Travel Planning

News / Distribution

New OTA targets Muslim travelers looking for halal-friendly destinations

By Mitra Sorrells | April 30, 2019

Rihaala is a new online travel agency focused on halal-friendly destinations and accommodations and user-generated content. Read More

News / Online

Vacasa partners with e-commerce giant Wayfair to launch interior design program

By Jill Menze | April 25, 2019

The program, which has been in pilot mode over the past year, is designed to boost income for vacation homeowners and multifamily developers by linking them with Vacasa’s in-house design team to... Read More

Opinion / Online

Four steps to personalize the traveler's path to purchase

By Jay Radia - Yieldify | April 25, 2019

By taking a data-driven approach to the customer journey, travel businesses can better recognize intent signals to personalize the journey to users as they browse. Read More

News / Technology

Grab expands beyond ride-hailing with new services to become "everyday super app"

By Marissa Trew - WiT | April 24, 2019

Grab is adding four new services for its users in Singapore including hotel bookings through Agoda and Booking.com. Read More

News / Technology

Hotel guests want curated recommendations, amenities - not robot concierges

By Jill Menze | April 24, 2019

According to a new study from ALICE and YouGov, travelers increasingly want recommendations and in-room amenities curated to their liking. Read More

News / Distribution

Middle East, part 3: How homegrown travel brands are diversifying distribution

By Mitra Sorrells | April 22, 2019

For the third part in our series on the Middle East, we analyze the distribution landscape and the role of homegrown online travel agencies. Read More

News / Online

WEBINAR REPLAY! The role of social media content across the travel buyer journey

By PhocusWire | April 19, 2019

Explore how tourism brands should be using user generated content in 2019 to create the most engaging experiences both digitally and on-site. Read More

News / Online

Tripoto brings in $3.7M to boost community and travel search platform

By Kevin May | April 18, 2019

The India-based travel community secured the round from Orchid India, Hornbill Orchid India Fund, Chiratae Ventures, 3one4 Capital and Lasmer NV. Read More

Interview / Online

In the green room at Phocuswright Europe with... Thijs van As

By PhocusWire | April 16, 2019

In a series of interviews with executives participating at the event in Amsterdam in May, PhocusWire finds out what makes them tick... Next up: Google Flights lead product manager Thijs van As. Read More

News / Online

Lastminute.com Group now also a media company, offers out marketing services

By Linda Fox | April 15, 2019

Lastminute.com Group launches Forward as an independent media business. Read More

Interview / Distribution

Travelstart looks to Middle East for growth

By Siew Hoon Yeoh - WebInTravel | April 10, 2019

With South Africa as its home base and its businesses spread across the African continent, Travelstart believes its roots and experience make it well suited to take on the emerging and fragmented... Read More

News / Online

Guest reviews, room price more valuable than brand name in hotel selection

By Mitra Sorrells | April 9, 2019

According to Expedia Group, room price and guest reviews and ratings are more important than brand when consumers shop hotels. Read More

News / Online

Booking.com speaks out on its private accommodation ambitions

By Jill Menze | April 9, 2019

Amid its ongoing rivalry with Airbnb, Booking.com explains how it hopes to differentiate its alternative accommodations product. Read More

Opinion / Technology

Customer data platforms in travel: Worthy of the hype?

By Valerio Fuschini - Carlson Wagonlit Travel | April 4, 2019

With the increasing competition for customers, TMCs are crying out for cross-functional windows into traveler data, but are customer data platforms the answer? Read More