Sounding Off: 2021 year in review

PhocusWire

Quotes from executives from every corner of the industry have inspired us weekly to share our views on what they mean and the impact on the market.

For this special edition, we've collected them all in one place.

At PhocusWire, not only have we chronicled the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to have on the travel industry, but we’ve also attempted to unpack What It All Means, by way of our weekly editorials.

Every Friday, we take an in-depth look at a particular trend or news story that has emerged during that particular week, giving it context and reading between the lines of what the protagonists really mean and what, more importantly, it says about the industry.

As a body of work, the collection gives readers a snapshot of what have been the main talking points during 2021 and our analysis of those events.

Below, see what we’ve written, from the beginning of the year to the end...

• GDS consolidation can only be considered after survival
• Venture capital providers are not demonstrating diversity with investments
• You don't have to always bet on business
• The real key to getting bookings? Inspiring traveler confidence
• Why startups should be careful with their roadmaps
• Travel is done preserving - it's time to move on
• Bitcoin needs to move on from its exclusive aura
• Why we must be proactive - not reactive - about collaboration
• No matter the state of travel, sustainability must be a priority
• Brave or foolhardy - a tip of the hat for trying
• Consolidation in rentals will be the story of 2021
• The truest test of a travel brand? Disruption
• Airbnb isn't a community - it's a business
• Travelers may have other goals than doing the right thing
• Remote working on a cruise will require more than curiosity
• A big deal for some is not a big deal for all
• Perception of "risk" is one of many factors to overcome
• The travel management landscape had to change
• Travel is an emotional experience - now more than ever
• The travel industry must not be a turn-off for those with ideas
• There's no masking mainstream ambitions in travel
• Who is leading the leaders in recovery?
• Not all tech fads have a place in travel
• Cruise can take some tentative steps into a digital world
• The complexities of autonomous vehicles won't go away just yet
• Sustainability efforts need to start – now
• Some customers will need reassurance as travel reopens
• Let’s not waste the lessons of COVID
• New innovations don't always spell the end of old ones
• Do the right thing on sustainability - from big moves to small
• Travel brands walk a tightrope over vaccines
• Travel brands must speak up - or others will assume the worst
• COVID helped pave the way for innovation in people
• Innovation is a tricky balancing act right now
• Never doubt travel's resilience, unless outside forces intervene
• Follow the smart money with investments
• Leaders must use this time to make a difference
• Tripadvisor Plus changes show the complexity of travel subscriptions
• Some are moving beyond lip service with autonomous services
• Everything Airbnb does becomes mainstream
• Criticizing airlines is easy, changing them will be harder
• Urban air mobility may not hit travel at a massive scale
• Small operators feel the squeeze (it's perfectly normal)
• Metaverse is nonsense to some but the future for many
• NDC still means different things to different people
• Pace of change in travel is not totally under its control
• IPOs might hamper the spirit of innovation
• The smart money goes on connecting the dots