In Phocus

PhocusWire
  • 5.0 (3)
  • BUSINESS

A regular dissection of the news, issues and trends in travel and technology, featuring interviews with industry executives and entrepreneurs and hosted by PhocusWire editors.

  1. 55M AGO

    CEO Spotlight: John Lyotier of TravelAI

    TravelAI is advancing its vision of the “web of one,” aiming to redefine how travelers experience the internet through deeply personalized interactions. In a conversation at The Phocuswright Conference, CEO John Lyotier described this concept as a shift toward individual-first digital environments, where each user engages with a version of the web tailored entirely to their preferences. He also pointed to a future evolution, the “web of none,” where content is no longer confined to traditional websites but becomes accessible across any interface or medium, powered by the same underlying data. To enable this transformation, TravelAI is focused on building foundational infrastructure, including a shared vector protocol that supports a “vertical memory” specific to travel. This system would allow rich, personalized data to be created, stored and shared while maintaining user privacy. Lyotier emphasized that the industry is still in the early stages of this development. Alongside its technical ambitions, TravelAI is executing a buy-and-build strategy, highlighted by recent acquisitions such as Owner Direct Vacation Rentals and Smarttours.com, as well as the launch of Casai.com. The discussion also touched on distribution strategy and the company’s outlook for 2025, underscoring both the scale of the opportunity and the complexity of delivering true personalization. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    14 min

  2. APR 1

    CEO Spotlight: Nishank Gopalkrishnan of Dreamlines

    Nishank Gopalkrishnan, six months into his role as CEO of Dreamlines, is focused on understanding both the cruise industry and how the company can stand out in a relatively under-digitized segment of travel. Drawing on experience across startups and major players like TUI and MakeMyTrip, he sees cruises as a fragmented market with significant room for innovation. Despite representing only a small share of global tourism, the cruise sector presents a major opportunity to modernize booking and packaging, which he and his team are actively working to reimagine. A key pillar of this transformation is artificial intelligence, which Dreamlines is embedding into its rebuilt technology stack to drive more efficient and dynamic cruise packaging across both consumer and business channels. Gopalkrishnan also points to AI’s potential to enhance personalization, particularly within loyalty programs, while acknowledging broader industry challenges and his own early hurdles as CEO. Overall, his vision centers on leveraging technology to unlock a more seamless, personalized and scalable cruise experience. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    25 min

  3. MAR 25

    Travel platforms face cost and compliance impact of changing regulations

    Travel companies are entering a far more regulated era as governments in Europe and the U.K. expand consumer protections to reflect how travel is now bought and sold. Historically, regulations like the Package Travel Directive focused on bundled trips, but new rules extend coverage to services purchased within a 24-hour window, even if booked separately across a single platform. According to Rhys Griffiths of Fox Williams, this marks a significant shift, potentially requiring more companies to obtain licenses and implement insolvency protections. As a result, businesses that once operated outside strict regulatory frameworks may now face tighter operational constraints and oversight. At the same time, broader regulatory pressures are intensifying. The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive will require travel companies to disclose environmental, social and governance risks, including how climate change could impact demand patterns and business performance. Additional measures like the Digital Services Act are also increasing scrutiny, particularly around online content such as illegal listings. With penalties increasingly tied to company turnover, the financial stakes are high. Taken together, these changes are dramatically widening the regulatory net, catching many travel companies off guard as they struggle to keep pace with evolving compliance requirements. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    19 min

  4. MAR 18

    Ancillaries, AI and agentic: Where is airline distribution heading with Mystifly and PKFARE

    The airline distribution landscape is entering a new phase as New Distribution Capability (NDC) adoption accelerates and the industry moves toward modern offer and order models. In this episode, Jeremy Jameson, VP of the Americas at Mystifly, and Jesus Monzo Faubel, senior director of flights (west) at PKFARE, discuss how improved servicing and post-ticketing functionality are beginning to drive real operational efficiencies. While adoption still varies across airlines and agencies, both note that the foundation is now in place, with airlines in Europe and the U.S. leading the way through stronger content strategies and distribution approaches, while travel sellers continue to navigate technology and post-booking challenges. The conversation also explores what comes next, including the growing role of intermediaries in bridging gaps across the ecosystem and making NDC content more accessible. Looking ahead, Jameson and Faubel highlight the importance of data and customer-centric retailing, emphasizing the need for robust data architecture to better understand traveler behavior. Combined with advances in AI, these capabilities are set to power more dynamic, personalized and responsive travel experiences as airline distribution continues to evolve. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    16 min

