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.

News / Online

Rezdy-Checkfront-Regiondo booking system rollup sees management shakeup

By Douglas Quinby and Bruce Rosard – Arival | February 26, 2024

The previous leadership from Rezdy and Checkfront have left the company as details emerge about the combined entity of reservation systems for tour and activity operators. Read More

News / Online

Culture Trip website sold to U.S. media company

By Linda Fox | February 26, 2024

U.S. media company U.S. News & World Report has boosted its existing travel content services with the acquisition of theculturetrip.com website. Read More

News / Online

What happens when travelers find tours too authentic?

By Morgan Hines | February 26, 2024

An “authentic” experience that included a fried dog in a local market set off a lively discussion of what responsibilities tour operators — and travelers — bear when encountering unfamiliar cultures. Read More

News / Online

Booking Holdings will appeal $530M fine by Spanish competition authority

By Mitra Sorrells | February 22, 2024

Booking Holdings reported its fourth quarter and full year 2023 earnings late Thursday, with records across multiple financial metrics including revenue that soared 40% higher than 2019. Read More

News / Online

With speculation of a sale in the air, Tripadvisor reports record revenue driven – again – by Viator

By Mitra Sorrells | February 14, 2024

Two days after announcing it has created a special committee and retained a mergers and acquisition advisory firm, Tripadvisor reported an all-time high for revenue in 2023 led by a 49% growth in... Read More

News / Online

Airbnb adjusted EBITDA up 28% year over year as inventory grows to nearly 8M

By Morgan Hines | February 13, 2024

Airbnb said it has more than 5 million hosts and the highest inventory growth in 2023 came in Asia Pacific and Latin America. Read More

News / Online

Tripadvisor considers potential sale that would take it private

By Derek Catron | February 12, 2024

Tripadvisor has formed a special committee and retained an advisor to consider potential deal proposals. Read More

News / Startups

Holdbar gets backing from Brent Hoberman for experience management tech

By Linda Fox | February 9, 2024

Denmark-based Holdbar, which launched last year, has developed software enabling experience providers to create, promote and sell activities. Read More

Opinion / Online

Let’s not love our favorite destinations to death!

By Gaurav Bhatnagar - TBO.com | February 8, 2024

TBO.com co-founder Gaurav Bhatnagar says the travel industry needs to stop pointing fingers at governments and tourism boards and instead take responsibility - and action - to reduce overtourism. Read More

News / Technology

Travel early adopters share lessons after year with generative AI

By Derek Catron | February 7, 2024

PhocusWire is checking in with some of travel's early adopters in using generative artificial intelligence, beginning with three startups, to find out what they have learned from their first year of... Read More

News / Technology

Trip.com Group creates travel app for Apple Vision Pro

By Morgan Hines | February 5, 2024

Trip.com Group's Trip.Vision app is intended to bring realistic destination experiences to users at home - enabling them to to virtually explore places including Antarctica, the Maldives, Mount Everest... Read More

News / Online

Assessing the effectiveness of influencer marketing in travel

By Morgan Hines | February 1, 2024

Windstar Cruises is the latest company to bolster its influencer marketing strategy, recently announcing a partnership with Jerne, which helps to facilitate connections with influencers. Read More

News / Technology

AirAsia taps into event trend with new global event ticketing platform

By Mitra Sorrells | January 29, 2024

Capitalizing on the “Taylor Swift effect,” AirAsia will now offer event ticket booking along with all the necessary travel options on its app. Read More

News / Online

InteleTravel acquires global events agency MGME

By Derek Catron | January 24, 2024

The deal comes less than a year after InteleTravel acquired corporate travel alliance Hickory Global Partners; the company seeks to leverage its shared resources. Read More