PhocusWire

Expedia Group and Microsoft announced Tuesday that they are joining forces to link their #loyalty programs. Consumers booking accommodations on Bing Travel through Expedia Group brands will be able to earn both Microsoft Rewards and #rewards offered by those brands, including One Key rewards in the United States and the United Kingdom. Learn more on #PhocusWire: https://bit.ly/3C2wBkl #travelnews #traveltech #travelindustry

Africa is set for a rise in #travel over the next decade, with the population growing at 2.7% per year, faster than any other continent. By 2030, Africa’s population is expected to surpass China and India, reaching 1.72 billion people. Despite that rapid growth, Africa’s online travel and #tourism sector is still developing, and travel companies face unique hurdles in the continent’s digital travel ecosystem. Will the online travel market be able to keep up with Africa’s potential? Read the full story on #PhocusWire: https://bit.ly/3YI0XSb #travelnews #travelindustry #traveltech

🚨 Register now for our upcoming LIVE webinar with Allianz Partners USA: https://bit.ly/3NKY390 What key steps should #travel companies take to create a holistic customer experience strategy? Join Maggie Butler and Jenny King on November 6th at 11am ET and deep dive into the customer experience practice at one of the world’s leading travel #insurance companies. #traveltech #travelnews #travelindustry #customerexperience #travelinsurance

👀 Register now for our upcoming webinar with Encora Inc. https://bit.ly/3BYYYQG #Travel tech modernization is crucial to the success of your business. To thrive in this evolving landscape, it’s essential to understand the transformative benefits of the cloud and how data serves as the foundation for the adoption of generative #AI. How can these technologies future-proof your business and set you on the path to innovation? Join us on November 7th at 11am ET to learn more! #traveltech #travelnews #travelindustry #generativeAI

The #Phocuswright Conference 2024 app is now open for all registered attendees! 🔥 Start #networking now ⤵️

It’s been just about two years since PhocusWire named the Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2023, the #startups that launched as the industry was recovering from the pandemic. As we prepare to announce our Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2025, we’re checking in with a few members of the class of 2023, including Fetcherr, Grapevine and Holibob: https://bit.ly/4f2Sj6o #travelnews #traveltech #travelindustry #travelstartups

Between thousands of #flight cancelations, travelers around the world stranded in airports and millions of dollars in financial losses, the impact of July's CrowdStrike outage was felt far and wide. But the consequences were especially dire for the business travel industry. Many employees traveling for work opted to circumvent designated corporate travel channels by rebooking canceled flights and transitioning hotel and rental car #bookings themselves. This off-channel rescheduled #travel - known as leakage - creates indirect financial burdens, bottom-line issues, and employee duty of care risks. The CrowdStrike outage has thrust these problems center stage, giving businesses and stakeholders an opportunity to revamp their operations. What considerations should they keep in mind to finally solve these longstanding issues? https://bit.ly/3C1sZiM #traveltech #travelindustry #travelnews #businesstravel #corporatetravel

OYO has unveiled a B2B corporate #travel and event planning product called Oravel Travel Solutions. Announcing the move on X, founder and CEO Ritesh Agarwal said OYO's more than 500 serviced-accommodation properties across India offer special corporate rates as well as help with conference and event planning via a dedicated team. Read more on #PhocusWire: https://bit.ly/48mZTXh #travelnews #traveltech #travelindustry #corporatetravel #eventplanning

Coveted direct #bookings are ticking up compared to pre-pandemic numbers - but they’re not rising as quickly as predicted earlier this year - mobile is an increasingly important channel for bookings and #AI is an in-demand tool among hospitality providers. These are just a few of the takeaways from H2c’s latest study “The Hotel Direct Booking Acceleration,” publishing October 30. The research offers insights on technology and strategy tied to the future of direct bookings. Learn more about the study on #PhocusWire: https://bit.ly/4fiFk0k #travelnews #traveltech #travelindustry #travelbookings #directbookings

Maps have always been integral to #travel, particularly travel of the adventurous kind. Yet even with all the vast databases, search functionality and the bells and whistles of 3D, today’s mapping platforms still struggle to become the logical place for travelers to plan their journeys. 🗺️ Apple surprised many this year with the beta launch of Apple Maps on the web, which the company hopes will enlarge its current monthly user base of 500 million. While still including driving and walking directions, the web platform offers curated #guides to discover places to eat, shop and explore in cities around the world. Read the full story on #PhocusWire: https://bit.ly/4fh43Sv #traveltech #travelnews #travelindustry #travelplanning