Sean O'Neill

Travel startups collectively announced more than $100 million in funding at the turn-of-the-year and during the past week. Htrip, a Chinese hotel tech provider, led the pack.

Hipcamp says that demand for quality outdoor experiences has exceeded supply as a long-term trend, not just a pandemic bump. It also claims to create more supply by wooing landowners to create camping experiences. But skeptics will wonder if a valuation north of $300 million is justified for the company.

Airlines need to shift from forecasting models that rely primarily on historical data to ones that analyze real-time demand. That's how Amazon and other e-commerce companies handle pricing. No wonder travel tech players PROS, Amadeus, Sabre, and Flyr spy an opportunity.

A new study highlights Barcelona's recent growth as a hub for travel startups. A rich tourism history, a sun-dappled location, and a favorable cost-of-living. The pitch is certainly attractive.

This week, travel startups Sonder, ZeroAvia, and TravelNest announced more than $62 million collectively in investments, loans, and grants.

Wex Chair and CEO Melissa Smith has proven her mettle by being a shrewd negotiator, going up against the famously ferocious activist investor Elliott Management, part-owner of Travelport.

Lufthansa Group has led a years-long uprising by large airlines against the tech middlemen Sabre, Amadeus, and Travelport. This new pact validates a changed commercial, technological, and marketing strategy at Sabre under CEO Sean Menke in recent years.

Star Alliance says its move to Amazon Web Services has let it more quickly enhance many passengers' processes. That's promising news because a lot of digital innovation is still needed for booking and traveling on international itineraries served by more than one carrier.

Many border security agencies aren't ready to cope with a return to pre-pandemic levels of travel if they have to track additional pieces of information like traveler health. Blame the holdup on a debate about tactics and tech, not just budgetary shortfalls.

Two blank-check outfits that will try to buy something in travel later debuted on the stock market this week. No Airbnb-style IPO pops, however, because no one knows what the acquirers might score in the travel sector.