Patrick Whyte

Nobody would argue that the European Union is a perfect institution but not only has it helped foster a degree of unity between former enemies but it has also ushered in an era of unparalleled freedom for its citizens. Brexit has put all that under threat.

Ryanair has little hope of becoming a Booking.com or Expedia but it could find new revenue streams if it convinces other airlines to enable it to sell their flights on Ryanair's sites.

The fact that Grayling’s comments came on the same day as a terrorist attack on London underlines the threat posed. Nevertheless, so many questions remain unanswered: why are the destinations covered different to the U.S.? What about those traveling with hand luggage only? What about insurance? For the moment, there is plenty of confusion.

It seems odd and a stretch that such a European-focused brand would be gaining traction in the U.S. Will Lastminute.com now be able to scale its business and compete with the sector’s heavy hitters?

It's been a quick turnaround for IAG, which only announced plans for a low-cost, long-haul airline in December. The legacy carriers have clearly been spooked by Norwegian's initiatives and are now working to compete in this new landscape.

Marriott's decision to buy Starwood does seem to make consolidation among the rest of the chasing pack seem very likely. The problem is nobody wants to get burned by doing a deal at the very top of the market.

While the sale from one private equity firm to another isn’t necessarily the most exciting news, the promise of further funds for expansion by the new owner shows a commitment to the budget model. The hostel landscape is very different than it was 10 years ago and by focusing on design, Generator managed to evolve the product.

Plenty of hotel companies have woken up to the benefits of offering good food and beverage options with an open and inviting lobby area. Even though Marriott is one of many in this space it does seem prudent to expand its own offering.

TUI’s target is very ambitious and five years doesn’t seem like enough time to develop and expand into countries where it does not have the brand recognition.

Instant booking has long been thought of as a natural progression for the metasearch sector, so it is interesting to note the cautious tone adopted by Momondo’s Chief Executive. It would be a big change and Hugo Burge is determined to make sure whatever he brings in does not confuse the consumer.