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.

cruise-direct-booking-travel agents
News / Distribution
Direct bookings rise, but cruise execs still want travel advisors' business
By Johanna Jainchill - Travel Weekly | March 14, 2022
The shift is due to passengers becoming more comfortable booking digitally with cruise lines and because some travel agencies didn't survive the last two years. Read More
VIDEO: Emerging from COVID using data and technology
From Our Partners / Technology
VIDEO: Emerging from COVID using data and technology
By PhocusWire | March 14, 2022
During the pandemic the Spain-based company utilized its long-held position as a innovator in travel tech to build tools and services to its partners to assist them as they attempt to ride the wave of... Read More
Despegar turns Q4 profit 9% over 2019 levels
News / Online
Despegar turns Q4 profit 9% over 2019 levels
By Jill Menze | March 10, 2022
The Latin American company reports adjusted EBITDA of $9 million in Q4 2021, a 9% increase above Q4 2019, despite gross bookings rising only 75% of the same quarter’s level. Read More
OTA Insight buys Transparent in bid to cover full accommodation sector
News / Distribution
OTA Insight buys Transparent in bid to cover full accommodation sector
By Kevin May | March 10, 2022
The combination of the two brands is being positioned as a way of giving hotels and rental properties the opportunity to access data and business intel on their markets and competition. Read More
How women in tech can break through the leadership glass ceiling
Opinion / Online
How women in tech can break through the leadership glass ceiling
By Jane Sun - Trip.com Group | March 8, 2022
As a female business executive and a working mother, striving for gender equality and ensuring women are offered the same opportunities as their male counterparts is really important to me. Read More
OYO, Hopper bet on gamification to drive user retention
News / Online
OYO, Hopper bet on gamification to drive user retention
By Mitra Sorrells | March 7, 2022
OYO and Hopper are leading the way but expect to see more brands using both game theory and actual games in their mobile apps. Read More
aeroflot-ukraine-distribution
News / Distribution
Sabre, Amadeus and Travelport pull fares from Russian carrier Aeroflot following Ukraine invasion
By Kevin May | March 4, 2022
Sabre was the first of the main GDSs to issue a statement that it has axed its distribution with the Russian goverment majority-owned airline, with Amadeus following shortly after. Read More
Sounding Off: Wartime decisions may linger long in the memory
Interview / Distribution
Sounding Off: Wartime decisions may linger long in the memory
By PhocusWire | March 4, 2022
Whatever the rationale behnd the decision, Sabre has made a calculated move that it will have to face head-on from the industry and its partners, or change in the coming days and weeks. Read More
Cruisewatch sets sail with €1M round to expand tech tools
News / Online
Cruisewatch sets sail with €1M round to expand tech tools
By Kevin May | March 4, 2022
Cruisewatch says it will use the new round to develop its AI-backed text and speech recognition tools and automation services for third-party agencies. Read More
Jim Davidson lands CEO role at Accelya
News / Distribution
Jim Davidson lands CEO role at Accelya
By Kevin May | March 2, 2022
Davidson joined the Spain-based company in June 2020 when it acquired Farelogix, the airline commerce and retailing system. Read More
The most used booking platforms for short-term rentals and what makes them attractive
News / Online
The most used booking platforms for short-term rentals and what makes them attractive
By Phocuswright Research | March 2, 2022
Over the past several years, travel distribution players have scrambled to add short-term rental properties and content, all vying for their share of the growing rental market. Read More
Klook rebrands, eyes new verticals and merchant offerings
News / Online
Klook rebrands, eyes new verticals and merchant offerings
By Jill Menze | March 2, 2022
The Hong Kong-based tours and activities OTA more than quadrupled its number of products and services during the pandemic from 100,000 in 2019 to 490,000 in 2021. Read More
VIDEO: Why data and understanding customers is so important during the COVID recovery
From Our Partners / Technology
VIDEO: Why data and understanding customers is so important during the COVID recovery
By PhocusWire | March 1, 2022
The COVID-19 pandemic has given many travel, tourism and hospitality companies the opportunity to rethink how they engage their customers and work with partners. Read More
Agents losing recovery trend for cruise as direct gains strength
News / Distribution
Agents losing recovery trend for cruise as direct gains strength
By Andrea Zelinski - Travel Weekly | March 1, 2022
New research found that while the number of people cruising increased 95% from 2020 to 2021, revenue from travel advisors and other intermediaries increased just 65%. Read More
eDreams Odigeo bookings continue to pace above 2019 levels
News / Online
eDreams Odigeo bookings continue to pace above 2019 levels
By Jill Menze | February 25, 2022
The European online travel company says its Prime subscription service contributed to a bookings uptick in the third quarter of the fiscal year 2022. Read More
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