Articles tagged “fintech”

While travel management companies have battled over the years for government travel contracts, Priceline seems to have found a solid niche in a less lucrative leisure travel business for members of the U.S. military and their families. Priceline isn't looking for a big return from the effort while executives and employees feel proud to be a part of it.

In its rough outlines, Expedia begot Trip.com Group while Kayak and ITA Software begot Google Travel. Get ready for a flurry of clones in fintech, superapps, and subscription services in travel. In fact, it's already happening.

Even if you're not interested in the Russian travel market, OneTwoTrip's early traction with what it calls its "travel-as-a-service" model may have inspirational lessons for companies worldwide.

Bookings Holdings Fintech boss Daniel Marovitz says payments is arguably the world's largest industry. Across the online travel universe, look for payments to eventually become a line item — and very material to companies' financials.

In an intensifying superapp rivalry in Southeast Asia, Gojek handed its Thailand business to AirAsia Digital in the face of competition from Grab. While these leading superapps battle, AirAsia Digital is being taken more seriously. After all, it has airplanes and a profitable logistics business to add to the mix.

Investors are betting that the trend in renting RVs won't run out of gas after the pandemic wanes. They've funded Outdoorsy, an Airbnb-type service for recreational vehicles. Investors think the startup's new private vehicle insurance product will help accelerate the RV trend.

Like Traveloka in Indonesia, Argentina's Despegar is making strides in financial services. Amsterdam-based Booking.com is busy building a payments platform, and Grab Taxi in Southeast Asia has a lending and insurance arm. Megatrend, yes.

With this deal, Wex now becomes a powerhouse in assisting business-to-business travel payments worldwide. The deal also gives cash to seller Travelport, which might use the money to expand its airline tech offerings.

Property managers are racing to sign up new rentals, and online agencies are racing to add new inventory. A new model that promises to guarantee incomes may lure more homeowners into the pool and extend the vacation rental tech boom.

Companies ought to carry out adequate checks on the ability of borrowers to repay travel loans on time. Otherwise, a surprise disruption such as an Icelandic volcano or an economic downturn could prompt defaults.