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PhocusWire

A regular dissection of the news, issues and trends in travel and technology, featuring interviews with industry executives and entrepreneurs and hosted by PhocusWire editors.

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S7 · E7
Wednesday · 13 min
AI in action in corporate travel with Perk
Perk (formerly TravelPerk) has launched an MCP connector linking Claude, ChatGPT and other AI assistants directly to its travel and spend management platform. Chief product officer Nikita Miller frames it around killing "shadow work," the time employees waste digging through reports and switching tools for basic answers. The connector lets travelers pull trip and expense details, finance teams access invoices, travel managers review approvals and policy rules, and event managers check sessions and attendee data, all through natural language. Speaking in the PhocusWire Studio, Miller said the goal spans from individual spend all the way to CFO-level reporting at month's end. Perk plans to expand the connector this summer to cover booking, expense submission, receipt uploads and approval flows, a further push into agentic travel management. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S7 · E6
September 10 · 16 min
Merger & acquisition trends in travel with Morgann Lesné of Cambon Partners
Q2 2026 was quiet for travel startup funding but busy for M&A. Only two Series B rounds stood out: hotel tech company Smartness raised €47 million, and India-based hostel operator The Hosteller raised $16 million. WeRoad closed the quarter's lone Series C, $58 million led by Airbnb. Clarasight raised an $11.5 million Series A for product development and geographic expansion. Phocuswright's Travel Startups Interactive database shows $1.7 billion in funding for the year's first five months, up from $1.1 billion in 2025. M&A carried the quarter. Expedia Group's acquisition of CarTrawler stood out, aimed at building a one-stop shop for B2B travel. Juniper acquired Deem, and Lighthouse acquired Hotelrank.ai. Bigger deals included Long Lake Management's $6.3 billion purchase of American Express Global Business Travel and Apollo Global Management's agreed $5.7 billion takeover of easyJet. Speaking in the PhocusWire Studio at Phocuswright Europe 2026, Cambon Partners' Morgann Lesné told Linda Fox that deal volumes from 2022-2023 haven't returned, but consolidation pressure is building as small players run out of runway. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S7 · E5
September 2 · 11 min
What Revolut's entrepreneur in residence thinks AI can do for travel
Revolut's AI travel push, a year after acquiring Swifty, is led by Stanislav Bondarenko, the startup's co-founder, now inside Revolut's lifestyle unit. His goal is unchanged: book flights and hotels from a single voice message. Speaking with PhocusWire's Linda Fox in the PhocusWire Studio, Bondarenko named the advantages of joining a larger company — stability and access to Revolut's existing user base. But the bigger factor is data: the transaction and behavioral history of Revolut's millions of customers. He called this double-edged. It shortcuts development because the team already knows what works, but more data also means more noise, so the real challenge is separating signal from clutter. He also described using a traveler's past trips and spending to anticipate needs before they're stated, comparing it to mind reading — removing steps by inferring intent rather than requiring explicit input. His boldest claim: booking won't need a dedicated chatbot or app going forward. It could happen contextually, wherever the traveler already is. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S7 · E5
August 26 · 18 min
Navigating AI developments as a startup with Zerolook
Zerolook, a Switzerland-based startup that predicts flight prices, has raised US$1.9 million in pre-seed funding led by Playfair, with participation from Vento Ventures, TrueSight Ventures, Alpha Ventures and several angel investors. Its machine learning model predicts flight prices and itineraries, aiming to cut the volume of searches hitting airline systems. Recent OAG figures show up to 20,000 searches generate one ticket sale, a number that could climb to 200,000 as agentic artificial intelligence (AI) increases search volume. Zerolook's model presents users with a predicted itinerary, price and confidence score. In the PhocusWire Studio, CEO Simone Lini discussed plans to compute prices differently than the fare-filing process used for six decades, along with the startup climate and AI's impact on distribution. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S7 · E4
August 19 · 17 min
Loveholidays' ambitions in the growing packaged travel market
