Steven Lerner News

cover image getlost
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: GetLost wants to make cheap on-demand travel a reality
By Steven Lerner | March 6, 2020
GetLost connects last-minute travelers with exclusively negotiated cheap deals on empty airline seats.... Read More
Expedia Group, Booking Holdings spent more than $11B on marketing (mostly to Google) in 2019
News / Online
Expedia Group, Booking Holdings spent more than $11B on marketing (mostly to Google) in 2019
By Steven Lerner | March 6, 2020
One company grew its marketing spend in 2019 and the other company essentially remained flat.  ... Read More
Despegar 2019 earnings
News / Online
Despite "volatile macro environment," Despegar finishes 2019 strong with 10% revenue increase
By Steven Lerner | March 5, 2020
Despegar ended 2019 on a high note with a 10% increase in fourth quarter revenue to $145.6 million,... Read More
Digital identity solution Airside gets strategic investment from Amadeus Ventures
News / Technology
Digital identity solution Airside gets strategic investment from Amadeus Ventures
By Steven Lerner | March 5, 2020
For its first investment of 2020, Amadeus Ventures is backing mobile identity solution Airside for an... Read More
Hostelworld 2019 earnings
News / Online
Hostelworld suffers 9% EBITDA decline in 2019, expects loss due to coronavirus
By Steven Lerner | March 4, 2020
Hostelworld Group reports a 9% decrease in EBITDA to €20.5 million for the full-year in 2019 and... Read More
oaky funding
News / Technology
Hospitality startup Oaky raises $9.5M to develop upsell technology
By Steven Lerner | March 4, 2020
Hotel upsell platform Oaky is embarking on its next phase of growth and development following its... Read More
Waymo funding
News / Technology
Alphabet’s autonomous vehicle unit Waymo rides off with $2.25B investment
By Steven Lerner | March 4, 2020
Waymo, the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Google’s parent Alphabet Inc., is welcoming its first... Read More
Goodbooker-startup-stage
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: GoodBooker wants to end homelessness with every hotel booked
By Steven Lerner | March 3, 2020
For every hotel room booked on its platform, GoodBooker gives funding to leading homeless charities... Read More
Travelzoo-earnings-2019
News / Online
Travelzoo posts declining operating profit in Q4, pins hope on acquisition of Jack’s Flight Club
By Steven Lerner | March 2, 2020
Travelzoo reported a decrease in operating profit to $818,000 in the fourth quarter of 2019 from $2.8... Read More
Limehome welcomes €21M in funding to grow apart-hotel concept
News / Technology
Limehome welcomes €21M in funding to grow apart-hotel concept
By Steven Lerner | March 2, 2020
Alternative accommodations provider Limehome has raised €21 million, bringing its total funding to... Read More

Steven's most recent articles

trivago ceo interview covid recovery
News / Online
Q&A: Trivago CEO shares vision for “moment in time” when travel resumes in a post-crisis world
Trivago CEO Axel Hefer discusses his outlook for travel, how Trivago is preparing for the future and... Read More
hotelmize series b
News / Technology
Hotelmize raises Series B funding from Alibaba, establishes APAC headquarters in Hong Kong
 Hotelmize is aiming to gain a foothold in Asia Pacific and to expand operations in the region... Read More
Air Doctor funding
News / Technology
Health startup Air Doctor gets $7.8M to make medical care accessible for travelers
With health becoming a major concern in the travel industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a... Read More
coronavirus destroys startup funding
News / Startups
Funding for travel startups was plentiful - then came coronavirus
Entrepreneur Souzana Theodoridou explains how a funding deal for travel experience platform Grekaddict... Read More
funding Huilianyi
News / Technology
Business travel platform Huilianyi raises $42M, aims for global expansion
Shanghai-based business travel platform Huilianyi has landed RMB 300 million (about $42 million) in... Read More
Via 200M investment
News / Technology
Despite difficult times, ride-share company Via lands $200M investment
 Real-time ride-sharing company Via is now valued at a $2.25 billion thanks to a new $200 million... Read More
startups hibernation mode
News / Startups
Should travel startups go into “hibernation mode” during the coronavirus?
Venture capitalists weigh in on how travel startups could survive the economic fallout from COVID-19.... Read More
haunted financial
News / Online
Could addiction to debt come back to haunt some online travel companies?
If revenue drops due to COVID-19, past debt will make it more challenging for online travel companies... Read More
Electric air taxi company Lilium raises $240M toward developing regional service
News / Technology
Electric air taxi company Lilium raises $240M toward developing regional service
The German company is developing an emissions-free, vertical takeoff air taxi that it plans to operate... Read More
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