Travel startup funding has been in the doldrums for the past few years, with the situation exacerbated by rapid artificial intelligence (AI) developments.
Our most popular story this week was an article tracking the companies, such as WeRoad, that did manage to secure funding in the second quarter of 2026. Merger & acquisition activity in Q2 is also discussed, including insights from Cambon Partners co-founder Morgann Lesné, who said “the rule is no rule” in 2026.
We also touched base with executives from Staypineapple and Preferred Travel Group in a piece on how hotels are adapting as AI shakes up the search landscape. They shared steps they are taking to maximize visibility as well as insights on what to avoid.
Sticking with the AI in hospitality topic, a session at Phocuswright Europe 2026 stressed the importance of laying the right foundations before implementing AI. Speakers from Cendyn, HomeToGo and Penta Hotels said the industry is not ready and should put focus beyond visibility to operations.
And we shone a spotlight on Filip Filipov, CEO of aviation data specialist OAG. Filipov has lead the organization for more than six months now and shared what has surprised him in that time. He also also discussed concerns about the unequal distribution of AI across different geographies and organizations.
Discussions at Phocuswright Europe 2026 were wide-ranging, from AI to APIs, so we asked some trusted individuals to sum up the event for us. Trust in AI was one of the most discussed topics at the conference, but executives also questioned how far the technology is delivering a new search and booking interface.
Travel industry leaders debated the impact of AI so far, where startups stand and the challenges we're not discussing enough during a session at Phocuswright Europe 2026.
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