BizTrip AI, an #AI-powered assistant for business travelers, has launched inside Claude and ChatGPT. The integration uses model context protocol (#MCP) Apps, which support an interactive user interface instead of just plain text, enabling users to plan and book trips inside the large language models. Business travelers can use natural language, with the agent then surfacing personalized and policy-compliant options. #BizTrip said the move better positions the company as AI changes how enterprise software reaches end users. Learn more on #PhocusWire now: bit.ly/4dWmqOn

SiteMinder has developed a solution that aims to help hoteliers generate revenue through pricing optimization and distribution insights. The Dynamic Commerce Engine will use #artificialintelligence to surface optimization recommendations and execute them across pricing as well as distribution. SiteMinder’s managing director and CEO Sankar Narayan said that there many pricing solutions on the market but less available for distribution. “Are they set up properly? Do they have the right rate plans? Do they have the right inventory settings? Do they have the right terms and conditions? Very often there is a big gap between what the hoteliers want to do and how they execute,” he said. Learn more on #PhocusWire now: bit.ly/4cT3NKY

🗨️ "The mistake is people are trying to predict the one outcome that's going to happen. I think you can get away with predicting a range of futures," said Daniel Shin Un Kang, head of organic and agentic search at Expedia Group, during Phocuswright's Travel Marketing AI Summit London. "Understanding what the predictable futures are going to be and [what] the range of outcomes are helps us really think about doing no-regrets work and then investing in a portfolio of bets." #ExpediaGroup is focused on influencing agents to act as ambassadors—as opposed to gatekeepers—with an entire business-to-agent (#B2A) team now dedicated to this goal. 📽️ Read more & watch the full session now: bit.ly/4iI3JkU

Payments are no longer just a back-office function. As travel businesses expand globally, payments, FX and settlement strategies are becoming critical drivers of revenue, margins and growth. In this Phocuswright Europe Changemaker session, @PingPongPayment CEO David Messenger shares why embedding FX into payment workflows can help travel companies manage risk and unlock new opportunities. Watch the full session now at #PhocusWire, bit.ly/4hKvvfv. #TravelTech #TravelPayments #Fintech #ForeignExchange #TravelIndustry #Payments #PhocuswrightEurope #BusinessGrowth

Travel and event disruptions are fueling a new trend: booking anxiety. A new report from #Phocuswright and WiT on behalf of #ProtectGroup reveals that travelers are seeking more flexibility, reassurance, and refund options before committing to a booking. The takeaway? Clear refund policies and protection products aren't just customer service features. They're powerful drivers of conversion and loyalty. Head to #PhocusWire now to download the full report, bit.ly/3V45TS8. #TravelIndustry #TravelTech #CustomerExperience #TravelInsurance #TravelTrends #Loyalty #eCommerce

Payments specialist CellPoint Digital has secured $34 million in fresh #funding. #UK-based #Cellpoint has also launched Zenith, an #artificialintelligence (#AI)-powered decisioning engine for #airline and #hospitality payments. The #technology sits above the payment orchestration layer and helps travel brands automate commercial decisions. "Payments are one of the largest controllable cost and revenue lines in an airline or hotel P&L, and one of the least well managed," said Murphy, group CEO. "Our job is to change that. Zenith uses AI to raise approval rates, cut cost of payments, recover lost revenue and give CFOs a live view of what their payment stack is actually doing.” Learn more in #PhocusWire's recent article by Linda Fox: bit.ly/4hpMPoN

Payments are no longer just a back-office function. As travel businesses expand globally, payments, FX and settlement strategies are becoming critical drivers of revenue, margins and growth. In this Phocuswright Europe Changemaker session, @PingPongPayment CEO David Messenger shares why embedding FX into payment workflows can help travel companies manage risk and unlock new opportunities. Watch the full session now at #PhocusWire, bit.ly/4hKvvfv. #TravelTech #TravelPayments #Fintech #ForeignExchange #TravelIndustry #Payments #PhocuswrightEurope #BusinessGrowth

Help shape the future of #PhocusWire coverage 🗞️ We're running our 2026 audience feedback survey and want to hear what's working, what's missing and how we can better support you as you navigate the #travelindustry. ⏱️ Quick to complete, meaningful in impact 🎟️ Everyone who participates can opt in to a drawing for a complimentary ticket to The Phocuswright Conference 2026 in Fort Lauderdale, Nov 17-19 Take the survey 👉 bit.ly/4yW0H1c

Expedia Group is enabling travelers to book hotels through #Muse, the personal #artificialintelligence (#AI) assistant unveiled by Meta earlier this month. Travelers in the #US will be able to describe what they're looking for, including dates, destination and #hotel preferences, be presented with options that fit their needs and make a #booking. #Expedia remains the merchant of record for the bookings and payment is completed through Muse. No specific date has been given for when Expedia in Muse will be available. Get the full details on #PhocusWire now: bit.ly/4yMrixu

#Luggage #storage platform Stasher has secured fresh #funding to expand the rollout of its smart locker network in the #UK. Stasher's business model has primarily been a marketplace, connecting travelers with hotels that have space to store luggage. Smart lockers offer travelers a 24-hour self-service storage option, allowing them to stow and collect their own bags in a secure compartment via a QR code. "Hotels have always been a huge part of the Stasher network, so we know how much demand there is for luggage storage and how much work can sit behind what seems like a simple guest service," said Jacob Wedderburn-Day, #Stasher CEO and co-founder. Read more on #PhocusWire: bit.ly/4cZPcNL

