Seth Borko

Amazon to the rescue? That is narrative you don't often hear associated with Jeff Bezos' company. But advertising is collectively one of travel's largest expenses and few can break free of the Facebook and Google duopoly. Amazon might just be able to succeed where many others have failed.

Will there be a recession next year? That seems to be the question on everyone's minds. But the fundamental data and industry management teams tell a story of greater strength heading into next year. Headwinds are rising, but on balance, we expect “steady-as-she-goes” growth.

Amazon's influence over travelers is likely to grow, and travel companies need to pay careful attention. Our limited edition e-book evaluates lessons, threats, and opportunities that Amazon presents for the travel industry.

Airbnb has built itself into the third most richly valued startup in the world over the last decade. But business never stands still, and as Airbnb harvests its gains, the latest generation of alternative accommodation startups are collecting all of the new venture capital in the space.

The travel industry, no stranger to disruption, is experiencing a new wave of venture-backed startups. These businesses are generally larger than ever before and focused on bringing new customers and products into the digital travel fold. We expect this momentum to continue and for it to have an impact on executives, founders, and investors throughout the sector.

The battle over airline distribution costs has been fought from boardrooms to courtrooms to the press. Though each airline is in a unique position, we examine the industry-wide data to take a cold look at the facts as best as possible.

Airline distribution needs to change to keep up with the modern economy. Its tech is evolving, but it takes time to turn around such a large and complex ship. Will changes come fast enough to avoid outside disruption?

Does Expedia or Booking have the energy to launch their booking apps in four local Indian dialects? Maybe not, but MakeMyTrip does, and that local effort matters.

The 10-year anniversary of the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy reminds us that travel was ravaged along with other industries in the ensuing global recession. How the industry coped and rebounded is instructive for the next downturn.

Emerging markets will shape the future of the travel industry but each region requires a unique strategy. MakeMyTrip and Despegar, online travel leaders in India and Latin America, provide distinct insights into how to succeed their respective home markets.