Some really great online travel sites never even get mentioned. What with all the stories about American Airlines, Google, Expedia, Orbitz, Microsoft, even Bing, how is the consumer ever to know who the best is. What we often see is not innovation or anything approaching the best, it’s marketing and big business.
Travel Technology
Skyscanner Acquires Zoombu
Europe’s top flight search site Skyscanner has acquired Zoombu, one of the UK’s most exciting online travel start-ups.
Availpro Expands Adding Horsepower for Hotels
France’s Availpro promises to add horsepower for small and medium sized hotel bookings. A recent expansion into the online travel market in Spain signals the company’s popularity with hoteliers in Europe. Just how many horses the company can provide depends a great deal on the end user as usual.
Justice Department Poised to Nix Google Deal
The Justice Department stands poised to nix Google’s acquisition of ITA proprietary software as FairSearch and other entities press the issue. Is Google becoming a monopoly? This is the overriding question on the minds of consumers, but what is on the government’s mind, this is what counts. With American Airlines’ recent ITA deal, exactly how will the Justice Department deal with the immense pressures being leveled? This online travel war is a far bigger confrontation than many realize.
TripIt Cashes In Big Time
Travel startup TripIt cashes in for an estimated $120 million after only 5 years of development and customer building. Concur is said to have acquired the Web’s most utilized business travel planning tool for cash and stocks. As for the future of TripIt, Concur has not released a statement as of yet.
SnowTrax Compares Beyond Compare
There’s a new ski trip search dynamo out there, and SnowTrax is the name it goes by. For refined ski vacation search, there may not be a better example on Earth. But, and there are always “but’s”, corporate lip service social engagement will never do for any new tech startup. On the consumer Web, there is no room for slip ups when professing social media kinship. Aside this flaw, SnowTrax has a foot in their skis for flawless ski vacations.
Coming Attraction – The Real Online Travel
2010 has been a big year for online and mobile travel innovation and initiative. Argophilia Travel News takes a look at advanced user technology and value their Argophilia Travel portal may or may not deploy. For the digital empowered traveler, the new year will bring out the best in products and services.
Microsoft Piggybacks On FairSearch Whining
In a transparent move to block yet another Google business move, Microsoft joins the scaredy cats at FairSearch. Like a ravenous whining hyena, Microsoft once again nips at the heels of the Internet’s most profitable and powerful company.
goHow Airport Mobile App Helps You Make the Most of Your Flight
The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) has launched two new technology-based services to help travelers make the most of their trip through Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP).
Big Travel Savings This Winter, with Travelocity
Travelocity helps ease worry by giving cost-conscious travelers a head start with the “New Year’s Sale,” where shoppers can now get up to 45 percent savings on hotel and vacation packages.
Gunfight At the Google Travel Corral
Recent developments in online travel highlight the immense power the Internet has on traditional structures. Google’s ITA software deal is now the subject or power strokes in Washington. As Microsoft, Kayak, and Sabre vie for Senatorial support, Obama’s Attorney General select focus scrutiny on the deal.
Move Over TripIt Movolo Is On the Move
A Latvian travel startup called Movolo may have hit on the future of online travel booking. Simplicity on top of trust will soon enable online travel companies to greatly simplify travel booking selections. With Google’s imminent entry into the online travel space, anyone should be asking; “How do we do this?” One answer may be to follow Movolo.