In Phocus

Just weeks into his new role as CEO of Despegar, Gonzalo Estebarena is outlining an ambitious vision for the Latin America-based OTA as it enters its next phase under Prosus ownership. Having previously served as Despegar’s CTO and chief commercial officer, Estebarena said the company has maintained its “startup soul” while gaining the scale and resources of a global technology company following Prosus’ $1.7 billion acquisition in 2025. A major focus is artificial intelligence, with Despegar committing $100 million annually over the next three years to AI development while aiming to triple the size of the business. Estebarena said access to Prosus has accelerated conversations with technology partners and provided Despegar with a “front-row seat” to AI experimentation and innovation. Expansion in Brazil is a key priority, particularly as Despegar works to become part of a broader Prosus ecosystem spanning travel, food delivery, entertainment and other consumer services. Estebarena described this strategy as targeting “life-decision moments” for consumers. He also discussed Prosus’ development of a “large commerce model,” designed to predict customer actions rather than words, enabling more personalized offers and communications that drive transactions. The interview also explores Uber’s move into hotels, Despegar’s internal AI projects and the leadership challenges Estebarena faces as CEO.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, the CEOs of CityUnscripted and Context Travel unpack how distribution in tours and activities is evolving as major platforms like Tripadvisor and Airbnb expand their presence. Nick Whitfield of CityUnscripted argues that while the landscape may appear increasingly commoditized, the reality is more nuanced. Overwhelming choice and sameness across listings create friction for consumers, opening the door for differentiated experiences to stand out. He points to shifting search behavior, driven in part by AI, as a catalyst that could benefit more distinctive, experience-led operators rather than purely scaled marketplaces. June Chin-Ramsey of Context Travel reinforces that differentiation will hinge on human connection. As definitions of luxury evolve, she sees a growing premium on meaning and personal attention rather than traditional markers like high-end amenities. Expert-led tours, she argues, deliver something technology cannot replicate. AI and augmented tools may enhance discovery and planning, but they will not replace the depth and authenticity of a knowledgeable guide. Together, the guests highlight a fragmented but opportunity-rich sector where success will depend on clarity of product, thoughtful use of technology and a renewed focus on human-led experiences.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The conversation around sustainability in tourism may feel more advanced than ever, but real change isn’t keeping pace. Jeremy Sampson, CEO of The Travel Foundation, argues that growing consensus on tourism’s environmental and social impact has created a misleading sense of progress. While awareness has increased, the system itself hasn’t evolved quickly enough to match the accelerating pressures of climate change and global instability. What the industry once expected to face years from now is already unfolding, compressing future risks into today’s reality. As these challenges intensify, Sampson believes regulation will become a key driver of change, shifting more control to destinations whether the industry is ready or not. He points to initiatives like the Canary Islands’ RegNext program as examples of collaboration between governments and industry to support more sustainable growth. At the same time, reframing sustainability through the lens of economic resilience is helping bring more stakeholders to the table. Still, gaps remain between what consumers say and what they do, raising questions about how success in tourism sustainability should ultimately be defined.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hotels are actively exploring AI as a strategic investment, with a strong focus on improving guest engagement and operational efficiency. James Bishop of SiteMinder emphasizes that the real opportunity lies in automation, not workforce reduction, but enabling staff to work more productively. Chris Clayton of Scenic Hotel Group reinforces that AI is not a plug-and-play solution, warning against oversimplified expectations. Instead, hotels must carefully identify the right applications to drive meaningful return on investment, recognizing that AI implementation requires thoughtful integration rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Both guests highlight that success with AI hinges on data quality and readiness. Well-structured, accessible data is essential for AI to deliver value, while poor data leads to unreliable outcomes. The discussion also touches on how AI can enhance personalization and reshape the role of online travel agencies, all within the context of longer-term technology adoption cycles.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Multimodal travel is quickly becoming central to how people plan and experience trips, according to Rome2Rio CEO Wendy Olson Killion. Speaking at The Phocuswright Conference, Killion emphasized that multimodal transportation—combining flights, trains, buses and more—is no longer a niche behavior but a core part of travel. This shift is reflected in Rome2Rio’s data, where 50% of searches now involve multiple modes of transport. She noted that short-distance travel, particularly within 90 miles, is seeing significant growth, signaling changing consumer preferences and a broader definition of how trips are structured. Several factors are driving this trend. Regulatory changes, such as European Union restrictions on regional flights, are encouraging alternatives like rail. At the same time, cultural influence is playing a role, with celebrities and influencers reshaping perceptions of train and surface travel. Killion described this as the “surface rising,” highlighting the growing importance of non-air options. Beyond consumer behavior, she also discussed her first year leading Rome2Rio after transitioning from Expedia Group, and how the company is addressing challenges like overtourism. Together, these dynamics point to a future where multimodal travel is not just an option but the foundation of trip planning.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nishank Gopalkrishnan, six months into his role as CEO of Dreamlines, is focused on understanding both the cruise industry and how the company can stand out in a relatively under-digitized segment of travel. Drawing on experience across startups and major players like TUI and MakeMyTrip, he sees cruises as a fragmented market with significant room for innovation. Despite representing only a small share of global tourism, the cruise sector presents a major opportunity to modernize booking and packaging, which he and his team are actively working to reimagine. A key pillar of this transformation is artificial intelligence, which Dreamlines is embedding into its rebuilt technology stack to drive more efficient and dynamic cruise packaging across both consumer and business channels. Gopalkrishnan also points to AI’s potential to enhance personalization, particularly within loyalty programs, while acknowledging broader industry challenges and his own early hurdles as CEO. Overall, his vision centers on leveraging technology to unlock a more seamless, personalized and scalable cruise experience.