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.

What the travel sector can learn from the demise of Thomas Cook
Opinion / Online
What the travel sector can learn from the demise of Thomas Cook
By Sooho Choi - Publicis Sapient | September 26, 2019
Unlike the leading OTAs or the low-cost airlines whose business models necessitated digital capability to reduce cost, Thomas Cook was unable to find the omnichannel strategy that represented... Read More
Thomas Cook's digital strategy - great ideas that came too late
News / Online
Thomas Cook's digital strategy - great ideas that came too late
By Kevin May | September 23, 2019
Years after when a serious strategy should have been considered, Thomas Cook finally hired its first chief digital officer in the shape of Marco Ryan. He was in the job less than 12 months. Read More
Thomas Cook collapses after investors pull the plug on survival package
News / Technology
Thomas Cook collapses after investors pull the plug on survival package
By Kevin May | September 22, 2019
Plenty of factors have led to the tour operating giant's demise, including its failure, at crucial times, to grasp the complexities of IT and the wider digital world. Read More
Return on Ethics - abandoning high‐pressure sales tactics can make travel marketing better
Opinion / Online
Return on Ethics - abandoning high‐pressure sales tactics can make travel marketing better
By Parry Malm - Phrasee | September 2, 2019
Natural anxieties about travel make consumers particularly susceptible to pressure tactics, with the invisible hand of the market pushing the envelope (perhaps a little further than it should have). Read More
TUI eyes tours and activities opportunities, makes progress on digital platforms
News / Distribution
TUI eyes tours and activities opportunities, makes progress on digital platforms
By Linda Fox | August 16, 2019
TUI is not ruling out further acquisitions in the tours and activities space as it looks to grow its holiday experiences division further. Read More
STARTUP STAGE: GreatGuides wants adventure travel guides to control their own destiny
Interview / Online
STARTUP STAGE: GreatGuides wants adventure travel guides to control their own destiny
By Jill Menze | August 6, 2019
GreatGuides is a marketplace to connect adventure travelers with adventure guides. Guides create and control their itineraries and pricing and keep up to 90% of trip fees. Read More
Two-decade-old hotel website LateRooms faces financial collapse
News / Online
Two-decade-old hotel website LateRooms faces financial collapse
By Linda Fox | August 2, 2019
The LateRooms brand, which is part of the Malvern Group and is currently facing financial difficulties, has somewhat of a checkered back story. Read More
dolphin-dynamics-acquires-travelwire
News / Technology
Travelport sells Travelwire brand to Dolphin Dynamics
By Linda Fox | July 17, 2019
U.K-based Dolphin Dynamics is looking to boost its presents in the Nordics through the acquisition of Travelwire from Travelport. Read More
Flywire payment complexities tours and activities
News / Online
Q&A: Payment complexities in the growing tours and activities sector
By Mitra Sorrells | June 28, 2019
Flywire's Colyn Smyth discusses some of the challenges related to payments in the tours and activities space. Read More
Getting out of the way of "innovation" in travel
News / Technology
Getting out of the way of "innovation" in travel
By Linda Fox | June 26, 2019
Amazon Web Services believes the travel industry is stuck in silos and an “old way of thinking about IT”, with disparate systems that don’t talk to each other. Read More
duffel series a round
News / Startups
Duffel raises $21.5M for yet-to-launch distribution platform
By Jill Menze | June 21, 2019
Benchmark, which has invested in companies including Uber, Twitter and Snap, led the Series A round, with participation from Blossom Capital and Index Ventures, which participated in Duffel’s $4.7... Read More
Airbnb gets into multiday tours game with launch of Airbnb Adventures
News / Online
Airbnb gets into multiday tours game with launch of Airbnb Adventures
By Jill Menze | June 13, 2019
The adventures, numbering more than 200 at the outset, are available either exclusively to Airbnb or provided by small local operators. Read More
Will sightseeing buses be first to globally scale with autonomous vehicles?
Opinion / Technology
Will sightseeing buses be first to globally scale with autonomous vehicles?
By Alex Bainbridge - Autoura | June 12, 2019
Robo-taxis are a fool's errand. Instead, delivering experiences such as sightseeing via autonomous vehicle makes for a better near-term strategy. Read More
VIDEO: Booking.com on its buy or partner strategy for experiences
News / Online
VIDEO: Booking.com on its buy or partner strategy for experiences
By Kevin May | June 10, 2019
Booking.com's semi-official entry into the tours and activities sector was notable for many things - not least why did it take so long. Read More
In The Big Chair - Jason Morehouse of Checkfront
Interview / Technology
In The Big Chair - Jason Morehouse of Checkfront
By Kevin May | June 7, 2019
Since launching in June, 2010, Checkfront has grown from a humble operation in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, to a business that processes over $1 billion in bookings annually, made by tour and... Read More
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