Travel Startups and Innovation News

PhocusWire's in-depth coverage of the startups in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry, featuring news, analysis, interviews, research and more.

Startups are a powerful force driving innovation across the travel industry—from AI-driven personalization and fintech solutions to next-gen mobility and booking platforms. PhocusWire delivers the most relevant travel startups and innovation news, spotlighting emerging companies that are rethinking the way people search, book, and experience travel.

Emerging travel startups and innovations driving the industry forward

Our coverage highlights breakthrough ideas, early-stage funding rounds, and strategic partnerships that bring fresh energy to the travel ecosystem. Whether it's reshaping trip planning, optimizing operations, or solving pain points across the journey, travel startups are challenging incumbents and building the future of travel with agility and purpose.

El Al startup venture wing joins forces with Lufthansa
News / Technology
El Al startup venture wing joins forces with Lufthansa
By Bernadette Giacomazzo | November 20, 2017
Cockpit Innovations and Lufthansa have formed a strategic partnership to identify and cultivate... Read More
pundit-show-microphone
News / Startups
VIDEO: PhocusWire PundIT Show - Episode 6
By Kevin May | November 20, 2017
Redeam was the talk of the show - at least the first half of it - at The Phocuswright Conference 2017.... Read More
light-bulbs-startups
News / Startups
VIDEO: Modern life lessons for travel startups
By Kevin May | November 20, 2017
Joel Cutler was once described, rather grandly, as the godfather of online travel capital.... Read More
hand shake
News / Startups
Flight Centre Travel Group's new startup partnership; Virtuoso's call for travel tech companies
By Bernadette Giacomazzo | November 17, 2017
Good news for startup travel tech companies, as two giants in the travel tech industry announce... Read More
fist-bumps
News / Startups
VIDEO: PhocusWire PundIT Show - Episode 5
By Kevin May | November 16, 2017
Fresh from selling Trip.com to Ctrip, Travis Katz joins the PundIT Show with two other luminaries to... Read More
Startup and emerging hotel apps: a trend for 2018 and beyond?
News / Online
Startup and emerging hotel apps: a trend for 2018 and beyond?
By Bernadette Giacomazzo | November 8, 2017
This year’s Phocuswright Conference Summit showed a growing trend in hotel apps – but is that a sign... Read More
Phocuswright Summit
News / Startups
The top 5 judges' questions from the 2017 Phocuswright Summit
By Bernadette Giacomazzo | November 8, 2017
Here are the five best questions that the Phocuswright Dragons asked Summit participants.... Read More
AI models Amazon
Notated News / Technology
Tech giants pledge responsible use of artificial intelligence
By Kim Hart - Axios | October 25, 2017
The Information Technology Industry Council is releasing principles for developing ethical... Read More
Klook puts attractions center stage again with $60M raise
News / Online
Klook puts attractions center stage again with $60M raise
By Kevin May | October 25, 2017
It's been a while since a huge investment round has gone the way of tours and activities- but Klook... Read More
Fresh from Expedia's $350 million backing, Traveloka eyes regional dominance
News / Online
Fresh from Expedia's $350 million backing, Traveloka eyes regional dominance
By Corinne Wan - Web In Travel | October 23, 2017
Indonesian OTA Traveloka received a $350M minority investment from Expedia Inc in... Read More
Sponsored Content
From Our Partners
Why travel marketers need to look beyond search
November 12, 2026
Why travel marketers need to look beyond search
The Trade Desk's Kelly Covato discusses how AI, travel media networks and new approaches to... Read More
Beyond ADR and RevPAR: A more complete view of hotel performance
November 11, 2026
Beyond ADR and RevPAR: A more complete view of hotel performance
Hotels can look beyond occupancy, ADR and RevPAR with forward-looking metrics that reveal... Read More
Inside the PayPal-Sabre-Mindtrip playbook for agentic travel booking
November 5, 2026
Inside the PayPal-Sabre-Mindtrip playbook for agentic travel booking
PayPal's Nixon Dinh and Sabre's Brad Johnson discuss the technology, infrastructure and trust... Read More