PhocusWire

The competition for high-ranking links is evolving as brands ride shifting tides of #artificialintelligence (AI)-driven traffic and discoverability. According to @Phocuswright Research, 56% of U.S. travelers are using AI for travel, with generative AI (gen AI) serving as a crucial discovery entry point. As the pivot to #AI continues, travel companies are navigating what feels like a pile of search acronyms including search engine optimization (#SEO), generative engine optimization (#GEO) and answer engine optimization (#AEO) Get the full story on #PhocusWire now. bit.ly/4m1wVmr

Byway (@bywaytravel ), a @phocuswire Hot25 #Startup of 2025, is bringing #flightfree travel into the mainstream in the U.K. through a partnership with TUI. The deal places Byway into 329 #TUI retail stores nationwide, enabling agents to sell overland options alongside traditional package holidays and giving the company access to a large #offlinedistribution channel. Read more on #PhocusWire bit.ly/3PEwLVV

For years, the travel industry focused on the final booking moment as the primary source of revenue. But today’s traveler behaves differently. Before ever reaching a booking page, people spend weeks researching—sometimes viewing over 100+ pieces of content across blogs, guides, reviews, and social media. By the time they’re ready to book, most decisions are already made. What was once considered “inspiration” is now a critical phase where real intent forms and can be measured. With new technology and platforms integrating booking directly into content (especially on social media), the traditional funnel is collapsing. Inspiration, planning, and purchasing are blending into a single experience. For travel brands, this marks a structural shift: success will depend on capturing demand at the moment it forms—not just when a traveler clicks “book.” Read more of #PhocusWire's latest article in association with #Stay22, bit.ly/47ZBlV5. #travelnews #traveltech #travelindustry #businessintelligence #travelpayments #traveltechnews #AI

Over half of active U.S. travelers are now using #artificialintelligence (AI) in relation to #travel. According to @Phocuswright's latest research report The #AI Surge: Travel's Fastest Behavioral Shift in a Decade, 56% of travelers used AI for #planning, booking or #indestination assistance for at least one trip in the past 12 months, up from 43% in the second half 2025 and 33% in the first half 2025. Among #travelers who have used AI, 94% have used it for travel specifically. Continue reading the full article on #PhocusWire bit.ly/40Tvvkc

#Groupbooking specialist @Lobby has raised $2.2 million in funding as it looks to expand beyond hospitality to other segments within travel. The investment in the @Switzerland-based company came from @founderful. Pascal Mathis, co-founder of the venture capital firm and a co-founder of @GetYourGuide, joins #Lobby’s board of directors. Continue reading the full article on #PhocusWire bit.ly/4m1wVmr

@OpenAI recently made headlines with its move to deprioritize Instant Checkout in @ChatGPT, but efforts to advance AI-powered travel booking show no signs of slowing. The AI company’s pivot boosted #OTA stock prices and led to broad speculation about the viability of agentic commerce. But the explanation may be simpler. Continue reading the full article by Cathy Walsh on #PhocusWire bit.ly/4t5Fy1y

Byway (@bywaytravel ), a @phocuswire Hot25 #Startup of 2025, is bringing #flightfree travel into the mainstream in the U.K. through a partnership with TUI. The deal places Byway into 329 #TUI retail stores nationwide, enabling agents to sell overland options alongside traditional package holidays and giving the company access to a large #offlinedistribution channel. Read more on #PhocusWire bit.ly/3PEwLVV

For years, the travel industry focused on the final booking moment as the primary source of revenue. But today’s traveler behaves differently. Before ever reaching a booking page, people spend weeks researching—sometimes viewing over 100+ pieces of content across blogs, guides, reviews, and social media. By the time they’re ready to book, most decisions are already made. What was once considered “inspiration” is now a critical phase where real intent forms and can be measured. With new technology and platforms integrating booking directly into content (especially on social media), the traditional funnel is collapsing. Inspiration, planning, and purchasing are blending into a single experience. For travel brands, this marks a structural shift: success will depend on capturing demand at the moment it forms—not just when a traveler clicks “book.” Read more of #PhocusWire's latest article in association with #Stay22, bit.ly/47ZBlV5. #travelnews #traveltech #travelindustry #businessintelligence #travelpayments #traveltechnews #AI

🔥 Have you seen the 2026 list yet? #PhocusWire presents the Hot 25 #Travel #Startups for 2026—our annual list of new companies in #travel, #hospitality and #tourism. Founders share their company’s mission, 2026 goals and the lessons that shaped their journey. Meet the Class of 2026! bit.ly/3WNagyE

#Tripadvisor has reached an agreement with its shareholder #StarboardValue which will see four new directors join Tripadvisor’s board. The move follows a letter sent by Starboard last month to CEO #MattGoldberg, chairman #GregMaffei and the directors regarding the lack of change and value creation at Tripadvisor. #Starboard owns more than 9% of the company and has provided feedback to Tripadvisor’s management on a number of occasions about the company's #performance. Read Linda Fox's latest article now on #PhocusWire now. bit.ly/3NDLgc4

