Tour Operator

PhocusWire's in-depth coverage of the tour operator sector, featuring news, analysis, interviews, research and more on the brands in multi-day, single-day and packages, including their strategies, executives and positions in the market.

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Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: Jerne connects travel companies with social media creators
By Kathryn Walson | March 20, 2023
Jerne is an SaaS platform for creators and experience providers to manage their relationships, navigate commercial agreements and track affiliate sales and marketing ROI. Read More
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News / Online
Outdoor sports booking platform Captain Experiences reels in $2M
By Kathryn Walson | March 14, 2023
While the Austin, Texas-based startup is currently catering to the fishing and hunting verticals, it plans to expand across all outdoor sports and geographies. Read More
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News / Technology
TourConnect releases booking automation tool
By Derek Catron | March 9, 2023
The reservations-focused tool drastically reduces time spent manually processing email bookings by using intelligent technology.   Read More
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News / Online
TUI to launch loyalty program built on guest “convenience”
By Linda Fox | March 8, 2023
Sebastian Ebel, speaking at ITB in Berlin, says he has been impressed with what hotel groups such as Hilton have done, describing its program as a "convenience product." Read More
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News / Online
RocketRez acquisition adds AI tech to guest experience
By Kathryn Walson | March 3, 2023
TourOpp Go! says its chatbot technology automates communication between tourist attractions and ticket buyers. Read More
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Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: Travel platform Mapathink targets Southeast Asia
By Kathryn Walson | February 27, 2023
By disrupting the travel ancillary services market, Mapathink says it is looking at a huge addressable market. Read More
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News / Technology
Data and personalization business BD4 shutting up shop
By Linda Fox | February 16, 2023
A statement from Dnata Travel and BD4’s founders says the decision was made following a strategic and commercial review looking at market conditions and growth prospects. Read More
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News / Technology
Autonomous vehicles break into tours and attractions
By Kathryn Walson | February 6, 2023
GoCar is preparing to roll out self-driving electric vehicles, with a Las Vegas demonstration tentatively scheduled for March 10.   Read More
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News / Online
Travelers seek more adventure, ways to pay, report shows
By Derek Catron | January 27, 2023
WeTravel's look at travel trends sees push for more customization and payment flexibility after COVID.   Read More
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Opinion / Online
How travel brands can activate first-party data
By Dave Goulden - Sojern | January 23, 2023
Travel companies need to prepare for cookies going away and learn to use first-party data in sophisticated ways to create a personalized customer experience. Read More
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News / Startups
Profit optimization solution Hotelmize raises $12M
By Mitra Sorrells | January 11, 2023
Hotelmize uses its artificial intelligence and room mapping technology to monitor fluctuations in hotel rates, analyze its partners reservations and optimize their profits. Read More
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Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: Away Together aims to elevate guest experience
By Kathryn Walson | January 9, 2023
The Away Together platform allows for accommodations to communicate with their guests as well as for guests to communicate with one another. Read More
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News / Online
WeTravel CEO steps aside, takes product role
By Linda Fox | January 6, 2023
Co-founder and CEO Johannes Koeppel moves to the role of chief product officer for the company, which claims to have seen double-digit client and transaction volume growth since 2021. Read More
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Interview / Technology
VIDEO: Mobi - Phocuswright Conference launch innovator
By PhocusWire | December 20, 2022
Mobi is a B2B trip planning technology company offering two products - Agent for travel suppliers and Agent for Agents for travel agents. Read More
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News / Technology
TTC launches carbon fund to reach net zero
By Linda Fox | December 5, 2022
After a year of reviewing possible routes towards achieving net zero by 2050, The Travel Corporation (TTC), whose brands include Trafalgar Tours, Contiki Tours and Uniworld River Cruises, opted for the... Read More