Should the STR industry prioritize ancillaries? / United sues Kiwi.com / Webjet Group acquires Locomote

 

Today's news on travel tech and distribution. View in browser August 22, 2025 HOW MUCH OPPORTUNITY IS THERE FOR STR ANCILLARIES? EXPERTS WEIGH IN Executives from Safely and Interhome highlighted the lucrative potential of ancillaries for STRs during a studio interview at Phocuswright Europe. READ MORE Latest News Webjet accelerates business travel ambitions with acquisition of Locomote A majority stake in Locomote was acquired by Travelport in 2015 before the company was sold back to founders in 2020. United sues Kiwi.com for trademark infringement This isn't the first time Kiwi.com has faced legal action from an airline. PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: Agoda, Sabre, Travelport and more... Keep up with all the latest people, partner and product news from around the global travel industry. Addressing rising customer acquisition costs in travel According to a survey of approximately 270 respondents across the travel industry, customer acquisition costs were up approximately 35% from 2022 to 2025, while customer lifetime value was up just 4.5%.   Keys to converting travel insights to impact Zartico chief operating officer Nicole Brownell and co-founder and chief innovation officer Jay Kinghorn explore how destinations and resorts can use data science to close the loop between marketing investment and real-world revenue. Decoding online shopping: Travel and hospitality consumer trends for 2025 Find out where consumers get inspiration for new travel plans, what leads them to abandon their cart or booking, what types of AI tools can make the online experience easier and more.   Trending Stories Travel has faced a turbulent H1 but leaders remain optimistic NusaTrip closes IPO, nets $15 million Generative AI platform personalization: At what cost? Get real: The power of combining AI with authentic intelligence Event Calendar SEP 17 WED The New Age(nts) Trend Series part 5: Convergence of gen AI with digital identity The fifth session of our series on AI and autonomous agents looks at the role of digital identity in tandem with gen AI. NOV 18 TUES The Phocuswright Conference 2025 Join the biggest innovators and most influential leaders and decision makers from the global travel industry in San Diego at The Phocuswright Conference. Recent travel tech upgrades and enhancements Airbnb launches 'Reserve Now, Pay Later' option Tripadvisor launches 'Tripadvisor Rewards' in-app loyalty program MakeMyTrip upgrades Myra AI assistant Lyft teams up with Baidu to launch robotaxis in Europe Faye extends insurance to more verticals, builds out platform MakeMyTrip launches experiences booking platform, reports revenue and gross bookings increases Sabre launches travel marketplace to address content fragmentation Privacy | Subscribe | Unsubscribe Northstar Travel Group LLC. 301 Route 17 N., Suite 1150 Rutherford, NJ 07070 USA