Online Travel News

News Blog

Google Flights and Hotels Make Europe-Mandated Transparency Changes … in Europe

Google made changes to Google Flights and Hotels related to transparency in hotel reviews and pricing under pressure from the European Commission — but stopped short of making those modifications elsewhere in the world. "Reviews aren't verified," Google states in the European Union. Source: Google At the behest of the European Commission, Google added text…

Dennis Schaal | 13 hours ago

Airlines

AirAsia’s Tony Fernandes Refocuses Back on a Superapp Just for Travel

While "disruptive and different" is still the mantra that Tony Fernandes swears by, he says he's choosing to tread carefully even as he aspires to create an AirAsia Republic.

Peden Doma Bhutia | 22 hours ago

Online Travel

Google Flights Could Shift Strategy After Heavy Layoffs

Why doesn't Google promote Google Travel as a one-stop shop? The layoffs at Google Flights show there's too much ad revenue in play on the Google.com side of the flights business to merit such an all-in approach.

Dennis Schaal | 1 day ago

News Blog

India’s EaseMyTrip Acquires Majority Stake in Hotel Booking Marketplace CheQin

Indian online travel agency EaseMyTrip announced this week that it has acquired a 55 percent stake in hotel booking marketplace cheQin, owned by Gleego Innovations, for around $370,000. The online travel agency said the acquisition would help strengthen its hotel channel. "With this, EaseMyTrip is in a great position to give its customers a wide…

Peden Doma Bhutia | 4 days ago

Online Travel

Google Leveraged User Data to Dominate Online Advertising: Lawsuit

Google advises "we never sell your personal information." But it should add the following disclaimer: But we make an almost unfathomable amount of money from it.

Dennis Schaal | 6 days ago

Online Travel

6 Travel Startups From 2015: Where Are They Now?

Some of the companies Skift featured in its first travel startup funding roundup went on to thrive, while others ... not so much.

Rashaad Jorden | 1 week ago

Online Travel

How India’s EaseMyTrip Built a Brand Waiving Booking Fees

EaseMyTrip realized early on that the convenience fee is perhaps the most inconvenient part of travel bookings and were willing to let go of it in return for loyal customers.

Peden Doma Bhutia | 1 week ago

Online Travel

The Expedia Case For and Against Keeping Orbitz and Travelocity

In Expedia Group's efficiency drive, there's a certain logic to killing some sub-brands as their market share plummets. But what about all those customers who still love Travelocity?

Dennis Schaal | 1 week ago

News Blog

FareHarbor Taps Longtime Booking.com Product Vice President as CEO

FareHarbor, the Booking Holdings' tours and activities reservations tech platform, has a new CEO, Skift has learned. Wellness travel companies are starting to offer more niche experiences like mountain hiking-meets-spa retreats. Source: Unsplash Andrea Carini, who served as vice president of product development at fashion retailer Otrium for the past 10 months, began carrying out…

Dennis Schaal | 2 weeks ago

Online Travel

Booking.com Alums and Other Online Travel Vets Team Up to Disrupt Cruise Bookings

Turning a large proportion of cruise bookings from offline travel agents into online instant bookings would be a big ask. Many of Cruisebound's backers don't need the money, but they will have to prove themselves again nonetheless.

Dennis Schaal | 2 weeks ago