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel companies are entering a far more regulated era as governments in Europe and the U.K. expand consumer protections to reflect how travel is now bought and sold. Historically, regulations like the Package Travel Directive focused on bundled trips, but new rules extend coverage to services purchased within a 24-hour window, even if booked separately across a single platform. According to Rhys Griffiths of Fox Williams, this marks a significant shift, potentially requiring more companies to obtain licenses and implement insolvency protections. As a result, businesses that once operated outside strict regulatory frameworks may now face tighter operational constraints and oversight. At the same time, broader regulatory pressures are intensifying. The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive will require travel companies to disclose environmental, social and governance risks, including how climate change could impact demand patterns and business performance. Additional measures like the Digital Services Act are also increasing scrutiny, particularly around online content such as illegal listings. With penalties increasingly tied to company turnover, the financial stakes are high. Taken together, these changes are dramatically widening the regulatory net, catching many travel companies off guard as they struggle to keep pace with evolving compliance requirements.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The airline distribution landscape is entering a new phase as New Distribution Capability (NDC) adoption accelerates and the industry moves toward modern offer and order models. In this episode, Jeremy Jameson, VP of the Americas at Mystifly, and Jesus Monzo Faubel, senior director of flights (west) at PKFARE, discuss how improved servicing and post-ticketing functionality are beginning to drive real operational efficiencies. While adoption still varies across airlines and agencies, both note that the foundation is now in place, with airlines in Europe and the U.S. leading the way through stronger content strategies and distribution approaches, while travel sellers continue to navigate technology and post-booking challenges. The conversation also explores what comes next, including the growing role of intermediaries in bridging gaps across the ecosystem and making NDC content more accessible. Looking ahead, Jameson and Faubel highlight the importance of data and customer-centric retailing, emphasizing the need for robust data architecture to better understand traveler behavior. Combined with advances in AI, these capabilities are set to power more dynamic, personalized and responsive travel experiences as airline distribution continues to evolve.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Migrating to the cloud is transforming how travel companies operate, innovate and serve travelers. In this episode, Tedd Evers, Global Partner Leader of Travel and Hospitality at Amazon Web Services (AWS), explains why cloud adoption is about more than cost savings. While moving away from traditional data centers can reduce expenses and increase operational efficiency, the real advantage lies in the ability to experiment, scale and innovate quickly. Evers discusses how tools like Amazon Bedrock allow companies to test and deploy different AI models depending on the use case, helping organizations determine when generative AI makes sense and when traditional machine learning may be the better option. This flexibility enables travel companies to build smarter applications while controlling costs. The conversation also explores how cloud technology is democratizing innovation across the travel ecosystem. From global airlines to early-stage startups, organizations can access the same powerful infrastructure and tools to develop new solutions. Evers shares insights on emerging AI use cases, the role of cloud in shaping future travel technology and how companies can use these capabilities to enhance traveler experiences.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aven Hospitality may be a new name, but CEO Teresa Mackintosh is already deep into the company’s next chapter. Following its 2025 acquisition by TPG and separation from former owner Sabre, Mackintosh has spent the past six months preparing Aven to stand on its own. In this episode, she shares how the company is shifting from long-term strategic planning to rapid, three- to six-month execution cycles to keep pace with technological change. Drawing on her background in accounting, SaaS and private equity, Mackintosh explains her “three-legged stool” approach to leadership, balancing the needs of hoteliers, employees and investors. She discusses Aven’s immediate investment priorities, including modernizing its platform for AI, strengthening its booking engine, and expanding payments and retailing capabilities to become the commerce hub for hotel partners. Mackintosh also addresses the fragmentation of the hospitality tech ecosystem, the risks and opportunities of agentic AI, the future of SaaS, and who stands to win or lose in the evolving battle between direct and intermediary distribution. Tune in for a candid conversation with PhocusWire’s Linda Fox on strategy, AI and the future of hotel technology.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel selling is evolving fast and new players are redefining how trips are discovered and booked. This episode features Jake Peters, co-founder and chief product and technology officer at Fora, and Maarten van Pijpen, chief growth officer at Unravel, in conversation with PhocusWire senior reporter Morgan Hines. The discussion explores how AI, social media and changing consumer behavior are reshaping distribution. Fora represents a modern travel agency model, using technology and AI to empower a new generation of travel advisors. But while tech enhances efficiency and personalization, Peters emphasizes that humans remain essential. AI assists advisors, it does not replace them. Like a fitness app versus a personal coach, technology can guide, but human expertise and accountability elevate the experience. Unravel takes a different approach. Often described as “TikTok meets Expedia,” the company delivers travel inspiration through a shoppable video feed, connecting discovery directly to booking. With younger travelers consuming hours of video daily and turning to platforms like TikTok for vacation ideas, Unravel aims to seamlessly link inspiration with transaction in a self-service environment. Together, the executives share how AI supports their business models, how social platforms are becoming key distribution channels and what they’re building toward in 2026. The takeaway: the future of travel selling is not just about AI. It’s about how companies blend technology, personalization and the right level of human touch.