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Change is never easy. For in-destination operators around the world, the need to innovate has never been greater. For Dan Rogoski, president of The Ride in New York City, that meant transforming one of the oldest types of experiences around: the bus tour.

Dubai Tourism announced a plan to launch an online hub for operators and distributors, called the ‘Online Marketplace’. The service will begin in January 2019. According to their announcement, the marketplace will attempt to connect the city’s attractions and experiences within a technological framework as well as to a global network of resellers.

The business of getting customers in the door has always been a challenge for operators, even a company selling a product as beloved as chocolate. In this operator profile, a small German chocolate museum describes how, by changing their focus on customers, they grew by 400%.

GlobalTix, a Singapore-headquartered software startup for attractions ticketing and distribution, has raised US $9 million in series A funding from Tin Men Capital. The funding is the latest in a series of investments into startups providing distribution and ticketing technology specifically for attractions and events.

We have a plan for how life will go, but it rarely works out exactly how we thought. In this operator profile, Tom Medin of Local Tastes of the City Tours explains how embracing that can lead to success in life and business.

We hear it all the time: ‘supplier.’ It’s a long-standing travel industry vernacular for any owner of a travel product, be it an airline, a hotel, a tour bus or an attraction. It’s time we retire that term. Here’s why:

Making the hard choice and putting in the work is easier said than done. Every day we are faced with the prospect of cutting corners or taking the easy way out.

Sizing online sales of Tours, Activities & Attractions has always been tough. But with the pending IPO of Japan online seller VELTRA, we get a rare glimpse into the financials of a regional leader and the upward trend in online booking.

The sector of online booking for attractions and events is heating up. This week saw two companies that provide online booking and distribution raise significant investment.

TripAdvisor has begun testing a “Booking unavailable” message on the listing pages of tour companies that do not sign up to be bookable.