Is Travel Booking via Crypto Feasible?

Sarah
Sarah Dandashy
Jun 24, 2021
Learn more
blockchain Juan Otero Sarah Dandashy Say Yes To Travel technology Travala Travel Booking Platforms Travel Industry

Driven by consumer desires for new experiences, innovative technologies and environmental impacts – travel is changing. Host Sarah Dandashy explores the technologies and logistics that power travel and the brands that build unforgettable experiences.

 

On this episode of Say Yes To Travel, Host Sarah Dandashy talked with Juan Otero, Co-Founder, and CEO of Travala, a leading blockchain-based travel booking platform offering +2,000,000 properties in 230 countries with prices up to 40 percent cheaper than mainstream booking sites. Dandashy and Otero dug into Otero’s career, Travala and blockchain, and what changes are brewing in the travel industry post-COVID.

“We were the first movers in applying blockchain to a traditional online travel agency.” -Juan Otero

Otero’s career combines a solid combination of tech and travel. He even spent some time working at Booking.com. He served as the CEO and Founder of Restaurantes.com, Europe’s leading online restaurant reservation service, named by Wired Magazine one of Europe’s fastest-growing digital companies in 2012. In 2015, he got his start in blockchain and really became interested in how it could impact the travel industry.

“That’s how we came up with the idea for funding Travala in 2017,” Otero said. “We were the first movers in applying blockchain to a traditional online travel agency.”

While Otero didn’t necessarily see a pain point when he started Travala, he understood the power of blockchain. Blockchain allows the travel industry to decentralize a lot of the processes that are in place. These processes include better pricing, more flexibility, and more payment options. Otero said this goes for other industries, as well.

“Obviously, my experience in the travel industry allowed me to see pretty clearly there was an opportunity there, not just to decentralize a lot of the processes or relationships between travel suppliers and travelers, but to bring a more fair and transparent relationship to the different participants,” Otero said. “… and to enhance the whole booking experience with blockchain technology.”

Say Yes To Travel has a New Episode Every Thursday!

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

AMAG
Driven by Customers, Defined by Innovation: Inside AMAG’s Customer-Obsessed Approach
April 2, 2025

AMAG Technology continues to strengthen its customer-obsessed culture by actively listening to both internal and external voices. As shared by Kyle Gordon, Executive Vice President of Global Sales, Marketing, & Commercial Excellence, the company is focused on improving processes, responding with speed, and driving innovation—while honoring its legacy and delivering unique value within the industry.

Read More
biotech
Biotech Moves Smarter: IDDI Powers Data-Driven Drug Innovation
April 2, 2025

As biotech innovation accelerates, small and mid-size pharmaceutical companies are becoming key players in bringing new treatments to market. Yet many of these organizations face steep challenges when navigating clinical trial design, regulatory approval, and data integrity. According to a McKinsey Global Institute report, industries like biotech could help generate up to $50 trillion…

Read More
AMAG Technology
AMAG Technology Drives Positive Change, Product Innovation, and Stronger Partnerships with the Customer in Mind
April 2, 2025

At AMAG Technology, customer obsession is at the heart of everything the company does. Customer Relationship Manager Aimee Walsh shares how AMAG embraces positive change, enhances its products, and strengthens partnerships—all with the customer in mind. Her insights reflect AMAG’s ongoing commitment to evolving alongside customer needs and delivering meaningful solutions.

Read More
Microschool
Building a Thriving Microschool Community in Los Angeles
April 2, 2025

As traditional schooling models continue to face scrutiny, a growing number of parents and educators are opting out of conventional systems in favor of more personalized learning experiences. Microschools—small, flexible, learner-centered environments—are gaining traction nationwide, even in states like California where public funding avenues like Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) are limited. The growing movement…

Read More
Related
payment processing
Software & Technology
Maestro PMS All-In-One Solution Provider Unveils 2025 Tech Roadmap Featuring API Interface Expansion, Embedded Payment Processing Enhancements and More
February 12, 2025
Independent Hotels
Healthcare
How Independent Hotels are Relying on PMS Technology to Recoup ROI in 2025
January 28, 2025

Independent hoteliers are turning to all-in-one tools to increase consistency on property, reducing friction and improving ROI through new efficiencies.   By Warren Dehan  Today’s independent hoteliers often feel trapped between the rising costs of operating their properties and guests’ sky-high expectations for each stay. But with the right tech stack, your hotel could be operating…

Read More
Gift Cards
Healthcare
Gift Cards and Alternative Payments: Their Place in the Hotel Operations Ecosystem
January 14, 2025

The most significant barrier preventing hotels from efficiently implementing successful gift card operations is due to restrictions within their technology stack  By Warren Dehan  What good is a gift card if it’s a chore to purchase or use? Keeping this top of mind should be key to hoteliers when considering program options, and it’s particularly…

Read More