BizTrip AI, an #AI-powered assistant for business travelers, has launched inside Claude and ChatGPT. The integration uses model context protocol (#MCP) Apps, which support an interactive user interface instead of just plain text, enabling users to plan and book trips inside the large language models. Business travelers can use natural language, with the agent then surfacing personalized and policy-compliant options. #BizTrip said the move better positions the company as AI changes how enterprise software reaches end users. Learn more on #PhocusWire now: bit.ly/4dWmqOn

SiteMinder has developed a solution that aims to help hoteliers generate revenue through pricing optimization and distribution insights. The Dynamic Commerce Engine will use #artificialintelligence to surface optimization recommendations and execute them across pricing as well as distribution. SiteMinder’s managing director and CEO Sankar Narayan said that there many pricing solutions on the market but less available for distribution. “Are they set up properly? Do they have the right rate plans? Do they have the right inventory settings? Do they have the right terms and conditions? Very often there is a big gap between what the hoteliers want to do and how they execute,” he said. Learn more on #PhocusWire now: bit.ly/4cT3NKY

Travel and event disruptions are fueling a new trend: booking anxiety. A new report from #Phocuswright and WiT on behalf of #ProtectGroup reveals that travelers are seeking more flexibility, reassurance, and refund options before committing to a booking. The takeaway? Clear refund policies and protection products aren't just customer service features. They're powerful drivers of conversion and loyalty. Head to #PhocusWire now to download the full report, bit.ly/3V45TS8. #TravelIndustry #TravelTech #CustomerExperience #TravelInsurance #TravelTrends #Loyalty #eCommerce

Strong travel demand is only part of the story. As margins face pressure from rising costs, FX volatility, payment fees, and operational complexity, travel leaders are taking a closer look at the financial infrastructure behind growth. This new report by our partners are @airwallex explores practical strategies to reduce margin leakage, optimize working capital, and build more sustainable operations without impacting the traveler experience. Head to #PhocusWire now to download the full report, bit.ly/3VJM1Uo. #TravelIndustry #TravelTech #Payments #Fintech #BusinessTravel #Hospitality #RevenueManagement #TravelInnovation

Payments specialist CellPoint Digital has secured $34 million in fresh #funding. #UK-based #Cellpoint has also launched Zenith, an #artificialintelligence (#AI)-powered decisioning engine for #airline and #hospitality payments. The #technology sits above the payment orchestration layer and helps travel brands automate commercial decisions. "Payments are one of the largest controllable cost and revenue lines in an airline or hotel P&L, and one of the least well managed," said Murphy, group CEO. "Our job is to change that. Zenith uses AI to raise approval rates, cut cost of payments, recover lost revenue and give CFOs a live view of what their payment stack is actually doing.” Learn more in #PhocusWire's recent article by Linda Fox: bit.ly/4hpMPoN

🗨️ "The mistake is people are trying to predict the one outcome that's going to happen. I think you can get away with predicting a range of futures," said Daniel Shin Un Kang, head of organic and agentic search at Expedia Group, during Phocuswright's Travel Marketing AI Summit London. "Understanding what the predictable futures are going to be and [what] the range of outcomes are helps us really think about doing no-regrets work and then investing in a portfolio of bets." #ExpediaGroup is focused on influencing agents to act as ambassadors—as opposed to gatekeepers—with an entire business-to-agent (#B2A) team now dedicated to this goal. 📽️ Read more & watch the full session now: bit.ly/4iI3JkU

Strong travel demand is only part of the story. As margins face pressure from rising costs, FX volatility, payment fees, and operational complexity, travel leaders are taking a closer look at the financial infrastructure behind growth. This new report by our partners are @airwallex explores practical strategies to reduce margin leakage, optimize working capital, and build more sustainable operations without impacting the traveler experience. Head to #PhocusWire now to download the full report, bit.ly/3VJM1Uo. #TravelIndustry #TravelTech #Payments #Fintech #BusinessTravel #Hospitality #RevenueManagement #TravelInnovation

Entravel Group, a specialist in white-label #travel connectivity for #fintech, has raised an additional $3 million in #funding from existing investors. The latest investment will help the company launch Expereon, a platform to help travel companies improve settlement processes and address working capital challenges. The platform will link bookings, invoices and payments, automate reconciliation and turn “eligible hotel booking receivables into cash,” the company said. Read more in #PhocusWire's latest article by Linda Fox: bit.ly/4Adq0x1

Commission data is more than a payment record. It's a powerful source of insight for building stronger hotel-agency partnerships. Watch the full discussion with Asa Sherwyn, Andrey Avanesov, and Emmanuel Chereque on how business intelligence can help uncover performance trends, benchmark results, and drive smarter decisions through data. The webinar is now available at #PhocusWire from our partners at @onyxcentrsource, bit.ly/4cRDTHs. #Hospitality #TravelIndustry #BusinessIntelligence #DataAnalytics #HotelDistribution #TravelManagement

While online travel agencies (OTAs) often tout their direct traffic percentages, the largest players continue to spend heavily on #marketing. In the second quarter of 2026, Airbnb, Expedia Group, and Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG) shelled out roughly $5.37 billion on marketing expenses. #Booking spent the most, with total marketing spend up 11% from $2.14 billion in Q2 2025 to $2.37 billion in Q2 2026. Learn more on #PhocusWire now: bit.ly/4cM9dHD