Travel Planning

News / Technology

ChatGPT brings apps into chat, starting with Expedia and Booking.com

By Morgan Hines | October 7, 2025

OpenAI said the system is using Model Context Protocol (MCP) to enable ChatGPT to connect to external tools and data. Read More

News / Online

Travel trends in the Middle East: Experiences, Gen Z and technology

By Abby Crotty | October 7, 2025

According to Phocuswright data, in 2024, the travel market in the Middle East exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 23%, with gross total bookings reaching $101.2 billion. Read More

News / Technology

Expedia partners with Perplexity for Comet launch

By Morgan Hines | October 6, 2025

Expedia is offering Silver status in its OneKey loyalty program in exchange for users downloading Comet’s recently launched browser. Read More

News / Technology

Plusgrade acquires Oaky, plans unified upsell platform

By Linda Fox | October 6, 2025

Plusgrade's deal to acquire Oaky is its third in recent years following its acquisition of UpStay and Points.com. Read More

News / Startups

Where are they now? Catching up with the Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2021

By Mileva Sapic | October 6, 2025

Zamna, Troop, Kyte and Tripkicks, which were selected as PhocusWire's Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2021, share their milestones for the past year and the technology they are most excited about. Read More

News / Technology

Amex GBT, Concur partner for integrated travel and expense offering

By Michael B. Baker - BTN | October 3, 2025

The offering, dubbed Complete, is a combined effort of both companies that will be available to joint clients later this month. Read More

News / Technology

Hotel chains struggle with AI strategy, independents see fast ROI

By Marisa Garcia | October 3, 2025

Separate studies from H2c and TakeUp capture perspectives on artificial intelligence usage from more 370 hoteliers worldwide, encompassing luxury chains, mid-market brands and small, independent hotels. Read More

News / Online

From SEO to GEO, hotels confront the future of digital discovery

By Matthew Parsons | October 2, 2025

Hospitality brands and independent properties are trying to figure out how best to appear directly in the detailed answers large language models are returning. Read More

News / Technology

Hospitable looks to platform users and employees to raise $1.5M

By Linda Fox | September 30, 2025

The company describes itself as a short-term rental super app offering a range of services including automated guest messaging and rate optimization. Read More

From Our Partners / Online

How brand marketers can adapt to travelers’ evolving mindsets

By Matthew Parsons | September 30, 2025

Today's travelers are discovering inspiration through an expanding universe of digital touchpoints and content creators, making their journey from dreaming to booking more complex than ever before. Read More

News / Online

Senior travel trends - adapting to technology and finding community

By Marisa Garcia | September 30, 2025

Trip.com Group has devised special programs for senior travelers and sees a potential $1 trillion market from the cohort in the next three to five years. Read More

News / Technology

TikTok launches travel advertising solution

By Morgan Hines | September 29, 2025

TikTok’s Travel Ads is meant to connect users with hotel, destination, flight and cruise catalogs as they explore travel content on the platform. Read More

News / Online

7 powerful shifts driving the Middle East travel boom

By Phocuswright Research | September 29, 2025

The Middle East has emerged as one of the fastest-growing travel markets globally, supported by proactive government tourism strategies, mega-events and investments in infrastructure. Read More