Google Maps Adds More Hotel Search Filters
Google Maps is plotting a clear course in the direction of becoming a superapp for travel and dining. We’ll continue to track the trend closely.
Sean O’Neill is Skift’s Senior Hospitality Editor. Sean’s forte is reporting, and he’s broken multiple hotel industry scoops. He has also conducted 1:1 interviews on stage with the CEOs of Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Hyatt, and Wyndham.
Travelport’s Plan to Build Market Share With U.S. Airlines and Agencies
Travelport sees an opportunity to gain share with mid-market travel management companies in the U.S., which seems plausible. But it will need to keep up its pace of adopting new technologies and policies to pull that off.
Bizzabo and Gather Raise Millions for Event Tech: Travel Startup Funding This Week
Two event tech startups, Bizzabo and Gather, have raised millions in funding to help businesses and restaurants manage and grow events. The companies are benefiting from a 2019 Megatrend that Skift summarized as "real-world experiences gain value in an era of tech burnout."
Jumia IPO Highlights Africa’s Shifting Online Travel Ecosystem
Jumia is one of a few companies that deserve credit for building nascent online travel businesses in several African markets. But as Google and other tech platforms gain a continent-wide presence, they may use their pervasiveness to play kingmakers in online travel.
Expedia Chairman Barry Diller Moves to Simplify Corporate Structure
Expedia will stop being a controlled company after it acquires Liberty, and Barry Diller, chairman of Expedia, will own about 29 percent of the online travel group's voting power. The move makes the company's ownership structure more transparent, which is a good thing.
Fosun’s Venture Capital Arm Backs Israeli Booking Site in an Ongoing Travel Push
While Western media tends to focus on the funding moves of corporate venture capital arms of regional brands like JetBlue and EasyJet, it’s also important to see how key investment players in Asia, like Shanghai-based Fosun, are investing, such as in Splitty, a hotel booking startup.
Smaller Hotels and Hostels Catch Up on Tech With New Wave of Software Makers
The story of software maker Cloudbeds, named the fastest-growing travel and hospitality company in the U.S., points to a broader trend of smaller hotels adopting new tools to manage their properties.
V Resorts Raises $10 Million for Branded Resorts: Travel Startup Funding This Week
Aditi Balbir, founder and CEO of V Resorts, has impressed investors with her take on asset-light hospitality management in India, like an Oyo for resorts. In a distinctive touch, the company uses and markets goods and furnishings made by local crafts workers.
Uber’s Airport Rides Still Small Part of Business, IPO Filing Reveals
Expect new light on the importance of airport rides to the fortunes of Uber to prompt more airport authorities and ground transportation companies to pressure the company harder for various concessions.
GuestReady Acquires BnbLord in European Vacation Rental Rollup
Vacasa, Evolve, and other startups have stormed the U.S. vacation rental market by offering tech-savvy property management services. The business model is now about to sweep Europe, too.