Expedia Group B2B: The invisible engine powering the world’s travel bookings
Every time a traveller books a hotel through a loyalty portal, redeems points online, or makes a travel booking on another platform, there’s a good chance Expedia Group B2B is quietly working behind the scenes.
Its name may not appear on the booking page, but its technology often powers what happ [...]
Expedia TAAP: Empowering travel advisors by building with them, not around them
If AI trains on data, Expedia’s Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP) learns from people.
It’s the platform that connects thousands of travel advisors to Expedia’s global inventory — but more importantly, it’s an engine built for and with them. TAAP isn’t just a booking system; it’s w [...]
From flash deals to Muay Thai villas: Stephanie Chai’s luxe lesson in pivot and perseverance
When The Luxe Nomad launched in 2012, it was born out of a dare, and a dose of naïveté. Thirteen years later, its founder Stephanie Chai sits on a regional empire of villas, chalets, and condo-hotels spanning Bali, Thailand, and Hokkaido – proof that optimism, when coupled with tenacity, can [...]
GHA reports solid Q3 performance as growth momentum continues through summer months
Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands, has reported another quarter of robust performance, building on its strong first half and cementing summer 2025 as a resounding success.
Here are some key takeaways:
Total hotel revenues grow 18% year [...]
The next travel influencer isn’t a person. It’s a conversation.
Sabre unveils new whitepaper on agentic AI and conversational commerce, calling it one of the most disruptive shifts in travel tech history.
Sabre has released a new whitepaper, Chat As the New Influencer: From Conversations to Clicks, forecasting a shift in how travel is discovered, personalized [...]
Agoda x Saudi Tourism Authority. Travelsoft buys Travolution. Satisfaction isn’t loyalty. More.
Agoda partners with ONYX Hospitality to launch curated flagship store
Agoda has expanded its Flagship Store initiative through a new partnership with ONYX Hospitality Group, a hotel management company in Southeast Asia. Announced at ITB Asia 2025 in Singapore, the collaboration provides ONYX with a [...]
Inside the mind of Trip’s Xing Xiong: A technologist reflects on the AI age
AI cannot replace passion: Make safe decisions with limited resources, collaborate to put travellers first, focus on problems, not tech.
In a rare public appearance, Trip.com Group’s Chief Operating Officer Xing Xiong stepped out of his “engine room” to speak at WiT’s 20th anniversary con [...]
From spreadsheet to sky: How Skyscanner took flight
Three coders, one spreadsheet, and a restless idea that refused to stay grounded.
When Barry Smith, Gareth Williams, and Bonamy Grimes decided to start a business together, they had no idea what shape it would take. All they knew was that they wanted to build something – and that whatever it wa [...]
Individuality takes center stage in 2026, among other new trends
The 10th edition of Booking.com’s Travel Predictions reveals that APAC travellers are embracing ultra-personalized journeys that reflect their quirks, goals, and passions in 2026.
Key takeaways:
86% of APAC travellers are open to booking a robotic-enhanced home, with nearly half (48%) say [...]
Letter from Vietnam – wait, strike that, Phuket: Travellers have more power than ever
Putting travellers’ interests first is in our best interests.
It’s a long story how our motley crew of five travellers, spanning three generations, ended up in Phuket instead of Vietnam. Let’s just say visas were involved.
But as I sit here in the lap of luxury at Trisara, one of the isla [...]