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gen AI is gaining real traction in corporate travel and this time, it’s more than experimentation. In this episode of In Phocus, Marilyn Markham, VP of AI and automation strategy at American Express Global Business Travel, and Mat Orrego, CEO and co-founder of Cornerstone Information Systems, explore how AI is reshaping the sector. While early chatbots left many travelers frustrated and eager to “scream for a human,” today’s AI-powered assistants are changing expectations. The conversation examines whether corporate travel can combine modern generative AI with deep travel expertise to finally deliver the intelligent, intuitive chat experiences the industry once envisioned. The discussion also dives into AI’s evolving role in the ecosystem, growing user comfort with AI agents, the shift from experimentation to real-world application, and the critical importance of data in powering what comes next. As AI steps out from the wings and into daily operations, corporate travel may be entering a new era of intelligent assistance.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Skyscanner CEO Bryan Batista is nearly a year into the job, and he’s already uncovered a few surprises about what it really takes to lead one of travel’s biggest metasearch platforms. Recorded live from the PhocusWire studio at The Phocuswright Conference, Batista joins PhocusWire’s Linda Fox to talk about Skyscanner’s traveler-first mindset, why the company sometimes turns down revenue opportunities, and where it still sees major room for growth in global markets. Batista also dives into the opportunities and challenges of AI in travel, from the industry’s struggle with personalization to the complexity of building a connected trip. And as questions swirl about whether large language models could disrupt metasearch, Batista explains why Skyscanner believes it can be a key player in the emerging AI travel ecosystem.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when the CEO of one of the world’s largest travel companies spends her weekends experimenting with ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity? You get a front-row view into how Expedia Group is thinking about the next era of travel. In this episode, Expedia Group CEO Ariane Gorin sits down with Mitra Sorrells, SVP of content at Phocuswright/PhocusWire, to unpack how a long-standing test-and-learn mindset is shaping the company’s AI strategy and accelerating decision-making across the business. Gorin calls AI Expedia Group’s “third chapter”, following the internet and mobile. And she’s clear: this is not theoretical. It’s happening fast and it’s already changing how travelers search, discover and book. You’ll hear: Why experimentation is now a leadership muscle, not a side project How Expedia is thinking about visibility in AI platforms as search evolves What “agentic AI” could unlock for the traveler experience How the Google Universal Commerce Protocol fits into Expedia’s future plans Why tours and activities matter more than ever, and what Tiqets brings to the table The role of brand in an AI-driven world, plus updates on B2B growth and Vrbo This conversation goes beyond buzzwords and product launches. It’s a candid look at how a global travel platform prepares for rapid change while staying focused on what actually improves the traveler experience.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The definition of luxury travel fluctuates across demographics, and how technology plays into that is also changing with evolving needs and tools like artificial intelligence (AI). “Luxury audiences ... they vary greatly depending on level of maturity of that wealth, where they're hailing from across the planet, whether or not they're a solo traveler or traveling in a group, [if they are] multi-generational and where they sit in the luxury ladder,” Kristie Goshow, chief commercial officer at Loews Hotels & Co, said during an interview in the PhocusWire studio at The Phocuswright Conference. Luxury travelers are often looking for technology to remove friction on their trips, Goshow said. Hospitality providers are expected to improve experience, and tech has to enable that. Phocuswright’s 2025 U.S. Consumer Travel Report found that “indulgent explorers,” defined by their per-person, per-day leisure travel spend, excluding airfare, are more tech savvy. The study revealed 78% seek out and enjoy being an early adopter of new technology, compared with 38% of the general population. Skylark CEO Mike Greene agreed. While definitions can vary, for Greene, luxury hinges on dynamic personalization. “It's about being proactive, having service be super proactive about—and attentive to—what people need before they even know what they need,” Greene said. “And technology can play a huge role in that.”All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel startup funding remained tough throughout 2025, with Phocuswright data signaling the year would likely fall below $5 billion after a modest recovery to $5.8 billion in 2024. A few headline rounds stood out, including Perk’s $200 million Series E, Klook’s $100 million and later raises from companies like Ramp, Airalo and Peek, but big checks were otherwise scarce and investors consistently urged founders to extend runway and manage cash as if the next round might not arrive. In this interview with Linda Fox in the PhocusWire Studio, investors Roopak Pati of Oppenheimer and Betsy Mulé of F-Prime Capital unpack what the funding slowdown means for travel startups and why they still see reasons for optimism. They discuss how AI is accelerating efficiency and adoption across the industry, while also complicating the path for some B2C travel companies as AI platforms increasingly showcase travel booking use cases. The conversation also explores what’s next, from renewed IPO momentum to the likelihood of stronger M&A activity in 2026. Along the way, Pati and Mulé share what they’re watching, including tech-forward players in corporate travel, and why investors are placing more, smaller bets as winning business models become harder to predict.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Co-founded by CEO John Lyotier and chairman of the board Chris Jensen in 2013, Vancouver-based TravelAI now operates more than 475 consumer-facing brands. The company generated over $268 million in gross booking value in 2024, and the CEO expects that figure to be be closer to $500 million in 2025. TravelAI is actively pursuing its goal of creating the “web of one,” working towards improved personalization in travel. In a recent interview in the PhocusWire studio at The Phocuswright Conference, co-founder and CEO John Lyotier discussed the company’s progress and his thoughts on next steps. “The web of one goes back to the whole concept of can you create a web experience where you have a personalization layer that is only delivering one website to one person. So, this is your website, your experience,” he said. “The next evolution of that is more or less the ‘web of none,’ where the same information and same data and same content you would create to put in a website is available across any medium.” To achieve this, Lyotier said another layer—a shared vector protocol—is necessary.