Raini Hamdi, Skift
It was launched with much fanfare in 2002, but in the end, Zuji — which translates to "footprints" in Mandarin — failed miserably to leave a lasting imprint on Asia’s online travel scene.
5 days ago
Sarah Enelow-Snyder, Skift
This week in digital news, be sure to read our new deep dive on the innovations coming out of India's $2 billion online travel market, and what other players can learn from it about competition, pricing, and marketing.
5 days ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
Surprising factors have delayed the coronation of MakeMyTrip Group as India's queen of domestic online travel. Paytm came out of nowhere to grab share, Oyo upended budget hotel distribution, Ixigo tried to make price comparison chic, and Booking.com outmaneuvered Expedia for premium hotel bookings. From this scrappy mix, online travel will find new lessons.
1 week ago
Raini Hamdi, Skift
Webjet Limited has risen as a major online travel agency in Australia and the No. 2 bedbank player globally. But stiff competition among online players down under, a slowdown in cruise sales, and low bedbank margins will keep it on its toes.
2 weeks ago
Sarah Enelow-Snyder, Skift
This week in digital news, we have two stories on personal data. A new privacy report found that some travel apps including Kayak, TripAdvisor, and Skyscanner shared user data from their Android apps with Facebook. Then, an update on the massive Marriott data breach.
2 weeks ago
Skift Staff, Skift
We're not mad, but we are tired of buzzwords being used by travel companies to obscure what is really going on, which tends to be either a strategic erosion of quality for consumers, or a slow process of change to become more competitive in a certain marketplace.
3 weeks ago
Sean O'Neill, Skift
Consumers often wonder where they can find the lowest rate for a hotel room online. Oddly enough, a hotel's managers may not know the answer. Mysteriously discounted rates from small sites and apps are popping up more often online, even in markets like the U.S. where a few hotel groups dominate.
3 weeks ago
Sarah Enelow-Snyder, Skift
This week in digital news, Expedia is facing a lawsuit over its allegedly deceptive collection of fees with Reservations.com. And don't miss our 25 Travel Moments That Mattered in 2018, including Amadeus' purchase of TravelClick, Booking's investment in Didi, and more.
4 weeks ago
Steven Schwankert, Skift
Ctrip has been able to spend most of its 15-year history riding a rising travel tide in China while buying out much of the competition to blunt their challenges. For 2019, Ctrip will have to stand up and get moving to recapture momentum and investor attention.
4 weeks ago
Seth Borko, Skift Research
Amazon to the rescue? That is narrative you don't often hear associated with Jeff Bezos' company. But advertising is collectively one of travel's largest expenses and few can break free of the Facebook and Google duopoly. Amazon might just be able to succeed where many others have failed.
1 month ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
Online travel agencies have been vehemently opposed to detailing the components of the taxes and fees they collect on prepaid hotel bookings because it would expose the wholesale rates they obtain from hotels and the markups that the booking sites impose. This lawsuit could potentially impose changes in Expedia's financial relationship with its affiliates.
1 month ago
Rebecca Stone and Seth Borko, Skift Research
Will there be a recession next year? That seems to be the question on everyone's minds. But the fundamental data and industry management teams tell a story of greater strength heading into next year. Headwinds are rising, but on balance, we expect “steady-as-she-goes” growth.
1 month ago