Travel Planning

How personalized videos at scale are connecting travel brands with customers
News / Technology
How personalized videos at scale are connecting travel brands with customers
By Morgan Hines | March 19, 2024
Personalized videos are driving high open rates and creating opportunities for travel brands to connect with customers before, during and after a trip. Read More
CEO Spotlight - Sam Gilliland of Accelya
Interview / Technology
CEO Spotlight - Sam Gilliland of Accelya
By Linda Fox | March 18, 2024
Gilliland spent more than 20 years at Sabre, starting as a software engineer and ending up as CEO, a position he held for 10 years until he left in 2013. He spent some time in private equity before... Read More
Despegar shares AI trip planner details, reports record quarter
News / Technology
Despegar shares AI trip planner details, reports record quarter
By Linda Fox | March 15, 2024
During its Q4 and full-year 2023 results, the company said it had achieved its highest gross bookings since its IPO in 2017 and shared further details of its AI trip assistant Sofia. Read More
Travel companies expect "moderate to aggressive" tech investment increase in 2024
News / Technology
Travel companies expect "moderate to aggressive" tech investment increase in 2024
By Linda Fox | March 14, 2024
New research identified machine learning, data analytics and digital payments as the tecnology priorities for travel companies this year. Read More
What a U.S.TikTok ban could mean for travel industry
News / Online
What a U.S.TikTok ban could mean for travel industry
By D.J. Catron | March 14, 2024
While the legislation faces an uncertain future in the U.S. Senate and likely legal challenges if it becomes law, a ban could have far-reaching ramifications for travel companies. Read More
Airbnb's Stephenson on expansion beyond the core and AI
News / Online
Airbnb's Stephenson on expansion beyond the core and AI
By PhocusWire | March 12, 2024
Airbnb announced CFO Dave Stephenson would be taking up the newly created role of chief business officer to oversee its growth plans. Read More
Point.me announces American Express partnership
News / Online
Point.me announces American Express partnership
By Morgan Hines | March 11, 2024
American Express card members will be able to use Point.me, a PhocusWire Hot 25 Travel Startup for 2024, to search for reward flights. Read More
Amadeus acquires B2B payments specialist Voxel
News / Technology
Amadeus acquires B2B payments specialist Voxel
By Linda Fox | March 11, 2024
Amadeus said the acquisition supports its vision for a "smooth travel payment experience" and will complement its payments business, Outpayce. Read More
GetYourGuide is hiring a TikTok content creator: Here’s why
News / Online
GetYourGuide is hiring a TikTok content creator: Here’s why
By Morgan Hines | March 11, 2024
Despite accelerating efforts to ban TikTok in the United States, GetYourGuide's job opening for a dedicated TikTok creator has received overwhelming interest. Read More
WTTC partners with Oliver Wyman to drive sustainability in travel
News / Technology
WTTC partners with Oliver Wyman to drive sustainability in travel
By Linda Fox | March 7, 2024
WTTC and Oliver Wyman are helping the industry navigate the regulatory landscape when it comes to sustainability, while startups BeCause and Weeva are helping hotels with data collection and insights. Read More
OpenAI wants to inspire European cities to use GenAI for tourism
News / Technology
OpenAI wants to inspire European cities to use GenAI for tourism
By Mitra Sorrells | March 6, 2024
OpenAI is partnering with the city of Dublin to create an itinerary planner built on GPT-4 and to host a workshop in the fall for leaders of other tourism destinations across the EU. Read More
Evaneos invests in Planeterra as part of partnership to foster community tourism
News / Online
Evaneos invests in Planeterra as part of partnership to foster community tourism
By Mitra Sorrells | March 6, 2024
Evaneos is an online marketplace connecting travelers with local tourism agencies around the world, and Planeterra is a nonprofit founded by G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip. Read More
Booking Holdings' Fogel calls for "smart regulations" in Europe
News / Online
Booking Holdings' Fogel calls for "smart regulations" in Europe
By Linda Fox | March 6, 2024
The company has had decisions from European lawmakers go against it in recent months, from its blocked acquisition of Etraveli to the threat of being tagged a digital gatekeeper under the looming... Read More
SITA serves as lead investor in Indicio’s Series A funding round
News / Startups
SITA serves as lead investor in Indicio’s Series A funding round
By Morgan Hines | March 5, 2024
SITA and Indicio began working together during the pandemic and have since expanded their partnership to develop a digital travel credential using blockchain and biometrics. Read More
Kayak launches image recognition tool to compare flight prices from a screenshot
News / Technology
Kayak launches image recognition tool to compare flight prices from a screenshot
By Derek Catron and Morgan Hines | March 5, 2024
Extensive training of ChatGPT’s AI model on Kayak’s database of billions of consumer travel queries helped produce the metasearch site’s new features. Read More
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