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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.

Short-term rental sector bets on AI search to drive direct bookings
News / Technology
Short-term rental sector bets on AI search to drive direct bookings
By Matthew Parsons | March 12, 2026
Direct rental bookings are modest today, but AI could help change that. Read More
Hilton rolls out AI trip-planning tool
News / Technology
Hilton rolls out AI trip-planning tool
By Abby Crotty | March 10, 2026
Hilton launched a beta version of the tool to a small group of users on Hilton.com. Read More
Agentic AI in travel: Technology readiness and consumer trust
News / Technology
Agentic AI in travel: Technology readiness and consumer trust
By Linda Fox | March 6, 2026
Executives from Booking.com, Google, Sabre and Skyscanner discuss the challenges for the travel industry in adopting agentic AI. Read More
Lighthouse introduces ChatGPT app for direct hotel booking
News / Technology
Lighthouse introduces ChatGPT app for direct hotel booking
By Morgan Hines | March 4, 2026
Powered by Connect AI from Lighthouse, The Hotels Network app in ChatGPT is open to hotels across the world. Read More
Lonely Planet launches travel app to expand digital platform strategy
News / Technology
Lonely Planet launches travel app to expand digital platform strategy
By Cathy Walsh | March 4, 2026
The travel app combines guidebook expertise with interactive maps, local tips and trip-building tools. Read More
APAC travel trends pt. 1: Traveler behavior, growing markets and what's coming next
News / Online
APAC travel trends pt. 1: Traveler behavior, growing markets and what's coming next
By Abby Crotty | March 4, 2026
In part one of a two-part feature, PhocusWire takes a deep dive into the current travel trends defining APAC and what the landscape may look like moving forward. Read More
Skyscanner launches flights app in ChatGPT
News / Technology
Skyscanner launches flights app in ChatGPT
By Morgan Hines | February 27, 2026
Skyscanner joins Hyatt, Accor, MakeMyTrip, Expedia, Booking.com and others in launching its ChatGPT app. Read More
Startup Stage: HotelWorld AI wants to increase hotel traffic from AI platforms
Interview / Startups
Startup Stage: HotelWorld AI wants to increase hotel traffic from AI platforms
By Abby Crotty | February 24, 2026
HotelWorld AI agents connect to a hotel’s existing technology stack, managed through a unified AI platform powered by a common data layer. Read More
Wyndham working across AI platforms to drive direct bookings
News / Online
Wyndham working across AI platforms to drive direct bookings
By Linda Fox | February 20, 2026
Wyndham's CEO Geoffrey Ballotti discussed how the company's AI initiatives will help customers find its properties, boost the guest experience and increase direct bookings. Read More
WebMCP offers path for travel sites to become ‘agent-ready’
News / Technology
WebMCP offers path for travel sites to become ‘agent-ready’
By Morgan Hines | February 18, 2026
Travel was highlighted as a use case for the WebMCP standard driven by Google and Microsoft. Read More
IHG plans AI-compatible hotel content platform
News / Technology
IHG plans AI-compatible hotel content platform
By Linda Fox | February 17, 2026
IHG, whose brands include Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza, is grouping AI into three areas: guest acquisition, commercial optimization and cost efficiency.  Read More
Expedia Group sees double-digit growth in revenue, gross bookings as AI push continues
News / Technology
Expedia Group sees double-digit growth in revenue, gross bookings as AI push continues
By Abby Crotty | February 12, 2026
Revenue was up 11% year over year to $3.5 billion, while total gross bookings were up 11% to $27 billion in Q4 2025. Read More
Marriott shares details of AI projects, partnerships
News / Technology
Marriott shares details of AI projects, partnerships
By Linda Fox | February 11, 2026
Marriott plans to deploy natural language search across Marriott.com and the Bonvoy mobile app in the first half of 2026. Read More
61% of travel brands are testing or scaling agentic AI
News / Technology
61% of travel brands are testing or scaling agentic AI
By Phocuswright Research | February 10, 2026
After developments in 2025, agentic AI use is likely to increase for travelers and businesses. Read More
Trivago turns a corner with strong 2025 results
News / Online
Trivago turns a corner with strong 2025 results
By Morgan Hines | February 3, 2026
Trivago credited its revenue growth to a rise in referral revenue in Q4 2025, its fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth in this metric. Read More
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