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 / Distribution

Accor boosts Middle East distribution with Al Tayyar partnership

By Mitra Sorrells | April 3, 2019

Accor will provide Saudi Arabia-based Al Tayyar Travel Group direct access to real-time rates and availability for its portfolio of 4,800 hotels and resorts in 100 countries worldwide. Read More

From Our Partners / Online

Why travelers expect brands to deliver an omnichannel experience from start to end?

By Íñigo Valenzuela - Smartvel | April 3, 2019

It has become the trend for customers to reach out to several touchpoints for inspiration, price comparisons and customer reviews before finally choosing between different services. Read More

Opinion / Technology

How smaller travel brands can ride the personalization wave

By Matt Langie - Adara | April 2, 2019

Personalization is great for a global airline, or even a regional cruise line. For most smaller travel brands, even regular personalization can seem out of reach. Read More

News / Technology

The wake-up call in security that travel brands need to listen to

By Linda Fox | April 1, 2019

Security breaches in travel are rising - IBM gives some indication as to the reasons why and how much it can cost. Read More

Opinion / Distribution

Dear, airlines - are you new distribution compatible?

By Ian Heywood - Travelport | April 1, 2019

The 16.1 standard for NDC will only get you so far. You can just about book an airline seat with it. But not much else. So it is not much use to anybody. Read More

News / Online

When right goes wrong for travelers in A/B website testing

By Linda Fox | March 29, 2019

A/B testing has become a big part of what online travel agencies do to introduce new functionality and improve the user experience. But it has its problems. Read More

News / Technology

As Amadeus embarks on cloud journey, Expedia keeps it real

By Linda Fox | March 28, 2019

Amadeus has begun migrating services to the cloud beginning with its Master Pricer shopping technology. Read More

News / Online

Triton private equity giant buys online tour operator Sunweb

By Kevin May | March 28, 2019

Sunweb Group is now under auspices of private equity ownership following a deal to sell the business to Triton. Read More

Interview / Online

Q&A: Figuring out a role in a mega-funded world of ground transportation

By Kevin May | March 28, 2019

The focus tends to go to ground transportation brands that have raised multimillion (even billion level) dollar investment rounds, so how do smaller players compete? Read More

News / Online

VIDEO: TourRadar on raising money and thinking about a big market

By Kevin May | March 28, 2019

TourRadar may not perhaps get quite the same level of attention as other consumer-facing players in the tours and activities sector. Read More

News / Online

HomeAway commits to future of VRBO with rebrand and new features

By Kevin May | March 27, 2019

Expedia Group is "doubling down on what made the business successful", HomeAway president John Kim says, almost 25 years on from the service's launch in the U.S. Read More

News / Online

Airbnb counts half a billion guest arrivals, host earnings at $65B

By Jill Menze | March 27, 2019

More than 500,000 guests have stayed at Airbnb properties around the globe, the company reports, with three guests checking into listings every half-second. Read More

From Our Partners / Technology

Why hoteliers should jump on the personalization bandwagon

By Diane Merlino | March 27, 2019

While technology plays a critical role on the facilitation side, the primary push for personalization in the travel industry is coming directly from consumers. Read More