Phocuswright has tracked the digital travel startup landscape for nearly 15 years, and as of the time of publishing this report there are over 4,600 companies in our Travel Startups Interactive Database. This analysis of travel funding covers companies founded since 2013 and includes funding rounds raised by these companies through the first half of 2023.

Analyst: Michael ColettaTopic: Technology InnovationSegments: Air, Car Rental & Ground Transportation, Hotels & Lodging, Online Travel Agencies, Tours & PackagesRegions: Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East & Africa, U.S. & CanadaResearch Type: Report

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This article addresses some key trends in the development of travel loyalty, with a focus on the following:Overview of loyalty and reward program structure, and what differentiates themOutlining metrics for a successful programDiscussing where loyalty can grow, in light of recent technological developmentsAddressing common privacy, legal and other issues, along with key obstacles

Analysts: Norm Rose, Robert ColeTopic: Technology InnovationSegments: Air, Hotels & Lodging, Online Travel AgenciesRegion: U.S. & CanadaResearch Type: Article

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IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) initiative gives airlines and their partners a way to replace EDIFACT connectivity standards that have been in place for decades. Through its control capabilities, NDC paves the way for airline-originated offer management. Similarly, IATA’s ONE Order defines modern order management, aiming to eliminate the multitude of arcane documents involved in a travel itinerary, instead replacing them with a single, unique customer-centric order record. How intermediaries adapt to these developments remains a key question.This article addresses recent developments in NDC technology, with a focus on order management from both the airline and intermediary perspectives.

Analyst: Michael GerraTopic: Technology InnovationSegments: Air, Online Travel AgenciesRegions: Asia Pacific, Europe, U.S. & CanadaResearch Type: Article

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The notion that different passengers pay different prices for the same flight has been engrained into travelers’ psyches for a long time; airline pricing has long been considered complicated from the consumer’s perspective. In 2020, the concept of continuous pricing was introduced, and its capability is partly facilitated by IATA’s NDC. Gone is the reliance on fare buckets/seat classes as customers’ only options. How this personalization of airline seats and additional services into customizable bundles impacts consumer habits and opinions is yet to be seen. Nevertheless, the technology shows potential for greater innovation, and – with that – significant market disruption/shake up. This article addresses recent developments in dynamic, continuous pricing models and bundles for air tickets, with a focus on the potential impact for both consumers and industry stakeholders.

Analyst: Norm RoseTopic: Technology InnovationSegment: AirRegions: Europe, U.S. & CanadaResearch Type: Article

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Chinese travelers are back on the map. Three years of isolation ended on January 8, 2023. As China transitions into a new travel era, OTA bookings at home and abroad are picking up speed. Benefiting from the government-enforced downtime and domestic protections, Chinese OTAs largely revamped their business models during 36 months of COVID disruption.This article reviews the many developments and initiatives undertaken by Chinese OTAs in the past several years, including: growing their customer bases in lower-tier cities; embracing user-generated content; augmenting their livestreaming capabilities; and preparing for social commerce challengers that also drew large domestic crowds. These players have all closely monitored the changes in travel regulations, consumer expectations and trends, readying themselves for the coming outbound travel surge.

Analyst: Gary BowermanTopics: Market Overview & Sizing, Consumer Trends, Technology InnovationSegments: Hotels & Lodging, Online Travel Agencies, Tours & PackagesRegion: Asia PacificResearch Type: Article

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Super apps are mobile applications that offer multiple services, often including transportation, digital payments, e-commerce, gaming, social networking and more. The concept originated in Asia, but a growing number of Western companies aim to emulate these all-in-one mobile powerhouses. Super apps integrate high-usage services like transportation, messaging or payments with other functionalities, so that users return to the apps constantly – an aspect that appeals greatly to the travel industry. For Western travel industry players, development will be challenging – it remains to be seen who can deliver.Part of a content series that explores some of the most significant technology-driven trends that will influence travel distribution in 2023 and beyond, this article explores the interplay between super apps and travel consumption, on the following metrics:Overview of leading super app players in AsiaKey ingredients for super app successHurdles in building this app model in new marketsLeveraging social, fintech, gamification and more 

Analyst: Cathy WalshTopics: Technology Innovation, Consumer Trends, Mobile, Social & SearchSegments: Car Rental & Ground Transportation, Hotels & Lodging, Online Travel AgenciesRegions: Asia Pacific, Europe, U.S. & CanadaResearch Type: Article

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Data has long been used to make operating decisions. But what happens when the paradigm shifts, as it has post-COVID, with uncertainty around labor availability, increased desire for seamless guest experiences, and shifting demand patterns? Will historic data aggregation and use still serve as the best tool for logistical planning and decision making? The answer is twofold. While the tried-and-true information can still be valuable, hoteliers looking forward must also incorporate real-time data into their calculations and planning for success in the modern sphere.Part of a content series that explores some of the most significant technology-driven trends that will influence travel distribution in 2023 and beyond, this article explores real-time data’s direct impact on hotel operations and profitability, focusing on how the following operational areas can be optimized:Labor scheduling and staffingTeam member performance metricsSales data for trends, both internal and market-wideOperational function automationTargeted ancillary revenue from guest behavior data 

Analysts: Adam Glickman, Dmitry KoltunovTopic: Technology InnovationSegments: Hotels & Lodging, Online Travel AgenciesRegions: Europe, U.S. & CanadaResearch Type: Article

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Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing aircraft – “eVTOLs” – offer the promise of next-generation air transportation with significantly less carbon emissions than their ancestor, the helicopter, or other modes of transportation like short-haul planes, and possibly even shuttle buses or taxis. Some eVTOL brands even aim for fully autonomous operation. Nonetheless, achieving the eVTOL vision comes with some very large hurdles.Part of a content series that explores some of the most significant technology-driven trends that will influence travel distribution in 2023 and beyond, this article analyzes the vision, current status and challenges eVTOLs face specifically around travel, tourism, and human transport, including:Explanation of eVTOL development to dateCapital – investments and projections for future growthHighlight on sustainability, and impact on local travel marketsPartnerships with airlines, and possible benefitsObstacles, including difficulties around regulations and adoption 

Analyst: Hollis ThomasesTopics: Technology Innovation, Consumer TrendsSegments: Air, Car Rental & Ground TransportationRegions: Asia Pacific, Europe, U.S. & CanadaResearch Type: Article

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Analysts: Cathy Walsh, Michael ColettaTopics: Technology Innovation, Consumer TrendsSegment: Online Travel AgenciesRegions: Europe, U.S. & CanadaResearch Type: Article

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Non-travel brands, such as financial institutions, retailers and loyalty clubs must really want to get into the travel business. Over the past two years, several have launched travel booking platforms or announced ambitious plans to do so, even though the online travel agency market is already near saturation and uber competitive. For these players, is success possible? And what will be the impact on the marketplace?Part of a content series that explores some of the most significant technology-driven trends that will influence travel distribution in 2023 and beyond, this article focuses on non-travel brands’ forays into the travel space, includingAn historical look at non-travel brand business goals and consumer offeringBroad review of the biggest players in the spaceNew tech/acquisitions that are vital to the market success of these non-travel playerDiscussion of further OTA-type development among non-travel entities 

Analyst: Lorraine SileoTopics: Technology Innovation, Consumer TrendsSegment: Online Travel AgenciesRegions: Europe, U.S. & CanadaResearch Type: Article

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