An article by Hotel News Now Editorial Director Jeff Higley last Thursday may just be the bugle call for a coming battle between OTAs and their benefactors, hoteliers. Higley’s report from the 23rd Deloitte European Hotel Investment Conference shined a bright light on growing friction between third party distribution agents, and the service providers they are supposed to help.
Expedia
Nickels & Dimes & Billions: Ancillary Revenue Notes
An article just the other day at Travel Agent Central hints at just how deep the well of ancillary travel revenue may be. According to a cited Amadeus/IdeaWorks report, ancillary revenues could triple from $32 billion to over $100 billion on the heels of electronic miscellaneous documents (EMDs). But, the real story beneath transactions may be the […]
Global Hotel Exchange Utilizes RateTiger Effect
On Tuesday, an new, independent OTA announced a strategical alignment with RateTiger. Global Hotel Exchange, a cost free distrubution channel for hotels to launch in January, will leverage the power of global hospitality technology provider Rate Tager and eRevMax.
Rate Parity – Apples When You Need Oranges
The definitions of hotel room rate parity vary depending on who is doing the defining. The big online booking platforms speak of consistency and fairness, hotels often simply “have to” maintain parity to play in the game, and so on. But, is consistency at the expense of value and clarity worth then high price? These […]
As Travel Costs Go Up, So Shall Profits…
So far this year, there have to have been 50,000 news reports suggesting profits and growth are headed upward for the travel industry. And on the other hand, many are asking, “How?” Hotels starting to charge for tidbits of service like the airlines, currencies and countries on the brink, and the other side of news suggesting growth is impossible, what are we to believe?
Starwood Hotels & Resorts: The Luxury You’d Expect
Starwood Hotels’ Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts has released a limited edition US destination guide published by Assouline. Part of a set of bound books, the luxuriously crafted books show off the Luxury Collection’s most exquisite properties around the world.
Travelport & Orbitz Safe for Now – and Tomorrow?
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.
TripAdvisor’s Fake Reviews Sickness Goes Critical
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
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.
MakeMyTrip Takes on Expedia and the World
With markets around the world in a bit of chaos, it’s interesting to note one India travel company reporting astonishing growth. According to news from MarketWatch, MakeMyTrip Limited is going like gangbusters – the company has posted an over 50% YoY profit increase. The India’s leading travel portal may soon lead more than just India.
Google Is NOT Taking Over Travel With Hotel Finder
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.
Google + and Really Refined Reviews – Coming Soon
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?
Are Cruises the Most Budget-Friendly Mode of Travel to Europe?
Expedia.com announced today that travelers looking to book vacations to Europe should seriously consider a cruise.
Ostrovok Launches Russia’s “Sure Thing” Travel Site
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?
TripAdvisor Acquires Where I’ve Been
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.
GetYourGuide: Swiss Movement for Tours
Travel and tourism in the digital world is branching out in “pioneer” fashion more and more these days. One startup we took a look at today, GetYourGuide, illustrates vividly what is possible with the right people behind an endeavor. GetYourGuide, founded in 2008, is a development that has been hard at work becoming the digital world’s tour and specialty activity “go to” platform.
Will Google Launch Their ITA Travel Weapon?
According to TechCrunch’s reliable network of source, Google may well roll out an integrated ITA search platform within days. A report by TC’s Leena Rao 16 hours ago suggests Google’s recent acquisition may in fact be the forboding nightmare Microsoft, Expedia, and others feared.
GBTA Announces “Travel Value Chain” Panel
Today, the Global Business Travel Association (GTBA) announced a new Travel Value Chain panel comprised of noted industry CEO’s at major travel providers.
Opodo Deal Gets EU Thumbs Up
Private equity firm Permira, and France’s Axa, have received the “go” from EU regulators in their bid to buy online travel entity Opodo. The two investors intent to merge the Spanish Opodo company with Go Voyages and eDreams will create one of the digital world’s biggest online booking agencies.
Expedia Introduces New Android App and Mobile Website
Expedia and its sister company Hotels.com released new mobile apps for Android as well as an upgraded mobile website for Expedia.com. Expedia is showcasing the new apps and features at Google I/O Developer Sandbox. Among the new features in the Android app are: Interactive view of all hotels in an area with multiple sorting options […]