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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.

How airline tech “advances” are setting back our end consumers
Opinion / Technology
How airline tech “advances” are setting back our end consumers
By Sebastien Gibergues | October 26, 2023
While airlines have smartly upgraded their retailing capabilities — but at a cost to other players in the field, including consumers. Read More
Tripadvisor launches new AI travel planning features
News / Online
Tripadvisor launches new AI travel planning features
By Morgan Hines | October 24, 2023
Tripadvisor is rolling out AI-generated hotel reviews for some oft-reviewed locations. Read More
Expedia Group announces Air Miles, Afterpay partnerships
News / Online
Expedia Group announces Air Miles, Afterpay partnerships
By Morgan Hines | October 20, 2023
Expedia Group continues B2B growth measures with two new partnerships. Read More
Q&A: Mondee’s vice chairman talks AI strategy, acquisitions, going public
News / Online
Q&A: Mondee’s vice chairman talks AI strategy, acquisitions, going public
By Morgan Hines | October 19, 2023
Mondee is combining AI with human support to help anyone sell travel - and the newly-public company has big plans for growth.  Read More
Booking, Expedia, Tripadvisor form coalition to fight fake reviews
News / Online
Booking, Expedia, Tripadvisor form coalition to fight fake reviews
By Derek Catron | October 17, 2023
The coalition, which also includes Amazon, Glassdoor and Trustpilot, seeks to work together on developing common standards and best practices to root out fake reviews and ensure consumers can make... Read More
9 months into the GPT Era, what has travel learned?
Opinion / Technology
9 months into the GPT Era, what has travel learned?
By Gilad Berenstein – Brook Bay Capital | September 13, 2023
  Travel tech investor and entrepreneur Gilad Berenstein shares his three main takeaways in the first year of generative AI’s widespread use in travel and other sectors.   Read More
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