Travel investment, acquisitions and public market plays in 2025

Travel investment, acquisitions and public market plays in 2025

News / Startups
By Linda Fox / January 16, 2026
PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: IHG, Journey, Paxport, Wizz Air, Faye
News / Technology
PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: IHG, Journey, Paxport, Wizz Air, Faye
By PhocusWire January 16, 2026
Keep up with all the latest people, partner and product news from around the global travel industry. Read More
Kombo acquires KelBillet to accelerate consolidation in ground transportation
News / Online
Kombo acquires KelBillet to accelerate consolidation in ground transportation
By Abby Crotty January 15, 2026
KelBillet will maintain its brand name in the short term, with the company noting that the merger will help it scale and expand services. Read More
News / Distribution
China opens antitrust probe into Trip.com
By Abby Crotty January 15, 2026
The company's Hong Kong-listed shares tumbled nearly 20% the day after the probe was announced.... Read More
News / Distribution
Sabre takes stake in BizTrip AI, plans AI corporate travel assistants
By Linda Fox January 14, 2026
The partnership pairs Sabre’s agentic APIs and MCP with BizTrip AI’s travel LLM model and agentic AI capabilities.... Read More
News / Online
Airbnb names former Meta exec Ahmad Al-Dahle CTO
By Abby Crotty January 14, 2026
CEO and co-founder Brian Chesky said Al-Dahle shares Airbnb's vision for AI use.... Read More
News / Online
Kasa takes over Mint House properties to expand accommodation platform
By Linda Fox January 14, 2026
Commercial terms have not been disclosed, but in addition to expanding Kasa’s portfolio, the deal creates scale and cost efficiencies for the company.... Read More

In Phocus Podcast

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Presenting the Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2026
News / Startups
News / Distribution
Google UCP and travel’s race for an agentic commerce standard
The protocol will allow agents and systems to operate in tandem over businesses, payment providers and... Read more
News / Technology
Investment accountability: How travel brands are measuring AI ROI
Travel companies are actively investing in AI hoping to boost business—but how are they measuring the... Read more
Interview / Online
CEO Spotlight: John Lyotier of TravelAI
TravelAI co-founder and CEO John Lyotier discusses the company's mission to achieve a 'web of one' and... Read more
News / Online
Before, during, after: The acquisition diary of a travel tech CEO
RightRez CEO Maria von Foerster shares her experience throughout the acquisition process. Read more
News / Distribution
Sizing up players and strategies in the ‘new travel seller arena’
Executives from iSeatz, Hopper and Chase Travel outline the expanding ecosystem that is the travel... Read more
News / Technology
The great debate: Is AI the enemy of travel?
Industry leaders debated whether AI is more advantageous or threatening for travel at WTM London. Read more
PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: IHG, Journey, Paxport, Wizz Air, Faye
PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: IHG, Journey, Paxport, Wizz Air, Faye
News / Technology

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Kasa takes over Mint House properties to expand accommodation platform
Outlining distribution shifts and trends in tours and activities
Investment accountability: How travel brands are measuring AI ROI
Weather-guarantee startup lands $12.8 million to fuel growth
Flix sees opportunity in airport transfers, acquires Flibco
Yipy attracts $1M to scale hotel standards management system
Startup Stage: Tourseta looks to reduce back-office friction for tours and activities operators
Travel industry enters 2026 with steady momentum: Data insights
CEO Spotlight: John Lyotier of TravelAI
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 December 18, 2025
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