Loveholidays has quietly built one of the fastest-growing positions in European package travel, expanding from a UK-only startup in 2012 into eight markets and roughly 15% of the UK packaged travel market. In this conversation, head of strategy Isabella Cheng unpacks the bigger shift behind that growth: dynamic packaging has gone from a niche 2% of the UK market in 2009 to about a quarter of it today, and Loveholidays has built its entire model around being the technology layer that aggregates flights and hotels on the fly rather than selling pre-built package holidays. Cheng also gets specific about where AI actually earns its place at the company, walking through how their chatbot Sandy handles the majority of customer chats at agent-level satisfaction and saves an estimated £4 million a year, and how AI-assisted coding has let engineering nearly double its deployment pace without adding headcount. She wraps with a candid take on the IPO question that's been trailing the company for years. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S7 · E3
August 12 · 18 min
CEO Spotlight: Filip Filipov of OAG
Less than a year into leading OAG, CEO Filip Filipov sat down with PhocusWire's Linda Fox and the thing that's actually surprised him isn't AI, it's customers. Preferences are outrunning what technology can deliver, on both consumer and B2B sides. The industry, he says, is chasing customers' dreams of what a product could be rather than what's currently buildable. AI adoption matched his expectations directionally but beat them on speed — marketing, finance, and commercial teams picked it up as fast as engineering did. But he pushes back on treating adoption as even across the industry. A startup with the right people moves fast. A decades-old institution carrying legacy process and PII constraints is often capped at Copilot in Word. He's also skeptical of "AI" as a catch-all, lumping product, technology, and distribution together as if they're one thing. The conversation also covers the CEO role's personal weight and where he sees real innovation in travel. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S7 · E2
August 5 · 24 min
The new rules of travel discovery in the age of AI with Propellic and Stiplo
Generative AI is transforming how travelers discover and book trips, according to a PhocusWire interview with John Matson, chief revenue officer of Propellic, and Carlo del Mistro, founder of Stiplo. Del Mistro said hotel owners often contact his company after finding their property missing from ChatGPT results. He likened today's AI visibility landscape to early SEO, when ranking drivers were poorly understood and constantly shifting. Matson said tracking is still early stage, though statistically relevant measurement is now possible to show movement on specific prompts. Generative engine optimization (GEO) is growing in importance alongside traditional SEO, which both speakers said still plays a major role, depending on the LLM used. AI referral traffic remains small but is growing exponentially, with higher conversion since those visitors arrive already qualified. On suppliers versus OTAs, Matson said he is bullish on suppliers, who can build products from physical assets and retain first party data. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S7 · E1
July 29 · 30 min
Travel's AI winners and losers: the debate continues
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how travelers discover and book trips, but a critical question remains unresolved: will AI reinforce the industry's biggest players or tear down their advantages? In this episode, two of travel tech's most vocal commentators bring their ongoing public debate into the studio. Mario Gavira, chief marketing officer of Travelier, argues that AI is more likely to strengthen dominant OTAs and hotel groups than displace them. He points to their tech infrastructure, loyal customer bases and unique inventory as durable moats. In his view, AI simply becomes another marketing and booking channel, one the biggest brands are well positioned to exploit. Christian Watts, founder and CEO of Magpie, pushes back hard. He believes AI agents will fundamentally change the shopping experience, replacing endless search results with a handful of tailored options chosen on a traveler's behalf. That shift, he argues, could erode the advantages today's leaders depend on. The conversation moves through some of the industry's most contested questions: whether loyalty programs still matter when an agent can compare offers instantly, what role Google plays as AI reshapes discovery and whether AI platforms become the next gatekeepers travel brands have to negotiate with. Recorded live at Phocuswright Europe 2026 in Barcelona and hosted by PhocusWire's Linda Fox, this episode captures a debate that's been building across a series of opinion pieces for the past 18 months, now playing out face to face. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S6 · E21
May 6 · 30 min
CEO Spotlight: Gonzalo Estebarena of Despegar
Just weeks into his new role as CEO of Despegar, Gonzalo Estebarena is outlining an ambitious vision for the Latin America-based OTA as it enters its next phase under Prosus ownership. Having previously served as Despegar’s CTO and chief commercial officer, Estebarena said the company has maintained its “startup soul” while gaining the scale and resources of a global technology company following Prosus’ $1.7 billion acquisition in 2025. A major focus is artificial intelligence, with Despegar committing $100 million annually over the next three years to AI development while aiming to triple the size of the business. Estebarena said access to Prosus has accelerated conversations with technology partners and provided Despegar with a “front-row seat” to AI experimentation and innovation. Expansion in Brazil is a key priority, particularly as Despegar works to become part of a broader Prosus ecosystem spanning travel, food delivery, entertainment and other consumer services. Estebarena described this strategy as targeting “life-decision moments” for consumers. He also discussed Prosus’ development of a “large commerce model,” designed to predict customer actions rather than words, enabling more personalized offers and communications that drive transactions. The interview also explores Uber’s move into hotels, Despegar’s internal AI projects and the leadership challenges Estebarena faces as CEO. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S6 · E20
