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PhocusWire's in-depth coverage of travel search, featuring news, analysis, interviews, research and more on Google, other search engines, strategies, executives and role in the market.

Generative AI trip planning startup MindTrip raises $7M
News / Startups
Generative AI trip planning startup MindTrip raises $7M
By Morgan Hines | September 8, 2023
MindTrip, set to go public in beta before year's end, seeks to help travelers discover, book and plan travel in one place. Read More
Google adds “cheapest time to book” in time for Christmas
News / Online
Google adds “cheapest time to book” in time for Christmas
By Derek Catron | August 28, 2023
Google is adding information on when fares are expected to be lowest for booking a specific destination for specific dates, similar to advice offered by Hopper, Kayak and Skyscanner.   Read More
TikTok, Instagram, X: How travel startups use social media
News / Online
TikTok, Instagram, X: How travel startups use social media
By Morgan Hines | August 24, 2023
Travel startups have been using social media as a marketing tool for some time now. But with an ever-evolving social media spectrum, what remains useful? Read More
HalalBooking adds $2.5M to Series B round
News / Startups
HalalBooking adds $2.5M to Series B round
By Mitra Sorrells | August 8, 2023
HalalBooking said its July sales were a record at $10 million, up 45% compared with July 2022, and it expects to reach $75 million in sales this year and $600 million in four to five years.   Read More
HolidayPirates announces virtual tour operations, maintains social strategy
News / Online
HolidayPirates announces virtual tour operations, maintains social strategy
By Linda Fox | July 19, 2023
HolidayPirates carried out a soft launch of its new flight plus hotel package service in Italy before extending it to the Netherlands last month. Read More
Holden out at Google Travel
News / Online
Holden out at Google Travel
By Mitra Sorrells | July 11, 2023
Google Travel is now being led by Rose Yao and Julie Farago, two longtime Google employees with product and engineering experience. Read More
AI Insights: Generative AI and personalization
News / Technology
AI Insights: Generative AI and personalization
By PhocusWire | June 29, 2023
Skyscanner CTO Andrew Phillips answers our questions about how the company is working with generative artificial intelligence technology. Read More
How travel brands are finding a voice on TikTok
News / Online
How travel brands are finding a voice on TikTok
By Linda Fox | June 28, 2023
TikTok's Hannah Bennett shares some of the current trends for travel on the platform as well as how brands including BA and Hilton are finding their voice. Read More
Personalization + ChatGPT = Holy grail in customer intent
Opinion / Technology
Personalization + ChatGPT = Holy grail in customer intent
By Terry Jones | June 23, 2023
ChatGPT is going to change travel search for the better, and adding personalization will make it wonderful. Read More
Could generative AI make Google Maps a full travel app?
News / Technology
Could generative AI make Google Maps a full travel app?
By Linda Fox | June 16, 2023
A Lufthansa Innovation Hub study explores how generative AI could be the final piece of the map-based travel planning puzzle. Read More
European regulators charge Google with breaching antitrust laws
News / Technology
European regulators charge Google with breaching antitrust laws
By Linda Fox | June 15, 2023
The regulatory body said it "takes issue" with the search giant giving preference to its own display advertising technology. Read More
Kayak launches “best time to travel” tool
News / Online
Kayak launches “best time to travel” tool
By Derek Catron | June 2, 2023
The “Best Time to Travel” tool incorporates predictive data from Kayak’s billions of travel queries to forecast future flight and hotel prices, allowing travelers to compare predicted pricing against... Read More
Google unveils generative AI boost to search
News / Online
Google unveils generative AI boost to search
By Linda Fox | May 24, 2023
During its Google Marketing Live event this week the company shared a number of updates including an example of how its search generative experience could work. Read More
ChatGPT plugins' potential impact on the travel booking experience
Opinion / Technology
ChatGPT plugins' potential impact on the travel booking experience
By Mario Gavira | May 22, 2023
Can chatbot plugins bring a new, conversational layer to the decade-old search and booking interface in travel? Read More
STARTUP STAGE: Roam Around uses ChatGPT to tailor free travel itineraries
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: Roam Around uses ChatGPT to tailor free travel itineraries
By Derek Catron | May 18, 2023
Built on OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Roam Around claims to be the world’s first viral AI travel planner, crafting free personalized itineraries for its users.   Read More
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