For many of us, the beginning of a new year signals a fresh start and a time to consider how we can best prepare for what may lie ahead. While we can’t offer a crystal ball, we do appreciate the many predictions provided to us by travel leaders from across the industry and around the globe. And – no surprise – many of you do too as this roundup was by far our most-read story this week. Coming in second were the predictions from our research colleagues at Phocuswright – aka some super smart people with their fingers on the pulse of the industry!
Artificial intelligence was, of course, woven through many of those predictions. For additional insights on what AI and specifically generative AI could mean for travel in the year ahead, it is worth re-watching the Center Stage session from The Phocuswright Conference that included Travelport’s Tom Kershaw, MakeMyTrip’s Sanjah Mohan and Christian Spannbauer of Lufthansa Group’s Digital Hangar.
Also from the conference, we shared my conversation with three industry veterans – Flo Lugli, Kathy Misunas and Steve Kaufer. With years of experience across companies including Sabre, Reed Travel, Travelport, Wyndham and Tripadvisor, they offered valuable perspectives and advice.
In an op-ed, GetYourGuide’s U.S. head of brand, Madison Petrowski, translated what she learned as a marketing leader at companies such as Anheuser-Busch and Spotify to travel – with tips for brands on how to establish relationships with customers.
And this week we learned of two travel startups on the brink of collapse – Frontdesk is reported to have laid off all 200 of its employees on Tuesday and Cabana CEO Scott Kubly shared that his company ceased operations in November.
- Mitra Sorrells, editor-in-chief
Tags: Phocuswright
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