Argophilia

Αργοφιλία: For the love of the journey.

Travel Technology

Club Med: Asia Moves May Prove Prudent

Phil Butler

News yesterday detailed an apparent buyout bid by French insurance company AXA, and the Chinese conglomerate Fosun International to control resort chain Club Med. According to reports the major shareholders offered something on the order of $719 million have been confirmed and supported by the Club Med management team.

Social Media 101 for Restaurateurs: Getting and Giving the Business

Phil Butler

You own a business associated with hospitality, let’s say a restaurant, for instance. The digital craze is, obviously, something you’ve at least heard about. But just how do social media, blogging, search engine marketing (SEM), and other advanced connectivity channels help your business? Is there a real return on investment from this “social” space? There seem to be more questions about the social sphere than answers, no?

Google Refines Top City Attractions Search Results

Mihaela Lica Butler

With this move, Google rendered SEO useless. Frommer’s, Lonely Planet, TripAdvisor, Nileguide, Virtual Tourist, Igougo and so on are now buried. They still can compete as apps, but the Google search results are no longer enough to drive traffic and readers.

Coast Hotels Rebrands in Purple

Phil Butler

Marking their 40th year in business, Coast Hotels has launched a re-branding campaign entitled “Coast Hotels Paints the Town Purple.” The international hotel chain offers accommodations ranging from classic bygone era stays to cutting edge 21st Century business digs. Not only has the hotel brand renovated their brand, but their hotels and their website as well.

TUI Profits Down – But Europe’s Biggest Tour Company’s Spirit is UP

Aleksandr Shatskih

Europe’s leading tour operation, TUI Travel, has just announced their first half of 2013 sales figures. According to TUI losses of some £346 million were actually less than some expected. The company pointed to strong markets in the UK and in Scandinavian countries as having relieved a unprofitable Winter.

What’s the Deal With Yahoo! and MileWise?

Aleksandr Shatskih

A few days ago rumors that Yahoo is eyeballing buying NY travel startup MileWise surfaced. Founded back in 2010, MileWise is basically a deal aggregator-organizer for Android and iOS apps. Basically a loyalty point calculator, MileWise shows promise in helping users sort out the myriad offers and points of the travel world.

Sabre Hospitality Solutions Boosts Europe Hotels Tools

Aleksandr Shatskih

Yesterday, Sabre Hospitality Solutions announced the expansion of their Internet marketing products and services across Europe with the launch of WebExpress. WebExpress, available for European, Middle Eastern, and Asian hotels, provides a managers and staff with a combination of tools for visibility and web traffic, and etc. Monique Jaspers-Wijn, vice president business development, EMEA, for […]

Euros Left in the Vapor Trail: Plight of the Single European Sky

Phil Butler

With 27 separate bits of airspace connecting European countries, is it any wonder the the old continent still seems fragmented and inefficient? Well, back in 1999 the European Commission launched a plan termed Single European Sky (SES), aimed at uniting all the airspace to fuel a more efficient air travel industry. The big question today it; “What happened to the plan?”

Beach Tomato Unleashes New Villas Site for Summer

Phil Butler

For the bored or down and out traveler out there, how about “inspirational travel” this Summer season? You don’t know what inspirational travel is, you say? Well, a company called Beach Tomato has launched a new online portal to inspire, and to help satisfy your wanderlust for sandy, seashore, and sunshine bliss this year. BeachTomatoVillas.com is a wide eyed beach stay showcase. Let’s look.