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During its its third quarter earnings call in early November, Airbnb shared some early results of its experiences and services launches. At the time, the company said almost half of those booked were not related to an accommodation booking. Meanwhile, 10% of those who booked a service—think massages and private chefs—were totally new to the platform.  Airbnb is “super encouraged” by those results, chief business officer Dave Stephenson said during an interview in the PhocusWire studio at The Phocuswright Conference 2025. They not only reveal demand for the new business lines but also that the platform can be seen for more than just short-term rentals, he said.  The company's recent marketing initiatives have also been aligned with the launches and communicating the message that users can get more than just an Airbnb rental from the platform. “It’s not just about the home. It’s really about the trip. It’s about all the experiences that you can have in the community that that you're traveling to. We want these authentic experiences, these authentic stays to get to a sense of the place. So that's where you're seeing our advertising kind of expanding the definition of what it means to be in an Airbnb,” Stephenson said. He went on to discuss how the company rebuilt its technology stack to enable the sale of services and experiences and allow for the onboarding of different service providers with their own requirements.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecting the dots of the traveler journey is priority in the ground transportation sector, but tangible examples of connected trip in action are still somewhat “rare.” Travelers can book a full trip in Sweden, including a train, taxi and a bus, which is working well, but there aren’t many models beyond that, according to SilverRail chief commercial officer Cameron Jones. During an interview in the PhocusWire studio, Jones said the connected journey is still evolving, as is customer buying behavior. “There’s this view that a customer might want to book everything in one transaction and one journey and planning experience, but I'm not sure that's the case,” he said. When it comes to artificial intelligence (AI), tech is already helping with aggregating content and pricing, and the next phase will include purchasing. “It just makes things simple, and I know, for us, that’s all we ever want is to try and make that purchasing experience simple,” said Nicole Kerr, CEO of Mozio.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The “connected trip” has become a bit of a tired buzzword, but the ability to bundle different trip elements is not less coveted in the travel space. During an interview in the PhocusWire studio at The Phocuswright Conference last month, Manuel Hilty, CEO and co-founder of Nezasa, and Andrew Boch, CEO of Mobi.AI, discussed the end-to-end traveler journey and the gaps that remain. While some think of the connected trip as being “top-down,” Boch highlighted Mobi.AI’s context-aware approach to artificial intelligence (AI). “We think that, when you’re changing your flight, that should be aware of what your hotel plans were, and it should be aware of what the purpose of your trip was. Like when you’re staying at a hotel, the hotel should know why you’re there,” Boch said. “That sort of context should be preserved throughout the travel experience, and fundamentally, all the downstream suppliers need some method of both understanding that context, ingesting that context and then, hopefully, acting on that context.” The pair also commented on generational differences in data sharing, AI’s impact, agentic opportunity and more.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting travel marketing, the best use cases are still being determined. AI-supported digital travel marketing can work—as long as it still has a human touch, according to Rob Torres, SVP of media solutions and retail partnerships for Expedia Group. In October, Expedia Group released research that examined what content is driving traveler choice. The company showed participants a mix of non-AI-enhanced, AI-enhanced and fully AI content. “A good percentage of the travelers really didn't mind, and actually, I don't want to say they preferred [it], but they did not mind the AI-enhanced content as long as it did have some human touch in it as well,” Torres said during an interview in the PhocusWire studio at The Phocuswright Conference. As responses were positive, Expedia Group determined that content creation could benefit from some level of AI implementation.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 26 years with the company and 10 as CEO, Priceline recently announced that Brett Keller would hand over the reins to Brigit Zimmerman in January. In an interview in the PhocusWire studio, Keller reflected on his time at the OTA, where he has held several roles including CMO and COO. His best advice for his successor was to surround herself with the best possible team and be sure to retain them, pointing to the longevity of Booking Holdings leadership team.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Within the vacation rental industry, opportunity abounds as operators lean into consolidation and professionalization. During an interview in the PhocusWire studio at The Phocuswright Conference last week, Sharad Sunderesan, founder and CEO of Homescreen, and Eric Goldreyer, CEO of Savvy, shared their thoughts on these trends. “You’ll see consolidation bring about that degree of consistency across the board, which helps with dealing with those increased guest expectations,” Sundaresan said. According to Goldreyer, short-term rental (STR) guests also want standardization, but, more importantly, they want to forego travel anxiety and have a reliable point of contact if something goes wrong. “They want a professional. They want someone that they can call,” he said. “If you’re in a vacation rental, you’re taking a group, and there’s higher pain points. You want to make sure that you can minimize those to the best of your ability.” Conversation shifted to artificial intelligence and how it may address significant challenges such as persistent manual processes and fragmentation.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cryptocurrency is carving out a role in travel—from B2C bookings to B2B settlements—through stablecoin-powered payments and crypto-savvy consumers making high-value transactions. Although cryptocurrency still represents a small portion of global travel spending, industry leaders believe change is coming quickly. “Travel is an emotional and high-value purchase,” said Damien Cramer, senior vice president of global travel at Nuvei. “Seventy-four percent of customers won’t complete a booking if their preferred payment method isn’t offered.” While consumers are increasingly open to paying with cryptocurrency, businesses have been slower to adopt it, especially for B2B transactions. That may be changing as stablecoins offer more predictable value and faster settlement. “The speed and ease of stablecoin transactions are becoming more profound,” Cramer said.  