April 30 · 19 min
Rethinking tours and activities distribution with CityUnscripted and Context Travel
In this episode, the CEOs of CityUnscripted and Context Travel unpack how distribution in tours and activities is evolving as major platforms like Tripadvisor and Airbnb expand their presence. Nick Whitfield of CityUnscripted argues that while the landscape may appear increasingly commoditized, the reality is more nuanced. Overwhelming choice and sameness across listings create friction for consumers, opening the door for differentiated experiences to stand out. He points to shifting search behavior, driven in part by AI, as a catalyst that could benefit more distinctive, experience-led operators rather than purely scaled marketplaces. June Chin-Ramsey of Context Travel reinforces that differentiation will hinge on human connection. As definitions of luxury evolve, she sees a growing premium on meaning and personal attention rather than traditional markers like high-end amenities. Expert-led tours, she argues, deliver something technology cannot replicate. AI and augmented tools may enhance discovery and planning, but they will not replace the depth and authenticity of a knowledgeable guide. Together, the guests highlight a fragmented but opportunity-rich sector where success will depend on clarity of product, thoughtful use of technology and a renewed focus on human-led experiences. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S6 · E19
April 22 · 31 min
CEO Spotlight: Jeremy Sampson of The Travel Foundation
The conversation around sustainability in tourism may feel more advanced than ever, but real change isn’t keeping pace. Jeremy Sampson, CEO of The Travel Foundation, argues that growing consensus on tourism’s environmental and social impact has created a misleading sense of progress. While awareness has increased, the system itself hasn’t evolved quickly enough to match the accelerating pressures of climate change and global instability. What the industry once expected to face years from now is already unfolding, compressing future risks into today’s reality. As these challenges intensify, Sampson believes regulation will become a key driver of change, shifting more control to destinations whether the industry is ready or not. He points to initiatives like the Canary Islands’ RegNext program as examples of collaboration between governments and industry to support more sustainable growth. At the same time, reframing sustainability through the lens of economic resilience is helping bring more stakeholders to the table. Still, gaps remain between what consumers say and what they do, raising questions about how success in tourism sustainability should ultimately be defined. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S6 · E18
April 15 · 17 min
Hotel stack readiness for AI with SiteMinder and Scenic Hotel Group
Hotels are actively exploring AI as a strategic investment, with a strong focus on improving guest engagement and operational efficiency. James Bishop of SiteMinder emphasizes that the real opportunity lies in automation, not workforce reduction, but enabling staff to work more productively. Chris Clayton of Scenic Hotel Group reinforces that AI is not a plug-and-play solution, warning against oversimplified expectations. Instead, hotels must carefully identify the right applications to drive meaningful return on investment, recognizing that AI implementation requires thoughtful integration rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Both guests highlight that success with AI hinges on data quality and readiness. Well-structured, accessible data is essential for AI to deliver value, while poor data leads to unreliable outcomes. The discussion also touches on how AI can enhance personalization and reshape the role of online travel agencies, all within the context of longer-term technology adoption cycles. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S6 · E17
April 8 · 18 min
CEO Spotlight: Wendy Olson Killion of Rome2Rio
