Direct Travel acquires ATPI, creating a $6B global firm
Direct Travel has acquired its long-time partner ATPI, forming a combined travel management company with more than USD 6 billion in annual transaction volume. The move consolidates both firms’ corporate travel, meetings, leisure, and specialty operations, particularly in sectors such as energy, marine, mining, and sports. While the companies have worked together for years, this formal integration expands their collective global reach and service offerings.
A central focus of the merger is the further rollout of Avenir Travel Edition, Direct Travel’s proprietary technology platform designed to improve traveler support and provide data-driven insights for corporate clients. By combining resources, the new entity aims to strengthen its position against larger global players in the sector, offering both scale and specialized expertise. The acquisition reflects a broader trend of consolidation within the travel management industry as companies look to balance technology investment with global service delivery.
Sabre rolls out agentic APIs to usher in AI-driven retailing
Sabre has unveiled its first agentic APIs, supported by a new Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that acts as a universal translator for AI systems in travel. These tools are designed to let AI seamlessly handle core functions such as shopping, booking, and servicing across flights, hotels, and post-booking needs. The move positions Sabre as one of the first major travel technology companies to make agentic AI broadly usable at scale, giving agencies and suppliers the infrastructure to automate time-consuming tasks.
The launch builds on Sabre IQ, the company’s AI layer powered by its 50-petabyte Travel Data Cloud, developed with Google. By pairing this data with large language models, Sabre says it can support intelligent automation for complex workflows — from handling disruptions and compliance checks to expense filing and agency-to-agency collaboration. Integrated within SabreMosaic, the company’s modular cloud-native platform, the new APIs are meant to lower servicing costs, improve personalisation, and enhance operational resilience. The announcement reflects a broader industry push toward AI-enabled retailing, with Sabre aiming to establish an early lead.
Travel DMC invests $1.5M in Philippines expansion
Travel DMC Group has announced a US$1.5 million investment to expand its presence in the Philippines, with plans to open new offices in Manila, Cebu, and Davao. The Asia-based destination management company is also exploring acquisitions of local tour operators to strengthen service delivery and meet rising demand. The investment will focus on building B2B partnerships, enhancing technology platforms, and developing tailored travel products for the Asian market. Chairman Parvesh Kumar highlighted the Philippines as a dynamic growth market, while Gina Pecales, director of Travel DMC Philippines, said the expansion positions the company to deliver world-class services locally.
API fees stir debate as booking systems mature
Research from Arival shows that fewer than half of tour and attraction providers are happy with their current booking systems, and one in five is actively considering a switch. For some, the API fee is a tipping point to reassess tech providers. Experts suggest booking platforms will compete less on core functions, which are now standard, and more on value-added services such as integrated marketing tools, real-time pricing, and AI-driven optimization — signaling the next phase of evolution in the booking tech marketplace.
FareHarbor introduced a 2% API booking fee, sparking backlash from operators who feel the company has backtracked on its original pricing model. FareHarbor now joins a growing list of booking platforms charging API fees. The change has been rolled out gradually across regions since 2023, hitting U.S. operators in 2025.
Competitors such as Bokun, Rezgo, and Tripworks also charge similar fees, citing high engineering costs of maintaining constantly changing API connections, as well as the growing share of OTA-driven bookings. With some operators now sourcing 70–80% of their bookings through OTAs, booking systems argue they must adapt their pricing models to reflect the costs of connectivity and support. Industry leaders, including FareHarbor CEO Andrea Carini, say the move is necessary to sustain service for OTA-heavy operators.
Digital identity, AI and travel intersect
As autonomous AI agents begin to handle more of the booking process, the role of digital identity in travel is becoming a critical focus. In the fifth and final installment of Phocuswright’s The New Age(nts) Trend Series, experts highlighted both the benefits and risks: digital IDs could streamline personalization and reduce fraud by giving travelers control over their verifiable identity, but concerns around trust, verification, and security remain. Blockchain-based solutions like Chain4Travel’s Camino Network are being positioned as a way to authenticate bots, manage search-to-book ratios, and add a trust layer to an increasingly AI-driven ecosystem.
The shift also has major implications for distribution and industry infrastructure. Traditional global distribution systems and OTAs may be disrupted as decentralized networks, open standards, and direct supplier-to-agent connections gain traction. Panelists urged industry stakeholders to get involved now — through pilots, experiments, and participation in standards bodies — rather than waiting on the sidelines. With technology evolving at breakneck speed, travel companies are advised to adopt a “learning by doing” approach, building prototypes and practical use cases to prepare for a rapidly shifting landscape.