During an interview in the PhocusWire studio with senior reporter Morgan Hines, Nuvei’s Cramer discussed how crypto is evolving rapidly and becoming more mainstream, with faster transactions and better fiat tracking. He also touched on how adoption is expected to grow particularly in industries such as hospitality, where the technology could mean a cheaper, more efficient way to transfer funds internationally.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Saudi Arabia-based OTA Almosafer, which means “traveler” in Arabic, is making headway in the Middle East. Now head of the company, Muzzammil Ahussain has risen the ranks from COO to EVP to CEO—a role he’s held since January 2023. In an interview with PhocusWire, Ahussain said Almosafer sets itself apart from global OTAs like Booking.com and Expedia through “local understanding and local knowhow” of Saudi Arabia. “We are not just an OTA in our consumer business; we’re actually a fully omnichannel business,” he said. The CEO also discussed the greatest challenges facing the company, which include prioritizing different opportunities within Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council, identifying areas to leverage artificial intelligence and human capital development.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You could be forgiven for thinking that travel companies might shy away from taking companies public via special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). Many will have seen industry peers have a rough ride back in 2022 and question what has changed. For Chris Hemmeter, managing director of Thayer Investment Partners, the travel industry is in a very different place now. In an interview with PhocusWire, he said there is already a resurgence in potential SPACs attributable to the macro environment and amount of money investors have been sitting on which is "creating a little bit more interest in alternatives for companies." And the profile of a travel company that might be ready to go public via this route? They must be profitable, said Hemmeter and even "somewhat boring." "Understandable products where you can really see the slow march in growth and expansion of margin." Hemmeter also discussed how much experimentation is going on in the industry currently despite how hard funding is to come by. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While ancillaries are often discussed as a way to boost profit, not every travel company has introduced these revenue streams. But what's holding them back? Mark McLaughlin, CEO of Coras, and Inigo Valenzuela, CEO of Smartvel, opened up about the hesitancy they encounter in the pitching process to travel suppliers. Mclaughlin identified technology as a roadblock. As an API provider for tickets and events, he said he’s really selling to two sides: marketing and tech. And if you don’t get a buy-in from both sides, “it's tricky,” McLaughlin said. Valenzuela said the process of convincing travel companies to jump on board is not going to happen overnight, either. “Selling is tough because it’s B2B sales. It's a long sales cycle,” he said, adding that there are several decision-makers and factors that need to align, including timing, people and budget. McLaughlin said that convincing a company to join up and add extras also involves recognizing what a travel company has experienced so far when selling extras and how the company may benefit. In discussion with senior reporter Morgan Hines in the PhocusWire studio, McLaughlin and Valenzuela touched on an array of topics ranging from artificial intelligence, customer acquisition and retention, the ability to compete and more. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the short-term rental (STR) industry continues to evolve, it’s become clear that vacation rentals can be more than just a place to rest one’s head—and Airbnb has tapped into this opportunity with its recent launch of Services. But what benefit do ancillaries really pose to STR providers? Industry leaders shared their thoughts in a panel-style interview in the PhocusWire studio at Phocuswright Europe. According to Sylvia Epaillard, co-CEO and chief digital and commercial officer for Interhome, which is being acquired by HomeToGo, ancillaries can be lucrative. “Some have tried already in the industry, and we've watched that closely,” she said. “Our whole business is designed around self-service stays. People really go there with their own ideas, with their own creativity. And I think not only offering the space where they can develop that creativity but also to actually add certain services is a great opportunity.” Andrew Bate, CEO of Safely, said pushback from guests on “extra fees” has forced ancillaries to evolve. “I think in the U.S. from 2021, 2022, 2023 when occupancy was high, pricing power was high, there were fees just being added left and right that added no value or minimal value—administrative fees, parking fees—all these extra fees,” he said. Now, ancillaries are adding value rather than serving as a money grab and a way to hide extra fees. And part of that has to do with legal changes.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The travel industry has had pretty much everything thrown at it in the first six months of 2025. It has faced ongoing global conflict, economic instability, political uncertainty and challenges related to climate change.The second quarter earnings of online travel agencies, hotel groups and airlines reflected some of this turmoil. Airlines blamed macroeconomic factors for revenue losses and demand uncertainty, while the CEOs of hotel groups and OTAs were cautiously optimistic.The constant in travel that leaders come back to again and again is its resilience—bounce-backs after an ash cloud, stock market crashes and a pandemic spring to mind. While travel was down in certain regions of the world, travel companies are often quick to pivot to other destinations and products to compensate.In an interview in the PhocusWire studio, Go City CEO Jon Owen said that Europe is having a great year, with some cities seeing an increase in visitor numbers."I think ultimately what you need to do as a business is just keep going—you can't affect European reluctance to travel to California at the moment, but what you can do is keep building the right products for customers, and those market trends will change," he said.He was joined in the studio by Linda Bryndísardóttir, vice president of business development for Dohop, who said that the situation was not as "bleak" as it might sound."If you look at numbers from IATA, for example, the number of passengers is growing year over year, even in the U.S. Asia is growing quite fast. We're increasing our partnerships in Asia," she said.