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.

News / Technology

Will the tours and activities sector turn to autonomous experiences?

By Morgan Hines | April 25, 2025

Like the rest of the travel industry, the future of the tours and activities sector is likely to be altered by artificial intelligence, though exactly how remains to be seen. Read More

News / Technology

PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: Expedia Group, FLYR, PayPal and more...

By PhocusWire | April 18, 2025

Keep up with all the latest people, partner and product news from around the global travel industry. Read More

Interview / Technology

CEO Spotlight: Fred Bean of HotelPORT

By Abby Crotty | April 16, 2025

Hospitality distribution solutions company HotelPORT provides solutions for hoteliers to ensure accurate representation of property content shown through online travel agencies, tour operators and other... Read More

News / Technology

PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: SITA, IATA, Fora Travel, Directo and more...

By PhocusWire | April 11, 2025

Keep up with all the latest people, partner and product news from around the global travel industry. Read More

News / Technology

PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: airBaltic, Hostaway, Smartvel, TravelPerk and more...

By PhocusWire | April 4, 2025

Keep up with all the latest people, partner and product news from around the global travel industry. Read More

News / Startups

Travel startup funding and M&A activity in Q1 2025

By Abby Crotty | March 28, 2025

As the quarter comes to a close, we review funding rounds and M&A activity—and learn what travel executives believe is on the horizon for the rest of the year. Read More

News / Online

Airbnb solicits new Experiences with new details of what it will offer in upcoming relaunch

By Morgan Hines | March 13, 2025

The company is also hiring for several roles related to its Experiences business, including market managers tasked with supply growth in cities around the world. Read More

Interview / Online

CEO Spotlight: Pere Vallès of Exoticca

By Linda Fox | March 12, 2025

Exoticca's CEO Pere Valles discusses the company's strategy to play in the connected trip space, its technology investment and keeping investors happy. Read More

News / Startups

AI travel software provider Maya raises €1M

By Morgan Hines | February 27, 2025

The funding, which included investors such as Lighthouse, will be used to fuel global growth and further develop the company's white-label AI assistant. Read More

News / Online

Dertour Group acquires remaining Hotelplan Group brands

By Morgan Hines | February 12, 2025

Following HomeToGo's acquisition of Interhome, Dertour Group has acquired the remaining Hotelplan Group businesses from Migros. Read More

News / Technology

Exoticca receives €25M to expand presence, build out AI technology

By Morgan Hines | February 11, 2025

The €25 million comes in the form of a venture debt facility from BBVA Spark, following the company’s recently completed €60 million Series D round which was headed up by Quadrille Capital. Read More

News / Online

Intrepid builds on $1B ambition with acquisition of Sawadee

By Linda Fox | February 4, 2025

Intrepid said the acquisition of the Netherlands-based company will add $62 million in revenue and 20,000 customers a year. Read More

News / Technology

CEO Spotlight: Lisa Chen of ToursByLocals

By Morgan Hines | January 31, 2025

ToursByLocals is poised for growth with a recently updated technology base intended to improve the 15-year-old private tour company’s strategy, according to CEO Lisa Chen. Read More

News / Distribution

Hotels saw average booking value increase through direct channels in '24

By Linda Fox | January 22, 2025

Hotels continue to broaden their distribution mix with new B2B and B2C partners entering the rankings of top booking sources in SiteMinder's annual trends report. Read More