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.

HomeAway tips wider shift from guest fees, admits brand complexity with VRBO
News / Online
HomeAway tips wider shift from guest fees, admits brand complexity with VRBO
By Kevin May | April 27, 2018
The fee structure in vacation rentals is likely to shift more towards to suppliers rather than guests over time, Expedia Group predicts. Read More
RedAwning expands into vacation rental services with Blizzard acquisition
News / Technology
RedAwning expands into vacation rental services with Blizzard acquisition
By Kevin May | April 27, 2018
Vacation rental platform RedAwning has bought web services company Blizzard Internet Marketing in a bid to expand its technology services to property managers. Read More
Expedia Group ticks solid start box for 2018, helped by HomeAway
News / Online
Expedia Group ticks solid start box for 2018, helped by HomeAway
By Mitra Sorrells | April 26, 2018
Expedia Group recorded a 15% increase in total gross bookings and a 15% increase in revenue to $2.5 billion for the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period last year. Read More
Eurostar goes it alone with web hotel platform after years with Expedia
News / Online
Eurostar goes it alone with web hotel platform after years with Expedia
By Kevin May | April 25, 2018
Eurostar's long-standing partnership with Expedia has come to an end, with the train operator launching its own packaging platform for hotels and rail tickets. Read More
SDL AI machine learning content creation
News / Technology
How AI is rewriting content creation for travel
By Mitra Sorrells | April 25, 2018
Content is the foundation of a brand’s interaction with its customers. Whether in the form of a website, mobile app, emails, or a social campaign, the words a brand uses provide both information and... Read More
Culture Trip brings in $80M to build online travel agency
News / Startups
Culture Trip brings in $80M to build online travel agency
By Kevin May | April 24, 2018
Who said travel content sites were dead in an age dominated by large players such as TripAdvisor and long-standing niche sites already in the market? Read More
Booking.com will find it just as hard in activities as everyone else
Opinion / Distribution
Booking.com will find it just as hard in activities as everyone else
By Douglas Quinby - Phocuswright | April 24, 2018
Last week saw back-to-back acquisitions of two leading reservation systems in the tours and activities sector– FareHarbor in the U.S. by Booking Holdings and Iceland’s Bokun by TripAdvisor. Read More
Ctrip and AccorHotels expand partnership to enhance services for Chinese travelers
News / Distribution
Ctrip and AccorHotels expand partnership to enhance services for Chinese travelers
By Mitra Sorrells | April 23, 2018
The more than 300 million registered users that book trips through online travel agency Ctrip will now have more personalized options and service from AccorHotels.  Read More
AI series part 4 marketing
News / Technology
AI analysis, part 4: Digital marketing
By Mitra Sorrells | April 23, 2018
According to the Salesforce’s 2017 “State of Marketing” report, artificial intelligence is the leading technology where marketers expect the most growth in the next two years.  Read More
Booking acquires FareHarbor
News / Distribution
Booking Holdings buys FareHarbor in push for share of tours and activities
By Mitra Sorrells | April 19, 2018
Booking Holdings has agreed to acquire FareHarbor, a Denver-based software company focused on tours and activities.   Read More
booking Olivier Gremillon phocuswright europe
Interview / Online
Phocuswright Europe 2018 Preview: Q&A with Booking.com's Olivier Gremillon
By PhocusWire | April 19, 2018
Ahead of the event, he discusses the need for collaboration among travel players, the transformative power of technology and more. Read More
Eatwith partnerships Chinese travel
News / Distribution
Food experiences platform Eatwith partners with five Chinese travel providers
April 18, 2018
Travelers that use any of China’s five largest online travel sites now have direct access to book food experiences offered by Eatwith in cities around the globe.   Read More
Marriott ramps up tours and activities, new loyalty program plays a role
News / Online
Marriott ramps up tours and activities, new loyalty program plays a role
By Kevin May | April 18, 2018
Plenty of attention on Marriott this week as it introduces a new loyalty package - but other efforts to coincide with the launch illustrate a maturing of another sector. Read More
eDreams ODIGEO machine learning
News / Distribution
Machine learning drives 50% increase in flight bookings for eDreams ODIGEO
By Mitra Sorrells | April 17, 2018
Barcelona-based eDreams ODIGEO reports a significant boost in business since it began using machine learning technology to personalize offers for travelers.    Read More
sabre synxis property hub
News / Technology
Sabre sharpens tools for hoteliers with new guest-focused property hub
By Jill Menze | April 16, 2018
Sabre’s newly outlined vision to reshape the business of travel includes not only solutions for its airline customers, but also for hoteliers. Read More
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