The weekend wrap-up: Travel’s movers and shakers for 2023 / 3 ways GenAI is improving travel / Travel startup investment in ’23

 

We’ve wrapped up 2023 this week with some of our regular year-end features. Tuesday we published our list of “Movers, Shakers and Newsmakers” – the people from across the industry who’ve been in the headlines or otherwise caught our attention during 2023. Thursday we shared our selections of the hot topics that captured the attention of the industry this year. Senior reporter Linda Fox pulled together a detailed roundup of startup funding from the past 12 months – with a look at what to expect in the year ahead as well – and she revisited last year’s predictions to ask, “Did they get it right?” Also this week, we shared more of the valuable content from The Phocuswright Conference, including the session with leaders from Microsoft, Amadeus and Priceline on generative artificial intelligence, the popular “Bridge Series” with panelists from Despegar, Trip.com and the Saudi Tourism Authority and a look at the year ahead from top Wall Street analysts that cover travel. And in a week where much of the world is winding down to the holiday break, there was still news to be made. Airbnb has agreed to pay a fine levied by the Federal Court of Australia and the company is apologizing to customers there for charging them in U.S. dollars without their knowledge. And two notable acquisitions this week  for HomeToGo and TBO. Finally, happy holidays from all of us at PhocusWire to all who celebrate. Our newsletter will return January 2. -Mitra Sorrells, editor in chief

tags: Phocuswright Conference