Can Airbnb avoid the OTA tech trap? / A new era of personalization / Switchfly's new owners

Today's news on travel technology, distribution and the digital economy Email not displaying correctly: [View it in your browser]( We are updating our PhocusWire eNewsletter sending technology including a change to the domain. To ensure you continue to receive your copy without interruption, please whitelist: @news.phocuswire.com Please [click here]( for additional instructions on how to whitelist our new domain. Top Stories from the past 24 hours January 29, 2019 Last week, we reported Airbnb has seen a substantial increase in the number of hotel rooms on its platform, one year since officially opening up to hotel distribution. But is Airbnb connected enough, or is it destined to fall into a similar tech trap as online travel agencies have in the past? Today our [lead story argues]( that for Airbnb to become a meaningful player in the hotel space, it needs to connect to as many technology partners as possible, get access to more inventory and serve existing partners better. Today we also hear from Expedia Group on how [personalization needs are speeding up]( for both travelers and suppliers, and have news on loyalty tech provider [Switchfly’s new owners]( and [Recharge’s move]( into pay-by-the-minute home bookings. - Jill Menze, news editor Today's Top Story Opinion I Distribution [Why Airbnb must avoid the tech trap OTAs fell into for years]( More Headlines [A new era of personalization - for both travelers and suppliers]( Opinion | Technology The travel industry is entering an age of both traveler and supplier personalization - leveraging high-tech to deliver high-touch experiences. [READ MORE]( [Switchfly in new hands as private equity firms take over loyalty tech provider]( News | Technology Golub Capital and L Capital take a controlling stake in the business, with a new CEO coming in as former boss steps down. [READ MORE]( [With new strategic investment, Recharge extends by-the-minute booking platform to vacant homes]( News | Distribution In addition to hotels, users of Recharge's pay-by-the-minute platform can now book homes, as well. [READ MORE]( [Inside cruise, part 4: The marketing mix]( News | Online Norwegian Cruise Line chief marketing officer Meg Lee shares her thoughts on social media, paid search, content curation and how emerging technologies can be used in cruise marketing. [READ MORE]( [MORE STORIES]( NEW WEBINAR ALERT! [Going beyond NDC: A Q&A with Sabre and partners]( - Hear perspectives from across the travel ecosystem. - Obtain tips on getting started with NDC in your organization. - Learn how to effectively partner with other stakeholders. - Learn how Sabre is partnering to make NDC a reality across the globe. SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, February 12. [REGISTER TODAY!]( Trending Stories [Intelity raises $44M to fuel global expansion of guest management platform]( News | Technology The investment in the back-of-house software suite from private equity firm LLR Partners follows Intelity's merger with Keypr in 2018. [READ MORE]( [Busting a billion-dollar digital myth for cruise lines]( From Our Partners | Technology Major cruise lines are undergoing unprecedented digital transformation, committing billions of dollars to the process. The same rules do not apply to every digital journey, so how can cruise lines win quickly? [READ MORE]( [Gaest acquired as Airbnb bolsters unit for meetings and company services]( News | Online Danish startup Gaest is a booking tool for interview rooms, teambuilding spaces, corporate events - an area that Airbnb has been concentrating on during 2018. [READ MORE]( [Every innovator pitch from The Phocuswright Conference 2018 - all in one place]( News | Startups Every pitch was recorded on video and almost every innovator later joined PhocusWire in our studio for a follow-up interview. [READ MORE]( [Airline distribution in 2030, part 2: Four scenarios for the future]( Opinion | Distribution Who wins - the tech giants, existing intermediaries, airlines, lawmakers or something else? Four possible patterns are analyzed here in part two. [READ MORE]( [Privacy]( | [Subscribe]( | [Unsubscribe]( Northstar Travel Group LLC. 116 West 32nd Street New York, New York 10001