Sounding Off: 2020 year in reviewNews / OnlineBy PhocusWire | December 18, 2020Share PhocusWireQuotes from executives from every corner of the industry have inspired us weekly to share our views on what they mean and the impact on the market. For this special edition, we've collected them all in one place. The year 2020 has been unpredictable in nearly every way imaginable. At PhocusWire, not only have we chronicled the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the travel industry, but we’ve also attempted to unpack What It All Means, by way of our weekly editorials.Every Friday, we take an in-depth look at a particular trend or news story that has emerged during that particular week, giving it context and reading between the lines of what the protagonists really mean and what, more importantly, it says about the industry.As a body of work, the collection gives readers a snapshot of what have been the main talking points during 2020 and our analysis of those events.Below, see what we’ve written, from the beginning of the year to the end...Regulate for sustainability as we do for safety and securityHipmunk's demise is a lesson to allThe challenge of reducing travel in the travel industryTry the shiny new tech but never expect resultsSafety should be at the forefront of improving business travelStartups should consider giving something away for the greater goodStartups should think big but think realisticallyDo consumers want a travel subscription? Maybe…Coronavirus could trigger the travel marketing overhaul many wantAll that talk about being brilliant communicators should be realRules are there to be brokenTravel bailouts are not simple tasks to manageIn a post-coronavirus world, it's trains before planesGoogle won't change - it'll need its biggest customers post-coronavirusThe right strategy can alter a brand's courseIt's unknown where tours and activities fit in the distribution mixSurvival of the fittest is a mental gameThere is no single metric for success right now (there are many)The unspoken reality is that demand may collapseBe careful where you place your marketing betsWhat role does the industry play in right vs. wrong?COVID-19 protocols aren't forever - but should they be?State-backed or multi-brand travel projects rarely workTravel retailing's time has comeRisky startup investments now have a new risk attachedCollaboration has to be more than a political buzzwordOTA version 2.0 is likely to come from outside the travel industryTime to push forward but not be afraid of digitalizationGoogle's playing of the "competition" card will irk manySocial media shouldn't sugar-coat the mid-crisis travel experienceState-industry alliances could be the best pandemic recovery route to takeGoogle's alienation of travel brands masks the ecosystem's other issuesHotels should think what to do with their empty spaceStop burying your head in the sand over diversity in travelFor travel startups to survive, they must reduce spendChanging the message to nudge consumers back to travelAs hoteliers eye recovery, they must be smart about technologyLike it or not, Big Tech is in the driver's seatSustainability efforts in travel can't be all talk, little actionCan Google really be fair?Coronavirus strategies might have unintended longevityBooking early is great but not in the DNA of attractionsForget who you know - what is it you want to achieve?The bigger promise offered by a vaccineThe promise of a new marketing process won't be easy to reachChange can't come until you understand howBattle of the "best" in online travel is just getting started* Check out the 2019 collection here.* And the 2018 collection here. CoronavirusEditors PickSounding Off2020 And Beyond Month