Latest News on Venture Capital Fundings in the Travel Sector by Skift

Cruise Agency Dreamlines Raises $55 Million: Travel Startup Funding This Week

Sean O'Neill, Skift

Cruise lines better hope that Dreamlines and other online booking tools for cruise travel don't interfere too much with their long-standing business models.

2 weeks ago

Why Everybody Now Wants a Piece of the Tours and Activities Sector

Seth Borko, Skift Research

Large travel corporations can't seem to get enough of the tours and activities space. It's one to watch as the year unfolds. Deals can be a great way to get a foot in the door, but don't forget to make sure there is a strategic fit — and, of course, that the price is right.

4 weeks ago

Skift Forum Europe Preview: Amadeus Is Revving Up Its Startup Involvement

Sean O'Neill, Skift

Travel startups face long odds, but the lucky ones have a champion in Suzanna Chiu, who has spearheaded an array of programs at travel technology giant Amadeus that have been helping startups thrive. The industry needs more folks like her.

2 months ago

Interview: Stay Alfred CEO on Building the Future of Vacation Rental Tech

Seth Borko, Skift Research

There's a new generation of property managers trying to bring hotel-like professionalism and scale to the vacation rental market. Their tech chops will play a large role in determining if they succeed or fail.

2 months ago

Tour Tech Startup Redeam Turns to Industry Vets for Funding

Sean O'Neill, Skift

Redeam doesn't recommend places to visit, call itself "a Facebook for travel", or indulge in other startup pitch clichés. It strives instead to build a solution to a pain point companies will pay to fix — namely, automating paper voucher redemptions for attractions. How refreshingly uncool.

3 months ago

What’s Behind Alibaba’s $486 Million Investment in Hotel Tech Giant Shiji

Sean O'Neill, Skift

Shiji is a Beijing-based company that provides hotels and restaurants with operational software and hardware. It was already on an overseas acquisition spree before this new funding. Global leader Oracle Hospitality should be on guard.

3 months ago

New Skift Research Analyst Session: Venture Investment Trends In Travel

Seth Borko, Skift Research

The travel startup landscape is more dynamic than ever. Not every company will succeed, but travel leaders need to know where these new entrants see cracks in the incumbent armor. Subscribe to Skift Research to learn more.

4 months ago

Travel Startups Work With Breakthrough Technologies That Could Threaten Industry Leaders

Seth Borko, Skift Research

Emerging technologies, like artificial intelligence and blockchain, have yet to make the leap from buzzword to mainstay, but have the potential to disrupt travel incumbents. The big players will have ample opportunity to adapt, though, and leading startups can play a role in helping executives grapple with when and how to implement these technologies.

4 months ago

New Skift Research Report: Venture Investment Trends and Startup Opportunities in Travel 2018

Seth Borko, Skift Research

Venture capitalists invested a record amount in travel startups in 2017. The industry is no stranger to disruption, but we may be seeing some of the greatest changes of the last two decades. Our latest research report is a deep dive into these emerging trends with insights for founders, incumbents, and investors.

4 months ago

The Luggage Industry Keeps Adding Tech Gimmicks to Boost Sales

Sean O'Neill, Skift

At this year's annual travel goods industry conference, it's obvious that the hot trend among manufacturers is to add USB ports, battery packs, and location-aware beacons to their luggage.

1 year ago

A Data Dive Into European Venture Capital: Top Companies by Funding

Dave Montali, Skift

Diving into the data of European VC reveals that while new tech-hubs are emerging, the landscape is still vastly dominated by the traditional trio of well-established tech-hubs. Namely London, Paris, and Berlin.

1 year ago

Europe Is an Excellent Testbed for the Future of Travel, Say Investors and Entrepreneurs

Sean O'Neill, Skift

Defying conventional wisdom in the U.S., leading venture capitalist and the founders of two venture-backed companies -- Trainline and GetYourGuide -- believe that Europe is an excellent testbed for creating travel companies that can scale globally. They make their case well.

1 year ago