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.

Sojern DMO co-op program
News / Online
Sojern launches co-op marketing program for DMOs and local businesses
By Mitra Sorrells | September 19, 2019
Sojern's new Digital Co-Op Program is intended to help DMOs create campaigns in collaboration with local hotels and attractions. Read More
VIDEO: Air New Zealand on using a destination to ride the marketing wave
News / Online
VIDEO: Air New Zealand on using a destination to ride the marketing wave
By Kevin May | September 19, 2019
The airline has worked with national tourism groups, movie producers and actors to put New Zealand's recent role as a hub for film making at the center of its marketing. Read More
What’s good for millennial travelers is good for all generations
Opinion / Online
What’s good for millennial travelers is good for all generations
By Matt Walker - LikeWhere | September 18, 2019
The soft boundary lines have come in this not-so-exact science of generation naming and these parameters no longer circumscribe the soundest foundation on which to base travel's marketing efforts.  Read More
Mobile and millennials continue to dominate tours and activities online booking
News / Distribution
Mobile and millennials continue to dominate tours and activities online booking
By Linda Fox | September 12, 2019
A study from TourScanner finds smartphones are dominant for searching tours and activities and millennials are leaders in online booking. Read More
VIDEO: How Booking.com will weave every element of a trip together
News / Online
VIDEO: How Booking.com will weave every element of a trip together
By Kevin May | September 12, 2019
Details of exactly how the giant will achieve its ambition to connect hotel guests with activities and transportation, plus a myriad of other travel-related services, are becoming clearer now. Read More
klook expansion plan
News / Online
Klook on target to hit 60M bookings in 2019, outlines expansion plan
By Jill Menze | September 10, 2019
By the end of 2020, Klook plans to double its headcount from 1,200 to more than 2,500 across 30 offices; it also plans to continue to penetrate the Asia-Pacific region as well as bolster its presence in... Read More
STARTUP STAGE: Sherpa wants to shake up walking tours with AR avatar guides
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: Sherpa wants to shake up walking tours with AR avatar guides
By Linda Fox | September 4, 2019
Sherpa was founded earlier this year to bring augmented reality avatar guides to walking tours. The Chicago-based company wants to have 100 tours in major cities around the world by the end of 2020. Read More
Festicket in double acquisition for Event Genius and Ticket Arena
News / Online
Festicket in double acquisition for Event Genius and Ticket Arena
August 28, 2019
Event Genius is a ticketing and point of sale system for customers, whilst sister brand Ticket Arena is a competitor of Festicket. Read More
Zhiketong raises $42.5M to develop WeChat-led hotel marketing tool
News / Online
Zhiketong raises $42.5M to develop WeChat-led hotel marketing tool
By Kevin May | August 27, 2019
The service is designed entirely around using the WeChat social media platform for brands. The latest round brings its total raised to date in the region of $53 million. Read More
STARTUP STAGE: Clear Chain Travel wants to reimagine distribution through blockchain and AI
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: Clear Chain Travel wants to reimagine distribution through blockchain and AI
By Linda Fox | August 22, 2019
Clear Chain Travel is bringing blockchain principles and AI-driven robotic processes to the groups and meetings space to improve transparency, drive efficiency and save costs. Read More
Travel Leaders tours and activities from Viator
News / Distribution
Travel Leaders adds Viator tours and activities for business travelers staying on
By Mitra Sorrells | August 9, 2019
Travel Leaders Corporate has created a new service that offers more than 200,000 bookable activities for business travelers who want to add a leisure component to their trips.  Read More
TripAdvisor focuses on good news in Experiences as overall revenue continues to fall
News / Online
TripAdvisor focuses on good news in Experiences as overall revenue continues to fall
By Kevin May | August 8, 2019
Revenue increased from $376 million to $422 million over the course of the first and second quarters of 2019 but year-over-year the business is down 3% in the comparable three-month periods. Read More
Booking Holdings q2 2019 earnings
News / Online
Booking Holdings integrates brands, develops payment capabilities in quest for “connected trip”
By Mitra Sorrells | August 7, 2019
Booking Holdings reports positive financial results as it works toward what CEO Glenn Fogel called the "connected trip." Read More
OTAs, margins and supply - lessons for tours and activities from battles elsewhere
Opinion / Distribution
OTAs, margins and supply - lessons for tours and activities from battles elsewhere
By Olan O’Sullivan - TrekkSoft | August 6, 2019
Are the investments by Booking Holdings and TripAdvisor about supporting their consumer offerings rather than offering compelling solutions for operators to run their businesses? 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
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