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Loyalty has long helped brands drive engagement but not everything is plain sailing in the travel loyalty world. The landscape is shifting with younger generations demanding something different from programs and companies reassessing what's working. At the end of last year, for example, Morning Consult reported that travelers aren’t totally satisfied with programs as they exist. And in 2023, McKinsey reported that an airline’s loyalty program's capability to convince travelers to choose their airline over another, was declining. So, where are travel brands going wrong when it comes to loyalty? Mark Ross-Smith, CEO of Loyalty Status Co., and Robert Wesley, CEO of MeProtocol, weighed in on how brands can improve loyalty strategies during a studio interview at Phocuswright Europe in Barcelona. During the wide-ranging discussion, Wesley and Ross-Smith also touched on the use of blockchain in loyalty, how artificial intelligence plays into loyalty’s evolution, the importance of personalization and more.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel’s tours and activities sector has been growing in recent years, and the space is continuing to evolve in 2025. Industry leaders opened up about current trends during a studio interview with senior reporter Morgan Hines at Phocuswright Europe earlier this summer.  Right now, experts said there are some key shifts tied to demographic, booking behavior and emerging technology, all of which could shape the future of the space. Roisin O'Sullivan, global managing director of Walks and Devour, said there has been a change in the demographic of travelers who are booking experiences. Craig Everett, co-founder and CEO of Holibob, said the booking window is consistently moving closer to the date of travel. Ali Basij, founder, chief technology officer and CEO of Instahop, said artificial intelligence (AI) is this year's biggest trend. The wide-ranging conversation also touched on the concept of original experiences, as touted by big-name brands such as Airbnb and GetYourGuide, autonomous experiences, the booking funnel and more.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peter O’Donovan's career has included several leadership roles, and he now sits as the CEO of CarTrawler. O'Donovan was appointed to the role in 2022 after four years as chief operations officer. CarTrawler works to connect clients and travel brands to mobility solutions and car rentals across the world.During a CEO Spotlight interview in the PhocusWire studio at Phocuswright Europe, O’Donovan discussed what motivates him, CarTrawler’s use of artificial intelligence and how it’s preparing for agentic AI and the challenges he faces as a CEO, among other topics. Watch the full discussion with PhocusWire's Morgan Hines. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The travel industry is known for being susceptible to just about everything, from financial downturns and global conflict to rapid technological development and climate change. However, it's also known for its ability to bounce back—often quite quickly.At Phocuswright Europe 2025, CheckYeti, a specialist in outdoor experiences, and WingBuddy, a packaged tour operator, joined us in the PhocusWire studio to discuss what it's like to be a niche player in such turbulent times.CheckYeti CEO Jakob Keller and Michael Carfagnini, chief operating officer of WingBuddy, said that as smaller, more agile operators, they have the ability to adapt more quickly to outside influences and build trust with customers. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If the first quarter of 2025 proved lackluster for travel startup funding with only about $1 billion going into newcomers in the space, the second quarter slipped further. It seems all the headlines around tariffs as well as the political uncertainty and global conflict may have put investments on hold, with only about $800 million going into travel startups, according to Phocuswright’s Travel Startups Interactive Database. If funding levels continue along this trend, the total come end of 2025 could be around $4 billion, significantly less than 2024’s $5.5 billion and a far cry from 2021’s record $16 billion. The lack of funding for travel startups as well as the scarcity of exits were discussed during a recent interview with Nick Cocks, founder and managing partner of Singapore-based Velocity Ventures. He touched the current attitude to risk, boardroom paralysis and IPOs being shelved.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During an interview at the PhocusWire studio at Phocuswright Europe, Maxim Sevastianov, founder and CEO of Trava, said he defines API connectivity success in the course of a long game. “You define that there is a certain need in the market for that particular application, right?” he said. “Then you develop and you talk to the customers, of course, and they say there is a need for that.” However, it's unlikely that success will be immediate. “I would say three to six months later, that's when I would say whether it's successful when you look at the numbers,” Sevastianov said. “It's not gonna happen a week or two, or whatever it takes a few months.”  But with new technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) advancing at a rapid pace, the definition of success for connectivity providers could be shifting, too.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As travel came to a screeching halt during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jari Virtanen, CEO of Stena Line Travel and Retail Group, was faced with a blank slate.  So, Virtanen, who oversees a portfolio of brands including Sembo, European Online Flights, Motorist and Best Travel, took the time to innovate and look to the future. According to Virtanen, at the time, he looked at larger online travel agencies (OTAs) and noticed that while they'd improved the user experience on their websites, the search method was the same. With this in mind, he and his team got to work on finding a way to compete with these OTAs by adding value through new technology. The result is an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot called Amelia, now live on Sembo, which has driven a 50% uptick in conversions year-over-year and a 42% price bump, Virtanen said. “Our booking platform to begin with … it's like the Rubik's cube with all the squares separate, it's a modular thing to begin with,” he said, noting that this setup was beneficial when they started to adopt AI. With Stena Line's AI solution, users can create an itinerary in less than two minutes, according to Virtanen.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

