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

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 years 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 | 2 years 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 | 2 years 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 years 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 years 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 years 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 years 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 | 2 years ago

Online Travel

Despegar More Upbeat on Latin America Economic Climate Than in U.S. and Europe

Latin American economies frequently seem to be in shambles, but there are positive developments on the inflation front as far as Despegar is concerned.

Dennis Schaal | 2 years ago

Online Travel

Uber's New Viator Partnership Highlights Increased Fragmentation in Online Travel

The online travel duopoly is dead — if it ever existed. New travel brands from sectors like banks and rideshare services are running amok.

Dennis Schaal | 2 years ago