#Groupbooking specialist @Lobby has raised $2.2 million in funding as it looks to expand beyond hospitality to other segments within travel. The investment in the @Switzerland-based company came from @founderful. Pascal Mathis, co-founder of the venture capital firm and a co-founder of @GetYourGuide, joins #Lobby’s board of directors. Continue reading the full article on #PhocusWire bit.ly/4m1wVmr

Over half of active U.S. travelers are now using #artificialintelligence (AI) in relation to #travel. According to @Phocuswright's latest research report The #AI Surge: Travel's Fastest Behavioral Shift in a Decade, 56% of travelers used AI for #planning, booking or #indestination assistance for at least one trip in the past 12 months, up from 43% in the second half 2025 and 33% in the first half 2025. Among #travelers who have used AI, 94% have used it for travel specifically. Continue reading the full article on #PhocusWire bit.ly/40Tvvkc

The competition for high-ranking links is evolving as brands ride shifting tides of #artificialintelligence (AI)-driven traffic and discoverability. According to @Phocuswright Research, 56% of U.S. travelers are using AI for travel, with generative AI (gen AI) serving as a crucial discovery entry point. As the pivot to #AI continues, travel companies are navigating what feels like a pile of search acronyms including search engine optimization (#SEO), generative engine optimization (#GEO) and answer engine optimization (#AEO) Get the full story on #PhocusWire now. bit.ly/4m1wVmr

#Groupbooking specialist @Lobby has raised $2.2 million in funding as it looks to expand beyond hospitality to other segments within travel. The investment in the @Switzerland-based company came from @founderful. Pascal Mathis, co-founder of the venture capital firm and a co-founder of @GetYourGuide, joins #Lobby’s board of directors. Continue reading the full article on #PhocusWire bit.ly/4m1wVmr

The competition for high-ranking links is evolving as brands ride shifting tides of #artificialintelligence (AI)-driven traffic and discoverability. According to @Phocuswright Research, 56% of U.S. travelers are using AI for travel, with generative AI (gen AI) serving as a crucial discovery entry point. As the pivot to #AI continues, travel companies are navigating what feels like a pile of search acronyms including search engine optimization (#SEO), generative engine optimization (#GEO) and answer engine optimization (#AEO) Get the full story on #PhocusWire now. bit.ly/4m1wVmr

Byway (@bywaytravel ), a @phocuswire Hot25 #Startup of 2025, is bringing #flightfree travel into the mainstream in the U.K. through a partnership with TUI. The deal places Byway into 329 #TUI retail stores nationwide, enabling agents to sell overland options alongside traditional package holidays and giving the company access to a large #offlinedistribution channel. Read more on #PhocusWire bit.ly/3PEwLVV

Over half of active U.S. travelers are now using #artificialintelligence (AI) in relation to #travel. According to @Phocuswright's latest research report The #AI Surge: Travel's Fastest Behavioral Shift in a Decade, 56% of travelers used AI for #planning, booking or #indestination assistance for at least one trip in the past 12 months, up from 43% in the second half 2025 and 33% in the first half 2025. Among #travelers who have used AI, 94% have used it for travel specifically. Continue reading the full article on #PhocusWire bit.ly/40Tvvkc

Go With Rosie is a #familytravel company that helps parents discover, plan and book #trips without the 27-tab research nightmare. Scoring every venue zero to 100 for actual family-friendliness (not marketing labels), build drag-and-drop itineraries that account for nap times and meltdowns and let families book #hotels in one place. Planning is free. #GoWithRosie makes money from hotel bookings, building a data-driven ecosystem for families, from families. Continue reading the full article on #PhocusWire now. bit.ly/4bt3Bll

While travel demand in #AsiaPacific (#APAC) remains strong, early-stage #startups may find it harder to secure #funding. According to an upcoming @Phocuswright #research report, “A Market Rewired: Ten Structural Shifts Redefining Asia Pacific Travel,” investors increasingly are prioritizing “financial rigor and selectivity.” Macro uncertainties, geopolitical tensions and changing #traveler behavior are shaping the market, according to Nick Cocks, partner at #VelocityVentures. “The startup environment, specifically, is undergoing a strategic shift toward building durable, high-value businesses,” Cocks said. Read more on #PhocusWire bit.ly/4sX2HDi

@OpenAI recently made headlines with its move to deprioritize Instant Checkout in @ChatGPT, but efforts to advance AI-powered travel booking show no signs of slowing. The AI company’s pivot boosted #OTA stock prices and led to broad speculation about the viability of agentic commerce. But the explanation may be simpler. Continue reading the full article by Cathy Walsh on #PhocusWire bit.ly/4t5Fy1y