Navigating the Evolving Booking Landscape

In this episode of the Best Part of Travel podcast, hosted by Janelle Visser and Stephen Joyce, we discuss the evolution of online booking systems, or "restech platforms" in the tours, activities and attractions sector of travel, and listen in on a conversation between Andrea Carini, CEO of FareHarbor, the largest restech in the travel experiences space, and Arival CEO Douglas Quinby, which took place at the recent Arival 360 conference in Valencia, Spain.

Topics of discussion include:

• Booking system pricing models, from monthly recurring fees to transaction-based fees.

• The growth of the online travel agency (OTA) market and how this impacts the pricing models and viability of restech platforms, in particular FareHarbor.

• FareHarbor's recent addition of a 2% fee for API/OTA bookings.

• The potential applications of AI in current booking systems, and potential for developing future booking system technology using AI.

• The future of the booking tech and how restech providers and tour and activity operators are adapting to the evolving landscape.

Some resources that we mention:

• Arival Guide: How to Choose a Booking System
• Arival Guide to Booking System Pricing
• Peek "CoPilot" Connects Operators with AI Tools

The Best Part of Travel podcast is brought to you by Arival. Season Two is sponsored by Protect Group.