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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.

Hipmunk founders launch Flight Penguin to take on Kayak in metasearch
News / Online
Hipmunk founders launch Flight Penguin to take on Kayak in metasearch
By Jill Menze | April 5, 2021
Founded by Hipmunk's Adam Goldstein and Steve Huffman, Flight Penguin is a Chrome extension that shows "unbiased and uncorrupted" search results. Read More
hopper-170m-hopper-cloud
News / Online
Hopper closes $170M funding round, creates new B2B offering with Capital One as first partner
By Mitra Sorrells | March 24, 2021
Hopper is kicking off an ambitious growth plan that includes the launch of Hopper Cloud, selling its infrastructure, agency content, financial technology and data science capabilities to other travel... Read More
Airlines turn to traveler intent data to forecast demand
News / Distribution
Airlines turn to traveler intent data to forecast demand
By Linda Fox | March 15, 2021
As restrictions lift and travel recovers, historical booking data can no longer be relied on. Read More
What Vacasa acquiring TurnKey means for the market and rental's recovery
News / Online
What Vacasa acquiring TurnKey means for the market and rental's recovery
By Jill Menze | March 15, 2021
Property management and vacation rental specialists weigh in on Vacasa's recent acquisition of TurnKey Vacation Rentals and the future of consolidation in the space. Read More
Vacasa acquires TurnKey Vacation Rentals as pandemic spikes demand in the sector
News / Online
Vacasa acquires TurnKey Vacation Rentals as pandemic spikes demand in the sector
By Jill Menze | March 11, 2021
Major consolidation is underway in the vacation rental management sector with Vacasa announcing plans to acquire TurnKey Vacation Rentals. Read More
STARTUP STAGE: Odyssey Travel App wants to democratize access to luxury travel
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: Odyssey Travel App wants to democratize access to luxury travel
By Jill Menze | March 2, 2021
Odyssey Travel App is a premium travel platform that aims to democratize access to luxury hotels, car rental and other travel services directly from the provider to the user. Read More
Travel + Leisure Co. launches online booking platform
News / Online
Travel + Leisure Co. launches online booking platform
By Jill Menze | February 17, 2021
Travel + Leisure Co., formerly known as Wyndham Destinations, has launched a vacation booking platform as part of the company's rebrand. Read More
google-france-hotel-fine
News / Online
Google fined €1.1M for deceptive hotel ratings in France
By Mitra Sorrells | February 16, 2021
Google has also agreed to remove its ratings and use those provided by Atout France, the country's tourism agency. Read More
Chinese travelers more positive about travel in 2021 than regional neighbors
News / Online
Chinese travelers more positive about travel in 2021 than regional neighbors
By Linda Fox | February 1, 2021
Domestic searches led in December 2020 in many APAC countries with the exception of Singapore, according to Expedia's research. Read More
How travel marketers adjust to the ups and downs of COVID-19
News / Online
How travel marketers adjust to the ups and downs of COVID-19
By Mitra Sorrells | January 27, 2021
As coronavirus rates and lockdown measures shift, travel advertising strategies have centered on careful messaging through digital platforms. Read More
jetblue-fareportal-lawsuit
News / Distribution
JetBlue calls Fareportal distribution antitrust lawsuit "frivolous"
By Arnie Weissmann - Travel Weekly | January 8, 2021
Fareportal, parent of OTAs CheapOAir and One Travel, filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging that JetBlue Airways violated antitrust laws. Read More
startup-stage-wknd-main
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: WKND curates local weekend adventure packages
By Mitra Sorrells | December 15, 2020
 WKND is targeting millennials with what it calls a retreats-as-a-service platform that provides personalized adventure packages within a three-hour drive.   Read More
AirAsia boss on the Google threat and extending the brand
News / Online
AirAsia boss on the Google threat and extending the brand
By Linda Fox | December 11, 2020
AirAsia Group boss Tony Fernandes believes airlines will end up outbidding each other on Google. Read More
Travel companies ask European regulators to enforce Google dominance decision
News / Online
Travel companies ask European regulators to enforce Google dominance decision
November 16, 2020
In a letter to the commissioner for competition, 130 companies and 28 industry organizations, across numerous sectors, ask the Commission to enforce its 2017 abuse of dominance decision. Read More
thanksgiving-travel-trends-2020
News / Online
U.S. Thanksgiving travel trends show clear shift in destination preferences
By Mitra Sorrells | November 13, 2020
Data from Sojern shows a dramatic shift in interest from large cities such as New York and San Francisco to smaller, vacation destination such as Orlando and Denver for both flights and hotels. Read More