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.

wyndham-panorama-launch
News / Online
Wyndham Destinations ignites “revolution” of legacy timeshare business, launches Panorama brand
By Mitra Sorrells | July 27, 2020
The new brand will be focused on driving growth of its vacation membership and travel technology businesses.     Read More
How can travel brands keep customers apprised of border regulations and leisure options?
From Our Partners / Online
How can travel brands keep customers apprised of border regulations and leisure options?
By Jennifer Phillips April - Smartvel | July 27, 2020
An increase in travelers is good news for airlines that have been hard hit during the pandemic. As the world reopens, many people are eager for a getaway as a mental reset from months of confinement. Read More
Sounding Off: Time to push forward but not be afraid of digitalization
Interview / Online
Sounding Off: Time to push forward but not be afraid of digitalization
July 24, 2020
Digitalization shouldn't scare the travel, tourism and hospitality industry, nor the customers that fly in its aircraft, sleep in its beds, ride in its vehicles and enjoy its activities. Read More
Five tips about payments as airlines resume flying
Opinion / Technology
Five tips about payments as airlines resume flying
By Adnan Beig - Amadeus | July 24, 2020
How the industry receives and administers payments is changing as airlines navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Right now, there isn’t a travel business on the planet that can afford to lose a sale. Read More
How I Got Here, episode 34 - Bobby Healy of CarTrawler
Interview / Technology
How I Got Here, episode 34 - Bobby Healy of CarTrawler
By PhocusWire | July 23, 2020
Free-spirited and never afraid to speak his mind, Bobby Healy is a well-known figure in the travel and transportation sectors. He's in conversation with Mozio's David Litwak and Kevin May from... Read More
sabre-mindsay-chatbot
News / Technology
Sabre integrates Mindsay technology to enable automated customer service for OTAs, airlines and TMCs
By Mitra Sorrells | July 22, 2020
Sabre says the integration of Mindsay technology will enable travel companies to automatically resolve 70% of customer service requests.   Read More
aeronology-carstensen-interview
News / Technology
No transactions, no problem: why this travel veteran is optimistic about a startup launched on eve of COVID-19
By Mitra Sorrells | July 21, 2020
Aeronology founder Russell Carstensen is banking on his deep understanding of the industry and the longevity of travel agents to lead his company to success. Read More
Rental accommodation tech providers unite to launch consumer site
News / Online
Rental accommodation tech providers unite to launch consumer site
By Kevin May | July 20, 2020
The quartet - GuestReady, HostnFly, NOCNOC and Welkeys - have built the service in a bid to revive the national market for trips by using their respective expertise in both back-end and... Read More
booking-com-travel-incentive
News / Distribution
Booking.com creates rebooking incentive with money back for travelers, waived commission for suppliers
By Mitra Sorrells | July 20, 2020
Booking.com’s new travel incentive gives customers a 15% reward if they rebook stays they had canceled.   Read More
Sounding Off: OTA version 2.0 is likely to come from outside the travel industry
Interview / Online
Sounding Off: OTA version 2.0 is likely to come from outside the travel industry
By PhocusWire | July 17, 2020
The brands that are able to position themselves in this as-yet undetermined role will most likely be all things to all people - selling more than just a form of accommodation and a flight. Read More
VIDEO: New Reality With... Peter Kern of Expedia Group
News / Online
VIDEO: New Reality With... Peter Kern of Expedia Group
By PhocusWire | July 17, 2020
The next guest on the New Reality With... series is Peter Kern, CEO and vice chairman at Expedia Group, one of the world's largest online travel companies. Read More
InPhocus, episode 18 - Innovators are primed and ready
News / Technology
InPhocus, episode 18 - Innovators are primed and ready
By PhocusWire | July 17, 2020
The reset that everyone is going through gives startups (already born or just ideas) and new technology an opportunity to make their case. Read More
tripadvisor-smartertravel-hopjump
News / Online
Tripadvisor sells SmarterTravel Media portfolio to Hopjump
By Mitra Sorrells | July 17, 2020
Tripadvisor will retain ownership of the Jetsetter brand while the remaining brands in the SmarterTravel Media portfolio now belong to Hopjump. Read More
wit-japan-future
News / Online
As domestic travel picks up in Japan, players adapt with safety measures, micro-targeting and hybrid models
By Marissa Trew - WiT | July 16, 2020
Ryokans, road trips and retreats are predicted to do well in the first wave of Japan's rebound. Read More
Visits to travel sites decline again after reports of more infections
News / Online
Visits to travel sites decline again after reports of more infections
By Linda Fox | July 14, 2020
While all segments had seen month-on-month improvement in website visits and bookings in April and May, travel trends dipped again in June and into July.  Read More
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