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Hotel Spotlight: W Hotel Barcelona

2012-02-05 by Phil Butler

The Wet at W

Situated amid what once was fishing headquarters Barcelona, the W Hotel has been the subject of many a review. Regardless of the place’s regal or radical reputation, the locale and architecture of the hotel make it world class. For the best “out-of-the-way” beach side experience in town, W Barcelona is a bit of a wonder.

Tags: Barcelona beaches, Barcelona hotels, Barcelona travel, Barceloneta Beach, Bliss spa, Carles Abellán, famous hotels, hotel architecture, L'Aquarium, Olympic Port, Palau de la Música Catalana, Parc de la Ciutadella, W Hotel, WET Deck, World hotels, Zoo-Barcelona

Who’s the Big Bad Wolf of Hotel Marketing?

2012-01-26 by Phil Butler

The big bad wolf of online travel

Just out, the Distribution Channel Analysis study via the American Hotel Lodging Association (AH&LA) and STR, has been released. The detailed study, supposedly aimed at helping “all” hoteliers better understand hotel room distribution, discusses distribution channel mix, among other salient hotel profitability instances. But, is the study really meant for all hoteliers, or just the fat cats?

Tags: advertising, American Hotel Lodging Association, Expedia commissions, franchise fees, Google, Google ads, Google evil, Google hotel finder, Google market, Google Travel, Hilton, hotel, hotel brands, hotel distribution, hotel franchises, Hyatt, IHG, Larry Page, Madigan Pratt & Associates, marketing, marketing channels, Marriott, Mr & Mrs Smith, online travel, OTA's, pay per click, ppc, propoganda, Roomkey, search marketing pay per click, Sergey Brin, STR, Tamara Heber-Percy, TripAdvisor, update, Wyndam

Great Travel Websites of 2012 – Global Hotel Alliance

2012-01-19 by Phil Butler

Drill down on GHA site

A big part of our job as a travel news source is visiting and evaluating all the tourism & hospitality stuff there is out there on the web. For you readers, as travel enthusiasts or genuine globetrotters, the evaluation process is really the same. In effect, we just “short cut” or enhance the process for you. With this in mind, Argo Travel presents the best digital expriences in travel. This weeks showcased site is the Global Hotel Alliance portal.

Tags: Conde Nast, Europe hoteliers, GHA hotels, Global Hotel Alliance, Hilton Worldwide, hotel bookings, hotel brands, hotel sites, hotel websites, Kempinski, Pan Pacific, top hotels, top sites, top websites, website design, World hotels

Accor Hotels Rises and Falls with Europe for 2012

2012-01-19 by Phil Butler

Sofitel Vienna Stephansdom

Accor Hotels, the largest hotel player in Europe, has announced guarded optimism for business going forward into 2012. According to their assessment, demand for rooms in Europe looks stable, while concerns over debt burdened South Europe put a damper on expectations.

Tags: Choice Hotels International, East Europe hotels, Europe economy, Europe hotels, France hotels, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels, InterContinental, Luxury Hotels, Marriott, Motel 6, Pullman Paris Rive Gauche, Roomkey, Sofitel, Southern Europe hotels, Starwood, US hotels, Wyndham Hotel Group

Big Hotels Launch Their Own OTA – Roomkey

2012-01-12 by Phil Butler

Francis Marion Hotel

In travel technology news from yesterday Tnooz carried the announcement that six of the world’s largest hotel proprietors had launched a booking commune Roomkey. Choice Hotels International, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels, InterContinental Hotels, Marriott International and Wyndham Hotel Group set sail on a joint venture which is piloted by Pegasus founder John Davis. Argophilia Travel News decided to take the new flagship for a ride.

Tags: Charleston hotel, Charleston tourism, Charleston travel, Choice Hotels International, Francis Marion Hotel, Google hotel finder, Hilton Worldwide, hotel rates, Hyatt Hotels, InterContinental Hotels, John Davis, Marriott International, Mills House, Roomkey, Travelocity, Two Meeting Street Inn, White Point Gardens

Almost Unsung Travel Wonders: Adventure North Wales

2012-01-11 by Phil Butler

Kite surfing in the Atlantic

Let’s face it, no matter how much or often you surf the web searching for the best of the best, there’s always something really nice that escapes your attention. Researching the travel niche this morning we ran across a fascinating adventure tour business Adventure North Wales, via Twitter no less. Read on and learn a bit about Wales, and one company adventurous enough to cater to a lesser known niche.

