Travel tech predictions for 2026 / Airbnb's CBO on new business lines / AI: Travel friend or foe?

 

PhocusWire’s annual predictions piece featuring input from travel industry leaders is always widely anticipated.  The insights for 2026, our most popular read this week, were no exception with some executives commenting on issues including loyalty and agentic artificial intelligence (AI). Others focused on what might play out in specific industry segments including tours and activities, short-term rentals and airline distribution. Phocuswright research analysts provided their predictions for the year and while AI was mentioned multiple times, developments in other technologies including blockchain and biometrics were also on the radar for 2026. Another popular article this week featured an interview from the PhocusWire studio with Airbnb’s chief business officer Dave Stephenson. He discussed early success with services and Experiences as well as the platform’s planned loyalty program. Stephenson also touched on recent marketing intiatives for the company as well as its playbook around geographical growth. And we looked at whether the travel industry sees AI as friend or foe. A debate at WTM London surfaced pros and cons of AI as did wider industry views gauged for the article. The conclusion? We might not know where it’s all heading but it’s not the enemy. We also shared a session from The Phocuswright Conference on new travel sellers such as financial institutions and membership organizations. Executives from Hopper, Chase Travel and iSeatz discussed challenges with trust, generations with no brand loyalty and personalization. -Linda Fox, executive editor Tags: PhocusWire