API-first property management system (PMS) Apaleo aims to help hoteliers scale business. And according to founder and CEO Uli Pillau, the platform give developers and startups, as well as established players, the opportunity to innovate. “When you look at us, we are the only not all-in-one PMS in the market—we are a true platform, so our innovation comes really from all of the apps and the modules and components, which are being developed by third parties on top of our Apaleo PMS platform,” Pillau said in a recent interview with PhocusWire news editor Abby Crotty. Founded in 2017, Apaleo describes itself on its website as “the open platform for modern hospitality,” with its latest initiative, Agent Hub, launched earlier this year. The marketplace of artificial intelligence (AI) agents is intended to help hoteliers and tech developers share, adopt, discover and build solutions based on AI.  The company has also secured significant funding: In November 2024, the Germany-based company announced growth equity funding of €20 million, and in 2023, it raised a total of €9 million in its Series A round. During the interview, Pillau shared an update on Agent Hub, his biggest learnings as the head of Apaleo and his thoughts on AI in the hospitality industry.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), search engine optimization—or at least SEO as we know it—has been effectively kicked out of the party. And it's a “reality” that the travel sector is being forced to confront. Mario Gavira, vice president of growth and brand for Kiwi.com, who has been vocal about the future as it relates to AI and agentic AI, said the industry has to adapt. “Our content strategy, linking strategy has to change to adapt to the new reality,” Gavira said. “But that's the first step. Now we have to test—will these AI agents really become a new acquisition channel? Will it be only search? Will it be end-to-end transactions? Will people be willing to allow the agent to actually finish a transaction on behalf of the customer?” What brands need to focus on is how to become visible in those results. Amanda Moore, vice president of performance marketing for Preferred Travel Group, added that with the changing environment and the decline of SEO, public relations and personas are back on the table. But it remains to be seen how paid search will be factored in going forward. “I think the way we think of paid search is just going to evolve in terms of its definition,” Moore said. The two also opened up about how their roles have changed in recent year as technology has advanced, with AI having a profound impact on their workflows. Further, they touched on travel’s commercial model, the resurgence of public relations and more.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an executive interview, Gillian Jones, senior business development manager of Condatis, and Vikas Bhola, CEO of Neoke, suggested that a shift towards digital ID adoption may help facilitate the connected trip, but it can feel daunting.  And while fragmentation presents a barrier, standardization is another concern, with regions and industries developing their own frameworks for implementing SSI. According to Bhola, however, the standards from the International Air Transport Association and the International Civil Aviation Office, combined with European Union’s efforts, put the “interoperable private layer” within reach. Trust, again, is a key component, specifically for providers like Neoke that will be responsible for onboarding and adhering to varying standards.   “Trust and the orchestration of trust is the holy grail to enable that connected trip, connected travel,” Bhola said. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Speakspots, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered WhatsApp hotel chatbot, has entered the B2B space with a white-label AI agent for hotels. The new feature was announced at Phocuswright Europe in Barcelona. “We started as an AI travel planner. Now we have over 50,000 users every month, especially in Europe,” said Andres Martinez Artal, CEO and founder of Speakspots, in an interview with PhocusWire. “We started integrating different destinations. Now we have 300 destinations in 68 countries. At some point, we realized if we want to have the long tail of destinations—not 300 but 3,000—we need to establish some sort of partnership.” The B2B AI agent was developed to help rural properties automate guest communications and drive incremental revenue. The solution is meant to be scalable and incorporates web scraping large language models to provide personalized recommendations through WhatsApp. The agent is also capable of handling restaurant and activity reservations, making calls on behalf of guests in the local language—something Speakspots sees as a way to move past language barriers and roaming fees.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Multiday adventure and experiences platform TourRadar has unveiled TourRadar Moments in its app. The social commerce initiative enables travelers to book trips from uploaded photos and video reels content. The company is also rewarding the creators for sharing the content with travel credits for future trips. TourRadar co-founder and CEO Travis Pittman said "the timing is perfect" for the initiative amid ongoing developments in search engine optimization and the growing trend of travelers looking to social platforms for trip inspiration. During an interview in the PhocusWire studio at Phocuswright Europe 2025, Pittman discussed the gap between inspiration on social platforms and booking and said TourRadar aims to solve this. He said the initiative enables anyone who has taken a multiday tour to share the photo and reels content, which in turn provides a "richer understanding" for potential customers. TourRadar's tour operator partners can upload their content to the app as well.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The road to modern retailing in the airline world is long and very complex. Implementing the International Air Transport Association's New Distribution Capability technology standard is still a source of consternation for many carriers and their retail partners, but others are beginning to evolve towards offer and order and the dream of offering travelers personalized services. Flyr, which was founded in 2013, has been steadily building up its own retail technology offering for carriers in recent years. The company launched its airline offer and order management system last September, having announced a $295 million funding round the previous month to "accelerate the delivery of modern reservation system." The United States-based company also has a presence in the hospitality technology world, having acquired Pace Revenue in 2022. In an interview with PhocusWire, Alex Mans, founder and CEO of Flyr, discussed the current state of airline retailing and the potential for carriers to begin bundling far more than bags and seats. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Founded in 2012, Snowflake is a cloud-based data storage company that works across a variety of verticals including travel and hospitality. In September 2024 the company launched its “AI Data Cloud for Travel and Hospitality” to address industry needs such as dynamic pricing and sustainability tracking, reputation management and performance advertising. Whitnee Hawthorne, global head of travel and hospitality at, Snowflake, talks to Charlotte Lamp-Davies, founder of A Bright Approach, in the PhocusWire Studio.