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.

REPORT: Building lifetime value in travel through travel recommendations
From Our Partners / Online
REPORT: Building lifetime value in travel through travel recommendations
By Marisa Garcia - PhocusWire | October 3, 2019
We explore the power of personal recommendations in the travel sector, as well as the best way to convert travelers to brand advocates and how to best use tools like NPS to drive new customer... Read More
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Interview / Online
How I Got Here, episode 7 - Tyler Dikman of LoungeBuddy
By Kevin May | October 3, 2019
Tyler Dikman of LoungeBuddy, which was recently acquired by American Express, joins David Litwak and Kevin May for the latest episode of How I Got Here.  Read More
TripAdvisor axes tickets to whale and dolphin parks
News / Online
TripAdvisor axes tickets to whale and dolphin parks
By Kevin May | October 2, 2019
TripAdvisor says attractions currently on sale on the site and subsidiary Viator that are found to breach the new rules will be removed over the next few months. Read More
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News / Technology
Impala checks in with $11M investment to scale up hotel data platform
By Kevin May | October 2, 2019
The U.K.-based company was launched in 2017 and had previously raised $1.8 million in April 2018. Read More
VIDEO: OpenJaw Technologies on airlines finding the path to retailing
News / Distribution
VIDEO: OpenJaw Technologies on airlines finding the path to retailing
By Kevin May | October 1, 2019
It would be fair to say that some airlines - some very big airlines, in fact - were unsure about the role of retail in their business models. Read More
A unicorn illuminated: What the vacation rental industry can learn from Sonder
Opinion / Online
A unicorn illuminated: What the vacation rental industry can learn from Sonder
By Drew Patterson - Transparent | October 1, 2019
Much of Sonder’s success is attributable to the underlying characteristics of short-term rental category, not a unique approach Sonder developed. Read More
Secret Escapes acquires LateRooms and LateLuxury websites
News / Online
Secret Escapes acquires LateRooms and LateLuxury websites
By Linda Fox | October 1, 2019
LateRooms was part of Malvern Group, which brought in a third-party administrator to handle its operations in early August after running into financial difficulties. Read More
Corporate travel online booking tools need a "serious wake-up call"
News / Distribution
Corporate travel online booking tools need a "serious wake-up call"
By Jill Menze | September 30, 2019
As corporate travel buyer frustration with online booking tools mounts, business models need to be rethought. Read More
HalalBooking lands $2M in funding, plans marketing push
News / Distribution
HalalBooking lands $2M in funding, plans marketing push
By Linda Fox | September 27, 2019
The funding was led by Azar Gurbanov, co-founder of wellness specialist FSAstore, as well as other individual investors. Read More
What the travel sector can learn from the demise of Thomas Cook
Opinion / Online
What the travel sector can learn from the demise of Thomas Cook
By Sooho Choi - Publicis Sapient | September 26, 2019
Unlike the leading OTAs or the low-cost airlines whose business models necessitated digital capability to reduce cost, Thomas Cook was unable to find the omnichannel strategy that represented... Read More
How I Got Here, episode 6 - Naren Shaam of Omio
Interview / Online
How I Got Here, episode 6 - Naren Shaam of Omio
By Kevin May | September 26, 2019
The architect behind Omio (formerly GoEuro) talks to David Litwak and Kevin May for the latest episode. Read More
Wholesale changes in distribution: Marriott and Expedia in the spotlight, Amoma in the deadpool
Opinion / Distribution
Wholesale changes in distribution: Marriott and Expedia in the spotlight, Amoma in the deadpool
By Gino Engels - OTA Insight | September 25, 2019
Since rate disparity has a significant impact on profitability for hotels, the demise of a channel with a negative parity history is noteworthy. Read More
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News / Distribution
Q&A: Booking.com's Ripsy Bandourian on evolving functionality for business travelers
By Linda Fox | September 25, 2019
Booking.com for Business was unveiled in early 2015 after the accommodation giant observed that about one in five bookings were for business travel. Read More
VIDEO: CarTrawler on the value of mobility for airlines
From Our Partners / Distribution
VIDEO: CarTrawler on the value of mobility for airlines
By PhocusWire | September 23, 2019
"Mobility" is fast becoming the word of the moment in the travel industry, and airlines are looking at how the consumer behavior around ground transportation is changing. Read More
Thomas Cook collapses after investors pull the plug on survival package
News / Technology
Thomas Cook collapses after investors pull the plug on survival package
By Kevin May | September 22, 2019
Plenty of factors have led to the tour operating giant's demise, including its failure, at crucial times, to grasp the complexities of IT and the wider digital world. Read More
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