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.

golightly-startup-stage
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: Golightly is a members-only home-sharing club for women
By Jill Menze | April 12, 2021
Golightly is a private travel club for women providing a safer space to list and book vacation rentals and home-shares within a vetted community. Read More
my-method-vrbo-wyng
News / Online
My Method... How Vrbo is using a privacy-conscious marketing strategy
By Wendell Lansford - Wyng | April 12, 2021
In the first three months, 80,000 users completed the Vrbo Vacay Finder quiz and 25% of them clicked to book a trip.   Read More
Sounding Off: Travelers may have other goals than doing the right thing
Interview / Online
Sounding Off: Travelers may have other goals than doing the right thing
By PhocusWire | April 9, 2021
The best hope that anyone can have right now is that people will actually come through on the industry's desire to capitalize on pent-up demand AND do so in a way that at least illustrates signs of a... Read More
starkov-google-zero-click-search
Opinion / Online
Is Google's zero-click search a threat or opportunity for hoteliers?
By Max Starkov - hospitality consultant and strategist | April 9, 2021
Google's "zero-click" reality means hoteliers need to focus on optimizing their properties' websites and using effective content marketing strategies. Read More
VIDEO: Membership is the highest form of travel loyalty
News / Online
VIDEO: Membership is the highest form of travel loyalty
By PhocusWire | April 9, 2021
Bryan Rand, president at Vacation Innovations, believes that private accommodation, hotels and timeshares are ideally placed to nurture customers to become loyal members. Read More
trip-com-group-hong-kong
News / Online
Trip.com Group hopes to raise $1.4B from second public listing in Hong Kong
By Kevin May | April 8, 2021
The second IPO will be the first online travel company to proceed with a dual listing in both the U.S. and Hong Kong. Read More
travelport-plus-launch
News / Distribution
Travelport unifies services in new Travelport+ platform, replacing three legacy brands
By Mitra Sorrells | April 7, 2021
CEO Greg Webb says the new Travelport+ platform better positions the company to serve "the blossoming retail structure of travel." Read More
sherpa-covid-map
News / Online
Sherpa launches maps that track COVID-related travel policies
By Mitra Sorrells | April 5, 2021
Travel brands can integrate the map into their websites and apps, and it can be accessed directly from the Sherpa website. Read More
VIDEO: Bringing loyalty to travel's hottest sector
News / Online
VIDEO: Bringing loyalty to travel's hottest sector
By PhocusWire | April 5, 2021
While the sector is not new by any means, brands are still unsure of the best way to gain loyalty from their guests and ensure they have the attention of travelers every time they consider a new trip. Read More
accelya-airline-executive-survey
News / Distribution
Airline executives expect direct channel share to grow, GDS to drop by 2023
By Mitra Sorrells | April 5, 2021
In a survey of airline executives, the majority say the pandemic will cause a "positive transformation" in their businesses, but inadequate budgets may hamper some progress. Read More
Sounding Off: Airbnb isn't a community - it's a business
Interview / Online
Sounding Off: Airbnb isn't a community - it's a business
By PhocusWire | April 2, 2021
The real test of the company comes from hereon with its quarterly figures, strategic initiatives that boost them and destroying the competition. Read More
expedia-group-launches-virtual-agent
News / Online
Expedia launches virtual agent for advisors and travelers
By Jamie Biesiada - Travel Weekly | April 2, 2021
Advisors who are members of the Expedia Travel Agent Affiliate Program can use the virtual agent to cancel bookings or check the status of refunds. Read More
vrbo-targets-superhosts
News / Online
Vrbo targets Airbnb “Superhosts” as rental competition heats up
By Jill Menze | April 1, 2021
Vrbo is offering experienced short-term rental hosts increased visibility through its new Fast Start program. Read More
How I Got Here, episode 58 - Rami Zeidan of Life House
Interview / Distribution
How I Got Here, episode 58 - Rami Zeidan of Life House
By PhocusWire | April 1, 2021
After working in the finance and real estate worlds for the early part of his career, Rami Zeidan tells Mozio's David Litwak and Kevin May of PhocusWire how he took the plunge into the operational part... Read More
Sabre unveils storefront technology enabling comparison of airline products and services
News / Distribution
Sabre unveils storefront technology enabling comparison of airline products and services
By Linda Fox | March 31, 2021
The technology is available via Sabre’s shopping APIs enabling users and developers to create their own storefront. Read More