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.

Startup Stage Plum Guide
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: The Plum Guide wants to be the Michelin Guide for vacation rentals
By Mitra Sorrells | October 3, 2018
Founded in 2016, the Plum Guide is a curated collection of vacation rentals that meet its rigorous “Perfect Stay Test” that evaluates properties based on more than 150 criteria – everything from smell... Read More
Hopper nabs $100M, wants to be "number-one mobile travel marketplace in the world"
News / Technology
Hopper nabs $100M, wants to be "number-one mobile travel marketplace in the world"
By Mitra Sorrells | October 3, 2018
Hopper is initiating a massive growth strategy fueled by a $100 million Series D financing round announced today.   Read More
To win with online travel in Asia, go local (or go home)
News / Online
To win with online travel in Asia, go local (or go home)
By Siew Hoon Yeoh - WebInTravel | October 3, 2018
Developments in APAC will require different thinking and tactics on the part of foreign brands that wish to be part of the “next billion users” market. Read More
fareharbor-booking-lawrence-hester
News / Technology
VIDEO: FareHarbor on being acquired by Booking.com
By Kevin May | October 3, 2018
In what has been a transformative year for tours and activities, perhaps one development stood out more than any other. Read More
Hotels are right to be obsessed with direct bookings
Opinion / Distribution
Hotels are right to be obsessed with direct bookings
By Patrick Bosworth - Duetto | October 2, 2018
Because Airbnb, the online travel agencies and other billion-dollar third parties are waging an arms race to be the world’s biggest travel brand, hoteliers obviously want to optimize their booking... Read More
Phocuswright Conference 2018 preview Rajesh Magow
Interview / Online
In the green room at Phocuswright with... Rajesh Magow
By PhocusWire | October 2, 2018
With responsibility for MakeMyTrip’s business strategy and operational leadership in India, Magow has helped the company become a leader in the country’s online travel industry, with more than $4... Read More
Travellers know what they want: all we have to do is listen to them
From Our Partners / Online
Travellers know what they want: all we have to do is listen to them
By Jon Collins - Travel Forward | October 1, 2018
When we talk about travelling customers as entities rather than people, we lose touch with one fundamental element. Read More
culture-trip-kris-naudts
Interview / Online
In The Big Chair - Kris Naudts of Culture Trip
By Linda Fox | October 1, 2018
Kris Naudts has a background in academic psychiatry but left the field in 2011 to found Culture Trip, which began life as an online bookstore. Read More
VIDEO: Two opposing views on Google's entry into tours and activities
News / Online
VIDEO: Two opposing views on Google's entry into tours and activities
By Kevin May | September 28, 2018
Google has always been involved in tours and activities - suppliers and online travel agencies would spend their digital marketing dollar with the search, as other brands do elsewhere in the industry. Read More
Business travel moves to greater flexibility as a new age emerges
News / Distribution
Business travel moves to greater flexibility as a new age emerges
By PhocusWire | September 27, 2018
Is there a segment of the travel industry that is said to be constant state of flux more than business travel? Probably not... Read More
Ctrip Splyt ride hailing partnership
News / Startups
Ctrip adds Splyt’s global ride-hailing to its mobile app
By Mitra Sorrells | September 27, 2018
Ctrip customers can now use the online travel agency’s app to book transportation in more than 1,000 cities around the world. Read More
homeshare-hotels-learnings
News / Distribution
Why hotels should take cues from home-sharing, stop "obsession with direct booking"
By Linda Fox | September 25, 2018
Though traditional hotel operators have been beleaguered by the march of brands such as Airbnb, they have taken steps to embrace the trend in recent years. A good example is the Marriott... Read More
phocuswright-preview-2018-dana-dunne
Interview / Online
In the green room at Phocuswright with... Dana Dunne
By PhocusWire | September 25, 2018
With previous roles at AOL and easyJet, the CEO of eDreams Odigeo was handed the leadership reins in 2015 and quickly put a six-point plan into action to ensure the company kept pace with the rapidly... Read More
In The Big Chair - Deep Kalra of MakeMyTrip
Interview / Distribution
In The Big Chair - Deep Kalra of MakeMyTrip
By Mitra Sorrells | September 25, 2018
Deep Kalra founded MakeMyTrip in 2000 in the United States to help the country’s Indian community manage its travel to and from India. It started operations within India in 2005 and now offers flights,... Read More
VIDEO: Musement on being bought and being part of something bigger
News / Online
VIDEO: Musement on being bought and being part of something bigger
By Kevin May | September 25, 2018
The recent deal that saw online travel agency for tours and activities, Musement, head the way of the TUI Group is the latest long line of deals this year. Read More
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