It's hard to see how an Exclusive Resorts-Inspirato deal doesn't eventually happen, barring another suitor coming into the picture. Of course, there are egos involved.
Agoda trimmed jobs in Singapore, Shanghai, and Budapest, but the layoffs aren’t what landed the online travel agency in trouble. The bigger controversy is how the company warned employees not to seek help from authorities or unions, with severance pay on the line if they did.
Two of the biggest online travel agencies in Asia have decided that sharing inventory is a faster route to scale than going it alone. That is the key takeaway.
Travel brands like Ixigo know that they have maximized the reach within their own audience. Partnerships are now the fastest way to plug into new customers.
Adding vacation rentals to Expedia Group's B2B partner network is progress, but it's amazing that it took so long when you consider how mainstream these properties have become.