Multimodal travel is quickly becoming central to how people plan and experience trips, according to Rome2Rio CEO Wendy Olson Killion. Speaking at The Phocuswright Conference, Killion emphasized that multimodal transportation—combining flights, trains, buses and more—is no longer a niche behavior but a core part of travel. This shift is reflected in Rome2Rio’s data, where 50% of searches now involve multiple modes of transport. She noted that short-distance travel, particularly within 90 miles, is seeing significant growth, signaling changing consumer preferences and a broader definition of how trips are structured. Several factors are driving this trend. Regulatory changes, such as European Union restrictions on regional flights, are encouraging alternatives like rail. At the same time, cultural influence is playing a role, with celebrities and influencers reshaping perceptions of train and surface travel. Killion described this as the “surface rising,” highlighting the growing importance of non-air options. Beyond consumer behavior, she also discussed her first year leading Rome2Rio after transitioning from Expedia Group, and how the company is addressing challenges like overtourism. Together, these dynamics point to a future where multimodal travel is not just an option but the foundation of trip planning. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S6 · E16
April 1 · 25 min
CEO Spotlight: Nishank Gopalkrishnan of Dreamlines
Nishank Gopalkrishnan, six months into his role as CEO of Dreamlines, is focused on understanding both the cruise industry and how the company can stand out in a relatively under-digitized segment of travel. Drawing on experience across startups and major players like TUI and MakeMyTrip, he sees cruises as a fragmented market with significant room for innovation. Despite representing only a small share of global tourism, the cruise sector presents a major opportunity to modernize booking and packaging, which he and his team are actively working to reimagine. A key pillar of this transformation is artificial intelligence, which Dreamlines is embedding into its rebuilt technology stack to drive more efficient and dynamic cruise packaging across both consumer and business channels. Gopalkrishnan also points to AI’s potential to enhance personalization, particularly within loyalty programs, while acknowledging broader industry challenges and his own early hurdles as CEO. Overall, his vision centers on leveraging technology to unlock a more seamless, personalized and scalable cruise experience. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S6 · E15
March 25 · 19 min
Travel platforms face cost and compliance impact of changing regulations
Travel companies are entering a far more regulated era as governments in Europe and the U.K. expand consumer protections to reflect how travel is now bought and sold. Historically, regulations like the Package Travel Directive focused on bundled trips, but new rules extend coverage to services purchased within a 24-hour window, even if booked separately across a single platform. According to Rhys Griffiths of Fox Williams, this marks a significant shift, potentially requiring more companies to obtain licenses and implement insolvency protections. As a result, businesses that once operated outside strict regulatory frameworks may now face tighter operational constraints and oversight. At the same time, broader regulatory pressures are intensifying. The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive will require travel companies to disclose environmental, social and governance risks, including how climate change could impact demand patterns and business performance. Additional measures like the Digital Services Act are also increasing scrutiny, particularly around online content such as illegal listings. With penalties increasingly tied to company turnover, the financial stakes are high. Taken together, these changes are dramatically widening the regulatory net, catching many travel companies off guard as they struggle to keep pace with evolving compliance requirements. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S6 · E14
March 18 · 16 min
Ancillaries, AI and agentic: Where is airline distribution heading with Mystifly and PKFARE
The airline distribution landscape is entering a new phase as New Distribution Capability (NDC) adoption accelerates and the industry moves toward modern offer and order models. In this episode, Jeremy Jameson, VP of the Americas at Mystifly, and Jesus Monzo Faubel, senior director of flights (west) at PKFARE, discuss how improved servicing and post-ticketing functionality are beginning to drive real operational efficiencies. While adoption still varies across airlines and agencies, both note that the foundation is now in place, with airlines in Europe and the U.S. leading the way through stronger content strategies and distribution approaches, while travel sellers continue to navigate technology and post-booking challenges. The conversation also explores what comes next, including the growing role of intermediaries in bridging gaps across the ecosystem and making NDC content more accessible. Looking ahead, Jameson and Faubel highlight the importance of data and customer-centric retailing, emphasizing the need for robust data architecture to better understand traveler behavior. Combined with advances in AI, these capabilities are set to power more dynamic, personalized and responsive travel experiences as airline distribution continues to evolve. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S6 · E15
March 10 · 15 min
Travel in the cloud with Tedd Evers of AWS
