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.

Tripadvisor's Bokun creates activities service with JTB online giant in Japan
News / Distribution
Tripadvisor's Bokun creates activities service with JTB online giant in Japan
By Kevin May | February 5, 2021
JTB Bokun is the first partnership by the Bokun tours and activities tech platform with a domestic OTA. Read More
your-rentals-refund-data
News / Distribution
Fully refundable vacation rentals get 4.2X more bookings, higher revenue
By Mitra Sorrells | February 5, 2021
Data from Your.rentals shows January bookings were 92% of pre-COVID levels for properties with fully refundable cancellation policies, but only 23% of the norm for those with partial or non-refundable... Read More
Kiwi.com draws rash of complaints for not paying air refunds
News / Online
Kiwi.com draws rash of complaints for not paying air refunds
By Jaime Biesiada - Travel Weekly | February 4, 2021
The agency is accused of not dispersing refunds on air travel canceled by airlines due to COVID-19. It claims the refunds have been delayed by the volume of requests due to the pandemic. Read More
ixigo-buys-confirmtkt
News / Distribution
Ixigo buys train booking app Confirmtkt to serve India’s $8B rail market
By Mitra Sorrells | February 4, 2021
The deal aligns with the Indian online travel agency’s decision in 2019 to focus on flights, trains and buses. Read More
The challenges of digital health passports in getting corporate travelers back on the road
News / Technology
The challenges of digital health passports in getting corporate travelers back on the road
By Linda Fox | February 3, 2021
In a Q&A with PhocusWire, Brandon Balcom, director of innovation, business development, for CWT, discusses barriers to digital health passports. Read More
Expedia opens up discount rates to COVID-hit travel agency partners
News / Distribution
Expedia opens up discount rates to COVID-hit travel agency partners
By Kevin May | February 3, 2021
The company's affiliate program, which has around 10,000 agency partners, will be opened up so that exclusive rates for hotel and air ticket packages are available for all. Read More
WEBINAR REPLAY! How travel can leverage payment technology for a smart COVID-19 recovery
News / Technology
WEBINAR REPLAY! How travel can leverage payment technology for a smart COVID-19 recovery
By PhocusWire | February 2, 2021
As airlines and travel agencies plan their comeback, it is essential they have access to the most recent and relevant research enabling them to make smart decisions on how to mitigate the economic... Read More
makemytrip earnings
News / Online
MakeMyTrip sees 2020 end with some financial improvement
By Linda Fox | February 2, 2021
MakeMyTrip has seen improvement in gross bookings and revenue across its business units for its third quarter 2021 financial earnings. Read More
business travel recovery 2025
News / Distribution
Business travel expected to make full recovery by 2025
By Kevin May | February 2, 2021
According to GBTA, global business travel spending slumped by over a half to $694 billion during a coronavirus-hit 2020. Read More
Chinese travelers more positive about travel in 2021 than regional neighbors
News / Online
Chinese travelers more positive about travel in 2021 than regional neighbors
By Linda Fox | February 1, 2021
Domestic searches led in December 2020 in many APAC countries with the exception of Singapore, according to Expedia's research. Read More
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky: "It's going to be a year of focus"
News / Online
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky: "It's going to be a year of focus"
By Jill Menze | February 1, 2021
Speaking during Bloomberg's The Year Ahead event, Brian Chesky discussed Airbnb's priorities, market volatility and the future of travel. Read More
travalyst-coalition-report
News / Online
Prince Harry-backed Travalyst coalition urges industry collaboration to “rebuild more responsibly”
By Mitra Sorrells | January 29, 2021
Former Skyscanner CEO Bryan Dove is now chairing the coalition, working alongside Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, who launched it in 2019 with Booking.com, Skyscanner, Trip.com Group, Tripadvisor and... Read More
WEBINAR REPLAY! Connected trip - Is it still relevant in 2021?
News / Technology
WEBINAR REPLAY! Connected trip - Is it still relevant in 2021?
By PhocusWire | January 29, 2021
Before the pandemic the idea of the “connected trip” was widely discussed in the travel industry. But how will it evolve in a post-pandemic environment. Read More
How travel app usage paints another picture of travel's fate in 2020
News / Online
How travel app usage paints another picture of travel's fate in 2020
By Linda Fox | January 28, 2021
Travel apps went quiet as the pandemic hit but there were some notable exceptions such as Airbnb and Vrbo. Read More
Trekksoft revenues drop 30% during pandemic-stricken 2020
News / Distribution
Trekksoft revenues drop 30% during pandemic-stricken 2020
By Kevin May | January 28, 2021
The Switzerland-based company captured $7.2 million in revenue during 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic crushed the tours and activities sector worldwide. Read More