Tags: Adventure Tourism, Kayaking, North Wales, North Wales travel, rock climbing, sea kayaking, The Quay, The Quay Hotel & Spa, UK adventure, UK hotels, UK kayaking, UK mountains, UK tourism, UK travel, Wales

Air Berlin: Trimmed Down & Refined for 2012

2012-01-11 by Phil Butler

Air Berlin

2012 will no doubt be a challenging one for the airline industry. AMR going bust, and even budget carriers feeling the pinch in 2011, many will likely founder in the coming months. One carrier, Germany’s second biggest carrier Air Berlin, looks to be applying lessons hard learned early on in the year.

Tags: Air Berlin flights, Air Berlin press, airlines, American Airlines, German airlines, German companies, germany, Kim Lundgren, Lufthansa, NASDAQ, Paul Gregorowitsch, RTTNews.com

Polarization in Online Travel & Bills of Rights

2012-01-06 by Phil Butler

Just when you thought no more confusion or intermediaries could be imposed on your travel, news from the US Senate focuses on the so called Traveler’s Bill of Rights. But, hold it right there! Is legislation always a negative where truth and correctness are concerned?

Tags: American Hotel and Lodging Association, health, health & safety, Interactive Travel Services Association, legislation, legislators, overseas travel, Passenger Rights, safety, travel, Travel Blackboard, traveler's rights

HotelMaps: Clean, Clear Alternative for Hotel Finding

2012-01-05 by Phil Butler

HotelMaps landing.

Sparkly clean accomodation finder HotelMaps is a welcome surprise to the space being dominated by Google and Hipmunk currently. The German startup affords users an interactive experience that leads to a no nonsense booking experience. For those in search of simplicity and accuracy in hotel finding, HotelMaps appears to be a winner.

Tags: Andreas Bogen, Foursquare, Google, Google hotel finder, Google Maps, Google Travel, Hipmunk, Hotel Moselpark Eventresort, HotelMaps, Hotels Combined, Micheal Bogen

Will Expedia’s “Verified” Reviews Fly?

2012-01-02 by Phil Butler

Expedia losing ground

Last week, Danny King over at Travel Weekly hit the nail on the head with his assessment of Expedia’s so called “verified” review system. Expedia Verified Reviews attempts to qualify hotel reviews using “use” of Expedia as a criteria. Having pushed TripAdvisor from the OTA nest on its own, Expedia seems intent on milking the last drop from the user review teat.

Tags: Danny King, Expedia, Expedia stock, Google, Google flights, Google Travel, hotel finder, market, option monster, Priceline.com, reviews, stocks, travel reviews, Travel Weekly, TripAdvisor, verifiable reviews

Winterfest Music Festival Latvia

2011-12-29 by Phil Butler

Riga in Winter

The Herman Braun Foundation’s annual “Winterfest” music festival offers Latvia visitors a unique experience to highlight the Christmas, New Year, and Orthodox Christmas seasons. Running from November to February, Winderfest is a Riga tradition you won’t want to miss this year. Don’t miss performances by the likes of pianist Charles Abramowitz or famed violinist Midori.

Tags: Chamber Musicians, Charles Abramowitz, Latvia travel, Latvian Winter, Midori, Orthodox Christmas, Riga, Riga Cathedral, Riga Winter, Sexteto Mayor, St. Cecilia's Day, Tokyo String Quartet, Winterfest

Selling Soap, Seats, & Other Hospitality Services In 2012

2011-12-28 by Phil Butler

Online travel

An article on Tnooz last Friday peaked our interest, Xotels boss Patrick Landman offering up key variables in what will become the biggest online trade war ever. When Google, all the big corporate OTAs, and key independent online travel entities lock horns for a final round, a few will not be left standing.

Tags: airlines, American Airlines, Bookings, Delta, Expedia, GDS, GHX, Global Hotel Exchange, Google, Google Flight Search, Google hotel finder, hotel bookings, hotel finder, hotels, Magnuson, Magnuson Hotels, Orbitz, OTA, rate parity, rooms, Sabre, seats, Tom Magnuson

Have a Merry Christmas, Eastern Europe Style

2011-12-25 by Phil Butler

Bucharest Christmas tree

From all of us at Argophila, to all of you we report for, Merry Christmas. This year, and in the new year to come, our hope is for you and the world. May all the dreams of a lifetime come true worldwide. This is a big wish, yes, but not a sincere one from all our staff and collaborators.