Migrating to the cloud is transforming how travel companies operate, innovate and serve travelers. In this episode, Tedd Evers, Global Partner Leader of Travel and Hospitality at Amazon Web Services (AWS), explains why cloud adoption is about more than cost savings. While moving away from traditional data centers can reduce expenses and increase operational efficiency, the real advantage lies in the ability to experiment, scale and innovate quickly. Evers discusses how tools like Amazon Bedrock allow companies to test and deploy different AI models depending on the use case, helping organizations determine when generative AI makes sense and when traditional machine learning may be the better option. This flexibility enables travel companies to build smarter applications while controlling costs. The conversation also explores how cloud technology is democratizing innovation across the travel ecosystem. From global airlines to early-stage startups, organizations can access the same powerful infrastructure and tools to develop new solutions. Evers shares insights on emerging AI use cases, the role of cloud in shaping future travel technology and how companies can use these capabilities to enhance traveler experiences. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S6 · E14
March 4 · 19 min
CEO Spotlight: Teresa Mackintosh of Aven Hospitality
Aven Hospitality may be a new name, but CEO Teresa Mackintosh is already deep into the company’s next chapter. Following its 2025 acquisition by TPG and separation from former owner Sabre, Mackintosh has spent the past six months preparing Aven to stand on its own. In this episode, she shares how the company is shifting from long-term strategic planning to rapid, three- to six-month execution cycles to keep pace with technological change. Drawing on her background in accounting, SaaS and private equity, Mackintosh explains her “three-legged stool” approach to leadership, balancing the needs of hoteliers, employees and investors. She discusses Aven’s immediate investment priorities, including modernizing its platform for AI, strengthening its booking engine, and expanding payments and retailing capabilities to become the commerce hub for hotel partners. Mackintosh also addresses the fragmentation of the hospitality tech ecosystem, the risks and opportunities of agentic AI, the future of SaaS, and who stands to win or lose in the evolving battle between direct and intermediary distribution. Tune in for a candid conversation with PhocusWire’s Linda Fox on strategy, AI and the future of hotel technology. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S6 · E13
February 25 · 17 min
A new age of travel selling: AI, personalization and human touch with Fora and Unravel
Travel selling is evolving fast and new players are redefining how trips are discovered and booked. This episode features Jake Peters, co-founder and chief product and technology officer at Fora, and Maarten van Pijpen, chief growth officer at Unravel, in conversation with PhocusWire senior reporter Morgan Hines. The discussion explores how AI, social media and changing consumer behavior are reshaping distribution. Fora represents a modern travel agency model, using technology and AI to empower a new generation of travel advisors. But while tech enhances efficiency and personalization, Peters emphasizes that humans remain essential. AI assists advisors, it does not replace them. Like a fitness app versus a personal coach, technology can guide, but human expertise and accountability elevate the experience. Unravel takes a different approach. Often described as “TikTok meets Expedia,” the company delivers travel inspiration through a shoppable video feed, connecting discovery directly to booking. With younger travelers consuming hours of video daily and turning to platforms like TikTok for vacation ideas, Unravel aims to seamlessly link inspiration with transaction in a self-service environment. Together, the executives share how AI supports their business models, how social platforms are becoming key distribution channels and what they’re building toward in 2026. The takeaway: the future of travel selling is not just about AI. It’s about how companies blend technology, personalization and the right level of human touch. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S6 · E12
February 18 · 18 min
Data and AI evolution in corporate travel
Gen AI is gaining real traction in corporate travel and this time, it’s more than experimentation. In this episode of In Phocus, Marilyn Markham, VP of AI and automation strategy at American Express Global Business Travel, and Mat Orrego, CEO and co-founder of Cornerstone Information Systems, explore how AI is reshaping the sector. While early chatbots left many travelers frustrated and eager to “scream for a human,” today’s AI-powered assistants are changing expectations. The conversation examines whether corporate travel can combine modern generative AI with deep travel expertise to finally deliver the intelligent, intuitive chat experiences the industry once envisioned. The discussion also dives into AI’s evolving role in the ecosystem, growing user comfort with AI agents, the shift from experimentation to real-world application, and the critical importance of data in powering what comes next. As AI steps out from the wings and into daily operations, corporate travel may be entering a new era of intelligent assistance. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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