The Best Part of Travel | Inside the Business of Destination Experiences What's Next in Booking Tech with FareHarbor CEO Andrea Carini
Jun 17, 2025
In this conversation, Andrea Carini, CEO of FareHarbor, shares insights on the evolution of online booking systems and the impact of AI on the travel experiences market. He discusses the shift from traditional pricing models to innovative success-based fees, especially with the introduction of a new API fee. Douglas Quinby, CEO of Arival, adds to the dialogue by exploring the rapidly evolving booking landscape, the rise of mobile bookings, and the need for tailored tech solutions. Get ready for a fascinating look into the future of booking technology!
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FareHarbor's Pricing Revolution
- FareHarbor changed industry pricing from monthly fees to transaction-based to align its success with operators' success.
- This model benefits operators by only profiting when they make money, supporting diverse business models.
Transaction Fees Outperform Subscriptions
- Booking systems face scalability challenges since tour operators number far less than users of giant platforms.
- Transaction fees prevail over subscriptions because they align revenue with operator bookings better at smaller scales.
Design Trumps Feature Count
- Building booking features is easy but designing them to add real operator and consumer value is challenging.
- FareHarbor focuses on art and science to keep consumers in the booking funnel and boost basket value.