Argophilia

Αργοφιλία: For the love of the journey.

Hilton: Listening, Showing, Communicating in the Digital World

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Last week, Hilton extended their Stay Hilton, Go Everywhere campaign with what the hotelier calls the world’s first “iAd interactive” extension for Apple devices. The strategy is pretty simple, take Hilton’s already successful marketing campaign and evangelize it across Apple platforms already adopted by tens of millions. Whether or not Hilton’s so called iAd is a first of its kind or not, the digital engagement is brilliant.

HouseTrip – A Startup Taking Aim At Travel Alternatives

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TechCrunch reported on a fascinating startup in April, a new take on vacation rentals called HouseTrip. The news back then was about the Swiss startup’s $2.7 million in funding from Index Ventures, but today it looks as if the company is spending the money wisely. Let’s take a look under the hood of what my old friend Steve O’Hear called; “another play in the holiday apartments space.”

Google Is NOT Taking Over Travel With Hotel Finder

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Okay, just because Google bought ITA, just because flight search stuff got put onto the search page, just because they have 50 billion reasons to take over online travel, does not mean Sergey Brin, Larry Page, Eric Schmidt, and the rest at Google will. AND, launching the unbelievably fast Google Hotel Finder aspect for online travel? Nah, Google will never take over the multi-billion dollar online travel scene. Yeah! They will.

Troopswap Aims to Be Daily Deals for Soldiers [Video]

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Troopswap.com, an innovative deal network for military service people and vets, has announced a 925 thousand dollar round of funding from angel investors. The funding will be used to further expand Troopswap’s innitiatives from Hampton Roads, Virginia, to Washington DC and San Diego, California.

Tours4Fun and Hop2 Flight Search Partner

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In budget travel news, sightseeing tour company, Tours4Fun, announced a new partnership with Hop2 Travel for offering direct access for affordable flights. The Los Angeles based tour company will also add Hop2 offerings like car rentals, hotels, and even cruises for their clients. Argo takes a look at this news bit to evaluate some OTA corporate moves – is this news or not? Let’s see.

Terra Firma, Friends, and Travels Shared Through Google +

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If there is one thing concrete that we can say binds all of us, it is good old Terra firma herself. In a very real way, the Earth beneath all our feet, like our own humanity, can teach us a lot about one another. Maybe this is one reason travel is so fantastically popular – as human beings we a

Google + and Really Refined Reviews – Coming Soon

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The suggested Google Travel entity could be just around the corner. According to the news from Tnooz and Kevin May, Google unceremoniously yanked third party reviews from hotels on Google Maps and Google Places, a move May suggests puts Google’s review credibility down there with TripAdvisor’s. But what if?

Celebrity Silhouette Takes to Sea – A Cruise Milestone Set

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Celebrity Cruises is all over travel news today in the wake of last night’s extravaganza last aboard the inaugural sailing of the Celebrity Silhouette. The lavish £500 million cruise ship was launched at what became Hamburg’s biggest ever cruise ship ceremony. At 122,000 tons and over 1,000 feet, Celebrity Silhouette is the largest ship ever named from Germany’s most legendary shipbuilding city.

Magic World Russia – The Federation Strikes Back

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In travel news from the Russian Federation, California’s Moschanko Investment Group (MIG 2000) announced Magic World Russia, a compelling new destination theme park.

Concur Invests Confidence and Money in Yapta

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In travel technology news today, Concur, an integrated travel and expense management company, announced a $5 million dollar investment in the Yapta airfare and hotel rate tracking service. Accordingly, Cloncur will now use Yapta exclusively for their TripIt Pro user accounts.

Seasite Engages Business Cruising

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Seasite.com, an online portal dedicated to business cruise events, has just released their latest version which allows planners added functionality. Like hotel sourcing portals Cvent and Starcite, Seasite aims to help planners course ship charters.

Eurozone – European Travel Gone Critical

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The Eurozone is in deep trouble. The piling up of debt for member states now affects every country, every industry, all Europe is reeling at the ultimate realization economic chaos is no longer a distant danger. Italy’s Ecomomy Minister Giulio Tremonti said it all in an address on Thursday; “We move forward or we sink” – stressing the EU desperately needs a political solution to its money woes.

Soundwave Croatia 2011 – Not Like Any Other

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Soundwave Croatia 2011 kicks off next weekend. Described as “the perfect music festival” by many, this Croatian all weekend party is not your ordinary jam packed beach event. It’s a closely jam packed excitement and relaxation break for music lovers.

Rick Steves Android App “Localizes” Europe Travelers

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European travel guru Rich Steves has just announced the release of his new Android app, Rick Steves’ Audio Europe. For a heightened sightseeing experience, for destinations across Europe, Steves has created a groundbreaking new tool. Audio Europe is another piece in the perfect mobile travel toolbox.

Ostrovok Launches Russia’s “Sure Thing” Travel Site

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The need for Russia to enter the digital age where online travel visibility is concerned may have just been met. In news from Moscow, entrepreneurs there have just raised another round of $13.6 million for Ostrovok, Russia’s answer to Expedia. The new travel portal may have Russian travel sewn up, but what about travel TO Russia?

Who’s Rocking Travel Now? Slovenia’s Tourist Board

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Travel blurbs from Argo News, Slovenia’s Travel Board rocks while most other European travel ministers must be asleep at the wheel of their tourism engagements. If a country of 2 million, about the size of New Hampshire can rock this hard online… It looks like some emulation is in order here in Europe.

Travel Media Group Launches Edgy Marketing Tool

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In travel technology news, Travel Media Group has just launched Travel Media Interactive, a so called next generation marketing and reputation management tool. A division of Dominion Enterprises, TMG is targeted at online marketing solutions for the travel industry.

TripAdvisor Acquires Where I’ve Been

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TripAdvisor, the online world’s most popular travel website, has reportedly purchased Where I’ve Been, the once popular Facebook application. The map oriented platform allows users to display where they have visited or lived, and places they would like to visit. Once a “viral” application with something over a million monthly users, the app now sees only a fraction of that number.

Internos Real Investors Raising Europe Hotel Fund

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Internos Real Investors is reportedly raising between €200 million and €250 million for their first hotel fund for selected European countries. According to the news, the company is targeting mid-market hotel projects in Germany, France, and in the Netherlands.