Google UCP and travel’s race for an agentic commerce standard

Google UCP and travel’s race for an agentic commerce standard

News / Distribution
By Morgan Hines / January 15, 2026
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
China opens antitrust probe into Trip.com
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
News / Distribution
Outlining distribution shifts and trends in tours and activities
By Abby Crotty January 14, 2026
Nick Whitfield of CityUnscripted and June Chin-Ramsey of Context Travel discuss ongoing changes in the up-and-coming sector.... Read More

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Presenting the Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2026
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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
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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
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Airbnb on the technology foundation behind selling more, loyalty and fees
Airbnb's chief business officer Dave Stephenson talks new lines of business, loyalty, changing fees... Read more
PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: Delta, Priceline, Amadeus and more...
PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: Delta, Priceline, Amadeus and more...
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Investment accountability: How travel brands are measuring AI ROI
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