Argophilia

Αργοφιλία: For the love of the journey.

Travel Technology

Utrip Grabs New Funding: Argo Tests It

Phil Butler

It’s 9:06 AM in Trier, Germany right now. I began creating an itinerary to Lisbon at exactly 9:01 AM with Utrip, and apparently their contention you can create a trip in 5 minutes is true. That is, if you’re wanting a recommendation engine to suggest for you. Otherwise, users of this interesting travel tool will need more time.

City Mapper: An Idea Worth the Big VC Bucks

Phil Butler

Tnooz reported last week the urban transport app Citymapper having received Series A funding from Balderton Capital and other VC of $10 million. Taking a closer look it’s pretty easy to see why the app is worth the big bucks.

Kicking the Tires of Guidekick

Phil Butler

Guidekick, a fascinating new mobile app that uses rich media to get a passing tourist’s attention when passing an historic attraction, is a window inside what future travel tech will look. Available in iOS, Android, and even Google Glass editions, the app adds historical and contextual value to the places people visit.

Sabre announces pricing of initial public offering

Aleksandr Shatskih

Sabre Corporation (“Sabre”), a leading technology solutions provider to the global travel and tourism industry, today announced that it has priced its initial public offering…

Brekky and WiFi: 2014 Amenities Survey

Aleksandr Shatskih

What are you looking for when you book a hotel? Hotels.com, for the second year in a row, has published a survey on what travellers are looking for when they choose a hotel. The number one spot for hotel room musts? Free WiFi. Free WiFi also ranked 3rd in importance for hotel amenities too, right behind on-site […]

Sunshine.co.uk Buys RealHolidayReports

Phil Butler

RealHolidayReports has been purchased by UK holiday review site Sunshine.co.uk. The online travel agency says the acquisition was for better informing clients about holidays.

Brandwatch Report on Social Listening a Head Turner for Hospitality

Phil Butler

Brandwatch, the most powerful social media monitoring and analytics tool we’ve found, just released their travel and hospitality report for 2014 – Social Listening & the Tourism Industry: A Snapshot. The detailed report amounts to the first of its kind primer for travel executives to understand the impacts of social media on traveler decision making.

Bing Travel Down Another Notch On Farecast Death [Or Is It?]

Phil Butler

Bing, the only search entity out there that stood a chance of competing with Google, has sent to the dead pool Farecast. What was one of Bing’s most interesting tools is another casualty of what some experts say is an apathetic Microsoft when it comes to search.

Carrier Wins Best Website: Here’s Why

Phil Butler

Just announced at the Travel Marketing Awards 2014, tailor made luxury travel provider Carrier wins “Best Website” at the Grosvenor House gala held March 20. With engagement an every increasing part of the guest experience equation, it’s clear this company “gets it” for converting and keeping customers.

Hoteliers vs. OTAs: The Quest for a Perfect App

Phil Butler

Will mobile technology negate travel service providers’ direct revenue streams? An insightful post by Skift’s Dennis Schaal points to the big OTAs and the coming leverage game of travel bookings via mobile.