Uber, Nuro and Lucid begin robotaxi road tests ahead of 2026 launch
Uber, Nuro and Lucid confirmed that on-road testing of their robotaxi engineering prototypes began last month, with commercial service targeted for the San Francisco Bay Area in late 2026. Announced at CES 2026, the programme is led by robotics firm Nuro, which is overseeing testing alongside autonomous vehicle operators, and features Lucid Gravity electric vehicles equipped with Nuro’s autonomy system. The companies also unveiled the rider experience, including real-time in-vehicle visualisation of the vehicle’s path and surroundings, LED identifiers and status updates. Uber, which partnered with Nuro and Lucid last summer, plans to deploy 20,000 or more vehicles and is making “multi-hundred-dollar investments” in the deal, with reports citing a $500 million investment in Nuro.
OYO owner Prism revives IPO push, targeting $7–8B valuation
Prism, the parent company of OYO Hotels, has filed for a confidential initial public offering in India, marking its third attempt to go public. A company spokesperson confirmed the filing, while a source told Reuters that Prism is seeking a valuation of between $7 billion and $8 billion. Backed by SoftBank, the company received shareholder approval for the move late last month. OYO first filed for an IPO with India’s Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in 2021, aiming to raise around $1.2 billion through a mix of new and existing shares, before withdrawing and refiling in 2023, then pulling the application again the following year.
Last month, Travelstack Tech Limited, operator of hotel-focused corporate travel management platform TravelPlus, filed a draft red herring prospectus with SEBI. In November, Asia-based experiences platform Klook took its first formal step towards an IPO by filing a Form F-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The eight-day “mini-vacation” boom
China’s 2026 New Year holiday saw a travel surge as consumers leveraged the three-day break into eight-day getaways, driving a 280% year-over-year spike in domestic hotel bookings. According to Fliggy’s latest data, spending power is on the rise, with individual expenditure up over 30%. While families prioritized high-end resorts and all-inclusive stays, Gen Z fueled a 60% growth in experiential travel, flocking to theme parks, city performances, and aurora viewing. This domestic boom was further supported by a 120% rise in car rentals, as travelers explored niche destinations like Jingdezhen and Fushun for unique cultural and winter experiences.
The rebound extended globally, with outbound travel hitting new heights through a tenfold increase in chartered tours. Short-haul flights to Southeast Asia and Hong Kong remain staples, but long-haul interest in the U.S. and Australia has returned to the top 10. Interestingly, adventurous travelers are seeking “off-the-beaten-path” international locales, with Argentina, Oman, and Uzbekistan emerging as the fastest-growing destinations. Whether through self-driving road trips or global discovery, the 2026 data signals a sophisticated, high-spending Chinese traveler eager for both flexibility and unique global experiences.
TikTok and Instagram Fuel the 2026 global “mega-event” travel surge
Arival’s The Event-Driven Traveler report reveals that 71% of young U.S. sports fans and 62% of performing arts enthusiasts now identify as “high-level” fans who prioritize these experiences over all other travel factors. With the 2026 World Cup, the Winter Olympics, and Ariana Grande’s global tour on the horizon, this “fandom-first” mindset is shifting the market. These travelers book earlier, spend significantly more on premium experiences, and increasingly rely on “buy-now-pay-later” options to secure their spot at the year’s biggest moments.
Discovery has also moved to the palm of the hand, with TikTok and Instagram serving as the go-to channels for younger fans to find and book their next adventure. Interestingly, while they plan the event itself months in advance, over half of these travelers wait until the week of the event to secure local tickets and activities, creating a massive opportunity for last-minute experience providers.
AirAsia MOVE’s three new partnerships amid 25% growth
Riding the momentum of its third consecutive “Asia’s Best Travel Booking App” win, AirAsia MOVE has bolstered its OTA dominance by signing strategic partnerships with Ethiopian Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Garuda Indonesia. These additions bring the platform’s direct airline partners to over 70, alongside 700 other carriers and 1 million+ hotels, creating a massive one-stop travel ecosystem. CEO Nadia Omer highlighted Vietnam as a major success story with 25% year-on-year growth, proving that travelers are increasingly choosing MOVE for its seamless multi-carrier options and end-to-end services like duty-free shopping and insurance.
