Argophilia

Αργοφιλία: For the love of the journey.

IAVRA: A Slick Way to Skin Villa Travel

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This is going to be a rave review about a new platform from the International Association of Villa Rental Agents (IAVRA), just to get you prepared. This new subscriber based database and tool set is a near perfect B2B conduit between travel agents etc. and Villa rental agents across the globe. The service not only makes searching, selecting, and renting villas efficient, but a bit of an aesthetically charged user experience on both ends of the exchange.

Russia’s Economic Recuperation: Hotel Industry Spotlight

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In hotel news from the Russian Federation, hotel values there are expected to rise, as well as in the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Republic of Georgia, according to several reports. Some estimates suggest the growth rate at up to double that of other countries in Europe.

Russia – EU Tourism Glee: Has the Boat Sailed

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Russian Federation Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is all over the news of late. First running for the Presidency again, and today talking about something termed a “Eurasian Union”-or as some proclaim – a soviet bloc party renewed. But, Putin’s ideas could well solve any number of points of pain for his people.

Argo Travel Tech Pick: Inhabit Vacations

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Inhabit Vacations, another little gem of a travel initiative we found, is the subject of today’s featured tech review. Holiday Rentals is a straightforward and refreshing approach to listing and renting vacation spots – that vacation home of your youth.

Travelport & Orbitz Safe for Now – and Tomorrow?

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Everyone associated with Travelport has to have breathed a sigh of relief on the news that Travelport Holdings successfully revamped their debt, extending their PIK until December of 2016. Unanimous support from their lenders now ensures the travel giants ongoing operations.

Orbitz May Finally Be A Best Buy

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Orbitz announcements of deals and personnel changes, like most such corporate news fodder, would not ordinarly be a sign of anything big in the offing. However, with a closing price of $2.40 on Friday, and the inherent value underneath, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this stock is on the way up.

Gowalla: Will It Be Google’s Next Announcement?

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It was inevitable once Google announced they were to acquire Zagat, the race for lost applications to engage travel. TechCrunch already reported on Gowalla, so did GigaOm, PC Mag, anyone “interested” in Gowalla. Chief Executive Josh Williams, according to PC Magazine, the Gowalla site will “re-focus” primarily on travel now. The selling point being, in depth guides, travel stories, relating the experience of travel – all conveniently on Gowalla.

Google Restaurant Finder? Well, Not Quite Yet

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Google’s head of Local, Maps and Location Services, Marissa Mayer, just announced the acquisition of Zagat, publisher of worldwide restaurant guides, on the Google blog. Zagat is the entity that produces some of the world’s best printable restaurant guides, and accordingly, the platform will now help refine Google tools like Maps, Places, and Hotspot too, Google’s growing recommendation engine.

This Labor Day Weekend – Enjoy Albania’s Divas

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Since we began researching Albania for the launch of Argophilia Travel Albania, it seems like gems of superb value keep popping up daily. Today, looking for something to share with my fellow Americans for Labor Day, some of Albania’s greatest treasures popped into view. If you were to search the land of the Illyrians for treasures, the country’s beautiful and talented women would not a bad place to start.

TripAdvisor’s Fake Reviews Sickness Goes Critical

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TripAdvisor, the leading online travel reviews site in the world, is now under investigation by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over concerns reviews from travelers may be illegitimate. A formal investigation has reportedly been launched on the heels of complaints TripAdvisor’s reviews problems have reached monumental levels.

Travel Agents and the Status Quo of Extinction

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President Obama’s projection about travel agents, and the potential for them becoming obscolete brought on a firestorm of criticism from who else? The ASTA of course. The American Society of Travel Agents took great offense and injury at comments that. Comments that. Were effectively accurate, that’s what.

The Line on Skiline and Other Ski Vacation Sites

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With the Winter travel season almost upon us, news from Sliline, a leading UK ski holiday site, offers the first of this year’s ski news snippets. The company’s launch of a new user friendly site, and other value propositions aims to awaken hybernating snowboarders and skiers to upcoming travel deals.

Labor Day Travel Ideas – Snag a Lisbon Weekend [Video]

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This Labor Day Weekend why not think out of the box, spur of the moment. Think value. How about a spa and wellness excursion to Portugal? For a real adventure this holiday, or any other, it’s a wonder more Americans don’t take advantage of exchange rates and wondrous places that could use the business. And […]

Good: Ness Takes on Restaurant Suggestion

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TripAdvisor brought you reviews to help you make decisions about travel, Nileguide added depth of information, Stay.com added custom guides, now Ness is adding the personal touch. It seems the search for highly relevant search is not over yet, at least not in travel. Ness Search – Job One: Restaurants Ness Computing seems to have made good […]

Conrad Hotels & Resorts – Sleek & Provocative Rebrand

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Marketing campaigns for hotels chains are not a new fad, nor is using sexy to sell ideas, but doing so intriguingly, this is a bit uncommon. In News from Conrad Hotels & Resorts this morning, their brand is on a global marketing binge that may see a new phrase coined, “chic and slinky sells,” rather than sex.

Albanian Prime Minister Heads Investment Forum Delegation

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Albania tourism has seen a significant growth spurt this year, as opposed to last, with an over 400 thousand more travelers visiting from January to August, compared to 2010 figures. A statement from Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha last week spotlights the dramatic growth in Albania arrivals.

Hidden Balkans Hotel Gems: Grand Hotel Tirana

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In our efforts scouring the web for information on the Balkans, we often run across all kinds of attractions, great and small. Not the least important people, places, and things having to do with travel, hotels can often be obscured from view – at least online, that is. The other day we ran across just such a hotel gem presented itself. The Grand Hotel Tirana, while a bit hard to find online, offers a hospitality value worth mention.

Argophilia Launches Citizen’s Travel Portal

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Argophilia Travel Albania launches as the first of many regional travel directories aimed at introducing Eastern Europe’s hidden gems. Breathtaking places sit undiscovered by most of the world’s top travel businesses, a scattered lot of informative sites offer little or no value to travelers or local businesses, but Argo addresses the problem directly.