Online Travel Agency

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

News / Online

AI risk to OTAs is margin squeeze, not disintermediation

By Linda Fox | July 17, 2026

The risk of OTAs being disintermediated by AI might have been exaggerated as pressure on margin is perhaps the more likely outcome, according to investment bank BTIG. Read More

News / Technology

PhocusWire's travel tech news briefs: Expedia Group, Apaleo, Klook and more...

By PhocusWire | July 17, 2026

Keep up with all the latest people, partner and product news from around the global travel industry. Read More

News / Startups

Fora lands $60M to scale AI assistant for travel advisors

By Linda Fox | July 16, 2026

Fora is looking to scale is AI assistant, Via, which is currently in beta with a number of its top advisors. Read More

News / Online

Omio to acquire Rail Europe

By Morgan Hines | July 16, 2026

Omio's acquisition of Rail Europe consolidates two rivals in European rail distribution. A separate $10 million raise is earmarked for Omio's expansion in Asia. Read More

News / Online

The U.S. government's split signals on fee disclosure for travel sellers

By Morgan Hines | July 15, 2026

While the FTC and Hopper reach a settlement on hidden fees, the DOT is loosening fee disclosure rules for airlines. Read More

News / Online

A market rewired: 10 structural shifts redefining APAC travel

By Phocuswright Research | July 14, 2026

Travel in APAC is shifting—and it's no longer focused on one direction. Read More

From Our Partners / Technology

Why B2B travel payments need more than virtual cards

By PhocusWire | July 14, 2026

Brad La Nasa, chief business officer at Zyzza, speaks with Phocuswright’s Mitra Sorrells about B2B travel payments, virtual cards, carrier acceptance, agency liquidity and settlement friction. Read More

News / Distribution

APAC hotel distribution sees slower growth as regional OTAs rise

By WiT | July 14, 2026

D-Edge's recent analysis shows booking growth cooling to 2.7%, Agoda pulling ahead of Booking.com and wholesalers more than tripling their market share in three years. Read More

News / Technology

AI is pushing travel advisors toward their next evolution

By Cathy Walsh | July 14, 2026

AI is automating administrative work and accelerating research, but its biggest impact may be giving travel advisors more time to deliver the expertise, relationships and personalized service travelers... Read More

From Our Partners / Distribution

Why the booking layer is the real test for AI in travel

By PhocusWire | July 9, 2026

Mike Putman, founder and CEO of Custom Travel Solutions, discusses AI travel agents, direct supplier APIs, legacy distribution and why the booking step remains a critical challenge. Read More

News / Online

European travelers are changing the rules

By Phocuswright Research | July 7, 2026

Phocuswright's Europe Consumer Travel Report 2026 breaks down exactly where markets are pulling apart. Read More

Interview / Startups

Startup Stage: Hotel Splitter builds hotel booking platform around split stays

By Cathy Walsh | July 6, 2026

The startup compares traditional hotel bookings with multi-hotel itineraries, aiming to reduce accommodation costs on longer city breaks. Read More

News / Technology

Beyond the app: How wearable AI is rewiring the global travel tech stack

By Alex Levin - L+R | July 6, 2026

Alex Levin, founding partner at L+R, argues that wearable artificial intelligence will replace mobile apps as the primary interface for travel, requiring the industry to rethink its technology... Read More

News / Distribution

Weighing build versus buy in travel's AI era

By Linda Fox | July 6, 2026

Executives from Amadeus, Etraveli and HTS discussed acquisition strategy and in-house development during a session at Phocuswright Europe 2026. Read More