Travel Booking

Rapid Fire with Jeff Kim of Yanolja
News / Online
Rapid Fire with Jeff Kim of Yanolja
By Abby Crotty | October 21, 2025
As we approach The Phocuswright Conference in San Diego, PhocusWire is highlighting a number of conference speakers in a series of Q&As.   Read More
AI’s new gatekeepers: How Booking.com and Expedia are hijacking the future of travel
Opinion / Technology
AI’s new gatekeepers: How Booking.com and Expedia are hijacking the future of travel
By Brad Brewer - Agentic Hospitality | October 21, 2025
The EU’s Digital Markets Act forces the biggest online “gatekeepers” to play fair, but it doesn’t yet cover standalone AI assistants—like ChatGPT, Gemini or Perplexity. Read More
Google launches Google Maps in Gemini API
News / Technology
Google launches Google Maps in Gemini API
By Morgan Hines | October 20, 2025
Google said the mechanism will be similar to grounding with Google Search, which provides increased accuracy, real-time information and citations. Read More
Phocuswright names winners of the 2025 Philip C. Wolf Memorial Scholarship
News / Online
Phocuswright names winners of the 2025 Philip C. Wolf Memorial Scholarship
By PhocusWire | October 20, 2025
Sebastián Muñoz, co-founder of Rutopía, and Jen Wong, founder and CEO of Laasie, received this year's award. Read More
European Commission's tourism strategy will focus on 3 priorities
News / Online
European Commission's tourism strategy will focus on 3 priorities
By Morgan Hines | October 20, 2025
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism, shared Europe’s upcoming strategic goals for travel. Read More
Where are they now? Catching up with the Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2023
News / Startups
Where are they now? Catching up with the Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2023
By Mileva Sapic | October 20, 2025
Many of our Hot 25 Startups for 2023 have undergone major transformations, including significant funding rounds and strategic acquisitions. Read More
PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: Amex GBT, PriceLabs, Expedia, Trust My Group and more
News / Technology
PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: Amex GBT, PriceLabs, Expedia, Trust My Group and more
By PhocusWire | October 17, 2025
Keep up with all the latest people, partner and product news from around the global travel industry.   Read More
Buy now, pay later provider Upgrade lands $165M investment
News / Distribution
Buy now, pay later provider Upgrade lands $165M investment
By Linda Fox | October 16, 2025
The company offers BNPL and other credit options to consumers, having acquired Uplift (now Flex Pay), a BNPL provider in travel, two years ago. Read More
Aviation leaders on retailing progress, AI use cases
News / Technology
Aviation leaders on retailing progress, AI use cases
By Linda Fox | October 16, 2025
Aviation leaders provided insights on technology investments and the impact of AI during the World Aviation Festival in Lisbon last week. Read More
Kayak rolls out AI Mode for travel search
News / Technology
Kayak rolls out AI Mode for travel search
By Abby Crotty | October 15, 2025
The tool allows for natural-language search and combines Kayak’s data with ChatGPT.   Read More
How gen AI is reinventing voice technology in travel
News / Technology
How gen AI is reinventing voice technology in travel
By Matthew Parsons | October 15, 2025
Several travel companies are exploring the future of voice technology, covering customer service and business operations through to real-time translation and conversational booking. Read More
American Airlines launches gen AI tool
News / Technology
American Airlines launches gen AI tool
By Abby Crotty | October 14, 2025
Customers can type in their trip idea, with the tool then providing “curated destination suggestions” from American’s network.   Read More
Revolut acquires Swifty to build AI concierge for customers
News / Startups
Revolut acquires Swifty to build AI concierge for customers
By Linda Fox | October 14, 2025
Swifty, which launched in 2023, uses LLMs and a conversational interface to help plan and book corporate travel, including payment and invoicing. Read More
Arbio secures $36M in funding to expand rental management platform
News / Startups
Arbio secures $36M in funding to expand rental management platform
By Linda Fox | October 14, 2025
The funding will be put towards acquisitions, developing artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and expansion to new markets in Europe. Read More
CEO Spotlight: Muzzammil Ahussain of Almosafer
Interview / Online
CEO Spotlight: Muzzammil Ahussain of Almosafer
By Abby Crotty | October 14, 2025
Almosafer CEO Muzzammil Ahussain sat down for an interview to discuss ongoing goals for the OTA and changing customer behaviors. Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026