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.

From Our Partners / Technology

REPORT: Can AI help OTAs earn customer loyalty?

By Marisa Garcia | July 22, 2019

In this report, we’ll explore how using advanced technology and artificial intelligence can help OTAs and metasearch companies gain a competitive edge on bookings. Read More

News / Online

India, part 3: Can a focus on trains turn Ixigo into India’s leading OTA?

By Mitra Sorrells | July 22, 2019

For part three of our series on India, the founders of Ixigo explain how and why they are focusing on rail to drive the company's success. Read More

News / Online

Influential travel sites for booking not always the big players

By Linda Fox | July 19, 2019

Online travel agents might be spending billions on marketing yet very few make the cut when it comes to sites used to choose a hotel. Read More

News / Online

Airbnb reaches seven out of ten properties available for instant booking

By Kevin May | July 18, 2019

The figure is a sizeable jump from 2016, when just one in three of Airbnb's properties could be secured straight away. Read More

News / Distribution

Ebix to acquire Indian online travel agency Yatra for $337.8M

By Mitra Sorrells | July 17, 2019

Yatra directors have approved a bid from Atlanta-based firm Ebix to acquire the company via merger for $337.8 million. Read More

Pickyourtrail Tourism Australia partnership

News / Startups

Travel tech startup Pickyourtrail targets booming market of Indian travelers to Australia

By Mitra Sorrells | July 17, 2019

Indian travel planning startup Pickyourtrail is partnering with Tourism Australia to target the booming market of Indian travelers to that country. Read More

News / Technology

Travelstop raises $3M for business travel expense tools

By Kevin May | July 16, 2019

The company's pre-Series A round is being led by Accel with Strive and previous investor SeedPlus also included in the group of investors. Read More

News / Online

TripAdvisor still inspires booking confidence, new study shows

By Jill Menze | July 16, 2019

Despite cries of fake content infiltrating reviews sites, travelers are still turning to TripAdvisor ahead of booking trips, a new study shows. Read More

News / Online

Desires, aspirations and bucket lists - the importance of travel to Gen Z

By Linda Fox | July 15, 2019

When pitting travel against other spend choices such as homewares, clothes, technology and gadgets and eating out, travel still came out top. Read More

News / Online

VIDEO: GetYourGuide says raise big or go home

By Kevin May | July 15, 2019

CEO Johannes Reck talks about why the race to scale is so important and what happens if they don't get to it. The answer is very black and white. Read More

News / Startups

India, part 2: Investors express optimism as travel market grows

By Mitra Sorrells | July 15, 2019

For the second piece in our series on India, we talk to some of the country's travel industry investors and entrepreneurs to understand the opportunities and challenges of the market. Read More

Interview / Startups

STARTUP STAGE: Tryps.Tech is digitizing tour and activity distribution for the Middle East

By Mitra Sorrells | July 12, 2019

Tryps.Tech is an online distributor of more than 14,000 tours, activities, attraction tickets, airport lounge access, events and transfers in 130 countries, focused on serving Middle East travelers. Its... Read More

Interview / Online

In The Big Chair - Damian Scokin of Despegar

By Linda Fox | July 11, 2019

Despegar was created in 1999 as one of Latin America's first online travel agencies. Based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the company raised just $31 million before going public in 2017. Read More