PhocusWire

#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

#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

With #artificialintelligence (AI) becoming central to travel strategy, "AI-native" has emerged as the sector's favorite new label. The term has become a strategic catch-all, carrying various meanings for companies at different stages. In a legacy overhaul, Sabre restructured its leadership team, later unveiling a “once-in-a-generation rebuild” of its tech stack with #AI compatibility in mind. @Airbnb said it is layering AI across its experience to transform service, while Riyadh Air partnered with @IBM to make #Riyadh an AI-driven #airline. Continue reading the full article on #PhocusWire bit.ly/4d0uL4e

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

The #globaltravel landscape is undergoing a fundamental shift, driven by travelers who increasingly prioritize experiences, personalization and meaningful connections. For Trip.com Group, this transformation is not merely a response to changing consumer behavior but an opportunity to define a new era of experiential #travel. As the company strengthens its one-stop ecosystem, #Attractions and #Tours is emerging as one of the most dynamic engines of growth, powered by technology, partner integration and global scale. Get the full story on #PhocusWire now. bit.ly/3PdS00O

@CapitalOne has launched a standalone mobile application for its #travel platform, allowing #cardholders to book #travel, redeem #rewards and track trips in real time, including #airportlounge capacity and waitlist updates. The #app provides a travel-specific mobile channel separate from the company’s core #banking functionality. The existing web version of #CapitalOneTravel will continue to be available. Read more on #PhocusWire bit.ly/4rNZhlB

The #globaltravel landscape is undergoing a fundamental shift, driven by travelers who increasingly prioritize experiences, personalization and meaningful connections. For Trip.com Group, this transformation is not merely a response to changing consumer behavior but an opportunity to define a new era of experiential #travel. As the company strengthens its one-stop ecosystem, #Attractions and #Tours is emerging as one of the most dynamic engines of growth, powered by technology, partner integration and global scale. Get the full story on #PhocusWire now. bit.ly/3PdS00O

With #artificialintelligence (AI) becoming central to travel strategy, "AI-native" has emerged as the sector's favorite new label. The term has become a strategic catch-all, carrying various meanings for companies at different stages. In a legacy overhaul, Sabre restructured its leadership team, later unveiling a “once-in-a-generation rebuild” of its tech stack with #AI compatibility in mind. @Airbnb said it is layering AI across its experience to transform service, while Riyadh Air partnered with @IBM to make #Riyadh an AI-driven #airline. Continue reading the full article on #PhocusWire bit.ly/4d0uL4e

@CapitalOne has launched a standalone mobile application for its #travel platform, allowing #cardholders to book #travel, redeem #rewards and track trips in real time, including #airportlounge capacity and waitlist updates. The #app provides a travel-specific mobile channel separate from the company’s core #banking functionality. The existing web version of #CapitalOneTravel will continue to be available. Read more on #PhocusWire bit.ly/4rNZhlB