Mr. Offutt brings over 20 years of experience in information technology, IT management and travel industry dynamics to Phocuswright. He was most recently the chief architect and senior vice president for Sabre Holdings where he defined the strategy and plan to migrate from a monolithic Mainframe environment to distributed open systems and a service oriented architecture. Prior to being Sabre's chief architect, Bob founded and led Sabre Labs, a technology incubator that made Sabre the industry leader in new online products and services. Before Sabre, he spent 26 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he led the agency's information technology unit. Bob has also served on the faculty of the University of Puget Sound, George Washington University and the University of Southern California. His education includes a B.S. in engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and a master's degree in management science from the U.S. Navy Postgraduate School.
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Bob Offutt's Areas of Research
Bob Offutt is a travel technology visionary. His vast experience and hands on leadership in travel distribution make place him firmly at the forefront of innovation in travel. In his role as editorial director of Phocuswright's Innovation Edition and a leader of The Travel Innovation Summit, Bob Offutt knows how to identify the trends, technologies and platforms that will define the future of travel.
GDS Technology and the Future of Travel Distribution
Category: Technology Innovation Published: October 2016 Analysts: Bob OffuttDespite rumors of their imminent demise, global distribution systems (GDSs) are still alive and well. The technology that supports the business services they provide will have a profound and lasting...
The Necessity of Permissionless Innovation
Category: Technology Innovation Published: August 2016 Analysts: Bob OffuttBusinesses today frequently define themselves as being “progressive” or “innovative.” This focus on innovation has given rise to the catchphrase “permissionless innovation,” which refers to the “freedom...
Travel Search 2.0: Is There Light at the End of the Tunnel?
Category: Technology Innovation Published: June 2016 Analysts: Bob OffuttThe average leisure traveler visits 4-5 websites when planning a leisure trip, and many remain frustrated when shopping for and booking travel online. Surprisingly, despite the scope of this problem...
Travel Innovation and Technology Trends 2016
Category: Technology Innovation Published: May 2016 Analysts: Bob Offutt US $500Each year, Phocuswright publishes its picks of the top business and technology trends that will affect the future of travel distribution. Once a technology leader, the travel industry has had difficulty...
APIs: A Strategic Imperative
Category: Technology Innovation Published: April 2016 Analysts: Bob OffuttOnce considered the exclusive domain of the IT department, developing an effective API strategy is now an imperative for many businesses. Today, open APIs enable companies to improve their products,...