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flight specialist Oojo is a relative newcomer to the online travel world. The company launched four years ago and is part of Trevolution Group, which is the travel technology and services part of the wider Dyninno Group. During an interview in the PhocusWire Studio, Gulce Karsli Rozeveld, who joined Oojo as CEO earlier this year, discussed the online flight specialist’s growth and her thoughts on whether a one-stop travel shop can ever really succeed. Rozenveld spoke about the huge time, investment and resources required for such an endeavor and said she could only think of about three players that could do it and "even then it will take a long." She also said more analysis of human behavior and psychology is needed to discover why a truly end-to-end travel platform hasn’t happened yet and whether consumers would trust a single company with all their travel requirements. However, Rozenfeld acknowledged that artificial intelligence might change everything and said she’s open and excited about the potential of the technology in travel.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Airline distribution developments such as new commercial approaches and the move to offer-order have been the topic for many debates in 2024. Discussions around IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) technology standard are ongoing but general adoption is still quite low and there seems to be an acceptance, or perhaps resignation, that although there has been a little acceleration, it will take more time. David Gunnarsson, CEO of Dohop and Charles Rajjou, former CEO of CitizenPlane, were on hand to discuss recent developments during an interview in the PhocusWire studio at The Phocuswright Conference 2024. Gunnarsson has noted a little acceleration in adoption but said NDC was “always a means to an end” and attributed any acceleration to airlines and technology companies “jumping on the offer-order bandwagon.” He also said that even the carriers that have embraced the technology standard are still only using a fraction of what it could be used for. Gunnarsson and Rajjou went on to discuss the move to offer and order, the danger of leaving key stakeholders behind with NDC penetration so low and the remaining challenges for airlines looking to improve the retail experience for customers.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turkey with its East meets West location, high internet penetration and relatively young population is well-positioned to further strengthen its presence in the online travel market.At least that is what Çağlar Erol, CEO of online travel agency Wingie Enuygun Group, is hoping for as he shapes the business for further growth.In an interview in the PhocusWire studio, Erol said that the OTA operates in 22 different countries and is particularly strong in the Middle East.He shared that Wingie has grown rapidly in that region since the end of the pandemic and is now targeting further growth across the United Arab Emirates as well as beyond. Erol also said that Wingie had grown, since launch in 2008, from a fintech-focused business into an online travel agency, with its own payments gateway and digital wallet, offering flights, hotels, transfers, car rentals and bus tickets.He touched on current challenges for the business such as scaling in different languages and different countries as it expands.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Group travel in particular seems to be flourishing with an uptick in internal meetings and further growth predicted for 2025. Research from American Express Global Business Travel, released in October, revealed that 66% of meeting planning professionals expect their budgets to rise. Dennis Vilovic, founder and co-CEO of Troop, a PhocusWire Hot 25 Travel Startup for 2021, believes group travel could increase by 30% next year despite pressure from some large corporations for employees to return to the office full time. During an interview in the PhocusWire studio, Vilovic discussed trends in group travel such as longer trips for meetings, mostly internal meetings, secondary locations and group sizes of less than 100.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When travelers are on the move, ground transportation can be considered in isolation or in combination with another travel element — a traveler could be taking a car to the airport, to a hotel or to the train, the list goes on. It makes sense therefore that some companies are setting their sights on linking the bookings and data from various travel suppliers — a concept known as the "connected trip," which has been in development for some time across the industry. Mike McGearty, CEO of Meili, and Niall Carson, chief commercial officer for Mozio, joins senior reporter Morgan Hines in the PhocusWire studio for a wide ranging conversation on whether ground transportation gets the attention it deserves, the challenges it faces and advances in AI and more.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alberto Gutiérrez, the founder and CEO of tours and activities marketplace Civitatis, had no business plan when he set out to build the company. Asked for his advice for travel startups, Gutiérrez attributed the success of the Spain-based platform, which was founded in 2008, to his ability to do a little of everything from coding and finding partners to accounting. "I always see this as the key to my success but it is not easy to replicate," he said during an interview in the PhocusWire studio. Since founding Civitatis, he has built up the brand, attracted significant investment and expanded to Latin America. Most recently, the company struck a partnership with Rappi, which saw the Latin American super app launch a tours and activities vertical as part of Rappi Travel.  Now the company wants to build on its presence in Latin America where Gutiérrez sees huge opportunity through Rappi's 50 million users and a population that tends to travel locally, he said.All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel is all over social media — and it’s continuing to play a big role in travelers’ decisions while planning and booking their trips, according to research from Phocuswright. But misconceptions around how travel brands should be using social media remain, according to experts. “Travel brands are seeing social media as a category of the internet still when it's increasingly becoming the way millennials and Gen Z access the internet altogether,” said Konrad Waliszewski, co-founder and CEO of @Hotel.“Even Google admits now that most millennials and Gen Z search on Instagram and Tiktok before going to Google search for just about everything … I think it really has become the new search engine. People want to see videos. People want to see social proof,” he said. David Armstrong, co-founder and CEO of HolidayPirates, discussed why it’s hard for brands to understand the value. “I think the comparison to traditional search … paid search and the immediate return on investment [ROI], that's a mistake that many brands do [make] comparing the performance of social media with,” Armstrong said. ROI in social media marketing is a longer term play, he said. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.