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.

meituan-siteminder
News / Distribution
Meituan ramps up super-app's overseas hotel distribution, signs SiteMinder deal
By Kevin May | July 3, 2019
If the so-called "super-apps" are going to offer as much travel-related content to their users as they can, then sourcing product will be high on the list of priorities. Read More
How independent hotels can win direct bookings
Opinion / Distribution
How independent hotels can win direct bookings
By Max Starkov - NextGuest Digital | July 3, 2019
Here are the action steps independent hoteliers must undertake in order to win the direct booking of travel consumers... Read More
salesforce-connected-customers
News / Online
Hang up the phone, travelers want a connected experience
By Linda Fox | July 2, 2019
The State of the Connected Customer report shows how much expectations of brands have changed. Read More
How Facebook's Libra cryptocurrency might fit into travel
News / Online
How Facebook's Libra cryptocurrency might fit into travel
By Linda Fox | July 1, 2019
Concerns are not surprising given the probes into the social media platform around privacy and wider concerns about cryptocurrencies, but, for travel, there are a few interesting elements about Libra. Read More
VIDEO: What Asia Pacific is teaching the travel industry
News / Online
VIDEO: What Asia Pacific is teaching the travel industry
By Kevin May | July 1, 2019
The recently appointed EVP for online travel agencies and managing director for Asia Pacific at Amadeus is operating in a region that, some argue, is driving much of how the industry is evolving. Read More
sabre ndc stx
News / Distribution
Sabre CEO Sean Menke: Future of NDC is a "wild guess," but we remain committed
By Jill Menze | July 1, 2019
Speaking at the Sabre Technology Exchange event last week, Sabre CEO Sean Menke says the travel technology company has embarked on an “audacious” goal to “lead a new market for personalized travel” by... Read More
Flywire payment complexities tours and activities
News / Online
Q&A: Payment complexities in the growing tours and activities sector
By Mitra Sorrells | June 28, 2019
Flywire's Colyn Smyth discusses some of the challenges related to payments in the tours and activities space. Read More
Huangbaoche brings in $50M for guided tour driver platform
News / Online
Huangbaoche brings in $50M for guided tour driver platform
By Kevin May | June 27, 2019
The Series C round into the Beijing, China-based company comes just 15 months after another $50 million injection of capital in 2018. Read More
Booking.com CEO Gillian Tans moves aside, Glenn Fogel steps in
News / Online
Booking.com CEO Gillian Tans moves aside, Glenn Fogel steps in
By Kevin May | June 26, 2019
The sudden change at the top of Booking.com, announced today, is effective immediately and ends a three-year stint for Tans as CEO. Read More
Getting out of the way of "innovation" in travel
News / Technology
Getting out of the way of "innovation" in travel
By Linda Fox | June 26, 2019
Amazon Web Services believes the travel industry is stuck in silos and an “old way of thinking about IT”, with disparate systems that don’t talk to each other. Read More
Q&A: How an emerging market online travel agency facilitates payments - offline
Interview / Online
Q&A: How an emerging market online travel agency facilitates payments - offline
By Jill Menze | June 26, 2019
One of Flymya's biggest hurdles is payments: Only 2% of the population has a credit or debit card, plus money can’t be transferred electronically between banks - meaning the company must employ a... Read More
mark-okerstrom-expedia-group-direct-bookings
News / Online
Expedia CEO Mark Okerstrom: “War over the best booking experience is almost over”
By Jill Menze | June 25, 2019
Speaking at Expedia Group's first Research Summit, Mark Okerstrom said the next "vector of innovation" happens after bookings are made. Read More
BeMyGuest raises new round in bid to bolster activity supplier tech
News / Technology
BeMyGuest raises new round in bid to bolster activity supplier tech
By Kevin May | June 24, 2019
The Singapore-based company has not disclosed the level of investment but says it is "more than sufficient to support the company through its next growth phase." Read More
Travel payments, part 4: Hopes and hurdles for startups
News / Technology
Travel payments, part 4: Hopes and hurdles for startups
By Mitra Sorrells | June 24, 2019
In part four of our payments month them we talk to investors and entrepreneurs about the challenges and opportunities for startups in this space. Read More
duffel series a round
News / Startups
Duffel raises $21.5M for yet-to-launch distribution platform
By Jill Menze | June 21, 2019
Benchmark, which has invested in companies including Uber, Twitter and Snap, led the Series A round, with participation from Blossom Capital and Index Ventures, which participated in Duffel’s $4.7... Read More
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