Steven Lerner
PhocusWire
Rockaway, NJ, United States
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Past articles by Steven:
Hotelmize raises Series B funding from Alibaba, establishes APAC headquarters in Hong Kong
Hotelmize is aiming to gain a foothold in Asia Pacific and to expand operations in the region following a new capital raise. → Read More
Health startup Air Doctor gets $7.8M to make medical care accessible for travelers
With health becoming a major concern in the travel industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a marketplace that connects travelers with local doctors has landed its largest capital raise to date. → Read More
Despite difficult times, ride-share company Via lands $200M investment
Real-time ride-sharing company Via is now valued at a $2.25 billion thanks to a new $200 million Series E investment. → Read More
Business travel platform Huilianyi raises $42M, aims for global expansion
Shanghai-based business travel platform Huilianyi has landed RMB 300 million (about $42 million) in funding. → Read More
Should travel startups go into “hibernation mode” during the coronavirus?
Venture capitalists weigh in on how travel startups could survive the economic fallout from COVID-19. → Read More
Could addiction to debt come back to haunt some online travel companies?
If revenue drops due to COVID-19, past debt will make it more challenging for online travel companies to survive economic obstacles. → Read More
Electric air taxi company Lilium raises $240M toward developing regional service
The German company is developing an emissions-free, vertical takeoff air taxi that it plans to operate with a regional mobility service as early as 2025. → Read More
Calm before the coronavirus storm
We've updated PhocusWire's visual history of online travel company revenues to include the most recent quarter. → Read More
Hospitality startup Pruvo closes $1.1M seed round amid coronavirus outbreak
In the face of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, an artificial intelligence-driven hospitality startup has secured a $1.1 million seed round. → Read More
What happens to travel startup funding during an economic downturn?
During an economic downturn, startups should go back to basics and focus on positive unit economics. → Read More
Travelers satisfied with airlines during coronavirus, frustrated with insurance providers
As travelers are forced to rethink trips due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, airlines are being praised while trip insurance remains a source of frustration. → Read More
Liberty Tripadvisor secures $325M investment, plans to repay existing margin loan
Liberty Tripadvisor has landed a $325 million investment from Certares Management, which is expected to close within 10 business days. → Read More
Online travel stocks have fallen 38% in 2020 (mainly due to the coronavirus)
Most of the value has been decimated due to the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, with bookings declining and analysts anticipating a long-term impact. → Read More
Travelzoo closes failing Asia Pacific business after it loses $7.5 million in 2019
After years of losing money in Asia Pacific, Travelzoo announced it will exit its business in the region this week. → Read More
Laid-off Expedia Group workers have a message for the current regime
A pair of recently downsized Expedia Group employees are shedding some light recent company layoffs and the events that led up to them. → Read More
Cloudbeds brings in $82M to “triple down” on hospitality tech
Cloudbeds plans to further invest in its hospitality management technology platform after landing an additional $82 million in funding. → Read More
STARTUP STAGE: Freddy is changing city tours with augmented reality
Freddy is an interactive augmented reality travel map, city guide and game designed for parents and children. → Read More
STARTUP STAGE: GetLost wants to make cheap on-demand travel a reality
GetLost connects last-minute travelers with exclusively negotiated cheap deals on empty airline seats. → Read More
Expedia Group, Booking Holdings spent more than $11B on marketing (mostly to Google) in 2019
One company grew its marketing spend in 2019 and the other company essentially remained flat. → Read More
Digital identity solution Airside gets strategic investment from Amadeus Ventures
For its first investment of 2020, Amadeus Ventures is backing mobile identity solution Airside for an undisclosed amount. → Read More