Dennis' Online Travel Briefing

Every Wednesday, Executive Editor and online travel rockstar Dennis Schaal brings readers exclusive reporting and insight into the business of online travel and digital booking, and how this sector has an impact across the travel industry.

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Online Travel

Kayak Co-Founder Paul English Is Launching New App as an Alternative to ‘Garbage’ Restaurant/Hotel Reviews

The advent of user reviews in travel was a disruptive and positive force, and they in turn may indeed get upended or greatly modified as new technologies take hold.

Dennis Schaal | 3 days ago

Short-Term Rentals

New York City Expands Short-Term Rental Ban by 2,300 More Buildings

Owners and managers in News York City are rushing to sign up their buildings as no-book zones for short-term rentals, but the number of host registrations is paltry so far.

Dennis Schaal | 1 week ago

Online Travel

Airbnb Widened Marketing Edge Against Rivals in 2022

Airbnb, which is very standoffish when it comes to paying for digital ads on Google.com and Google Travel, is winning the marketing sweepstakes by a landslide. Not even close.

Dennis Schaal | 2 weeks ago

Online Travel

Expedia’s Vrbo Plays Its Hand in the Shadow of Airbnb

How would Expedia and its Vrbo unit compete in short-term rentals against a juggernaut like Airbnb? Set realistic expectations and play to your strengths.

Dennis Schaal | 3 weeks ago

Online Travel

Expedia’s 3 Core Brands, Explained

Expedia Group's brand strategy makes sense to the extent that these three core brands don't detract from the company's global ambitions.

Dennis Schaal | 1 month ago

Online Travel

Online Travel Companies Make a Bundle Investing Customer Cash

The major thing new in online travel companies holding onto customer cash and investing it is that interest rates are a lot higher, and they are taking advantage. The rich get richer.

Dennis Schaal | 2 months 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 | 2 months 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 months ago

Online Travel

Booking Holdings Business Model Was Slowing Things Down Pre-Covid

Payments, flights and short-term rentals are paying off so far for Booking as part of its connected trip strategy. That's true even if there are doubts about travelers wanting to book their entire trip on one platform.

Dennis Schaal | 2 months ago

Short-Term Rentals

Airbnb Debuts Total Prices Before Taxes With Plan to Make It Default View

Airbnb's pricing changes will likely have a ripple effect, prompting some hosts to reduce cleaning fees and property management websites to switch to showing total prices.

Dennis Schaal | 3 months ago