Argophilia

Αργοφιλία: For the love of the journey.

Twigmore Puts People First in Travel

by

A new startup called Twigmore is aimed directly at putting people and their real impressions of “places” in the correct order. Unlike many “geocentric” travel tools, this new entry tries to arrange for local review wisdom for your trip planning. At least this seems like the gist.

Russia: Is It the Last Travel Gold Rush?

by

Russia. The one country so many misunderstand, and the one market with room for a gold rush in profits is still possible. Outside Latin America, the Russian Federation holds more potential than any other market on Earth. This begs the question; “why has Russia not been properly engaged then?” The answer is, in all probability, misunderstanding.

Nickels & Dimes & Billions: Ancillary Revenue Notes

by

An article just the other day at Travel Agent Central hints at just how deep the well of ancillary travel revenue may be. According to a cited Amadeus/IdeaWorks report, ancillary revenues could triple from $32 billion to over $100 billion on the heels of electronic miscellaneous documents (EMDs). But, the real story beneath transactions may be the […]

Taking a Whiff of WIHP

by

As you surf the web today, take note of just how many times you run across a WIHP ad. If ever there were an “over” the top campaign, the so called “all inclusive” hotel marketing agency may have gone too far.

So, since WIHP is all into viral evangelism and digital visibility, let’s take a look at just what’s going on there. First up, how about website creation?

Eva: Natural Language Search Revival

by

A new product called Eva (Expert Virtual Agent) aims to become your virtual travel assistant. Unveiled at the recent PhoCusWright Travel Innovation Summit, Evature is an Israeli company marketing the Eva online travel search assistant. Winner of the DEMO Award for Most Game-Changing Travel Innovation, Eva aims to please a billion travelers soon.

Hos·pi·tal·i·ty – Smith’s Stock in Trade

by

A couple of weeks ago we posted a short review about the digital connectedness of Mr & Mrs Smith Hotels. An honest review of an obviously superb organization, we honestly had no idea. Today I wanted to personally commend this company again, something I am not sure we have ever done. Read on, and discover the right way to do things in hospitality.

WTM Shines Brightest Shining On Sustainability

by

One highlight of the World Travel Market (WTM) held last week in London, was Fiona Jeffery’s opening speech concerning the industry’s responsibilities. Jeffery’s Director of Reed Travel Exhibitions WTM, spoke before 500 plus travel decision makers about altruism, as well as corporate strategies going forward.

Smart Travel with Smart Destinations

by

Argo Travel News decided to make every Sunday into a new series, “Service Sunday” in honor of all those great travel services out there worth checking out. Today, we spotlight Smart Destinations, one of the world’s top sightseeing portals online.

Rate Parity – Apples When You Need Oranges

by

The definitions of hotel room rate parity vary depending on who is doing the defining. The big online booking platforms speak of consistency and fairness, hotels often simply “have to” maintain parity to play in the game, and so on. But, is consistency at the expense of value and clarity worth then high price? These […]

As Travel Costs Go Up, So Shall Profits…

by

So far this year, there have to have been 50,000 news reports suggesting profits and growth are headed upward for the travel industry. And on the other hand, many are asking, “How?” Hotels starting to charge for tidbits of service like the airlines, currencies and countries on the brink, and the other side of news suggesting growth is impossible, what are we to believe?

Connected Spotlight – Mr & Mrs Smith

by

Good news may not travel as fast as it once did, or either there may just not be so much of it out there. Whichever the case you find, one couple knows how to show off their expertness. Mr & Mrs Smith helps guests and online visitors escape the mediocre. Let us show you how.

Billions in Airline Fees – No Laughing Matter

by

An article by Hugo Martin in the Los Angeles Times yesterday reveals still more bad PR and just bad business for airlines. At a time when any industry can well afford negative news, over $1.5 billion in nickel – dime baggage charges and reservation fees makes America’s biggest air carriers seem anything but transparent.

Hoteliers, Are You Using the Right Channels?

by

For businesses busying themselves trying to catch the social wave, to engage customers via digital channels, the learning curve can be steep. All along the path to competitive edge in online marketing, the pitfalls of “not knowing” end up costing companies before the online lesson is learned. Nowhere is this more evident than in the hotel industry. Using the wrong communicative channels, or using them in the wrong way, can determine who does and does not survive.

Zagat: Defining Move of Google’s Travel Strategy

by

The highly anticipated New York City restaurant guides are out now. A story about his by Garth Johnston of the gothamist not only drew my attention, but made me put on my thinking cap too. Google’s movements into travel, the changing framework of online travel, and the real value of credability seem to be boiling to the surface of the online business soup. Zagat, the online restaurant guides slash data company, offers interesting value.

Orbitz Worldwide & Travelport: Ups & Downs

by

Travelport and Orbitz are in the positive and negative news again today. Travelport for any number of announcements of business dealings, and Orbitz for a very negative S & P rating they just received. Since it was announced that Travelport needed to restructure its dept, it seems as if neither of these online travel giants can catch a break.

TravelRent – Underwhelming Russian Socialismness

by

A startup from Russia called TravelRent just launched aiming at the short term private accommodation niche that is so huge in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and elsewhere in the Russian Federation. We took a look at the new site, which ended up being a mix of good and bad features – but at least an improvement over previous Russian websites.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts: The Luxury You’d Expect

by

Starwood Hotels’ Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts has released a limited edition US destination guide published by Assouline. Part of a set of bound books, the luxuriously crafted books show off the Luxury Collection’s most exquisite properties around the world.