  5. MAR 10

    Travel in the cloud with Tedd Evers of AWS

    Migrating to the cloud is transforming how travel companies operate, innovate and serve travelers. In this episode, Tedd Evers, Global Partner Leader of Travel and Hospitality at Amazon Web Services (AWS), explains why cloud adoption is about more than cost savings. While moving away from traditional data centers can reduce expenses and increase operational efficiency, the real advantage lies in the ability to experiment, scale and innovate quickly. Evers discusses how tools like Amazon Bedrock allow companies to test and deploy different AI models depending on the use case, helping organizations determine when generative AI makes sense and when traditional machine learning may be the better option. This flexibility enables travel companies to build smarter applications while controlling costs. The conversation also explores how cloud technology is democratizing innovation across the travel ecosystem. From global airlines to early-stage startups, organizations can access the same powerful infrastructure and tools to develop new solutions. Evers shares insights on emerging AI use cases, the role of cloud in shaping future travel technology and how companies can use these capabilities to enhance traveler experiences. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    15 min

  6. MAR 4

    CEO Spotlight: Teresa Mackintosh of Aven Hospitality

    Aven Hospitality may be a new name, but CEO Teresa Mackintosh is already deep into the company’s next chapter. Following its 2025 acquisition by TPG and separation from former owner Sabre, Mackintosh has spent the past six months preparing Aven to stand on its own. In this episode, she shares how the company is shifting from long-term strategic planning to rapid, three- to six-month execution cycles to keep pace with technological change. Drawing on her background in accounting, SaaS and private equity, Mackintosh explains her “three-legged stool” approach to leadership, balancing the needs of hoteliers, employees and investors. She discusses Aven’s immediate investment priorities, including modernizing its platform for AI, strengthening its booking engine, and expanding payments and retailing capabilities to become the commerce hub for hotel partners. Mackintosh also addresses the fragmentation of the hospitality tech ecosystem, the risks and opportunities of agentic AI, the future of SaaS, and who stands to win or lose in the evolving battle between direct and intermediary distribution. Tune in for a candid conversation with PhocusWire’s Linda Fox on strategy, AI and the future of hotel technology. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    19 min

  7. FEB 25

    A new age of travel selling: AI, personalization and human touch with Fora and Unravel

    Travel selling is evolving fast and new players are redefining how trips are discovered and booked. This episode features Jake Peters, co-founder and chief product and technology officer at Fora, and Maarten van Pijpen, chief growth officer at Unravel, in conversation with PhocusWire senior reporter Morgan Hines. The discussion explores how AI, social media and changing consumer behavior are reshaping distribution. Fora represents a modern travel agency model, using technology and AI to empower a new generation of travel advisors. But while tech enhances efficiency and personalization, Peters emphasizes that humans remain essential. AI assists advisors, it does not replace them. Like a fitness app versus a personal coach, technology can guide, but human expertise and accountability elevate the experience. Unravel takes a different approach. Often described as “TikTok meets Expedia,” the company delivers travel inspiration through a shoppable video feed, connecting discovery directly to booking. With younger travelers consuming hours of video daily and turning to platforms like TikTok for vacation ideas, Unravel aims to seamlessly link inspiration with transaction in a self-service environment. Together, the executives share how AI supports their business models, how social platforms are becoming key distribution channels and what they’re building toward in 2026. The takeaway: the future of travel selling is not just about AI. It’s about how companies blend technology, personalization and the right level of human touch. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    18 min

  8. FEB 18

    Data and AI evolution in corporate travel

    Gen AI is gaining real traction in corporate travel and this time, it’s more than experimentation. In this episode of In Phocus, Marilyn Markham, VP of AI and automation strategy at American Express Global Business Travel, and Mat Orrego, CEO and co-founder of Cornerstone Information Systems, explore how AI is reshaping the sector. While early chatbots left many travelers frustrated and eager to “scream for a human,” today’s AI-powered assistants are changing expectations. The conversation examines whether corporate travel can combine modern generative AI with deep travel expertise to finally deliver the intelligent, intuitive chat experiences the industry once envisioned. The discussion also dives into AI’s evolving role in the ecosystem, growing user comfort with AI agents, the shift from experimentation to real-world application, and the critical importance of data in powering what comes next. As AI steps out from the wings and into daily operations, corporate travel may be entering a new era of intelligent assistance. All episodes: https://www.phocuswire.com/in-phocus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    19 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

A regular dissection of the news, issues and trends in travel and technology, featuring interviews with industry executives and entrepreneurs and hosted by PhocusWire editors.

Information

  • Creator
    PhocusWire
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    86
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 PhocusWire
  • Show Website
    In Phocus

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