An eight-year Phocuswright veteran, Ms. Walsh contributes to a range of research efforts as author and editor, with recent publications including In-Destination Events, Attractions & Activities: Europe, U.S. Mobile Travel Report: Market Sizing and Consumer Trends, and U.S. Online Travel Traffic Report. Cathy joined Phocuswright in 2005 to launch The Phocuswright Research Subscription: Technology Edition (now The Innovation Edition). Formerly director, communications, Cathy continues to create marketing content to promote Phocuswright research and events. Cathy gained travel industry expertise as editor of the trade newsletter Travel Distribution Report, where she produced news and analysis on travel distribution and technology. She is a cum laude graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received a M.A. in English from North Carolina State University, where her research focused on technology and culture.
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Areas of Research
Cathy's areas of expertise include online consumer technology, social networks, marketing and distribution strategy, and Internet trends, with a particular focus on emerging technologies.
The Global Hostel Marketplace 2014-2018
Category: Consumer Trends Published: May 2016 Analysts: Douglas Quinby, Bing Liu, Cathy Walsh, Felica Eisenbeis, Deepak Jain US $799While hostels have long been associated with dorm-style accommodations catering to budget travelers, today’s hostels include a more diverse range of possibilities. Increasingly, hostels feature private...
Hail This! The Transformation of the Ground Transportation Experience for Travel
Category: Consumer Trends Published: March 2016 Analysts: Douglas Quinby, Bing Liu, Cathy Walsh, Chetan Kapoor US $895Until recently, ground transportation rarely inspired excitement among travelers or investors. Thanks largely to smartphones and the rise of the sharing economy, the segment has experienced profound...
U.S. Traveler Technology Survey Sixth Edition
Category: Technology Innovation Published: March 2016 Analysts: Marcello Gasdia, Mark Blutstein, Cathy Walsh US $995Following a whirlwind decade of rising mobile adoption, the dust is finally beginning to settle. Smartphones are now nearly ubiquitous, and consumers expect all the bells and whistles of the desktop...
French Online Travel Overview Eleventh Edition
Category: Market Overview & Sizing Published: December 2015 Analysts: Peter O'Connor, Charuta Fadnis, Cathy Walsh US $795The French travel market got back on the road to recovery in 2015. Fueled largely by online travel gains, gross bookings were projected to grow 2.9%, reversing the previous year’s losses. With the...
Spanish Online Travel Overview Eleventh Edition
Category: Market Overview & Sizing Published: December 2015 Analysts: Fabian Gonzalez, Charuta Fadnis, Cathy Walsh US $795Following years of austerity and fiscal turmoil, Spain has emerged as a darling among European economies. A revitalized travel industry, buoyed by consecutive years of record-breaking inbound tourism,...