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.

Phocuswright Conference 2020 Preview: It's a period of reckoning for hotels
News / Distribution
Phocuswright Conference 2020 Preview: It's a period of reckoning for hotels
By Kevin May | October 27, 2020
The pre-pandemic fierce yet healthy competition between hotels and rentals for the leisure traveler is now more acute than it has ever been. It's going to be a tough ride ahead. Read More
VIDEO: Travelport CEO Greg Webb on recovery and reality of NDC
News / Distribution
VIDEO: Travelport CEO Greg Webb on recovery and reality of NDC
By Kevin May | October 27, 2020
It's been quite a first year or so at the helm of Travelport for its CEO Greg Webb. But he already has some firm views on what works and what doesn't for the distribution and tech business. Read More
VIDEO: Why payments are critical to travel's recovery
News / Technology
VIDEO: Why payments are critical to travel's recovery
By Jill Menze | October 27, 2020
At Phocuswright Europe, a panel of payments experts examined how payments will be key to success in a post-COVID world. Read More
Knowing your guest is no longer a luxury
News / Distribution
Knowing your guest is no longer a luxury
By Peter Waters - Amadeus | October 27, 2020
Hoteliers that can unlock the power of guest data will be ideally positioned to create lasting, meaningful guest relationships and ultimately drive recovery and future growth. Read More
WEBINAR REPLAY! 10 traveler trends for 2021 planning (hint: 5 are not COVID-related)
News / Online
WEBINAR REPLAY! 10 traveler trends for 2021 planning (hint: 5 are not COVID-related)
By PhocusWire | October 26, 2020
PhocusWire teams up with Sojern to dig into our survey results on consumers' sentiments and attitudes toward upcoming travel, and explore how it impacts their trip planning, shopping, and booking... Read More
STARTUP STAGE: aiTravelers wants to remove the search pain from travel
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: aiTravelers wants to remove the search pain from travel
By Linda Fox | October 26, 2020
The company is a subscription-based online travel platform that uses artificial intelligence to match users with the best travel options. Read More
google-itb-trends
News / Distribution
Google says COVID boosted OTA usage in APAC
By Mitra Sorrells | October 26, 2020
Google's sector lead for travel and vertical search in APAC shared results of the company's consumer surveys during a keynote at ITB Asia.     Read More
CuddlyNest raises $6M to grow accommodations booking platform
News / Online
CuddlyNest raises $6M to grow accommodations booking platform
By Jill Menze | October 26, 2020
The funding round, from CuddlyNest’s existing private investors, brings the Orlando-based startup’s total funding to $10.5 million. Read More
InPhocus, episode 25 - Vrbo president Jeff Hurst on its 25-year legacy
News / Online
InPhocus, episode 25 - Vrbo president Jeff Hurst on its 25-year legacy
By Kevin May | October 23, 2020
Jeff Hurst talks about the key moments in the Vrbo story, the impact that the arrival of Airbnb had on the short-term rental marketplace and what the sector might evolve into next.  Read More
RedDoorz expands with launch of Sans brand
News / Online
RedDoorz expands with launch of Sans brand
By WebInTravel | October 22, 2020
The brand will be rolled out next month, initially in Indonesia, with five new properties targeted by end of the year. Read More
Booking.com launches flight search and booking in the U.S.
News / Online
Booking.com launches flight search and booking in the U.S.
By Kevin May | October 22, 2020
U.S. customers can now search, book and pay for air tickets on Booking.com, a year after flights were introduced in some European countries.  Read More
Travel brands eager for a hit on Google might be disappointed
Opinion / Online
Travel brands eager for a hit on Google might be disappointed
By Robert Cole - RockCheetah and Phocuswright | October 22, 2020
Travel industry expert and analyst Robert Cole dives into the antitrust probe into Google and finds there is little there that will appease concerns in the travel industry. Read More
How I Got Here, episode 47 - Brad Bao of Lime
Interview / Online
How I Got Here, episode 47 - Brad Bao of Lime
By PhocusWire | October 22, 2020
Lime is on a mission to overhaul the way people think about urban mobility, whether it's with bikes or scooters, commuting or leisure. Brad Bao tells the story to PhocusWire's Kevin May and David Litwak... Read More
futurestay-booking-online-checkin-2
News / Online
Booking.com taps Futurestay to launch online check-in for rentals
By Mitra Sorrells | October 21, 2020
The two companies have been working on the online check-in solution since late 2019 but accelerated it as contactless experiences gained traction due to COVID-19. Read More
Travel industry reacts to Google antitrust probe in the U.S.
News / Online
Travel industry reacts to Google antitrust probe in the U.S.
By PhocusWire | October 20, 2020
Google, it is claimed, has abused its dominant position in search and advertising to keep competition down. So, how is the industry reacting so far? And what about Google itself? Read More
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