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.

Despegar debuts GenAI travel assistant for trip inspiration and booking
News / Technology
Despegar debuts GenAI travel assistant for trip inspiration and booking
By Mitra Sorrells | March 4, 2024
Customers can use the "Sofia" tool through text or voice or by clicking on visual options and can return to chats even days later with the interaction saved in the system. Read More
TravelAI relaunches Casai website with focus on luxury short-term rentals
News / Online
TravelAI relaunches Casai website with focus on luxury short-term rentals
By D.J. Catron | March 1, 2024
After acquiring the domain name of the Latin American short-term rental startup, TravelAI will use the site to target travelers interested primarily in the Mediterranean and Caribbean.   Read More
Sabre, Mastercard join Travalyst mission to drive sustainable travel choices
News / Distribution
Sabre, Mastercard join Travalyst mission to drive sustainable travel choices
By Linda Fox | March 1, 2024
The coalition, which also counts Booking.com, Expedia Group and Trip.com Group as partners, aims to help inform consumer travel choices by making sustainability information mainstream. Read More
15below gets investment from LDC to accelerate growth
News / Technology
15below gets investment from LDC to accelerate growth
By Mitra Sorrells | March 1, 2024
Founded in 2000, 15below currently works with more than 60 airlines, rail operators, travel agencies and TMCs and partners with Amadeus and Navitaire. Read More
Expedia, Booking, Amadeus join forces to address digital travel regulations
News / Technology
Expedia, Booking, Amadeus join forces to address digital travel regulations
By Yeoh Siew Hoon – Web in Travel | February 29, 2024
The Global Travel Tech also includes eDreams Odigeo, Travelport and Skyscanner. They seek to address global concerns around anticipated regulatory changes affecting digital travel platforms.   Read More
AirAsia integrates fintech ancillaries from Hopper B2B solution HTS
News / Online
AirAsia integrates fintech ancillaries from Hopper B2B solution HTS
By Mitra Sorrells | February 29, 2024
The new "cancel for any reason" option will launch later this year for customers that book non-refundable fares on the AirAsia MOVE app and at airasia.com. Read More
Why an effective payments strategy is critical for airlines
From Our Partners / Distribution
Why an effective payments strategy is critical for airlines
By PhocusWire | February 28, 2024
UATP president and CEO Ralph Kaiser explains how airlines and travel brands can use payments to drive growth, serve new markets and reduce costs. Read More
Culture Trip website sold to U.S. media company
News / Online
Culture Trip website sold to U.S. media company
By Linda Fox | February 26, 2024
U.S. media company U.S. News & World Report has boosted its existing travel content services with the acquisition of theculturetrip.com website. Read More
Expedia Group to reduce headcount by up to 1,500
News / Online
Expedia Group to reduce headcount by up to 1,500
By Linda Fox | February 26, 2024
With its technology transformation completed, Expedia is looking to reduce overheads with job cuts underway. Read More
What hotels can learn from Amazon, Netflix and the OTAs
Opinion / Online
What hotels can learn from Amazon, Netflix and the OTAs
By Frank Reeves - SHR Group | February 23, 2024
The hotel industry finds itself at a crossroads: Change its strategy or lose guests. It’s not about mimicking the OTAs, but learning from their approach to build direct, meaningful relationships with... Read More
Booking Holdings will appeal $530M fine by Spanish competition authority
News / Online
Booking Holdings will appeal $530M fine by Spanish competition authority
By Mitra Sorrells | February 22, 2024
Booking Holdings reported its fourth quarter and full year 2023 earnings late Thursday, with records across multiple financial metrics including revenue that soared 40% higher than 2019. Read More
Trip.com Group sees significant bookings uplift across OTA platform
News / Online
Trip.com Group sees significant bookings uplift across OTA platform
By Linda Fox | February 22, 2024
Trip.com Group reports revenue gains across accommodation, transportation ticketing, corporate travel and packages for Q4 2023. Read More
AI check-in: MakeMyTrip sees conversion boost from AI implementations
News / Technology
AI check-in: MakeMyTrip sees conversion boost from AI implementations
By Morgan Hines | February 22, 2024
MakeMyTrip group chief technology officer Sanjay Mohan discusses what the company is learning - and the business impacts - from its artificial intelligence strategy. Read More
Expedia Group creates two new divisions to be led by Paredes, Schulze
News / Online
Expedia Group creates two new divisions to be led by Paredes, Schulze
By Mitra Sorrells | February 21, 2024
The two new divisions replace Expedia for Business, which has been led by Ariane Gorin, who becomes CEO in May.   Read More
Study: How AI boosts digital advertising and direct bookings
News / Technology
Study: How AI boosts digital advertising and direct bookings
By Derek Catron | February 21, 2024
Recent advances in AI’s handling of digital advertising have increased the possibilities for hotels to grow direct bookings, a study from D-Edge found.   Read More
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