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.

Can a state-backed technology project provide the travel industry's missing link?
News / Online
Can a state-backed technology project provide the travel industry's missing link?
By Viewpoints | June 11, 2013
Could the European travel industry ever commit to a single, pan-European online platform that travel agents, OTAs, tour operators and suppliers would use to connect with each other? Read More
Thomas Cook axes real agents but taps Triporati for discovery and online tips
News / Distribution
Thomas Cook axes real agents but taps Triporati for discovery and online tips
By Linda Fox | May 17, 2013
Just days after First Choice released its 'Happiness Included' online service, Thomas Cook gives us details of its own drive to inspire Read More
Exposed: How online fraudsters dive deep into IATA processes to secure payments
News / Online
Exposed: How online fraudsters dive deep into IATA processes to secure payments
By Kevin May | May 13, 2013
The classic Nigerian bank account email scam is as old as the internet itself and pretty much remains about as sophisticated as your average Saturday night reality TV show. Read More
TUI Travel unveils next generation hi-tech travel agency [VIDEO]
News / Online
TUI Travel unveils next generation hi-tech travel agency [VIDEO]
By Linda Fox | May 10, 2013
TUI Travel has released details of its "next generation" shop as it reports interim results for the six months ending 31 March 2013. Read More
Thomson serves up one minute holiday to chase away winter blues
News / Online
Thomson serves up one minute holiday to chase away winter blues
By Linda Fox | May 8, 2013
As part of its ongoing Holidays Just Got Better campaign, Thomson has released a quirky effort to get us all thinking about the summer Read More
Thomas Cook tunes into social media with listening lab
News / Online
Thomas Cook tunes into social media with listening lab
By Linda Fox | April 25, 2013
Lots of buzz words kicking about in Thomas Cook's announcement of a 24/7 rapid response social media listening lab Read More
Gunyah tour distribution service closes down, WHL pledges to relaunch it with new focus
News / Online
Gunyah tour distribution service closes down, WHL pledges to relaunch it with new focus
By Kevin May | April 7, 2013
Despite just 12 months ago there being talk of a pretty confident future ahead, tour distribution platform startup Gunyah has shut its doors - temporarily, at least. Read More
Reality bites: Thomas Cook reins in lofty ambition of being bigger than Expedia
News / Online
Reality bites: Thomas Cook reins in lofty ambition of being bigger than Expedia
By Kevin May | March 18, 2013
Three years is a long time in the travel industry, but especially so for Thomas Cook, after going through a torrid time in terms of staff morale, industry and consumer opinion of the business and a... Read More
If I was a digital guru at Thomas Cook...
News / Online
If I was a digital guru at Thomas Cook...
By Alex Bainbridge | March 18, 2013
Last week the industry and mainstream media in Europe were talking a lot about Thomas Cook. Why? Because new(ish) CEO Harriet Green has a plan to turn around the company. Read More
TUI Travel buys tours and activities specialist Isango
News / Online
TUI Travel buys tours and activities specialist Isango
By Kevin May | February 27, 2013
Tours and activities just got that little bit more interesting with news that European tour operating giant TUI Travel has bought tours and activities provider Isango. Read More
GetYourGuide to be sole provider of tours and activities to TUI agents
News / Online
GetYourGuide to be sole provider of tours and activities to TUI agents
By Kevin May | February 25, 2013
Travel agents working with TUI in Germany will have their pick of tours and activities by way of a new supplier after the tour operator turned over responsibility to GetYouGuide. Read More
Social media and fancy video to lure people to the latest Best Job in Travel
News / Online
Social media and fancy video to lure people to the latest Best Job in Travel
By Linda Fox | January 9, 2013
New Year, new job? First Choice is going the way of Tourism Queensland and others by recruiting a member of the public to become its new water slide tester. Read More
Taking a travel team on a team-building month in paradise - crazy or clever?
News / Online
Taking a travel team on a team-building month in paradise - crazy or clever?
By Viewpoints | December 13, 2012
We often work in very decentralized organisations in the travel industry. One unit is located in an outgoing market, another office is located at the incoming destination. Read More
Farewell Octopus Travel - consumer brand axed as Kuoni focuses on B2B
News / Online
Farewell Octopus Travel - consumer brand axed as Kuoni focuses on B2B
By Kevin May | November 25, 2012
No fanfare or redirecting to alternative places to book a hotel - Octopus Travel, a name synonymous with the early days of travel on the web for consumers, is no more. Read More
Yay! Travel infographics finally getting interesting and interactive [err INFOGRAPHIC]
News / Online
Yay! Travel infographics finally getting interesting and interactive [err INFOGRAPHIC]
By Kevin May | November 23, 2012
Thank goodness for HTML5, allowing travel sites to spruce up their pages (especially on mobile) for users. And getting the attention a lot more recently is the much-maligned infographic. Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026