Travel Booking

News / Online

VIDEO: Kayak on the future of meta, Google and the limitations of voice search

By Mitra Sorrells | December 7, 2018

By some measures it’s been a tough year for traditional metasearch players, including Kayak. Read More

News / Startups

Tourlane raises $24M for agent-led trip tool, plans to nearly double staff

By Mitra Sorrells | December 7, 2018

Berlin-based Tourlane, which offers online booking of custom itineraries planned by travel specialists, has raised $24 million in Series B funding. Read More

Interview / Online

Technically Speaking - Ari Balogh of Airbnb

By Jill Menze | December 6, 2018

Ari Balogh comes to Airbnb from Google and is charged with leading infrastructure, information IT and security and engineering for payments, trust and community support as CTO. Read More

News / Technology

Hotelchamp creates AI “Autopilot” to personalize hotel websites

By Mitra Sorrells | December 6, 2018

Hotelchamp, an Amsterdam-based startup that provides technology to drive direct bookings on hotel websites, is launching a new product to automate a personalized user experience. Read More

News / Distribution

VIDEO: Funding, search bias and a need for independent tech providers for activities

By Linda Fox | December 5, 2018

Tours and activities execs took to the Center Stage at The Phocuswright Conference to talk investment, expansion and bias in search results. Read More

News / Startups

SnapTravel adds $13.2M to develop its text- and voice-based travel assistant

By Mitra Sorrells | December 5, 2018

Toronto-based SnapTravel has closed a $21.2 million Series A funding round, adding $13.2 million in new investments to its initial raise of $8 million in July 2017. Read More

Opinion / Distribution

Amid hotel distribution wars, Google will be the last site standing

By Marco Benvenuti - Duetto | December 4, 2018

In an ideal situation for hotels, travelers looking for overnight accommodations would just come directly to them - by walking into the lobby, calling a 1‐800 number or visiting the hotel’s... Read More

News / Technology

Study indicates move away from direct booking among business travelers

By Linda Fox | December 3, 2018

Business travelers in Europe are moving away from direct booking channels, according to new research. Read More

Interview / Technology

Technically Speaking - David Pavlik of Kiwi.com

By Linda Fox | November 30, 2018

Kiwi.com recruited David Pavlik earlier this year. His career spans time at Microsoft in various roles before moving on to technical program manager roles at both Amazon and Netflix. For the past four... Read More

Interview / Startups

VIDEO: Futurestay - Summit pitch at Phocuswright 2018

By Kevin May | November 30, 2018

The smartest way to connect vacation rentals to everything - channels, guests, payments and their own brand. Read More

News / Distribution

Lufthansa releases B2B travel platform Yilu from stealth mode

By Linda Fox | November 29, 2018

Lufthansa Group has launched Yilu, a B2B startup that grew out of its innovation hub. Read More

News / Online

VIDEO: Airbnb on what it's learned from Amazon Prime and its community

By Jill Menze | November 29, 2018

At The Phocuswright Conference, Airbnb Homes executive Greg Greeley discussed the company's ambitions as it prepares for an IPO. Read More

News / Online

Kiwi.com claims multimodal first by interlining air and ground services

By Kevin May | November 28, 2018

Multi-modal search and booking has come into play at Kiwi.com, as part of a major expansion of the core product into new areas. Read More

News / Distribution

Data pinpoints hotel mismanagement of inventory allocation and availability

By Mitra Sorrells | November 28, 2018

The management of room inventory on both a hotel’s brand site and through contracted online travel agency partners is at the core of an effective distribution system. Read More