Tours & Activities

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PhocusWire's in-depth coverage of the tours, activities and activities sector is produced in partnership with Arival, the essential resource for the in-destination experiences industry.

Tripadvisor blocks record 2 million fake reviews in 2023
News / Online
Tripadvisor blocks record 2 million fake reviews in 2023
By D.J. Catron | April 9, 2024
Tripadvisor’s news highlights a growing movement that includes Expedia Group and Booking.com to ensure the integrity of customer reviews that appear on their websites.   Read More
STARTUP STAGE: Biliki AI is a travel planner for eco-friendly itineraries
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: Biliki AI is a travel planner for eco-friendly itineraries
By Mitra Sorrells | April 5, 2024
Biliki AI is building a platform that consumers can use to book sustainability-focused trips, with detailed itineraries that include flights, accommodations and experiences. Read More
Trip.com Group and AirAsia to collaborate across multiple lines of business
News / Online
Trip.com Group and AirAsia to collaborate across multiple lines of business
By Mitra Sorrells | April 2, 2024
Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes said AirAsia's growth plans are focused on China and on getting Trip.com Group's customers into Southeast Asia. Read More
Google enhances generative AI trip planning – without ads for now
News / Technology
Google enhances generative AI trip planning – without ads for now
By Mitra Sorrells | March 27, 2024
The suggested itineraries will pull ideas from sites across the web and include things such as reviews, photos and other Google Business profile details for more than 200 million places around the... Read More
Fritz Demopoulos on new frontiers in travel and beyond
News / Online
Fritz Demopoulos on new frontiers in travel and beyond
By Yeoh Siew Hoon - WiT | March 26, 2024
Fritz Demopolous co-founded Qunar, the first travel metasearch company in China, and has invested in several travel companies including GetYourGuide, TravelPerk and Tourlane. Read More
STARTUP STAGE: NowBoarding is a commission-free distribution platform for travel brands
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: NowBoarding is a commission-free distribution platform for travel brands
By Mitra Sorrells | March 22, 2024
NowBoarding was founded by Christopher Moss, who previously founded Psngr1, a business travel management tool acquired by travel technology firm Snowfall in 2022. Read More
Key trends driving innovation in tours and packages
Opinion / Online
Key trends driving innovation in tours and packages
By Manuel Hilty - Nezasa | March 22, 2024
Changes in consumer expectations along with the fact technology for selling multi-day tours is still in its infancy create a strong need for technical innovation in the tours and package business. Read More
Travelers can now purchase AI-created customized audio tours for any destination
News / Startups
Travelers can now purchase AI-created customized audio tours for any destination
By Mitra Sorrells | March 20, 2024
Travelers specify the location, duration and language for the tour, as well as if they have preferences of a theme or specific sites and then moderators review the AI-generated guide before sending it... Read More
GetYourGuide adds tools to help partners tap into growing traveler interest in experiences
News / Distribution
GetYourGuide adds tools to help partners tap into growing traveler interest in experiences
By Mitra Sorrells | March 19, 2024
GetYourGuide's is unveiling multiple new capabilities to help operators "create, manage and grow" their businesses, including artificial intelligence-powered keyword and location suggestions for product... Read More
Experts: Why Tripadvisor Plus didn’t pan out
News / Online
Experts: Why Tripadvisor Plus didn’t pan out
By Jamie Biesiada – Travel Weekly | March 12, 2024
Analysts say the shutdown of the struggling service may be part of an attempt to streamline Tripadvisor after its parent company said last month that it was exploring a potential sale. Read More
Way launches new tools to help hotels offer experiences
News / Technology
Way launches new tools to help hotels offer experiences
By D.J. Catron | March 12, 2024
The technology company’s new products allow hotels to manage and sell experiences without the need for third-party technologies that take customers off the hotel's website.   Read More
Airbnb's Stephenson on expansion beyond the core and AI
News / Online
Airbnb's Stephenson on expansion beyond the core and AI
By PhocusWire | March 12, 2024
Airbnb announced CFO Dave Stephenson would be taking up the newly created role of chief business officer to oversee its growth plans. Read More
GetYourGuide is hiring a TikTok content creator: Here’s why
News / Online
GetYourGuide is hiring a TikTok content creator: Here’s why
By Morgan Hines | March 11, 2024
Despite accelerating efforts to ban TikTok in the United States, GetYourGuide's job opening for a dedicated TikTok creator has received overwhelming interest. Read More
WTTC partners with Oliver Wyman to drive sustainability in travel
News / Technology
WTTC partners with Oliver Wyman to drive sustainability in travel
By Linda Fox | March 7, 2024
WTTC and Oliver Wyman are helping the industry navigate the regulatory landscape when it comes to sustainability, while startups BeCause and Weeva are helping hotels with data collection and insights. Read More
Tripadvisor Plus is shutting down after three years
News / Online
Tripadvisor Plus is shutting down after three years
By Morgan Hines | March 1, 2024
In remarks at the Phocuswright Conference in November, Tripadvisor CEO Matt Goldberg said the company would focus on the benefits of free membership versus trying to build the paid subscription program. Read More
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