Travel customer acquisition cost up 35% / Travel finds opportunity in turbulence / NusaTrip closes IPO

 

Today's news on travel tech and distribution. View in browser August 21, 2025 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%.   READ MORE Latest News Travel has faced a turbulent H1 but leaders remain optimistic While demand was down in certain regions of the world, travel companies are often quick to pivot to other destinations and product to compensate.  NusaTrip closes IPO, nets $15 million The OTA plans to use the capital to expand into new markets and explore mergers and acquisitions. Generative AI platform personalization: At what cost? Travel companies have been striving to obtain specific, personalized data for many years. Are the AI platforms about to gain a competitive edge as they learn more about the users? Get real: The power of combining AI with authentic intelligence Chris Hemmeter from Thayer Investment Partners outlines his thoughts on the importance of balancing AI with the core tenets of authentic hospitality.   Trending Stories Way drives experiences for Alaska Air Group loyalty program Kasa raises $40M to invest in technology, AI Travel Tech Flashback: What made headlines in 2018? Decoding online shopping: Travel and hospitality consumer trends for 2025 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