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.

News / Distribution

Only three in ten French hotel bookings will be direct by 2022

By Kevin May | May 16, 2018

Hotel bookings in France are dominated by third party sites - and growth of the direct channel is tipped to slow over the next five years. Read More

News / Technology

Technology is driving "tidal wave of change" for booming travel industry

By Mitra Sorrells | May 15, 2018

The combination of strong economies around the world and rapid developments in technology are causing significant, fundamental changes in the business of travel. Read More

Opinion / Distribution

Online travel agencies and their use of "voodoo science"

By Max Starkov - HEBS Digital | May 15, 2018

It was always going to be mildly controversial when the European Technology and Travel Services Association (ETTSA) released its report last week into direct hotel bookings. Read More

News / Online

Uber goes on charm offensive, promises new tools and culture

By Kevin May | May 14, 2018

This time last year the wheels at Uber were pretty much ready to fall off - such were the negatives headlines that the company couldn't escape from. Read More

News / Distribution

Travelport touts opportunities, challenges of NDC

By Mitra Sorrells | May 14, 2018

As the industry moves ahead with implementation of IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC), Travelport’s global head of product and marketing for air commerce is optimistic the new data transmission... Read More

News / Technology

Unlocking travel security, part 2: The looming GDPR deadline

By Mitra Sorrells | May 14, 2018

The European Parliament approved GDPR in 2016 and gave companies two years to prepare their systems and policies for compliance. Read More

Interview / Online

Phocuswright Europe 2018 Preview: Blanca Menchaca on Asia being misunderstood

By PhocusWire | May 13, 2018

The BeMyGuest co-founder will be battling with Bobby Healy of CarTrawler, asking if the "Asian Tigers" have enough to win over the global elephants, especially in a land where scale matters. Read More

News / Online

TripAdvisor airport store program grows

By Kevin May | May 10, 2018

Rarely mentioned by TripAdvisor (it's not really been officially announced) but the company has a growing offline strategy, too. Read More

News / Distribution

Hotel direct distribution benefits "debunked"

By Kevin May | May 10, 2018

"No measurable impact" is the headline-grabbing finding from a study looking at whether direct bookings have any impact on the cost of distribution for hotels. Read More

News / Online

TripAdvisor wants to utilize massive user base to grow Experiences

By Kevin May | May 10, 2018

TripAdvisor has high hopes for its Experiences division, claiming that there is plenty of room for growth as more suppliers shift online. Read More

Booking Holdings hits record $25B booking mark for a quarter

By Jill Menze | May 9, 2018

In the first quarter of 2018, Booking Holdings, formerly the Priceline Group, has reported significant financial growth despite a slowing of growth in bookings and room nights. Read More

News / Online

Dreamlines sails home with €45 million to expand cruise platform

By Kevin May | May 8, 2018

Cruise booking platform Dreamlines has brought its total funding to over the €100 million mark with a new €45 million capital raise. Read More

News / Distribution

Fraudulent hotel bookings hit $5.2 billion in 2017

By Mitra Sorrells | May 8, 2018

The American Hotel & Lodging Association says consumers paid $5.2 billion in fraudulent and misleading hotel booking transactions with third-party travel companies in 2017. Read More

Opinion / Technology

Microsoft’s manifesto on corporate travel – a not so fast revolution

By Bill Carroll - Phocuswright | May 8, 2018

In 1848, German philosophers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote The Communist Manifesto to recognize the struggles of class in societies as they related to capitalism. Read More