Travel Inspiration

Smartify adds £1.5M to boost visitor engagement at museums and galleries
News / Technology
Smartify adds £1.5M to boost visitor engagement at museums and galleries
By Linda Fox | January 30, 2025
The company offers museums, galleries and other attractions apps that are tailored and branded to their venue and helps to drive engagement through augmented and virtual reality and artificial... Read More
OpenAI debuts "Operator" agent that can book travel
News / Technology
OpenAI debuts "Operator" agent that can book travel
By Mitra Sorrells | January 24, 2025
While still very early days, the development of agents is moving fast and raises questions about the evolution of marketing strategies and search optimization, such as whether site design should change. Read More
Does Reddit have a serious role to play in trip planning?
News / Online
Does Reddit have a serious role to play in trip planning?
By Matthew Parsons | January 23, 2025
Reddit's r/travel community boasts 12-million members and screen views grew nearly 33% in the past year, making the platform an increasingly important consideration for travel planners.    Read More
With U.S. TikTok ban looming, how could travel brands be impacted?
News / Online
With U.S. TikTok ban looming, how could travel brands be impacted?
By Morgan Hines | January 16, 2025
Travel brands including Expedia, Booking.com, Airbnb, United Airlines, Hilton, Kayak and more use TikTok as part of their marketing strategies. Read More
Purple Elephant Ventures raises $4.5M to build travel technology in Africa
News / Startups
Purple Elephant Ventures raises $4.5M to build travel technology in Africa
By Morgan Hines | January 15, 2025
Purple Elephant Ventures aims to make Africa a leading player in regenerative tourism, focused on creating a travel sector that is sustainable and inclusive through “cutting-edge” technology. Read More
Is India’s travel sector on the verge of a boom?
News / Online
Is India’s travel sector on the verge of a boom?
By Morgan Hines | January 15, 2025
Some claim India’s trajectory looks similar to China’s path a dozen or so years ago in terms of discretionary spending. Read More
How travel brands stay ahead on social media
News / Online
How travel brands stay ahead on social media
By Morgan Hines | January 10, 2025
Travel experts discuss the importance of travel brands staying agile in the social media arena as younger generations turn to these platforms for search purposes. Read More
Tripadvisor partners with Perplexity to improve trip planning
News / Technology
Tripadvisor partners with Perplexity to improve trip planning
By Linda Fox | January 9, 2025
The partnership sees the integration of Tripadvisor’s reviews, AI generated summaries and more than 300,000 experiences from Viator with Perplexity’s chatbot-style search capabilities. Read More
Saudi Arabia's $800B investment to build human connections
News / Online
Saudi Arabia's $800B investment to build human connections
By Marisa Garcia | December 30, 2024
The importance of authentic experiences and changing perceptions was discussed during a one-on-one panel held at The Phocuswright Conference. Read More
Tripadvisor to merge with Liberty Tripadvisor in $435M deal
News / Online
Tripadvisor to merge with Liberty Tripadvisor in $435M deal
By Mitra Sorrells | December 19, 2024
The companies announced the merger Thursday morning and the deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025. Read More
Arena - Launch pitch at The Phocuswright Conference 2024
Interview / Startups
Arena - Launch pitch at The Phocuswright Conference 2024
By PhocusWire | December 11, 2024
Partnering with NEOM in Saudi Arabia, Arena has deployed two products: Trainer, a gamified platform for employee onboarding and upskilling in tourism and hospitality, and Plan It, a travel assistant for... Read More
Much Better Adventures lands £5M for technology and new destinations
News / Online
Much Better Adventures lands £5M for technology and new destinations
By Linda Fox | December 9, 2024
The adventure trip specialist will use the investment to boost its international presence and add more experiences and destinations. Read More
How emerging technologies are helping destinations appeal to travelers
News / Technology
How emerging technologies are helping destinations appeal to travelers
By Linda Fox | December 6, 2024
Gregory Yap of the Singapore Exhibition and Conventions Bureau and Jared Alster of Dune7 discuss emerging tech in destination marketing and the importance of having a test and learn environment. Read More
Phocuswright inducts Michelle Peluso and Rod Cuthbert to Hall of Fame
News / Online
Phocuswright inducts Michelle Peluso and Rod Cuthbert to Hall of Fame
By PhocusWire | November 25, 2024
Phocuswright's Hall of Fame welcomed the newest inductees at the Phocuswright Conference this week in Phoenix, Arizona.   Read More
Travel veteran Erik Blachford's tips for travel entrepreneurs in a technical revolution
News / Startups
Travel veteran Erik Blachford's tips for travel entrepreneurs in a technical revolution
By Matthew Parsons | November 22, 2024
Erik Blachford, formerly CEO of IAC Travel and Expedia and a travel technology investor, shares tips for startups as artificial intelligence drives change. Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026