Tags: Czech Republic, East Europe, Europe Christmas, Latvia, Prague, Riga, Saint Issac's Cathedral, tourism

The Treasures of Ancient Greece – Today’s Commodities

2011-12-23 by Phil Butler

Nazi gold coins

As Greece’s well documented austerity measures begin to take their toll on a near desperate population, a growing number of people in the country are beginning to suffer from a somewhat unexpected side-effect… Gold Fever. Reports of Greeks heading for the hills in search of lost loot abound today on the web. Sunken cities, Nazi gold, even grave-robbing across the Bulgaria frontier, all that remains for some Greeks is prayer.

Tags: Achilles, Achilles' armor, Ancient Greece, Bow of Heracles, Golden Fleece, Greece, Greek treasure, Greek treasures, Helike, Helike Project, Necklace of Harmonia, Pavlopetri

Maribor 2012: A Pictorial I

2011-12-14 by Phil Butler

Slovene National Theater Maribor - courtesy Maribor 2012

A few days ago we covered the upcoming Maribor 2012 and its place as one of the towns chosen to be the European Capital of Culture next year. In keeping with Argo Travel’s image and media focused core value, we contacted the Slovenia Tourism Board about more images. Their PR exec Jasmina Godec graciously responded with the FTP for their best images.

Tags: EU, European Capital of Culture, Maribor, Maribor 2012, Slovenia festival, Slovenia tourism, Slovenia Tourism Board, Slovenia travel, travel schedule 2012

OTA CEOs: Part III

2011-12-09 by Phil Butler

Reception and perception

Continuing our series on decision makers in the online travel world, Argo jumps back in to an interesting Q & A session between reporters from USA Today and leading CEOs. Veronica Gould Stoddart and Roger Yu caught up with 6 top bosses at the recent PhoCusWright conference in Hollywood, Fla. We take up where we left off, analyzing answers to some key tech trend questions.

Tags: Auggie Doggie, Barney Hartford, Carl Sparks, Expedia, GHX, Global Hotel Exchange, HotelNewsNow, Jason Q. Freed, Jeffery Boyd, Magnuson Hotels, online travel, Orbitz, Orbitz Worldwide, Priceline.com, Scott Durchslag, Tom Magnuson, Travelocity, TripAdvisor, USA TODAY

OTA CEOs: Part II

2011-12-07 by Phil Butler

Travel offerings from archaic OTAs

Yesterday we began a series on online travel agency CEOs, and a recent interview conducted by USA TODAY’s Veronica Gould Stoddart and Roger Yu. We analyzed a bit, some key decision makers’ mindset on the question of whether consumers want (will get) richer content from these industry giants during their travel searches. Expedia, Orbitz, TripAdvisor, parent Expedia, Travelocity, and Priceline bosses all had their views there.

Tags: Barney Harford, Carl Sparks, CEO, Expedia, Jeffery Boyd, Orbitz, OTA's, Priceline.com, Scott Durchslag, travel companies, Travelocity, TripAdvisor

OTA CEOs and Who Has Your Back: Part I

2011-12-05 by Phil Butler

William Shatner for Priceline.com

What do you want from information providers? How about service providers that offer information you need to know to make decisions? Where online travel is concerned, there has been a lot of shakeup of late over these questions. Can you trust reviews? Which OTAs can you trust? We decided to micro-analyze some questions and answers already provided by none other than USA Today, and the leading bosses of your online travel agencies.

Tags: Chicago Tribune, Expedia, Huffington Post, Jeffery Boyd, Orbitz, Priceline.com, PRWeb, Stephen Kaufer, Travelocity, Travelport, TripAdvisor, UPI, William Shatner

Ireland’s Most Iconic Hotel In Receivership

2011-12-04 by Phil Butler

Maureen in The Quiet Man opening scenes.

Reading news from Hotel Management dot net this morning, I could not help but reflect on the way things used to be. A story by David Eisen there tells of an iconic Ireland hotel’s uncertain fate. John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, John Ford, the legends of Ashford come back to memory as Ireland is beset with more bad news.

Tags: Ashford, Ashford Castle, Ashford Hotel, films, Great Hotels, Hotels of the World, Ireland, Ireland banks, Ireland economy, Ireland hotel, Ireland movies, John Ford, John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Mayo, movie stars, The Quiet Man

Stay Where You Surf! Surfbreakrentals.com

2011-12-01 by Phil Butler

Chuns on the North Shore

Surf’s Up. News from Northern California tells of surfers there launching a beach vacation rental site, Surfbreakrentals.com, by the company of the same name. The new travel website, with obvious intentions, offers some of the world’s best breaks and beaches at deals to users. In further news from the surfer dudes launching the site, world […]

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