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 / Technology

Amadeus begins Salesforce integration, starts with disruption management

June 21, 2019

This is "just the beginning" - further use cases which could include reservations to come further down the road. Read More

News / Online

Etraveli Group acquires TripStack, Flight Network in effort to build North American presence

By Linda Fox | June 20, 2019

The Sweden-based company, whose brands include Gotogate, Seat24 and Flygresor, says the move will boost its presence in North America as well as extend its airline integration capabilities. Read More

News / Online

Hopper ramps up hotel booking with global private rates and price tracking

By Kevin May | June 20, 2019

Eighteen months on from its initial launch, Hopper is applying some of the secret sauce learned from flights to its hotel search and booking service. Read More

News / Technology

Expedia’s Arthur Chapin on emerging tech: The good, the bad… and the blockchain

By Jill Menze | June 20, 2019

You’ve heard it once, and you’ll hear again how things like blockchain and Amazon’s Alexa are disrupting the travel industry. But when does the talk turn from promise and buzz to practical... Read More

Opinion / Online

The evolution of the user experience in online business travel

By Simon Carmouche - PredictX | June 19, 2019

It feels like the industry is finally getting around to giving some long-overdue attention to the relative quality of the user experience of booking and trip itinerary management. Maybe not? Read More

News / Online

VIDEO: Awaze on a vacation rental sector that is growing up

By Kevin May | June 19, 2019

Henrik Kjellberg explains how the wider vacation rental market is adapting to consumer trends, what Awaze is doing to protect itself from the competition and where the sector needs to evolve Read More

News / Online

Hotels need to embark on a new chapter - the digital one already written by Amazon

By Mitra Sorrells | June 19, 2019

Hotels can fend off threats from outside by adopting a retailing mindset and using tech that supports their model, rather than relying on outdated property management systems. Read More

News / Online

MagicStay raises €3M to expand business travel accommodation rental service

By Kevin May | June 19, 2019

The capital from representatives at Simmons & Simmons and Société Générale Corporate & Investment Banking brings the total put into the vacation rental booking platform for corporate travelers... Read More

Interview / Technology

In The Big Chair LIVE - Mat Orrego of Cornerstone

By Kevin May | June 18, 2019

Alongside running CIS since 1992, Orrego is an active supporter of the travel startup world through his work with RunUp Labs and as a regular and vocal judge at pitch competitions. Read More

News / Technology

RateGain acquires social and guest engagement platform BCV

By Kevin May | June 17, 2019

A mid-range, double-digit millions figure is believed to have been paid for 24/7 social media monitoring, reputation management, analytics and content marketing business. Read More

News / Online

Mary Meeker's annual report: Growing giants, next-gen data and super apps

By Linda Fox | June 17, 2019

Many in the digital and wider industrial world await Mary Meeker’s annual trends report with anticipation for what can be expected for their sector. We look at the travel-related elements. Read More

Interview / Online

Sounding Off: Another major OTA arriving is the least of the hospitality sector's worries

By PhocusWire | June 14, 2019

Understanding and meeting the changing customer is going to become the single most important investment that hotels and chains make in the years ahead, after asset improvements and other infrastructure... Read More

News / Online

Booking.com talks up importance of reviews in travel decisions, especially for rentals

By Linda Fox | June 14, 2019

The OTA's survey of 21,500 travelers globally reveals that 53% of travelers have decided not to book accommodation because of negative reviews about a host. Read More

Opinion / Online

The A-to-Gen Z of travel loyalty

By Craig Brennan - SwitchFly | June 14, 2019

The next generation of consumers don’t want one-size-fits-all rewards. They want to be recognized as individuals and they want rewards that are relevant to their needs and to their travel journey. Read More