.K. travel market in 2024 and beyond
News / Online
5 things to know about the U.K. travel market in 2024 and beyond
By Phocuswright Research | April 22, 2024
In 2023, the U.K. travel market experienced significant growth, with gross bookings increasing 19%, driven by robust expansion in online bookings, mobile transactions and key sectors like airlines and... Read More
Is technology bringing the "perfect trip" nearer?
News / Technology
Is technology bringing the "perfect trip" nearer?
By Linda Fox | April 17, 2024
PhocusWire talks to Steve Singh, Concur co-founder and former CEO turned travel startup investor, on how technology is keeping the drive for the "perfect trip" alive. Read More
Trip.com Group and AirAsia to collaborate across multiple lines of business
News / Online
Trip.com Group and AirAsia to collaborate across multiple lines of business
By Mitra Sorrells | April 2, 2024
Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes said AirAsia's growth plans are focused on China and on getting Trip.com Group's customers into Southeast Asia. Read More
Concur founder Steve Singh and investors acquire Direct Travel
News / Online
Concur founder Steve Singh and investors acquire Direct Travel
By Linda Fox | April 2, 2024
Direct Travel will integrate technology from Center, Spotnana and Troop as well as its own AI technology to create a more joined up experience for business travelers. Read More
Layoffs hit Travelport’s commercial organization across all regions
News / Distribution
Layoffs hit Travelport’s commercial organization across all regions
By Mitra Sorrells | March 29, 2024
A Travelport spokesperson said the reduction did not affect a "material number of employees" and was done to help the company operate with efficiency and agility. Read More
CEO Spotlight - Sam Gilliland of Accelya
Interview / Technology
CEO Spotlight - Sam Gilliland of Accelya
By Linda Fox | March 18, 2024
Gilliland spent more than 20 years at Sabre, starting as a software engineer and ending up as CEO, a position he held for 10 years until he left in 2013. He spent some time in private equity before... Read More
U.S. travel agents: Proving to be resilient and thriving
News / Distribution
U.S. travel agents: Proving to be resilient and thriving
By Phocuswright Research | March 8, 2024
Travel agencies have proven resilient, and the market is thriving. Today, the focus is on adopting new technologies and greater specializations for more personalized, targeted service. Read More
Evaneos invests in Planeterra as part of partnership to foster community tourism
News / Online
Evaneos invests in Planeterra as part of partnership to foster community tourism
By Mitra Sorrells | March 6, 2024
Evaneos is an online marketplace connecting travelers with local tourism agencies around the world, and Planeterra is a nonprofit founded by G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip. Read More
Sabre, Mastercard join Travalyst mission to drive sustainable travel choices
News / Distribution
Sabre, Mastercard join Travalyst mission to drive sustainable travel choices
By Linda Fox | March 1, 2024
The coalition, which also counts Booking.com, Expedia Group and Trip.com Group as partners, aims to help inform consumer travel choices by making sustainability information mainstream. Read More
15below gets investment from LDC to accelerate growth
News / Technology
15below gets investment from LDC to accelerate growth
By Mitra Sorrells | March 1, 2024
Founded in 2000, 15below currently works with more than 60 airlines, rail operators, travel agencies and TMCs and partners with Amadeus and Navitaire. Read More
Why an effective payments strategy is critical for airlines
From Our Partners / Distribution
Why an effective payments strategy is critical for airlines
By PhocusWire | February 28, 2024
UATP president and CEO Ralph Kaiser explains how airlines and travel brands can use payments to drive growth, serve new markets and reduce costs. Read More
Spotlight on 3 technology trends in corporate travel
News / Technology
Spotlight on 3 technology trends in corporate travel
By Linda Fox | February 27, 2024
Recent reports and business travel execs highlight advances in AI, personalization and expense management as the trends to watch. Read More
Sabre notes 2023 improvements, cloud migration and tech cost savings on track
News / Distribution
Sabre notes 2023 improvements, cloud migration and tech cost savings on track
By Linda Fox | February 15, 2024
Adjusted EBITDA for the technology and distribution company was $96 million for the quarter and $337 for the full year, up from $65 million in 2022. The gains were attributed to increases in travel... Read More
Travel startup Nicer raises $2M to bring AI to travel advisors
News / Startups
Travel startup Nicer raises $2M to bring AI to travel advisors
By Mitra Sorrells | February 8, 2024
The startup launched last year and has several prominent advisors, including Microsoft's Shane O'Flaherty and Brook Bay Capital founder Gilad Berenstein. Read More
Let’s not love our favorite destinations to death!
Opinion / Online
Let’s not love our favorite destinations to death!
By Gaurav Bhatnagar - TBO.com | February 8, 2024
TBO.com co-founder Gaurav Bhatnagar says the travel industry needs to stop pointing fingers at governments and tourism boards and instead take responsibility - and action - to reduce overtourism. Read More
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