Articles tagged “tours and activities”

Google's retreat in tours and activities booking services doesn't mean Google is becoming less powerful in travel. It's part of Google's strategy to wrangle consistency across its products in offering a combination of advertisements and free listings to gain an even wider audience.

Google eventually will monetize its vacation rental listings, but paid advertisements in its Things To Do vertical will happen sooner. Conscientious objectors Airbnb, Expedia/Vrbo and Booking, which aren't participating with Google in vacation rentals for now, will likely have something to say about the shape of that money grab.

Hornblower's acquisition of Walks and Lindblad's takeover of DuVine are great case studies. They show how young companies can land well even in times of crisis. The lessons ought to resonate across the travel sector.

There are no guarantees that Trivago will succeed in transforming itself, broadening its offerings to travelers, and becoming different enough from rivals to ensure its viability. But sitting still and not trying new things wasn't an option, either.

In addition to its new partnership with TUI, Trivago is betting on travel inspiration to spur nearby weekend getaways. From Tripadvisor to Google Flights and mostly forgotten travel startups, the prospect of both nurturing bucket list dreams and converting lookers into bookers has never worked out very well.

Booking.com, with its vast audience, is becoming a significant player in attractions, tours and activities. However, it will have to share the revenue with its growing roster of distribution partners, which now include Tripadvisor and TUI.

It was a positive week for the tours and activities sector as startups GetYourGuide, RocketRez, and Questo received financial infusions for digital offerings. Plus, other funding news.

Reading in between the lines, it seems like the Berlin-based online travel agency is hoping to make an acquisition or minority investment, most likely one that would expand its product portfolio such as for its white-labeled "originals" experiences.

Amazon bowed out of the hotel business a couple of times, is dabbling with flight bookings in India, and seems to have found a sweet spot in cheap, virtual experiences. With all of those tour operator partners now in the fold, post-pandemic, in-person tours and activities is likely on the to-do list.

Will it suffice for TUI Musement to focus on the partnership side of its business, as it does with Booking.com and major cruise lines, or does it need to master the uphill task of becoming a breakout consumer brand beyond TUI's existing customer base? Acquisitions could be part of the mix when the pandemic dust settles.