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.

haunted financial
News / Online
Could addiction to debt come back to haunt some online travel companies?
By Steven Lerner | March 25, 2020
If revenue drops due to COVID-19, past debt will make it more challenging for online travel companies to survive economic obstacles. Read More
Digital travel brands want the same bailouts from governments as hotels and airlines
News / Technology
Digital travel brands want the same bailouts from governments as hotels and airlines
By Kevin May | March 24, 2020
A lobbying organization, which includes the likes of Amadeus, Travelport, Booking.com, Expedia Group, Skyscanner, Tripadvisor and eDreams ODIGEO as members, says the COVID-19 outbreak is hitting the... Read More
startups-coronavirus-decisions
News / Startups
Confronted by crisis, travel startups weigh difficult - and personal - decisions
By Jill Menze | March 24, 2020
Not only are startups equipped with fewer resources, funds and time, but also, the close-knit nature of their workforces means that even one shift within the company is often felt by all. Read More
Expedia will refund hotel guests during COVID-19 outbreak regardless of existing booking policy
News / Distribution
Expedia will refund hotel guests during COVID-19 outbreak regardless of existing booking policy
March 23, 2020
The operator of accommodation booking sites including Expedia, Hotels.com, Hotwire and others says it was facing an "unprecedented volume of calls" from travelers asking for help with non-refundable... Read More
Sabre makes $200M in cuts to offset coronavirus impact
News / Distribution
Sabre makes $200M in cuts to offset coronavirus impact
By Kevin May | March 20, 2020
The cuts range from offering voluntary unpaid leave, severance and early retirement to staff across the world to scaling back its third-party contracting and vendor costs. Read More
ctrip-liang-coronavirus-apps-2
Opinion / Technology
Trip.com Group's James Liang: Mobile apps could help to contain epidemics
By James Liang - Trip.com Group | March 20, 2020
Trip.com Group chairman James Liang explains how a mobile app could be used to address issues related to travel during crises such as the current one caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus. Read More
InPhocus, episode 2 - In the midst of a crisis we can rethink the rules
News / Distribution
InPhocus, episode 2 - In the midst of a crisis we can rethink the rules
By PhocusWire | March 19, 2020
Before the usual conversations about business, many discussions have inevitably started with asking how a person's family, city or country is fairing under the outbreak of the coronavirus. Read More
Lastminute.com Group expects bookings to return in May, predicts offline competitors will fail
News / Distribution
Lastminute.com Group expects bookings to return in May, predicts offline competitors will fail
By Linda Fox | March 19, 2020
The business posted gains in revenue and EBITDA for full-year 2019 and claims a strong cash position to weather the COVID-19 storm. Read More
Corporate travel on the front line of global incidents
News / Online
Corporate travel on the front line of global incidents
By Linda Fox | March 18, 2020
The corporate travel industry has to deal with an increasing volume of incidents related to weather, terrorism - and now health - that impact travel. Read More
Q&A: Trip.com Group's Jane Sun on weathering the coronavirus storm in China
News / Online
Q&A: Trip.com Group's Jane Sun on weathering the coronavirus storm in China
By Yeoh Siew Hoon - WebInTravel | March 18, 2020
The travel giant's boss talks about the measures taken to get the company through the storm – pay cuts, cancellations guarantees, remote work and providing the right information to customers – and what... Read More
WEBINAR REPLAY! Why we book: Unpacking travel loyalty
News / Online
WEBINAR REPLAY! Why we book: Unpacking travel loyalty
By PhocusWire | March 17, 2020
Considering the top 25% of travelers generate 77% of travel revenue, having a loyal customer base is critical if you are in the travel business. Read More
Youth travel businesses anticipate an €87B impact from coronavirus
News / Distribution
Youth travel businesses anticipate an €87B impact from coronavirus
By Linda Fox | March 17, 2020
Economic, political uncertainty, employment and travel restrictions top the list of concerns for businesses during this challenging period for both the immediate and long term, WYSE says. Read More
"Nothing will be the same": How Italian hoteliers are coping with coronavirus fallout
News / Distribution
"Nothing will be the same": How Italian hoteliers are coping with coronavirus fallout
By Mitra Sorrells | March 16, 2020
Giancarlo Carniani - Phocuswright analyst, hotelier and president of the hotel association in Florence, Italy - explains why hoteliers are "furious" at Booking.com and why the hospitality industry will... Read More
Sounding Off: All that talk about being brilliant communicators should be real
Interview / Online
Sounding Off: All that talk about being brilliant communicators should be real
March 13, 2020
Now that marketing is all over the place for a few months, communications has to be the channel that travel brands focus their efforts on. Read More
Will the coronavirus outbreak force hotels to adapt to new technologies quicker?
Opinion / Technology
Will the coronavirus outbreak force hotels to adapt to new technologies quicker?
By Gregor Amon - Hotel Data Cloud | March 13, 2020
When it comes to hotels, you can bet that hotel owners and managers are reeling, trying to come up with a plan to address coronavirus, but more importantly, to have strategies to recoup their losses... Read More
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